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How to Do Digital Art: The

Complete Guide for Beginners

So you want to know how to get into digital art, but you don’t know where to start.
Then, this guide is for you! 
Digital painting is an exciting prospect for complete beginners and traditional artists
alike. It’s less messy and more accessible than traditional art. You can create amazing
designs with a smaller learning curve than other mediums. 

But it’s also a big step to get started, and a lot of resources aren’t beginner-friendly.

You’re interested in digital painting, but you have some questions and worries, too. For
example, what tools you need to get started. Can you use your laptop, or do you have
to buy other gadgets and software?

Or, you’ve been wondering, how long does it take to get good at drawing digitally?

Don’t stress! I understand how overwhelming it is when you’re starting. In this guide, I’ll
share how to get started with digital art and break it down, so it feels achievable.

The good news is that you need very little to get started. The essentials are
something to draw on like a tablet or graphics tablet or your computer. Pair it with
drawing software, and you’re good to go!

Digital tools give you shortcuts to speed up the process and create amazing art in less
time. But it’s still highly skilled, and you’ll need to work at it to become adept.

Here’s my in-depth introduction to digital painting for beginners. It covers everything

you need to know, from the software to the tools and tips to get you started. 

If you want to learn how to paint digitally, read on. 

Table of Contents [
hide
]
1.
Digital art supplies to get started with digital painting
1.1.
Choosing Your Hardware and Digital Art Supplies
1.2.
Computer
1.3.
Monitor
2.
Tablets
2.1.
Graphic Tablets
2.2.
Display Tablets
2.3.
Standalone Tablets
2.4.
Scanner
2.5.
Camera
3.
Digital Painting Software
3.1.
Adobe Photoshop
3.2.
Affinity Photo / Designer
3.3.
Krita
3.4.
Procreate
3.5.
Gimp
3.6.
Clip Studio Paint Pro
3.7.
Artstudio Pro
3.8.
Corel Painter
3.9.
Brushes
4.
How to Create Your First Digital Artwork
4.1.
Sketch out your idea on paper
4.2.
Scan or photograph your design
4.3.
Connect your drawing tablet or your drawing monitor
4.4.
Choose your digital painting software
4.5.
Save your artwork
4.6.
Adjust the brightness and contrast of your artwork
4.7.
Color your design
4.8.
Add extra layers
5.
Getting started with digital art step by step
6.
How to get better at digital painting
6.1.
Sketch regularly
6.2.
Develop your sense of observation
6.3.
Understand composition
6.4.
Understand color theory
6.5.
Understand perspective
7.
Digital art tutorials
8.
The Wrap Up
Digital art supplies to get started with
digital painting
First of all, I’ll explain the essential digital art supplies you’ll need. It’s possible to learn
how to do digital art on any budget, so you can choose what works for you.

Choosing Your Hardware and Digital Art Supplies

You have some options when it comes to hardware for digital art. You can choose
between a graphics tablet, a display tablet, or a standalone tablet. 

For both a graphics tablet and a display tablet, you’ll also need a computer. So, you’ll
need a great monitor too. 

I’ve recommended some of the best products below and linked them to more detailed
reviews. Plus, I’ll share some of the essential factors to look out for when shopping
around. 

Computer
A decent computer is vital for digital art, as you’ll need it to power your drawing or pen
display tablet. Some artists also choose to draw on a laptop, especially if it has a
touchscreen.

You can also edit your designs on your computer, upload them to social media, or sell
them online. 

Some factors to look out for include:

Lots of storage space for your artwork

A fast and powerful processor
A good RAM – at least 8 GB but ideally 12+ RAM
A high-resolution display
A dedicated GPU, if possible

That all sounds a lot to consider, I know. But don’t worry. Check out my
recommendations for the best laptops for artists here. I’ve saved you the hard work
and research and pulled together the laptops that fit the criteria.

Prefer to use a desktop computer? Here are my reviews of the best desktop computers
for artists and designers. And if you want portability and power, these desktop
replacement laptops are perfect.

Monitor
When you’re making digital art, you’ll want to see it in detail. So, you’ll need a good
quality monitor, especially if you’re working on a graphic tablet. 

