Day 6 of 7 Day #DigitalChallenge is all about Adobe Sketch and Adobe Draw, 2 free awesome apps for sketching and drawing that lead to a professional illustration.
https://youtu.be/1wH_XHQ-Lz8 

I am drawing on 7 different devices on 7 different days. A lot of times we think that we need better/pricier tools to create the art our talents deserve but the reality is we can create impactful art with very simple tools, even in the digital space.

Link to the channel here: www.youtube.com/c/Vectormaestros
Subscribe and turn on notifications, you do not want to miss!!!!

Day 1: https://youtu.be/Q6bkS-4pHF8 

Day 2: https://youtu.be/AfWrHfsDhgg
Day 3: https://youtu.be/8jsziRcWFfA
Day 4: https://youtu.be/yJimb8nF2Rk
Day 5: https://youtu.be/LNuWJCMkGf0

Ever since the iPad made it to the market, I knew I had to get my hands on one and try to draw with it! By then I already owned and had tried to draw with, a Bamboo Tablet by Wacom. I say I tried, it was a very rough start to my digital drawing training.

As time went on, I admired the iPad from afar and got my hands on a Samsung Note 10 and then a Note 10.1 and discovered how well made the Note was.

Eventually, I started collecting devices and aftermarket pens to draw digitally, pens from Adonit and Wacom, but nothing really worked well with the iPad.

I’ve had the iPad 2, the iPad Air, the iPad mini and finally: the iPad Pro. Once I heard that Apple was finally releasing the iPad Pro, I was ready to draw with some of the best apps in the App Store including Adobe Draw and Adobe Sketch.

I am still enjoying myself!

Follow my work at @DeltaTangoMike
Illustrator, designer, art biz coach and curator.
behance.net/dacreativegenius
instagram.com/deltatangomike

Follow Vector Maestros
instagram.com/vectormaestros

Day 5 of 7 Day #DigitalChallenge is all about Adobe Draw and Adobe Sketch on the Samsung Galaxy Note 5.
https://youtu.be/MNsvM4xSlHY 

Link to the channel here: www.youtube.com/c/Vectormaestros
Subscribe and turn on notifications, you do not want to miss!!!!

Day 1: https://youtu.be/Q6bkS-4pHF8 Day 2: https://youtu.be/AfWrHfsDhgg
Day 3: https://youtu.be/8jsziRcWFfA
Day 4: https://youtu.be/yJimb8nF2Rk 
Day 5: https://youtu.be/MNsvM4xSlHY 

I remember when the first Samsung Note came out, I wanted one so I could draw on my phone! My digital illustration path had not yet started and I knew that drawing on the Note would give me creative freedom at anytime I felt like drawing.

I was able to walk into the AT&T store by the time the Note 2 was in stores, and get me a new one since my contract was up. My satisfaction was a bit short lived as every year the smartphone technology has continued to expand to the point that drawing on a phone is not the novelty it once was. 

Currently I own several Note phones, I collect them really. I want the ability to draw on the go, quick and easy, right out of my pocket. I want to be able to sketch out my ideas before I forget them. And if I use Adobe Draw and Adobe Sketch on the Note and export to Adobe Illustrator then I can finish an illustration for a client!

Get you a Samsung Note off craigslist, facebook marketplace, anywhere you can and get to drawing, they are cheap now!
Also, the pen I am using is the Bamboo Pen for Samsung Note tablets and smartphones by Wacom. It is worth every penny!

