Not everything we do in Photoshop has to be a photo effect or correction. There are some great graphics and illustration tools as well!
For the May column I have chosen the Pen tool (or specifically, the Curvature Pen tool) to take for a test drive with some custom brushes. Most photographers see the Pen tool as a way to create hard-edged clipping masks for precision work, especially with commercial products. This moth we’re getting more creative and stretching out a bit.
Exercises like this may not be something you’d typically expect for a photographer, but it does help build familiarity with the tools. It also gives you a chance to build a new skill that you can add to your body of work.
And it’s fun!