If you already have a good monitor, then you won’t need to replace it. But if you’re
relying on your laptop screen, then it’s time to upgrade. 

While there are many monitors out there, not every model is suitable for digital
painting. You should look for a large screen with high-definition and true-to-life colors. 

A wide color gamut is also important, so your paintings look vivid and bright. Here are
some of the best monitors for digital art and graphic design. You won’t go wrong with
any of these specialized monitors. 

The general rule is the bigger, the better. Look for a screen measuring 20+ inches to
cut down on eye strain and fatigue. Plus, your designs will look incredible on a large
display.

Tablets
Most digital artists prefer to use a tablet for digital art, as it allows you the best
control over your designs. But with tons of options, which tablet should you get for
digital drawing?

There are three main types of tablet:

Graphic Tablets
Pen Display Tablets
Standalone Tablets
Each type has pros and cons, so I’ll explain the differences and help you decide which
one to choose.

Graphic Tablets
First of all, the graphic tablet. This is the cheapest option available, but it’s also a little
basic. 

Graphic tablets don’t have a screen. Instead, you’ll draw onto the active drawing area
and see your design on your computer monitor. As a result, there’s quite the learning
curve to get used to a graphic tablet.

Some graphics tablets will have extra features like shortcut buttons and advanced
controls. Plus, they are super sensitive and responsive. So, if you can get used to
drawing while looking at another screen, they are an excellent choice. 

Although graphic tablets are pretty compact, they aren’t portable or standalone. You’ll
have to use it at your desk, connected to your computer. 

Most graphics tablets are durable and hardwearing, so they can last for years. If you’re
looking for an affordable tablet specifically for drawing, then it ticks all the boxes. 

Display Tablets
The next step up from a graphic tablet is a pen display tablet. One of the most well-
known examples is the Wacom Cintiq. 

These tablets are slightly more expensive but have the huge bonus of a screen. So, you
can see exactly what you’re drawing, and it feels more intuitive. 

But like the graphic tablet, a pen display still needs to connect to your computer to
work. They don’t function alone, and it’s not a portable option. 

Many artists choose these as they are more user-friendly, and it’s easy to make
corrections. Check out my recommendations of the best drawing tablets with a screen
to take your pick.
Standalone Tablets
More people are switching to using a regular tablet (aka a tablet computer). 

You can use a standalone tablet like an iPad Pro for drawing. Just download your
favorite drawing app, and you can create on the go. 

The best thing is that they are versatile, portable, and multifunctional. Many recent
tablets have incredible screens, so your digital art will look amazing.

But there are some downsides to using a regular tablet for digital painting. As they
aren’t designed solely for this purpose, they aren’t as specialized. For example, they
may not be as sensitive, and there could be a larger gap between your stylus and the
screen. 

You should check whether your preferred app will work on the tablet before you buy.
Not all software is compatible with every tablet.

There’s also the price to consider. These tablets tend to be more expensive than all but
the most premium drawing tablets. 

You may also need to buy a stylus separately, so factor that into your budget. The
stylus should have pressure sensitivity for the best experience and control. 

But these tablets are appealing due to their portability and versatility. If you want an all-
in-one gadget for everything, check out the top standalone tablets here. 

Scanner
A scanner is another helpful tool for digital art, although it’s not essential for every
artist. It can come in handy if you want to start a sketch by hand and transfer it to your
drawing software. Then, you can combine traditional and digital art for a new and fresh
result. 

Another benefit of a scanner is that you can create background layers for your artwork.
You can scan in paper textures or add hand-drawn textures.
The best scanners are fast, quiet, and durable. But most importantly, they should
produce high-resolution images. Here are my recommendations for the best scanners
for artists. 

But if you’re on a budget, you can skip the scanner altogether for now! 

Camera
You’ll need a good camera to photograph your artwork. That becomes essential if you
want to sell art prints or upload your artwork to social media. Here are some of the
best cameras for photographing your artwork. 

You can also upgrade your tools and hardware over time as you become more
experienced. You don’t need all the tools and supplies when you start with beginner
digital art. 

