5 Things I Tell Beginner Digital Artists

Introduction

This tutorial is designed for beginner digital artists who want to navigate the challenges of digital drawing more effectively. Based on insights from the video "5 Things I Tell Beginner Digital Artists" by viyaura, we will explore five important lessons that can enhance your digital art journey and help you grow as an artist.

Step 1: Understand That Coloring is Challenging

• Embrace the Difficulty: Recognize that mastering coloring takes time and practice. It's common for beginner artists to struggle with this aspect.
• Experiment with Techniques: Try different coloring methods such as flat colors, shading, and blending. Don't hesitate to use references to understand color dynamics better.
• Use Layers: In apps like Procreate, utilize layers for different elements (like shadows and highlights) to make adjustments easier.

Step 2: Clean Lineart is Not Always Necessary

• Explore Style Variations: Understand that while clean lineart is a common goal, many styles embrace sketchy or textured lines.
• Focus on Expression: Sometimes, the emotion and expression in your art are more important than perfect lines. Experiment with varying line weights and styles.
• Learn to Embrace Imperfection: Allow your sketches to have character; they often tell a story on their own.

Step 3: Challenge the Notion of Being a 'Good' Artist

• Self-Assessment: It's normal to question your skills. Instead of focusing on being 'good', aim to enjoy the process of creating.
• Set Personal Goals: Establish your own benchmarks for progress rather than comparing yourself to others. This could be learning a new technique or finishing a piece you’ve started.
• Seek Constructive Feedback: Engage with communities or peers who can provide helpful insights into your work without harsh judgment.

Step 4: Adopt an Improvement Mindset

• Continuous Learning: Embrace a mindset focused on growth. Each piece you create is an opportunity to learn.
• Reflect on Progress: Regularly review your past works to see how much you’ve improved. This can be motivating and help in setting future goals.
• Stay Curious: Explore tutorials, workshops, and other resources to expand your skills and knowledge.

Step 5: Choose the Right Canvas Size

• Understand Canvas Dimensions: Familiarize yourself with various canvas sizes based on the purpose of your artwork (e.g., social media posts vs. prints).
• Adjust for Detail: Larger canvases allow for more detail but can be harder to manage. Start with a size that feels comfortable.
• Check Resolution: Ensure your canvas is set to an appropriate resolution (at least 300 DPI for print work) to maintain quality.

Conclusion

Becoming proficient in digital art is a journey filled with learning and experimentation. Remember that coloring can be challenging, clean lines are not mandatory, and your value as an artist is not defined by external standards. Cultivating an improvement mindset and understanding technical aspects like canvas size will set you on a path to growth. Embrace these lessons as you continue to develop your skills and enjoy your artistic journey!