Tips for a begginer digital artist?

[AlyssaAC]

I'm not sure if this is in the right place or not, but if it isn't, feel free to move it!

So, I manage to finally buy my first drawing tablet and pencil and was wondering if anyone has some tips for a beginner artist like me? From what I understand a little, it's best to sketch a drawing first, but I'm not quite sure how to do that. I haven't ever drawn real pictures before, so I would greatly appreciate some tips and tricks!

 

[DinosaurDumpster]

hmm...
-FLIP YOUR CANVAS!! It will help you see what looks off in your drawing. (Usually uses the shortcut F or M keys, but it depends on what program you are using)
-CTRL-Z (or command z, i think, if you are a mac user) is your best friend. This is where your hand should be most of the time on your keyboard. It will undo anything you just did
-Use the layer lock button. It's a nightmare when you draw everything on the same layer by accident.
-Use pen stabilization if your program/tablet provides it. This will cause the stroke to lag a bit behind your pen, letting you make smoother lines.
-Save your drawing often. It's the worst thing ever when you draw for 6 hours straight and your program decides to crash on you making all of that hard work disappear right in front of your very eyes.
-please don't use the line/circle/square tools, it just makes everything look boxy and gross and werid- just stick to the pen/pencil tool (some other tools are fine as well)
-Be sure to separate layers into sketch (being the bottom layer), different layers for coloring (i.e. skin will have its own layer), and line art
-When you have finished your sketch, be sure to lower the opacity of the layer by less than 50% (enough to where you can still see it). This will allow you to trace your work without it looking weird in the end.
-Use the magic wand. It's essentially a tool where you can select an area freely and you can fill in areas easier this way (it's really hard to get used to, so keep that in mind)
-Don't be afraid to use the the transform tool. This basically allows you to move, distort, etc. whatever area/layer you have selected. (also works with the magic wand tool)

These are just simple things that you will use (and definitely hear) most often. Sorry if you already heard all of these, they are just what I use most often in my work. Good luck =D

 

[Uffe]

@DinosaurDumpster pretty much covered all of it. As a beginner artist, do not be afraid to use references. There isn't anything wrong with looking at a pose of a person or a drawing and going for something similar. It can help if you're unable to figure out which pose you're wanting to go for. Just don't trace or actually plagiarize if you're using a drawing as a reference.

 

[AlyssaAC]

Thank you to you both. I'll keep this bookmarked so I can give these a try once my ipad arrives next month.

 

[FlimsyAxe]

Studying tip for drawing people: Use real-life references. Even people who create 2d art in a warped style start from learning the basics of anatomy. If you skip this step, you'll be stuck with simply copying poses from references instead of creating something original. Personally, what makes creating art fun is seeing my ideas come to "life" but that' won't happen with taking shortcuts. I learned this the hard way So yeah, be prepared to practice a lot.

 

[Belle T]

I don't know if this is relevant to you, but here's something I think every artist who transitions from traditional to digital often needs to be told sooner than later: Stop being afraid of cheating. Unless you're tracing with explicit intent on copying someone else's work or doing something obviously nefarious, you need to stop being afraid of using the tools and luxuries afforded to you with the digital medium. This may seem obvious to some, but you'd be surprised at the number of artists I meet who could vastly improve their skills if they weren't dead set that they can't, among other things...

• Use the transform tool.
• Use extensive reference, and multiple simultaneous references at that.
• Touch up the picture in post.
• Sample colors from other pictures with a similar color scheme.
• Use 3D reference to better visualize an idea.

...because they're afraid it's cheating or dishonest. These are all either things traditional artists (particularly in the comic book industry) do all the time or would do if they could. It's not cheating, it's using the tools at your disposal wisely. And trust me, if you don't have a grasp of anatomy, color theory, lighting, and technique, then your drawing isn't going to turn out good no matter how many of these "cheats" you apply, so you shouldn't be scared that it makes you a hack artist, either.

tl;dr, don't let traditionalists and purists dissuade you from making your life easier. Good art is a product of knowledge and skill cultivated overtime, not of miserably toiling away for days at something that could be easily be fixed in two seconds.

 

[Mezzanine]

Deleted

 

[EmmaFrost]

Literally my only tip is watching ridiculous amounts of YouTube videos. Find videos for beginners with the tablet you purchased. Learn tips and tricks and shortcuts with the software. Youtube is an invaluable teacher. I know everyone already knows this lol I just can’t recommend it enough.

 

[Fjoora]

Do not be afraid to draw from references! Please, Please, Please, keep this in mind!
Granted, if you're going to trace, don't post it and say it's your work, but references are perfectly valid and necessary for bettering your skills as an artist!

 

[AlyssaAC]

Thanks everyone for giving me some more tips! I'll be sure to try out every tool I can possibly use to make a good picture. I pretty much know how to draw and sketch, just need to learn how to do shading. I'm not quite good with that yet, so I'll look up some YouTube videos for that.

Another thing I'd add is you should probably look at some guides on how to use color. It works differently from traditional art. Can I ask what program you're using?

Sorry for the late reply, I'm probably going to be using Pro Create if my ipad can use it. It seems to be highly recommended.