But if you want to make money from your digital art, you may want more powerful
tools. If that’s the case, you can invest more over time when you know exactly what
you need.

Digital Painting Software

There are tons of digital painting software and apps to choose between in 2022. You’ll
find both free and paid options available for Mac and Windows. 

You don’t need to invest in expensive software when you’re getting started. You can go
for a cheap or free option while you get used to digital painting.

Each software comes with a learning curve, but most of the skills are transferable. You
may need to find out specific shortcuts if you start using a new app. But once you
master one digital painting software, it shouldn’t be tricky to use a different one. 

As most programs offer a free trial, you can test out the software and see what you
enjoy using. A lot of it comes down to personal choice, so having a trial run is the best
way to find the right drawing app for you! You can also watch digital art tutorials to
help you get started.
Choosing the right one is entirely up to you. Keep your budget in mind – you don’t have
to overstretch yourself. Anyone can get started with digital drawing. 

Here are some of the best digital art software around right now! 

Adobe Photoshop

This iconic program is one of the most common among digital artists. It’s considered
the industry gold standard for professionals. But beginners can use it, too.

Photoshop provides you with a vast range of editing tools, textures, and brushes. It’s a
powerful program with an active community, so you can get support if you have any
questions.  

While Photoshop is one of the most powerful apps around, it’s a bit complex. But you’ll
find a digital art tutorial for almost anything you can do in Photoshop! 

For example, check out this beginner’s guide to digital painting in Photoshop.

But it’s not the cheapest option as it’s only available on a subscription model. You’ll
need to pay every month to use Photoshop. So if you’re on a tight budget, read on for
more free and cheap drawing apps. 

Affinity Photo / Designer

Affinity is a new kid on the scene, as it was only released in 2015. But it’s also much
cheaper than Adobe and offers a free trial, so you can test out the apps. 

You can use Affinity Photo for all your photo editing needs. While Affinity Designer is
perfect for digital painting, drawing, and illustration. 

Affinity is user-friendly and great for beginners, as it’s not so complex as Photoshop.
It’s also much cheaper at just $24.99 for a one-time payment. 

With tons of features, Affinity is the best affordable alternative to Photoshop.

Krita

If you’re looking for a free, open-source program, check out Krita. It’s ideal for
beginners and intermediates, with lots of brushes and textures to choose from.

It’s not as robust as Photoshop, so you may find it lacking if you’re an experienced
artist. Another downside is that the choice of digital paint tutorial for Krita is a bit
limited.

But it’s fine when you’re just getting started. Krita is one of the best free apps for
digital painting and drawing, making it perfect for beginners on a budget.

Procreate

iPad Pro users, listen up. You need to check out Procreate! It’s the top option for iPad
pro as it’s very affordable at $9.99 for a one-time payment. 

What artists like about Procreate is that it’s simple and user-friendly. There’s a minimal
learning curve, so it’s a great place to start for beginners. 

It doesn’t have the same range of features as Photoshop yet. But the creators
continue to work and add new tools all the time. Plus, you can find free and low-cost
brushes when you want to try out new digital painting styles.

Gimp
Gimp is another free open-source program. It resembles Photoshop, although the user
experience isn’t so smooth. This app takes some getting used to, as the interface is a
little confusing and sometimes buggy. 

If you’re looking for a free tool, you can try using Gimp. You can do a lot with this
software if you put in the time to get used to the shortcuts and interface. 

Clip Studio Paint Pro

Clip Studio Paint Pro is another fantastic option for digital illustration and sketching.
It’s especially great for creating comics, including by professionals. 

This app has a lot of potentials and is suitable for beginners up to experts. You can
start with simple drawings and work up to complex designs as you gain experience. All
within the same app. 

Artstudio Pro
This low-cost app costs just $11.99  and is available on Mac and iOS. Artstudio Pro is
versatile, offering everything from digital painting to photo editing. 

This feature-packed app has hundreds of brushes, gradient tools, fonts, patterns, and
more.