Follow my work at @DeltaTangoMike
Illustrator, designer, art biz coach and curator.
behance.net/dacreativegenius
instagram.com/deltatangomike

Follow Vector Maestros
instagram.com/vectormaestros
Stay tuned, subscribe and turn on notifications because this week I will be drawing everyday with a different digital tool. A lot of times we think that we need better/pricier tools to create the art our talents deserve but the reality is we can create impactful art with very simple tools, even in the digital space including

#SamsungNote10 #SamsungNote5 #DellVenue8 #SurfacePro4 #iPadAir2 #iPadPro #Cintiq21UX #HPprodesk And that means #Windows10 #Android #ios @sketchableapp #AdobeDraw #AdobeSketch #iLikeToDraw #ArtLifeAllDay #DTM #ATL #DigitalArtist #DrawDaily #CreatedWithSurface #MySurface #AztecaModerno #DailyIllustrations #YouTubeLive #Bamboo #Wacom #Adobe #Sketchable

​Day 4 of 7 Day #DigitalChallenge continues with the big timer Cintiq 21UX by Wacom and the HP ProDesk lil machine with Windows 10 
https://youtu.be/yJimb8nF2Rk 

I will be drawing on @SketchableApp  
Link to the channel here: www.youtube.com/c/Vectormaestros
Subscribe and turn on notifications, you do not want to miss!!!!

Day 1: https://youtu.be/Q6bkS-4pHF8 
Day 2: https://youtu.be/AfWrHfsDhgg 
Day 3: https://youtu.be/8jsziRcWFfA 
Day 4: https://youtu.be/yJimb8nF2Rk 

I got this Cintiq a few years ago, used, from a company that had it sitting around in a closet for 10 years. There is a bit of dust in between the glass and the digitizer but the performance in the display is still the best of all the tablets and computers I have ever used. 

The 21 inch size allows for the full use of my arm, elbow and wrist to get super clean lines in my art. The Stylus is the right size for my hand and theres a rubbery grip that makes it easy to handle. I buy soft tips to replace the hard plastic tips that the stylus comes with, those soft tips gives me just enough friction to give me that paper and pencil feeling. 

The HP ProDesk is a new addition, its powered with 16GB of RAM, an i5 Processor and just enough Hard Disk space to house my current digital projects. Its a nice handy machine to give the Cintiq enough juice to produce good client artwork. 

Follow my work at @DeltaTangoMike 
Illustrator, designer, art biz coach and curator. 
behance.net/dacreativegenius 
instagram.com/deltatangomike 

Follow Vector Maestros 
instagram.com/vectormaestros 

Stay tuned, subscribe and turn on notifications because this week I will be drawing everyday with a different digital tool. 

A lot of times we think that we need better/pricier tools to create the art our talents deserve but the reality is we can create impactful art with very simple tools, even in the digital space including

#SamsungNote10 #SamsungNote5 #DellVenue8 #SurfacePro4 #iPadAir2 #iPadPro #Cintiq21UX #HPprodesk And that means #Windows10 #Android #ios @sketchableapp #AdobeDraw #AdobeSketch #iLikeToDraw #ArtLifeAllDay #DTM #ATL #DigitalArtist #DrawDaily #CreatedWithSurface #MySurface #AztecaModerno #DailyIllustrations #YouTubeLive #Bamboo #Wacom #Adobe #Sketchable

​Day 3 of 7 Day #DigitalChallenge continues with easy to access devices and tablets like

the amazing Dell Venue 8, running full windows 10!!! 
I will be drawing on my favorite app: @SketchableApp  

Link to the channel here: www.youtube.com/c/Vectormaestros
Subscribe and turn on notifications, you do not want to miss!!!!

Day 1: https://youtu.be/Q6bkS-4pHF8
Day 2 https://youtu.be/AfWrHfsDhgg 

This is my second little Dell Venue 8. My addiction to tech is rooted in the ability to draw with each device and the Venue 8 is perfect. This Dell is 2GB RAM, 32GB SSD and with the pen, I can draw right on the screen. 

I bought a Pluggable hub and I can connect a keyboard, a mouse and extra screen all the while charging. 
I enjoy this little guy! 

