About all walks of digital painting

If your like me then, you’re probably starting really late on with the digital side of art. I’ve in the past played around with software but never used it to create a fully polished piece of artwork.

I remember when I was a kid, playing with corel draw but couldn’t work out how to get the selection tool off (lol, I know…). So I then gave up with that one, all I really did on it was use the special brushes and play with the colours. Not really knowing what I was doing or utilising the whole program.

The I played with an architectural program, can’t remember what it was called, but I worked out how to use a 3D program and how to render, a slightly better leap than corel draw!

First actual picture I did.

Then about 4 years ago I started playing with Gimp, I worked out the selection tool this time. I learnt this program by going through every menu bar, clicking on it and seeing what happened. People are normally scared of a new program or a new method of doing anything.

“Do not be afraid!  For I am only a program and do not judge you if you do something stupid! I will not judge, nor harm you, I have a handy “undo” button too”

So, once you get a new program, experiment. Think of it as if you were a child again, wondering what glue actually tastes like, is it a good idea to paint your hand? (always yes lol). Whilst your work will be un-usable for a while, be patient.

Once you learn one program you know the basics of every program, I now use photoshop, corel painter and art rage. Mixing programs is like using pen and ink with charcoal, different media creates good results.


Some programs are best at doing different things, so you may find that one program won’t be enough.

There’s loads of free online resources to help you. Youtube’s the best I think because I’m better at practice rather than theory, it really depends on your learning type. Any way, on youtube, there’s tutorials on every kinda program out there, also digital painting tutorials, speedpaints (brilliant way to learn and be entertained)

If you want to do a “real course” get yourself onto Imaginisum Studios Inc, these people are pros they so commissions for movies, Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland for a start, Bobby Chiu created the Bandersnatch concept.

Here’s a link to thier website workshop.

http://www.imaginismstudios.com/workshop.php

They have a course for a huge range of different types of art. When I have the money I will be taking one of these!!

Even though some artists are very well established and have a huge following, doesn’t mean they know everything, education should carry on through all of your life, and practising your skills, learning new techniques should be apart of that.