Imagine painting without all the mess, hasn’t it? Just a stylus and a screen would be sufficient to create works of art. You’re looking at oil pastel techniques painting. Having a whole painting studio within your laptop is the equivalent. But where would one begin?
Let us first discuss tools. Software like Photoshop or Procreate will be covered in a decent digital painting course. You now have a new canvas and brushes in these programs. Never forget, though, that how you utilize a tool matters more than its actual nature.
Imagine the familiar flutter of exhilaration mingled with worry as you stare at a blank screen. You ask yourself, “What if I make a mistake?” Let yourself go! I love how the undo button lets you paint digitally. erroneously? Simple press Ctrl+Z (or, on a Mac, Command+Z). A magic eraser, if you will.
Color theory, brush types, and layers are common course openers. This is where layers come in handy. Consider them as sheets of transparency layered one upon the other. One layer that you paint on won’t interfere with the layers underneath it.
Let’s now take a brief look at colour theory. Ever notice how some artwork just seems to stand out? Usually, this is the result of the artist having a deep understanding of their hues. Analogous colors go well together when they are complementary; complementary colors contrast.
Following in order are brushes. Pencils, paints, oils, you name it—digital brushes imitate their real-world equivalents! For an additional touch of flair, some courses even provide bespoke brushes.
The saying “practice makes perfect” applies to aspiring artists as well. Try to sketch every day. Hand-eye coordination and muscle memory can be enhanced even with haphazard scribbles.
Let me tell you a little about my personal trip to “digital artlandia” (yeah, that term is up for interpretation). My shading was smudgy and looked more like smearing dirt than it did creating depth when I initially started out. However, following numerous YouTube courses and weeks of work, I saw progress!
While we’re on the subject, tutorials are a treasure! Numerous gifted artists are generously sharing their secrets through thousands of free tutorials on platforms such as YouTube. Use them as additional pointers and strategies in addition to your course materials.
Bob Ross, do you recall? A cheerful attitude goes a long way in mastering any new talent, so his happy little trees were not only about technique. Consequently, instead of being demoralized by early setbacks, rejoice in your little accomplishments.
Beyond simply reproducing conventional techniques on screens, digital painting also creates whole new stylistic possibilities! Have you heard about vector illustrations or pixel art before? Because they primarily depend on accuracy, which is simpler to accomplish with software than by hand, these styles are quite popular online.
However, hold on, what about creativity? When creativity seems as dead as dust, where does it come from? Take a look about you! The infinite colors of nature, the distinctive textures of urban settings, and the unexpected inspiration that can come from seemingly ordinary objects are all there!
Joining online groups for digital artists is also a great idea. These groups are gold mines of information, with feedback loops that help artists improve their craft and support from other creators who have been there too.
Thus, take out your stylus and begin drawing right away. Thanks to technological breakthroughs, the sky is no longer even close to being the limit—it is now beyond the stars, bringing fantasies to life on screens.