Follow my work at @DeltaTangoMike 
Illustrator, designer, art biz coach and curator. 
behance.net/dacreativegenius 
instagram.com/deltatangomike 

Follow Vector Maestros 
instagram.com/vectormaestros 
Stay tuned, subscribe and turn on notifications because this week I will be drawing everyday with a different digital tool. A lot of times we think that we need better/pricier tools to create the art our talents deserve but the reality is we can create impactful art with very simple tools, even in the digital space including

#SamsungNote10 #SamsungNote5 #DellVenue8 #SurfacePro4 #iPadAir2 #iPadPro #Cintiq21UX #HPprodesk And that means #Windows10 #Android #ios @sketchableapp #AdobeDraw #AdobeSketch #iLikeToDraw #ArtLifeAllDay #DTM #ATL #DigitalArtist #DrawDaily #CreatedWithSurface #MySurface #AztecaModerno #DailyIllustrations #YouTubeLive #Bamboo #Wacom #Adobe #Sketchable

​2 of 7 Day #DigitalChallenge continues with easy to access devices and tablets like
the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 and the S Pen. 

Link here: www.youtube.com/c/Vectormaestros
Subscribe and turn on notifications, you do not want to miss!!!! 
Day 1: https://youtu.be/Q6bkS-4pHF8 

Samsung has a great track record of building digital tablets for creatives and the 
Samsung Note 10.1 was the second edition of the large Note series. I got a hold of one,
drew a couple of client gigs and still draw on it every now and then. 
Wacom made an S Pen replacement stylus, the Bamboo. It works perfectly on the Note 
10.1 
​
​Follow my work at @DeltaTangoMike Illustrator, designer, art biz coach and curator.
behance.net/dacreativegenius
instagram.com/deltatangomike

Follow Vector Maestros instagram.com/vectormaestros

Stay tuned, subscribe and turn on notifications because this week I will be drawing everyday with a different digital tool. A lot of times we think that we need better/pricier tools to create the art our talents deserve but the reality is we can create impactful art with very simple tools, even in the digital space including
#SamsungNote10 #SamsungNote5 #DellVenue8 #SurfacePro4 #iPadAir2#iPadPro #Cintiq21UX #HPprodesk #Windows10 #Android #ios @sketchableapp #AdobeDraw 
#AdobeSketch #iLikeToDraw #ArtLifeAllDay #DTM #ATL #DigitalArtist #DrawDaily#CreatedWithSurface #MySurface #AztecaModerno #DailyIllustrations#YouTubeLive #Bamboo #Wacom #Adobe #Sketchable

7 Day #DigitalChallenge starts with the iPad Air 2 and Adonit Pixel Stylus for iOS

The Adonit Pixel Stylus is perfect for drawing on iPad Mini, iPad Air and iPhones. I reviewed the Adonit Pixel here on Facebook: 
https://www.facebook.com/dacreativegenius/videos/10216718329661713/
https://www.facebook.com/dacreativegenius/videos/10216547686915751/ 

The iPad Air 2 is a great tool to start the digital drawing practice. My favorite apps are Adobe Draw and Adobe Sketch. Adobe has made it easy to connect drawing apps with the power of Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Draw thru the use of Adobe Creative Cloud. 

Stay tuned, subscribe and turn on notifications because this week I will be drawing everyday with a different digital tool including #SamsungNote10 #SamsungNote5 #DellVenue8 #SurfacePro4 #iPadAir2 #iPadPro #Cintiq21UX #HPprodesk And that means #Windows10 #Android #ios @sketchableapp #AdobeDraw #AdobeSketch

A lot of times we think that we need better/pricier tools to create the art our talents deserve but the reality is we can create impactful art with very simple tools, even in the digital space.

Follow my work at @DeltaTangoMike , illustrator and designer, DTM 
“Merce” character by @KeefCross and @DayBlackComic

The Azteca Moderno mural at Underground Atlanta by Dan Flores aka DTM aka DeltaTangoMike was painted in 5 days with the assistance of over 15 artists. The video captured in those five days have been condensed into a one hour frame lapse video. 

About Azteca Moderno Art Series:

The Born and raised in East Los Angeles, my Mexican history is evident in the multitude of murals and art in our neighborhoods. 

Many a mural tell the story of the Aztec Gods leading the Nahuatl people across the continent, from the mythical land of Aztlan to the south towards modern day Mexico City, to the city-state once known as Tenochtitlan. 

