Have you ever looked at a stunning piece of digital art and thought, “I wish I could do that”? Maybe you’re a traditional artist curious about the digital world, or perhaps you’re just starting your creative journey. Whatever the reason, you’re in the right place.
I remember when I first dipped my toes into the world of digital art. Gone were the days of smudging charcoal on my face and not knowing about it as people gave me weird looks as I walked by.
In its place is now a digital pen, the ability to undo mistakes with the click of a button, and a very subtle case of eye strain.
Digital art was a concept I would always dream about but never really took to doing it, as it just seemed so overwhelming, so it’s safe to presume others can feel like that too.
But here’s the thing, digital art is more accessible than you might think. With the right tools and a bit of practice, anyone can create digital artwork.
That’s why I’ve put together this guide. I want to share and help you start your digital art adventure like I once did.
So, whether you’re a complete beginner or just looking to expand from traditional to digital, let’s dive in.
Understanding Digital Drawing Tools
Before you even begin drawing, we have to talk about your toolkit. Having the right equipment is essential for a digital art journey.
Hardware Essentials
First, you’ll need a device to create your art on. There are two main options:
Drawing tablets
These are dedicated devices with a pen-sensitive surface. Popular brands include Wacom, Huion, and XP-Pen. They offer precision and control, making them a favourite among many digital artists.
Touchscreen Devices
If you already own an iPad or Surface Pro, you can use the built-in touchscreen and stylus. While convenient, these devices might not offer the same level of precision as a dedicated drawing tablet. (Yes, phones can also be used).
Once you’ve chosen your device, it’s time to set up your workspace. Find a comfortable area with good lighting. Having a dedicated space for your art can help you stay focused and inspired.
Configuring Your Device
Now that you have your hardware set up, it’s time to get your computer ready for that digital art making you wanna do.
Installing Drivers and Calibrating Your Tablet
If you’re using a drawing tablet, you’ll need to install the necessary drivers. These software programs ensure your tablet works correctly with your computer. These either come with the tablet box itself or an instruction guide within the box that will tell you where to download the driver from.
Once installed, take the time to calibrate your tablet. This process helps your computer accurately translate your pen movements to the screen.
Proper calibration is key for precision and control, so don’t skip this step.
Software
With your hardware ready, let’s talk about the software that will bring your artistic vision to life.
There’s a wide range of options available, from free to professional-grade software.
Free software
If you’re just starting out, free options like Krita, GIMP, and FireAlpaca are great places to begin. They offer a solid foundation for learning digital art.
Paid software
For more advanced features and professional-quality results, consider investing in software like Adobe Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint, or Corel Painter.
(Tip: Clip Studio Paint often has discounted prices, so keep an eye out for sales. You can also purchase a lifetime license to avoid ongoing costs).
Mobile apps
If you prefer working on your tablet or phone, there are plenty of mobile apps like Procreate and Autodesk Sketchbook.
Don’t feel overwhelmed by the choices. Just start with something simple and gradually explore different options as you gain experience.
The most important thing here is to find software that suits your style and workflow.
Basics of Digital Drawing
Now that you have your set up, it’s time to get into the basics of digital drawing.
Understanding Layers
Imagine layers as transparent sheets stacked on top of each other. Digital art is built upon this concept. Layers allow you to work on different elements of your artwork separately, making it easier to edit, experiment, and hide away what you never want to see the light of day again.
There are different types of layers:
Raster layers
These are the most common and consist of pixels.
Vector layers
Used for creating scalable graphics like logos.
Adjustment layers
These affect the colours and tones of the layers below without altering the original pixel data.
By understanding and effectively using layers, you’ll gain more control over your artwork and streamline your creative process.
(Tip: For those using a computer or laptop, most of the previously mentioned software like Clip Studio Paint allows you to select multiple layers at once. To do this, hold Shift and right-click on the layers you want to select, then release the right-click. Alternatively, you can use Ctrl and right-click to select individual layers, avoiding unwanted selections).
How to Use Layers Effectively
Organise Your Work
Separate Elements: Use different layers for different parts of your artwork (e.g., background, line art, colours, shading). This makes it easier to edit specific elements without affecting others.
Naming Layers: Properly name and organise layers to avoid confusion and make navigation easier.
