Tips On Drawing - 3 Drawing Tips for Digital Artists

Digital drawing is a great way to get your art out into the world without having to commit to lengthy production times and large print runs. Digital drawing also brings a range of interesting new artistic possibilities, with the ability to combine different textures, lighting effects, and other effects that are much harder to achieve when working with traditional media. However, digital drawing does come with its own unique challenges. For example, unlike traditional mediums such as pencil or charcoal where you can easily erase any mistakes and start over again from scratch, in digital art every mistake is permanent. This means it’s all too easy to create a mess and have no way of going back and fixing it. Drawing digitally requires a very different approach than working with physical mediums. Here are our top three tips for emerging digital artists.

1. Understand Your Apps and Tools

When starting out, it’s a great idea to become familiar with the capabilities of your chosen art apps and software. This will help you to understand the limitations of your tools, which in turn will help you to avoid the common beginner’s trap of trying to do too much. Many new digital artists fall into the trap of wanting to create finished and complex-looking pieces straight away, which can lead to frustration and a lack of progress. It’s far better to start small and work your way up. There’s also a lot to be said for the tried and tested methods of pencil and paper. Drawing is a process of taking a rough sketch and developing it into a finished piece. While digital art allows you to go back and start again from scratch if you make a mistake, doing so can become a crutch. If you find yourself constantly going back and reworking pieces, then it may be worth taking a step back and using traditional methods for a while to get your flow and confidence back.

2. Observe and Copy to learn

Learning about composition, color, and other artistic concepts can happen just as much by copying existing works as it does by studying theory. This can be a great way to get to grips with the basics and get some quick results. If you’re just starting out, it’s a good idea to choose a subject that’s fairly simple, so you’re not overwhelmed with decisions to make. Ink is a great medium for copying and refining pieces, as it’s quick and easy to work with, and it doesn’t require any drawing or sketching beforehand. You can simply select an image and trace it directly onto the page with a pen or nib pen.

3. Repeat the process

This is something you’ll hear time and time again, but it’s so important, it bears repeating. Drawing is a skill that takes time and practice to build up, and there are no shortcuts. There are a few ways you can maximize your learning and progress. The first is to set a regular schedule for practicing art. This can be daily, weekly, or monthly. The more consistent you are, the more you’ll get out of it and the faster you’ll see results. You should also keep a journal or art log. This is a good way to track your progress and keep track of your artistic milestones. It can also help to provide some structure and motivation for your artistic practice.

Conclusion

When you’re just starting out as an artist, it can be a daunting experience. There’s a lot to learn, and it can be hard to know where to begin. Digital art can help to overcome many of these issues, by allowing quick and easy experimentation and the ability to go back and start again if you make a mistake. But to get the most out of it, you’ll also need to understand your apps and tools, observe and copy to learn, and repeat the process.