Spending my early childhood in the classroom in Mexico City, I listened to the stories of Aztec victory, bravery and defeat of the Aztec Empire. 
​

Stories that included amazing Aztec Gods like 
Tezcatlipoca, God of Destiny. 
Quetzalcoatl, God of Learning and Creativity. 
Chalchiuhtlicue, Goddess of Water, Life and Beauty. 
Chicomecoatl, Goddess of Agriculture and Plenty. 

Myth and History have no beginning and no end. We are part of that Myth, we are the continuation of that History. Azteca Moderno is my interpretation of those myths into modern day physical realities through my creative expression on the columns in Underground Atlanta. 

Atlanta is a city of diversity and inclusion. The Mexican and LatinX population have steadily grown from the Buford Hwy Corridor to south of Hartsfield Airport as proof that given a chance, our cultures can thrive together in harmony. 

The Aztec characters have creative tools like pencils, pens and markers instead of weapons. We are in charge of creating our futures now. 

About the Photos: The talented Zephaniah https://www.instagram.com/zephtography/  

About the Atlanta Underground Mural:

Azteca Moderno Mural at Underground Atlanta is part of the program by WRS to revitalize downtown Atlanta with awesome art in partnership with Cultivating Cultures, Art Is King and local artists. 

The first step are the white pillars sitting along Upper Alabama Street, Artists DTM, C Flux Sings, Travis Love and Pash Lima were commissioned to bring to life art that represents culture, diversity, inclusiveness and togetherness. 

The pillars at the intersection of Upper Alabama Street and Pryor Street were chosen by DTM for their proximity to the Post Office Co-work (our awesome sponsor!) building, a classic Atlanta landmark now in use by the local tech and entrepreneurship community. 


About the artists: 

DTM designed the Azteca Moderno Mural, started with markers and finished with paintbrushes. In between, a long list of awesome artists gave their time to contribute their artistic skills. 

Art Assistants 
@tresfloresss  
@BGillustrations 
@KSolDesigns 
@coreyograffi 
@drawdaley
@mykejohnson 
@zepthography 
@seejonescreative 
@unspokenworddesigns 
@ashleydpaints
@lonnie_quest 
@phenompiccoli 
@echadjinn
@lmanijc 
@carasartgalleria 
@slaysbyjaye 
@taay_114
@KarolinaByrd 
@joibaby 

DTM is thankful for the opportunity to produce Azteca Moderno for the Atlanta community! 

Take a look at your Art Life methods and decide what has worked and what hasn't. Then delete what didn't work in 2015 and add in new ideas and methods to 2016. 

I interview at least 50 artists a year, for the Art Is King Podcast, and every one of these artists stories illustrates the fact that the Art Life is not a straight path. There are twists and turns, surprises and letdowns, successes and failure. 

Through all of that, every artist finds success their own way. But you don't have to go at it alone. Atlanta has a thriving Art Community and you have to involve yourself! 


​
Arts Organizations
Follow on social media and show up at WonderRoot, C4 Atlanta, Office of Cultural Affairs, Burnaway and Art Is King events, Plus there are new organizations and groups of artists working together for the success of all. Cultivating Cultures, AWOL, Paragon7, Creative Collage Collective and more. They share tons of resources, advice, classes and opportunities. 

I am a member of every organization possible, I attend their classes, I submit applications, I follow thru on advice and resources they share online. I don't understand artists who claim that Atlanta has nothing to offer or that its the government's job to provide artists budgets. 

The info is out there. There are people out there who care and work tirelessly to provide artists with opportunities. 

Mentors 
I have several mentors. Some of them know they are my mentors, some I am able to find time to attend their events and classes and then stay behind to ask them for specific advice. I have a Business Mentor, a Startup Mentor, Art Business Mentor, Illustration Mentor and a half dozen professional artists who's work I admire and I find time to reach out to them to get their opinions on my work and advice. One of my mentors was the mayor of Avondale Estates! He's not mayor now but he's interested in seeing me succeed and has given me his time to share. 