Non-Destructive Editing
Edit Without Risk: Layers allow for non-destructive editing. You can change or remove parts of your artwork without altering the original content. For example, you can adjust the colours of a layer without changing the line art.
Use Layer Masks
Control Visibility: Masks let you control which parts of a layer are visible or hidden. This is useful for blending, adding textures, or creating complex effects without permanently altering the layer.
Folders
Simplify Management: Folders can be used to group related layers to keep the workspace organised and manage complex compositions more easily. (Think of this as a storage box. When you create a folder, it’s like putting related items into a single box. This keeps all the relevant layers organised together, making it easier to manage and adjust them as a unit without having to go through the trouble of finding them again).
Adjust Layer Opacity
Blend and Overlap: Adjusting the opacity of layers can help in blending colours and creating smooth transitions between different elements.
Basic Tools and Functions
While digital art software offers a vast array of tools, let’s focus on the essentials to get you started.
Brush tool: This versatile tool allows you to create lines, strokes, and shapes. Experiment with different brush sizes, textures, and opacities.
Eraser tool: Use this to remove unwanted elements.
Selection tools: Select specific areas of your artwork for editing or copying.
Transform tools: Resize, rotate, and distort parts of your image.
Colour selection: Allows you to choose the colours you want to use.
Gradients: Create smooth colour transitions.
These fundamental tools will form the backbone of your digital art journey. As you progress, you can explore more advanced features and tools later.
Fundamental techniques
Line Art
Line art is the foundation for many digital art styles. It’s about creating clean, confident strokes that define the outlines and details of your subject.
Experiment with brush settings
Discover how different brush sizes, hardness, and opacity affect your lines.
Hardness: Controls the sharpness of the brush edge. A high hardness creates crisp, defined lines, while a low hardness produces softer, more blended strokes.
Opacity: Determines how opaque the brush stroke is. A high opacity creates solid lines, while a low opacity allows for more subtle and layered effects. This can also make the brush see-through.
Practice different line qualities: Explore thick, thin, dashed, and dotted lines to add variety and interest to your artwork.
Learn about stabiliser settings: Many digital art programs offer stabilizer settings to help you create smoother lines, especially if you have a shaky hand. It works by smoothing out your pen movements over a specified time. The higher the stabilizer setting, the smoother the line, but it can also delay the line’s response.
Is digital art hard to learn?
The short answer is it depends.
Like any new skill, digital art requires practice and patience. Did mine look good starting out? (No. Absolutely not, and I would not show those to my worst enemy). However, with the right approach, anyone can learn to create digital artwork.
The beauty of digital art is that you can experiment freely without the mess and cost of traditional art supplies. You can easily undo mistakes and try new techniques without fear of ruining your work.
Remember, every artist starts somewhere. Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle. Focus on your progress and enjoy the learning process.
If you need a bit more help, here are some tips to overcome some challenges you may face in your digital art journey
Tips to Overcome Challenges
Start with the Basics
Don’t jump into complex projects right away. Begin with simple exercises to build your foundation. Practice drawing basic shapes, lines, and shading. This will help you develop muscle memory and help you understand your tools better.
Use Tutorials
There’s a wealth of tutorials available online and in books. Follow step-by-step guides to learn new techniques and software features. Don’t be afraid to experiment and put your own spin on the tutorials.
Practice Regularly
Consistency is key to improving your digital art skills. Set aside dedicated time for practice, even if it’s just for a short period. The more you draw, the better you’ll become.
Experiment
Try different styles and techniques to find what works best for you.
Seek Feedback
Join Communities: Participate in online art communities to get feedback and learn from others.
Share Your Work: Posting your work online or in art communities can be a great way to get feedback and learn from others. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.
The art community is generally very supportive, and constructive criticism can help you identify areas where you can improve.
(Tip: Do not post on Instagram or your art will be used to train AI)
Utilise Resources
Online Courses: There are many online courses available that can teach you digital art skills. These courses can be a great way to learn from experienced artists and get structured learning.
Books and Articles: There are also many books and articles available that can teach you about digital art techniques and theory. Reading these resources can be a great way to supplement your learning and gain new insights.
Conclusion
Digital art is about experimenting, learning, and having fun. Start with the basics, practice regularly, and don’t be afraid to try new things. I hope this guide has given you the tools and inspiration to start your digital art journey.
Want to know about the art market for buying and selling in Australia? Read our article here.