If you spend a lot of time on Instagram or TikTok (and who doesn’t?) then you will have seen tonnes of people videoing themselves drawing on an iPad or a tablet.
These digital drawings have become super popular in recent years. They are a modern artistic style and are perfect for the Instagram era.
While a lot of people seem to think that anything digital is automatically easier, that isn’t always the case. You still need to have some artistic skills to produce decent digital art.
But, don’t be intimidated by the videos you see online. You don’t have to be good enough to start your own business to get into digital art. There are, however, a few things that you should know before you get started. Here are the most important things to do to get started with digital art.
- Invest in a Good quality Tablet
This might be obvious. But, just as you need good quality paints and brushes for painting on canvas, you need good quality tools.
The best tablet will be super sensitive and have pinpoint accuracy when it comes to the touchscreen. You don’t want to begin drawing only to find that the touchscreen sensors are ever so slightly off.
It’s also really important to find a tablet that works well with a stylus or stylus pen. Stylus pens are ideal for digital drawing. They are generally thicker and easier to handle than a traditional stylus. But will still have a sharp, pointed tip.
For example, the styluses for Gaomon drawing tablets are designed to mimic a traditional pen. But with more modern features and the ability to change the thickness of the line.
- Drawing Stylus
Even if your chosen tablet comes with a stylus, it’s worth considering other options. You might even find that you want different kinds of styluses.
You can, of course, alter the brush strokes and pen lines on any drawing software. But, the weight, shape, and style of a stylus pen are also important factors to consider.
We’re not telling you to buy a whole set of styluses as you would buy a whole set of paint brushes. But it’s worth checking out what is available. You don’t want to think you can’t transfer your skills to a digital format, only to find that a different kind of stylus was the only problem.
- Drawing Software
Even if your chosen tablet comes with some decent drawing software, it’s worth considering some other options. This is especially important if you have already settled on your individual artistic style.
There is a huge range of both free and subscription drawing software. But, fortunately, subscription software usually gives you a free trial. So make sure to try out lots of different options before paying for anything.
That said, don’t be put off a software because it requires a subscription. If you are investing in a tablet and stylus for your artwork, then it’s just as important to invest in good software (only if the free software doesn’t suit you, that is).
- Just Do It!
There is a lot to learn about digital drawing, such as brushes, erasers, layering, and altering colors. But you will learn all of these in time. It’s much more important to just try drawing straight away.
Some people prefer to sketch out a piece on pencil and paper before drawing it on a tablet. If you already enjoy drawing and are considering moving onto digital art, sketching out an image before transferring it to your tablet is great practice.
You can even take a photo of the image on your tablet and then trace over it. This is a great way of practicing using a stylus pen before you begin creating art from scratch.
- Try Out Tutorials
Even if you’re sure of your own artistic style, it’s worth trying to follow some tutorials. There are plenty of videos on YouTube and elsewhere that will provide you with the basics.
It might feel frustrating to try and learn from scratch. Especially if you already know how to draw and paint. But once you have the basics of digital drawing covered, you will be able to become more proficient.
Just as when you start any kind of new hobby, you are bound to be pretty bad at the beginning. But the fun comes once you start to see your skills develop.
You might even find that you’re better at digital art than sketching or painting.
