The best way to draw on a computer is by using a Stylus and Graphics Tablet with an art creation program. As beginner, you may draw with a mouse but this can a bit tricky to use. For more information on how create digital artwork on computer, read on!
This tutorial will outline some of the basic and professional ways in which you can draw on your computer or smartphone. If you don’t have a drawing tablet or stylus, or a large budget there are other low cost ways to start creating digital art – even as novice or ‘newb’.
Beginner – drawing on your computer and creating digital art
Drawing on a computer can be more straight forward than you think. I started out using a regular old rubber ball mouse and Microsoft Paint when I was child – long before a Stylus and tablet came into my life.
So, the absolute bare essentials for drawing and creating digital art for you computer are as follows :-
– A regular old mouse
– A keyboard
– A computer
– A graphics program (digital art software)
Is creating digital art easy?
Yes and no, getting started with creating digital art can be very easy and low cost. Getting to a stage where you could call yourself a professional artist takes time and years of practice. The best ways of getting started with creating digital art is by downloading graphics software and get practicing to improve you digital drawing techniques.
I wish I could find my very first digital drawing, it was created on a Windows 3.2 in the era of the awesome floppy disk – you can read a bit about me here.
What digital art software should I use?
There are so many to pick from, but for the sake of just creating something you can call ‘digital art’, begin with something you may already have, MS Paint In Windows. by delving into Paint, select a colour and away you go!
There are other art programs out there which are also free such as Gimp and Krita. I have personally never used Krita but the results on the website show what it is capable of and it has also been given a recommendation from a reputable digital art magazine IFX (Link(. This magazine is dedicated to creating fantasy, digital and traditional artwork.
Advanced digital artwork software
As both a designer and digital artist, I use 2 main programs to create my art and design work, these programs being: Abobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop.
Adobe Illustrator often gives very clean cut appearance that you may seen in books, posters, life style magazines etc – this is called ‘vector art’.
Adobe Photoshop is a versatile piece of software that behaves like a drawing and painting tool and offers an intuitive work flow. The example below shows the two different program styles and what they can create. This is just an example created by me – Jimmsdesign.
It should be noted that these programs can both be tricky to master and you may be more drawn to one that the other. You can get a free trial or purchase a subscription to use the software by going to Adobe Creative Cloud (link) and downloading it. If you are just starting out on your journey to becoming a digital artist or illustrator, I would test a free program first.
What type of graphic artist or designer do you want to be?
As budding digital artist, designer, illustrator or painter what sort of outcomes are you looking to achieve? If you are unsure and just trying your hand at creating digital art on a computer that is fine a starter step.
Here is what may suit you more if…
Adobe Illustrator may suit you more if you want to become a designer or a clean cut vector artist. The way a vector drawing behaves inside a program is a quite a different to raster art program such as Photoshop. Adobe Photoshop is great If you are wanting to work as a traditional illustrator, digital painter, game artist etc.
There are thousands of examples of digital artists on social media with websites and professional blogs. Some to mention : Behance, imagine FX, Artstation. Design Week are filled with a colossal range of talented designers and artists.
This person here is a terrific vector artist and designer – Vicky Doodles
What equipment to use for drawing on a computer?
Using a mouse to create digital artwork (beginner)
The humble computer mouse has been around for decades and is often the first got and very basic tool for drawing on a computer. You can still use a mouse be it a optic or USB (these still around?) to create digital art in MS Paint, Paint Shop Pro and Photoshop or any other 2D graphics software.
Using a computer mouse when trying to draw onto a computer is fairly simple. It is often a case of selecting a colour, a brush shape and size and drawing around the white space. As I already mentioned, I can recall using paint has far back as Win 3.2 back in the early 90’s. the left mouse button and start applying pixels or digital paint.
A computer mouse in action | digital drawing
This example shows the end result of some digital artwork created using a mouse in Photoshop. It’s a bit trickier to use although it’s not bad for straight lines!
I would advise moving on from a computer mouse at some stage if you are thinking of getting serious with drawing on a computer, be it for graphic design, illustration or your own sanity.
If you are thinking of spending many hours drawing and creating digital artwork, using a different input will save on potential wrist ache also.
