Things I Wish I Knew When Starting Digital Art

When You Study

1.You can learn from artists in different mediums like oil and acrylics, not just digital artists. To learn the basics, it is worth learning from digital artists, but after that, you don't have to.

2.Choose a good master to learn from. You can learn different subjects from different artist.

For example, from the artist J. C. Leyendecker you can study color theory.

3.Practice from pictures. Copying pictures teaches a lot about the technique we have chosen.

It is important that you pay attention to what images you use, do not use AI or images with too much lighting or Photoshop. The best thing to do is simply learn from what is in front of you.

4.Pay attention to who you learn from and what. Today, due to social media, there is too much content and it is difficult to choose who to learn from. Remember that teaching is also a skill, so Remember, read comments, and see student work as part of the selection process.

The Painting Process

5.Warming up makes a difference! When I started, I wouldn't warm up before and I didn't understand why I was having a hard time drawing. A light warm-up of a few seconds makes a difference.

6.Sketches, a drawing tablet is not like paper and pencil, you need to practice using it like any other drawing tool. Sometimes a drawing tablet is more complicated and some people prefer to draw on paper and then transfer it to the computer.

7. At first I would take colors from a picture that I thought would match. Now I know how to choose colors:

Contrasting colors - warm and cold and vice versa

saturation- the background in desaturation color and the main object in saturated color.

8. A blurred background gives a 3D feeling! When I was drawing I wanted a more cinematic style, and I had no idea that a blurred background gave this effect. Even if there are several background layers, there is always (at least for me) one layer with a blur.

9. There are a lot of people who work on an item that is not the main painting and is generally in the background and is barely visible. If you find yourself stuck on drawing an item that is not related to the main point of the drawing, just stop and ask yourself if it is necessary.

Finding Ideas

10.Developing an idea is important, it gives you the opportunity to create something different. But, too much ruins the drawing process so Keep it simple! The best way to develop an idea is to combine two topics. For example, a flower in space, a circus elephant in the middle of the street, etc.

11. With social media, there is an over emphasis on staying in the same style, but the truth is that as a beginner digital artist, it ruins the learning process, and is also boring. Enjoy the journey and try different styles. It is important to practice one style at a time, but don't take it too seriously.

12. Take breaks! Breaks are very important in the drawing process - when choosing a sketch or when you get stuck on something or just when you need to, Your brain needs a refresh.

The Most Important

13. Don't look too much at other artists on social media. It's applies to all fields not just digital painting. Excessive exposure can cause comparisments, lowers self-confidence, and leads to a desire for unrealistic perfection. When you find yourself comparing your work, take a break and check what you see on social media. If necessary, stop using social media for a while.

14.share your work! Share your work no matter how bad or not good enough it seems. Sharing on social media and feeling if it's comfortable takes time, start early with it. You can always change!