06/20/2026
Ever since computers came into the picture, there has always been a debate over the legitimacy of using them to express and create art. Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, all the animation programs and even more recently A.I. have broadened the range of what is possible artistically. (yes I said it! even A.I. can be used as a tool if done ethically. A topic for another post.)
I’m 56. When I first started creating, personal computers weren’t even invented yet. I learned with pencils, oils, acrylics, charcoal, color pastels, ink. I learned all the classic techniques. That was the foundation of my art theory that became my style.
When I went back to college for graphic design, some of the students couldn’t even create without the computer. Their hand drawn creations looked like a small child drew them. I couldn’t grasp how these students were in college art classes without knowing the fundamentals. I had a problem with it until I learned the Adobe programs and realized the benefits of those programs in progressing my style and ability.
These days, I use all the tools at my disposal to create the work I do. It’s all part of my artistic style I developed over my lifetime.
The album art for the new Slip Madigan release Electric Illusion is a good example of my process.
Step 1: I brainstormed and sketched until I came up with the concept. The only help I got from my bandmates was the title and they wanted it to be mostly black and white. Side note: there are five references to electricity in this album art.
Step 2: I drew out all the black, by hand, with Sharpie on bristol board. I drew the original art 12in x 12in. I always draw it bigger so the details are easier to draw. It also gives me time to work out composition before committing to the next step.
Step 3: I scanned the original and make it digital so I could manipulate it with the computer.
Step 4: using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, i vector traced the black work and got rid of all the imperfections caused by the markers. I left the stippling from the original exposed to create the illusion of a separate layer of texture. (see close up) In the bottom portion of the cover, where the circles are, I deleted all the white space from the base layer so you could see through it. I’ll explain later.
Step 5: I found a photo of purple and white lightning. Using Photoshop, I copy and pasted it several time and positioned them on a layer under the black layer so it would show through the deleted white areas I spoke of in Step 4.(see close up)
Step 6: using photoshop, I replaced the dots on both of the i’s with photos of plasma balls to give it the final touch.
Each project requires a different skill set and tools to accomplish them. Don’t limit your creativity by sticking to old concepts of what you think art is. Without using all the tools I’m not sure how successful this project would have been. I think the end result speaks for itself.
Next time I’ll tell you the story about the time I collaborated with A.I. on a piece of art, and I don’t mean I told it what to do and it created it, I mean an old time, actual collaboration where we created it together.
Check out the new release on our website by following the link in comments.