Using a stylus and graphics tablet to create artwork (beginner + intermediate)
The day I plugged in a Wacom graphics tablet was the day I changed the way I created digital artwork on a computer. Using a drawing or graphics tablet can make the experience of creating artwork on a computer much more organic.
Below is an example of me sketching something in Photoshop using a Stylus, Tablet. It’s quicker, smoother and much more human way for creating a drawing, or in this example a black line sketch.
Reasons why a stylus and tablet are great options for drawing on a computer
– It will offer a greater level of control when trying to draw on a computer – when you get used to it.
– It will offer a better work flow.
– It may reduce wrist strain when drawing
– The stylus and pen often come with pressure sensitivity, allowing for a greater level for control and hopefully moving you closer to the digital artwork you want to create.
– Short cut commands can be added to the drawing tablet to speed up the work flow.
Once I started using a tablet after a couple of days it became second nature to me.
How long does it take to learn how to draw with Wacom drawing tablet?
When drawing with a Stylus and Wacom tablet it can take as little as 1 hour to start creating digital artwork.
I tried an experiment on a friend to see if he could use the drawing tablet… he found it strange at first but quickly got used drawing on a Wacom Tablet (Intuos Pro).
It should also be added that he is neither an illustrator or an designer, or a somebody who can use Photoshop! Within 1 hour, he was drawing! That is how quick you could pick it up, although what who drew on the day wouldn’t look amiss from something a 7 year old would bring home – that is beside the point.
He could use the tech.
Have the drawing technology wont make you an digital artist overnight. It takes time.
A Cintiq allows you to draw straight onto a computer screen
Using a Cintiq removes the disorientation of drawing from a Tablet to screen, you can work straight onto the display using your drawing stylus. You will create the graphic art you want sooner but it is a higher price point as this technology is generally more expensive.
A Cintiq is one the best tools to create professional digital art on a computer. It acts just like pen paper offering great results without technological limitations.
My professional use of Cintiqs is very limited due to it’s price and being satisfied with Bamboo (now Wacom Intuos Pro) tablet. Cintiqs are great quality and are top of the range pieces of equipment. If you are a beginner I would recommend starting with one of the cheaper tablets first.
This video, shows a Cintiq in action. This is not me by the way.
How to draw on Smart tablets and Smartphones
In recent years technology has come a very long way for digital artist’s, designers and illustrators. We are no longer confined to just drawing onto a computer, we can now create artwork on the go with smartphone and stylus.
David Hockney has created artwork on his tablet (iPad) and exhibited it without limitations or reduction to the quality of his style. The only observation I have made is that the edges if the pixel perfect brush strokes is that they have a slight spongy and blurry feel, but that could be due to the scaling up of the artwork from a tablet or phone – a smaller screen blow up big can reduce image quality.
You can read a bit more about his David Hockney artwork here :
You can now create digital artwork from your Samsung, Iphone, Ipad, or most ‘Smarttech’ which is available online.
Drawing on a tablet or a Smartphone using stylus can be and low cost way of trying your hand at digital drawing or painting. This the equipment you will need to draw on a Smartphone or Digital tablet :
– A Smartphone or Tablet
– Drawing or graphics software download onto your phone or tablet. You can look on the app store or Google play to find an application that suits your phone or spec.
– A tablet or smartphone stylus.
It should be noted that I have used a Wacom Bamboo Stylus Mini to create artwork on my phone just for doodling. It’s light, small and convenient. But gave me personally ‘meh’ results.
Summary | how to draw on a computer using a Stylus and Tablet.
If you skipped the the basics on how to create digital artwork on your computer this how to do it simple steps.
1) Buy a stylus and drawing tablet of your choice.
2) Install the hardware on your computer.
3) Check the drivers are up to date – calibrate the software to your computer
4 )Download a graphics program such as Photoshop or one of free applications mentioned previously.
5) Open the software.
6) Start creating digital art!
Summary | how to draw on a computer using a Mouse (PC) in quick steps
1) Check your mouse is installed
2) Open the relevant art program such as (MS paint) or if you have something better – great!
3 )Voila! Start creating your masterpiece.
Credits – All the best with your digital art journey and creating digital awesomeness on your computer.
Thank you for reading, hopefully this post has given you some insight into how to create digital artwork and an idea of tools you can use to draw onto a computer.
If you would like any professional assistance please feel free to contact me on my website.
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