Plus I am lucky to have a wife who is also my Business Manager. She fits in the TEAM Category but she was the first person to help me expand my art business horizons and try new methods of how to run my art biz. 

Classes
In 2015 I took a business class at C4 Atlanta, startup classes at General Assembly, pitch practice at Atlanta Tech Village, attended several business talks at Tech Square Labs, OHub, Iron Yard, Industrious, DeskHub, Thoughtworks, Google and countless meet ups throuought ATL. 

Classes, workshops, bootcamps, webinars, podcasts. I take every opportunity to learn something new and apply to my Art Life. 
The knowledge is out there. 

Put in The Work
The resources, the mentors, the classes and instruction without the hard work of the artist is useless. The artist must put in the brain power necessary to produce the Artist Bio, Artist Statement, Portfolio, applications, submissions, grants, sponsorships and marketing to help their career succeed. 

I hear artists ask a lot of questions, but then produce nothing with the info provided to them. YOU should care about your art career! 

Celebrate 
Finish a commission project: celebrate. Finished a personal project: celebrate. The celebrations can be as simple as a Facebook or Instagram post congratulating yourself or as intricate as taking your loved ones out to dinner. Celebrate with your supporters: your spouse, your children, your parents or fellow artists. Each celebration will give you the stamina and support to move towards your next goal. After a while, your supporters will look for your next success. 

Celebrate by yourself or with your team, the point is to Celebrate! 

Enjoy a moment with yourself. 
I enjoy a great cup of coffee, full of flavor and body. I say no to gas station coffee.

I like the aroma. I like grinding my own coffee beans. I like buying beans from different coffee houses in ATL. Dancing Goats, HodgePodge Coffeehouse and Chocolatte are my favorite spots. 

I've had a coffee grinder for years now. I can grind a few cups at a time so the coffee is ready to go. I have made my coffee on drip machines, french press and stove top brewers. I don't like the plastic flavor of the home drip machines and luckily, for christmas my wife bought me a pour over pitcher. 
Delicious. 

Build Relationships
Use other artists success's as an idea of what you can add to your methods, but don't compare your success to theirs. No one knows the amount of work you put into your career, work that happens behind the scenes, so theres no way to know the amount of work another artist has put into their career. 

But if you see an artist having success with producing an art book, then work on yours.Then ask that particular artist out for lunch, so you may have some one on one time and ask them for advice on how to get your art book as popular as theirs. 

Next time you reach out to that artist, show that you have applied their advice and share the results. Prove that you are listening and learning so that they continue to provide advice, otherwise you are wasting their time. 

DON'T GIVE UP
Try and try again. I don't want to do anything else with my life except art. Fine Art, Tattoos, Drawings, 2D Illustrations, Children's Books, Murals, Art Biz Classes, Teach Art, Teach Adobe, Everything Art. 

I started with Tattoos in 1995 and slowly evolved other parts of my Art Life. Focus on one part of your Art Life and push hard. No matter the obstacles, the naysayers, the twists that real life throws at you. Focus. Learn. Earn. 

This is DTM of DeltaTangoMike, founder of Art Is King wishing you a successful 2016. Focus on becoming a Thriving Artist and let go of the starving artist mentality. Success is yours!

DTM
[email protected] 
404.695.5769 

PS. follow Art Is King on Flipboard app on iPhone and android for the latest articles and resources for artists. click here and subscribe to Art Is King Magazine. 

PS, part 2. Follow the Art Is King podcast on iTunes. published weekly. 

DTM gets busy on one of the General Assembly chalkboard walls in ATL's Ponce City Market. A collaborative effort between General Assembly's original visual branding and DTM as the artist to lay down the chalk. 

Enjoy, leave constructive criticism and please share. 
Music by Mex Manny Beats and SouthSide Sickest (StepBoi CMC) 

DTM - dacreativegenius. Artist, Illustrator, Designer, Scribe, Muralist.... i Like to Draw! 
http://www.dacreativegenius.com  

@DeltaTangoMike
@_GAAtlanta 
@MexMannyBeats 
@StepBoi