A few years ago, if you asked me about using gradients in my artwork, I would have emphatically said, “Never! I’d rather use starbursts and the Comic Sans font TOGETHER than use gradients!”
While things looked pretty good from atop my designer high-horse, I have recently had a change of heart about using gradients. Since I had been so vehemently against them, I wanted to breakdown what was behind my resistance and share how I came around on this color treatment.
First, I will say that part of my struggle with gradients was tied to my struggle with color. Color theory is a vast topic, and while I have made huge strides in my understanding of it, when I was looking at gradients years ago, it seemed like adding more variables to an already shaky foundation.
The other thing I remember when previously working with gradients was how limited the tools were. Sure, I tend to wade more in the “likes to control things” end of the pool, but working with gradients seemed to lack finesse and the result usually looked heavy-handed.
All of these factors led me to the conclusion that gradients weren’t for me. When creating my artwork I went with solid colors, and then played with opacity to create a layered look.
While creating every day I found myself looking for ways to keep things interesting and, in one of those “let’s shake things up” moments, I gave gradients another try.
What I found was not only had the tool changed, allowing for endless options and nuance, but also that it was a wonderful solution to guide someone through my artwork.
For example, this week when creating the dual phrases of “Every Mother Works Hard. Every Woman Deserves to be Respected.” I didn’t want to repeat the word “every,” but instead, I wanted to position it across the entire top of the page to give it more emphasis.
How was I going to help guide your eye through the piece so it still read correctly? By using a gradient of course!
I should have known with all of the various software upgrades that they would have addressed the “clunkiness” of the gradients options, but I hadn’t really been keeping tabs on it since I didn’t think it concerned me.
However, in keeping up with the latest trends in design I was seeing how gradients were definitely becoming more prevalent. This was another indication that it was time to revisit my clunky friend.
I have also noticed when I work with gradients that I do get more responses and reactions from people viewing the work. Of course, I’m not creating by committee and want to stay true to the style I am creating; however…
I’d be a fool to not pay attention to what resonates with people looking at my work.
In the end, my takeaway is to keep an open mind about the techniques available when creating.It’s a good idea to allow space to revisit them, especially something that you previously thought would never work.
As time goes on, you may find that there is a new way to work with it or maybe combine two different techniques that you had never considered before.
Finally, keep up on trends and make time to experiment with those trends. That’s the beauty of making time to experiment and play. You don’t need to share it with anyone, but you may find something that transforms your art.
“And I would use them on a boat!
And I would use them on a goat!
And I would use them for a house.
And I would use them for a mouse.
I do like gradients here and there!
I will use them anywhere!”
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