Like I mentioned on monday, I've decided that I finally want to get around to working on my graphic design/layout skills a bit more. Ever since I started doing website work, I've really enjoyed creating a good, clean site layout but I've been lacking the necessary graphics skills to really get that stuff done. I've always wanted to get around to learning more about photoshop and some of the techniques used in graphic design so I can broaden my skills out a little bit and not get stuck on the graphics side of the site design.

Well, this came up at the end of last week when I was searching for a photoshop tutorial to help Wassy out with something. I came across a cool site that had a tutorial for a technique that was really cool and I could have used in the past. Which eventually got me to thinking that I should actually get around to learning how to do this stuff. 

I took a graphic design course when I was in college as one of my open electives and aside from the fact that the instructor wasn't really a good instructor (he was in the business and had a lot of good information to share, he just didn't know how to share it) it was a good experience. I've been told that I seem to have a knack for this stuff, I just need to explore it further. I can't really draw in the traditional sense, but this area of it is focused on some different skills…so it could work out.

So, with now being a time where I'm sorta in a long period of transition in my life, it seems like it might be something to look into. At worst, I'll find out I don't like it or can't do it…no big deal. But if it's something that works out it makes me more of a complete package as far as web design and development is concerned. I know I need to be careful because I tend to get all excited about learning new things and then 1-2 weeks in lose interest. But this feels kinda like the right step for me to take at this point so we'll see how it goes…

I've been looking across the internet for some technique tutorials to give me a starting point and I'm also considering possibly taking a few courses at the local community college, but that depends on a lot of factors, most of them financial. I'd need to wander down there and talk to some people to gather information about that before jumping in further.