The Artist People Chat

I can't do digital art either, but I want to get an iPad so I can practice on Procreate. Or photoshop on a Wacom tablet. One of the two.

I've heard that Photoshop isn't really the best to start out with, so if you do get a tablet, try Krita or Autodesk Sketchbook. They're both free and professional quality, but they're way easier to learn.

Aight. Thanks for the tip! I actually have been wondering where to start so this helps. But I can't get a tablet for the next two years because my choir is most likely going to New York next year and I have to pay half of $1500 or more. Depends on what my parents decide is a fair compromise.

I have to draw everything traditionally and then scan it. Sometimes I'll recolor it digitally on my dad's computer

I'm in the opposite situation, I've gotten so used to digital art that I've forgotten how to sketch properly with a pencil and paper, so I usually sketch everything on my computer and then trace it onto paper if I wish to color it traditionally.

Oof. See, I think the biggest issue with digital drawing is that the surface you are drawing on gives no resistance when you move your pen. Your hand just kinda glides across the tablet and it makes it hard. Paper has ridges and it gives resistance and it has texture. Idk. That's just what makes drawing on a tablet hard for me. Traditional drawing is so much easier.
(And that reminds me! I get my new copic markers and my eraser pencils today! Hooray!)

I have said so in the past, especially once I told him I wanted to be an animator, and after that I just try to avoid talking about art with family. I just show don't show art to anyone who doesn't care about art now. I'm actually drawing a lot more now, well not drawing but sketching. I tend to just leave my work to be sketches if I don't do it digitally. I can't draw digitally for the life of me so I have to import a sketch into Krita and finish it there if I want the proportions to be right. I'm actually in the process of redrawing my characters but I can't do digital art until my new pen tips come. For some reason you can only get new nibs from the product site.

What kind of tablet are you using? This might sound crazy but last year I was in the middle of a dragonfly picture and my last nib broke, so I took a spaghetti noodle, broke it, scraped at the end until it was smooth enough to be used on my tablet without scratching, and then used the noodle as a pen nib. It felt a bit odd and I had to use some duct tape to help it stay in, but it worked.

I use a bamboo ink pen with a 2-in-1 Dell laptop. Even if you don't have an art program when you pair it it has it's own note system you can easily doodle in. I thought about using a noodle since I've hard of others doing it before but decided I didn't want to risk ruining my pen or scratching my screen.

Well if you filed it down, it shouldn't really. If you get rid of all sharp edges it should be fine to use.

My device is very picky about what triggers touch. It'll accept a paired pen but not a basic stylus, or it'll let me use my pen for Krita but the moment I try Fire Alpaca I have to use a mouse. Sadly I doubt it would work with a noodle, but on the plus side shipping tends to be fast in my area so I should have new nibs in a week or two.

Heh… the word noodle is so strange. I love it.

Heh… the word noodle is so strange. I love it.

I have a character named Mr. Noodles. He's one of my nightmarish creatures shapeshifted into a cat. I have a sketch of him on this site I think.

Much cuteness!!!!!!!!!!!!

Awwww! I love the design, especially the tail feathers!

IT'S THE BIRBABBIT!!!!

I am practicing eyes as well, but in a stylized version because stupid art block prevented me from drawing face for the past month. Heh heh.

That's neat! I can't shade eyes properly if I tried so the shading is really nice.
I tried realism…. I think it was at a time when a lot of my art units focused on that style. Eventually I dropped it because I realized I didn't like it, so now I have my semi-real semi-not-real style.