Here in part 3, we are going to practice moving and editing individual nodes on our multi-curved stroke path. Open up your practice file in Inkscape. Click on the Edit Nodes tool from the left side toolbar:

Press the Shift key and then Click on your stroke path to show where the current nodes are and the angle of the arc for each curved segment:

Now you can click and drag each node segment to adjust, you will notice the segment node you are editing when it turns red:

Make adjustments to the node, the squares, and the arc, the circles, as needed. Click the Select tool, the Arrow icon, to view your progress:

To create new Bezier curves, or stroke paths, refer to part one of this tutorial series. Happy vectoring!

^^Click image for a larger version.

In part 2 on Bezier curves, we will learn how to add several nodes to an existing stroke path, which will give you the ability to create a curve line with many arcs on one stroke path. Open up your Goldy practice file in Inkscape. Click on the Edit Nodes button in the left toolbar:

Click and hold each node, signified by a square, and move them to approximately these locations, which are basically the beginning and ending of the curve line we are going to create. Use the arc adjustment tool, the circle, to adjust the angle or arc of the stroke path.

Now, you can see where we will need to add an additional curves to this stroke path, toward Goldy’s nose. Click on the stroke path and then click on the Edit Nodes button in the left toolbar:

And then click on the Add Node button in the top toolbar:

Now this is where it gets tricky, click on the stroke path where you want the new node to go and then click the Add Node button again. Then the new node should appear on the path where you clicked, like so:

This might take a bit of practice to get the placement where you want it. Now we need to use the arc adjusters, the circles, to get the arc on the back of Goldy to line up. Don’t worry so much about the nose side right now, as we are going to add another node there to better control that arc for the nose. Just basically get the back arc and then pull out the left arc to allow for room to get the curve for the nose.

Getting even more granular in our illustration, lets add the node for the nose curve. Again, click on the Edit Node button on the left toolbar, then click the stroke path, and finally click on Add Node. This time you may notice that Inkscape will place the node where it finds is the best place on the stroke based on your previous strokes. This can be a good and bad thing. I’ll save for another tutorial how to manually move nodes, as in this case, we can work with where it automatically placed the new node.

Adjust the arc handles, by dragging them around. Notice how when you adjust one side the other side will move. So, you need to adjust both sides until you get the style of wave or curve you want, like so:

Now, if you click on the Select tool, the Arrow icon, in the left toolbar,

it will give you a view of just the stroke path to you’re cool new wave curve!

This can be accomplished on the awesome open source software called Inkscape. Works on both Linux and Windows based computers. Don’t let the version number scare you away from this fine illustration tool, it’s pretty much professional quality already. And how can you not love a company who’s motto is “Draw Freely”.

Ok, I’m going to use screenshots from Inkscape to replicate Goldy, to show you how to use the Pen Tool, hands-down the most challenging tool to use in vector graphic illustration.

Once you have Inkscape successfully installed, open it up to the extensive main window. Click the image below if you want to see this image full size.

Next, you’ll want to download Goldy, so right click Goldy above and choose “Save as…” to save her to your desktop. We will use Goldy as a background to “trace” over as we use the pen tool.

Let’s open Goldy with File | Import, that way she will be automatically on the bottom layer.

Ok, it’s a bit small right. Easy enough to fix with the very handy “Zoom to Fit” button in the middle of the top toolbar:

Next we’ll set the Opacity of the Goldy layer to 60%, so we can just barely see the outline of the image. Click on the Opacity box, the [ O: ] in the bottom and type in 60, or whatever you want here. Also click on the Lock icon, to make this layer fixed. That way, as your working with the pen tool, you won’t accidentally edit the Goldy layer.

Cool thing here, to switch between layers, all you have to do is click the down arrow next to the layer name and select the layer you wish to work on.

Now we will Add a Layer, called Practice, on top of Goldy to use the Pen Tool on. Click on Layer | Add Layer from the top toolbar. See how the bottom layer is showing thru with the Opacity you set.

Alright, let’s get to work! First thing though, in Inkscape…it’s not called the Pen Tool. I don’t know why, it just not. It’s the Bezier Tool, so click on the Bezier Tool button on the left Toolbar:

The Bezier Tool

Click on this area of Goldy and then click somewhere on the arch of her back, see example below, and then release the mouse and press the Enter key on your keyboard to close this Bezier line.

Now, this is where it gets fun…and tricky! Press the Shift key and hold it. Click and drag on the second handle in the Bezier curve you created. See how you can adjust the arc of the curve now – sweet!

And that’s the basics – see the Pen / Bezier tool is not to be feared but conquored! Part 2 of this tutorial will be on how to add nodes to existing paths, which will give you the ability to create wave lines and multiple curves on one line.

Most interesting to me personally, were the variations in expressions of art for architectural pieces. As I enjoy drawing structures, see my 6 month project drawing a Spanish Mission, singularly stating a persistence of faith and beauty in the midst of the erosive forces of life:

it was inspiring to see the varied ways in which buildings are represented in different tones in American, German, French, etc artists. Just by style and composition alone, these structures can take on a wide range of feeling, philosophy and the many social issues of their times.

To view the Different Realities Gallery flyer in Adobe pdf, click here.

I was challenged and motivated to bring new elements into the way I draw buildings and structures. I am working on drawing a series of the Gothic churches in and around the Des Moines area and I can’t wait to return to find what other great inspirations will pop up on my next visit to the Des Moines Art Center!