Artstudio Pro has a streamlined interface that doesn’t feel cluttered. And while the app
can be a bit slow at times, it works well overall. 

Corel Painter

Last but not least is Corel Painter. It’s powerful, and the latest update brought lots of
new, streamlined features. It’s easy to use and suitable for any artist, including
professionals. 

Corel Painter isn’t cheap at $429, so it will appeal most to more experienced artists.
But the one-time payment is often preferable to an expensive ongoing subscription. If
you want the power of Photoshop without the commitment, try out Corel Painter’s free
trial. 

Brushes
Although digital painting programs have built-in tools, you can buy extra brush packs.
That’s handy if you want to try a new digital painting technique. 

Brush packs tend to be affordable and provide you with exciting new tools to work
with. I’ve rounded the best free and low-cost Procreate brushes here. There’s a great
list of the best Photoshop brushes here. Take a look and see if you can find any
bargains! 
How to Create Your First Digital Artwork

Sketch out your idea on paper

(Image: Outmane Amahou / Proactive Creative)

For your first digital artwork, it can be helpful to draw with pen and paper first. Start by
sketching your ideas on paper to get an idea of what your design will look like. You can
use these sketches in your digital art or for inspiration to map out your ideas.

Work on the forms you’ll include in the final piece. Aim to create accurate shapes, but
don’t worry too much about the detail or shading. You can fill that in digitally when you
switch to your drawing software.
Get an outline and the overall feel or style, but it doesn’t matter if you don’t have all the
details planned out.

(If you don’t have a scanner, you can skip this step and get straight into drawing on
your tablet. It’s also fine if you prefer to work fully digitally!)

Scan or photograph your design

(Image: Outmane Amahou / Proactive Creative)

The next step is to scan your sketch and begin outlining it in Photoshop. Once you’ve
done that, you can hide (or keep) the pencil sketch layer.

This method is helpful for complete beginners who are new to digital painting. It
makes it easy to get started in Photoshop without all the overwhelm, as you have an
analog base to work from! 

Connect your drawing tablet or your drawing

monitor
If you’re still not sure about this, please take your time to read the above section on
tablets.
Choose your digital painting software

(Image: Outmane Amahou / Proactive Creative)

Next, you need to select a digital painting software to create your digital art.

For this tutorial, I’m going to use Photoshop. It offers all the features you need and is
commonly used by many artists. 

Other software options include PhotoWorks, Krita, Corel, and Luminar. You can take
your pick – most of the tools are similar in each app.

Save your artwork

(Image: Outmane Amahou / Proactive Creative)

Save your work regularly. This step is very important in order to avoid losing hours of
work in case the program crashed

Adjust the brightness and contrast of your artwork

(Image: Outmane Amahou / Proactive Creative)

(Image: Outmane Amahou / Proactive Creative)

(Image: Outmane Amahou / Proactive Creative)

(Image: Outmane Amahou / Proactive Creative)

Color your design

(Image: Outmane Amahou / Proactive Creative)

Now, you’re ready to add colors to your design! Create a new layer and start with the
basic colors of your drawing. You can add shading and highlights in the next step. 

Add extra layers

(Image: Outmane Amahou / Proactive Creative)

It’s time to add in those details! For this step, you’ll need to make another layer with
the ‘new layer’ button. Then, you can start to work on the highlights, shading, and
shadows. 

Each time, create a new layer so you can make changes without affecting what you’ve
done so far. 
(Image: Outmane Amahou / Proactive Creative)

When working on the shadows and highlights, keep in mind where your light is coming
from. If you are consistent with the light source, your painting will look more natural. 

You can build up the color to make the final effects. Now, you can also start to blend
colors by using the Eyedropper tool or different brushes. 
(Image: Outmane Amahou / Proactive Creative)

(Image: Outmane Amahou / Proactive Creative)

(Image: Outmane Amahou / Proactive Creative)

Once you’re finished, you can export your artwork! Tada! 

Getting started with digital art step by

step
By now, you know all the tools necessary for digital art. So next, you want to learn how
to start drawing digitally. 

In this section, I’ll share tips and a guide on digital painting step by step. 

