Technology Saves the Day (Again!)

But the best thing about the iPad is that it's actually allowing me to work past my disability. While my function is limited I can still use the iPad to do fine line work. There are two things about the iPad that make this feasible: zoom and undo. With the ability to zoom into the page, fine linework is no longer difficult because it's no longer fine. I can now make lines far thinner than I'd ever need to just as easily as I can the fattest line on the page. And with undo I no longer have to worry about the mistakes my often spastic hands make, or correct those mistakes after the fact. I can make corrections immediately and as often as necessary. I can screw up all I want!

A few years ago, best case scenario, I would've needed to take a break from certain types of cartooning, and in particular, I'd have had to either suffer through a much-compromised hand-inking process or put Malcontent on hiatus. But the iPad has changed all that. With the iPad, and the amazing drawing apps available to it, I can get on with my creative life almost immediately after suffering from a debilitating paralytic disorder.

I used to be one of the people who thought that the iPad was only good for content consumption. But I've been converted. The iPad is an amazing and extremely versatile drawing and painting tool. (I'm sure there's other stuff you can do on it as well.)

And while I still love inking with brush on paper (and miss it dearly, but mark my words I will do it again), I love drawing on my iPad just as much.