Hi sorry to bother but do you have any advice for starting digital painting? I just don't know where to start or what I need. You're blogs great and really helpful btw x
Hey, sorry this took so long! It’s a great question, but it’s a bit broad.
Step 1) Choose your fighter!
Digital art might seem scary because we think it requires fancy tablets, or styluses, or whatever. But in reality, digital art can be done with… just this bad boy:
(I drew with a mouse for the first…. 3 years?)
Also, if you have one of these:
(for those of you on mobile.. it’s an iPad. You can scroll down now.)
You’re also kinda set! And you can either draw with your finger or buy a little stylus.
Of course, some of the more traditional examples are a bit more expensive. I would say that if you’re shopping for a first-time tablet, you need to think small. A classic choice is one of the WACOM tablets like this one:
But to be honest… there’s LOTS of alternatives to WACOM, since they tend ot be expensive. Definitely don’t waste money on a giant WACOM tablet right away. In fact, don’t do it at all. There’s tons of lower-price tablets available.
Here’s one, for example. Just look around!
Step 2) Choose your ARENA!
Maybe you heard that Digital Painting software is expensive. I’m here to tell you - It’s not true!
Well, it’s kinda true. But there’s lots of free alternatives available.
Some of the most popular programs are ones with lots of extra features - Photoshop, Manga Studio and Paint tool SAI.
But having lots of tools at your disposal doesn’t actually mean that you’re going to automatically draw better. In fact, MANY artists obsess over brushes and brush settings, and special effects…. but from what I’ve seen, the brushes really don’t make much of a difference. There’s lots of brushes which are useful - like stamp brushes, which allow you to quickly add simple shapes to avoid drawing them over and over again.
BUUUT to be honest, there are things you can MAKE YOURSELF in ANY drawing software, and it’s not that difficult to do.
So, my takeaway? DON’T throw away money to get some fancy software right off the bat… because in the end, you can still accomplish just as much with free software like…
(Medibang Paint PRO - this is what I currently use)
So go forth! Download some free somewhere. But be careful because the last step is…
Step 3) WHATEVER YOU DO, DON’T TAKE YOURSELF SERIOUSLY UNTIL YOU’VE HAD AT LEAST 30 DAYS WORTH OF PRACTICE.
This is important - perhaps more important than anything. A lot of artists who get into digital art give up within the first few days. I hear a lot of “It just wasn’t for me.”
The trick is, of course, that digital art, just like traditional art, takes time to adjust to. Sometimes the reason for giving up is that your tools did not match well to your personality and art. Sometimes, the reason is that you did not have access to the right program. A lot of times, the issue is just impatience. Digital art SUCKS for a long time until you get into the swing of things. You won’t have to relearn everything - but you will have to relearn the tools!
I’ve written more on the subject: HERE!
AAANd that’s about it! Thanks for coming to my TEDtalk!
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