Watching digital art tutorials is an excellent place to start. It will give you a great
overview and an idea of what you can create within your chosen software.

You’ll discover the various tools and brushes and how to use them. Look out for
tutorials specifically for beginners for a simpler introduction. You don’t want to get
overwhelmed on your first attempt.

Choosing a handful of brushes and tools and get the hang of them. Master these tools
so that you feel confident with the digital painting technique. Then, and only then,
should you move onto something new!

Starting slowly but surely is the best way to enjoy yourself and learn step by step!

How to get better at digital painting

Sketch regularly
As with any skill, practice makes progress. Never aim for perfection because no one is
perfect, and you’ll just get disappointed. 

To make sure you’re consistent with your new hobby, plan a regular time for sketching. I
recommend blocking out time in your calendar, so you don’t find excuses. 

The more often you draw digitally, the quicker you’ll improve. So, aim to make it a habit
and hold yourself accountable!
Regular sketching is good both for your practical skills and your creative process. You’ll
come up with new ideas and never run out of inspiration. Because the more you create,
the more confident you will become. 

Don’t be scared to make mistakes, either! You can learn from them and perhaps even
discover a new technique or an interesting effect. It’s all part of the growing process
as an artist. 

So step out of your comfort zone, challenge yourself, and try new things. You’ll be
amazed by the results! 

Develop your sense of observation

Every artist needs to work on their sense of observation. It’s essential so you can
recreate realistic, vivid images of people, animals, and the world around you.

Try to get into the habit of slowing down and paying attention to your surroundings.
Take the time to notice the little things, for example:

Movement
Facial expressions
Relationships and interactions
Emotions
Light
Shade
Form

When you pay attention to these details, it will show in your artwork! 

Understand composition
It’s just as important to understand art fundamentals when you’re doing digital
painting. The basics like composition, color, and perspective aren’t only for traditional
art. 

Composition refers to how you arrange the elements on the page.  Understanding how
to compose an image can make all the difference in the result. It’s what sets a
powerful, moving painting apart, while others lack that special touch.
You should learn some key techniques, from symmetry and balance to the Rule of
Thirds.

If you want a good beginner guide to composition, check out How to Draw What You
See by Rudy De Reyna. Although it covers drawing by hand, the same principles apply to
digital painting.

Understand color theory

How you use color in your artwork is crucial, so you need to consider it carefully.

Colors provoke a psychological reaction, affecting us emotionally. As a result, the

colors you use in your artwork will influence how people experience it. 

Once you understand color theory, you can achieve harmony, balance, contrast, and
more. You can play with the colors, create jarring images or evoke a specific response. 

I’ve reviewed the best books on color theory here. Browse through and pick up one or
two to develop a deeper understanding of how to color digital art. 

Understand perspective
Perspective is another essential skill to master if you want to be a talented digital
artist. 

Learning to paint in perspective will make your art look realistic and accurate. It’s all
about how you represent your subjects on the page (or digital canvas!) 

You can discover this art fundamental by reading these excellent books on perspective.

Digital art tutorials

If you’re ready to learn more about digital painting, online tutorials are your best
resource! 

You can find hundreds of tutorials, including demonstrations of specific techniques or

tools. YouTube has the best variety of tutorials and lessons on digital art. 
Sycra is one of the best YouTube channels for aspiring digital artists. There are all
sorts of videos to choose from to help you get started and continue to improve. You
can learn about composition, anatomy, drawing methods, and more. 

If you want to learn more, Skillshare has some great courses at affordable prices.

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The Wrap Up
Hopefully, this guide will make you more confident to try out digital painting! 

It’s not as overwhelming or scary as it seems. Just like anyone can pick up a pen and
pencil, anyone can draw and paint in Photoshop! 

With practice, an open mind, and determination, you can become an expert digital
artist. Plus, you’ll have a lot of fun along the way. 

Now you know all the tools and software you need, and you’ve got some great tips to
help you get started. If you have any comments, you can post them below. And let me
know how you get on with your first attempts at digital painting! 

For more tips, tutorials, guides, and reviews, follow me on Pinterest!