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How I Started My Digital Art Journey.
Read about how I started my Digital Art Journey and join me in learning digital art.
Deciding to Start
“The journey of thousand miles begins with one step”
Lao Tzu
The first step for any journey is to start. To begin my Digital Art Quest, I researched everything I would need. But the most important thing is the confidence to start. Learning something new as an adult is intimidating. But I hated to be haunted by regret, so when my research was complete I took action and started.
What Do I Need? Digital Art Supplies
In my Beginner’s Guide to Start Digital Art from Scratch, I talk about the 3 choices every new Digital Artist needs to make to start their journey.
- What Digital Art Device will I use?
- What Digital Art Software do I want?
- Where will I find my Digital Art Classes?
Digital Device: iPad
Digital can be made using many devices. 89% of American households have a computer which makes it the most accessible device to create digital art. Shockingly, I live in one of the 11% of households that do not (I am writing this art journal on a laptop, not a computer). Therefore I chose to buy a tablet. As a former traditional artist, I am used to using a sketchbook and a tablet with a touchscreen is the most similar digital alternative. I chose to buy an iPad (this is the one I chose). It is a pricey option, but I believe this is an investment in my future.
Digital Art Software: Procreate
There are many software you can use to create digital art. Like the highly recommended iPad, I also chose the very popular Procreate to create my art. That was simply down to price. In my research, I learned that Procreate was a one-time purchase of $10 and other software was either more expensive or subscription-based. A price tag of $10 was just right for me so I chose Procreate.
Digital Art Classes: Skillshare
The final component I need is classes. Someone has to teach me what I do not know. I decided on two options, paid and free.
YouTube University
Obviously, YouTube is my first choice to learn anything for FREE. So, I have subscribed to various digital artists with tutorials online that I can access for free. Most of these channels have great tutorials for specific designs and special tricks that anyone would like to learn including me. I have found tutorials that range from 15 minutes to an hour by many great creators.
Truly, YouTube will be a great resource for me to learn the basics of Procreate. there are several videos on simple gestures and feature to help beginners learn the device well. I found this cool video from creator Art with Flo, that teaches you 100 tricks and features on the Procreate App in 15 minutes.
Skillshare
While YouTube is great, I have also chosen to use the paid platform Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning platform for creatives and others who are interested in increasing their skills. I love Skillshare because you can truly find something for every educational level, beginners like me, and even professionals who want to learn something new. They also have content for things that are not as popular on YouTube. For example, my digital art journey is starting with Zentangle Art. Skillshare has several beginner-level classes to teach me Zentangle art in Procreate. It was so easy to find exactly what I needed.
Finding Time…
The greatest challenge for starting any new venture is Time. Finding time to study and learn can be difficult with an already full life. I currently work a full-time job 6 days a week. I have very little spare time to work on my art. There are several tips and tools to be productive and focus on your goals.
