Stock-produced imagery is fast becoming the junk food of illustration. It's quickly mass-produced, easily accessible and carries a price that won't put too big a dent in your wallet. While it's true that stock graphics have featured in some great work, there is a fundamental problem - because such elements are available to everyone, it is inevitable that repetition and overuse will soon rear their ugly heads.
One of the easiest ways to put your own signature on your work and make it truly unique is to go back to basics - cracking out the pens, pencils, paints and so on. Use your natural crafting techniques to tell your illustrative story. The following project focuses on how to use the computer to blend your hand-rendered elements to create an image that will be truly individual and faithful to your own style.
