While there are some who try to claim that digital art is not real art, the truth is that a great deal of the pieces shared by both professional and hobbyist artists online is created digitally. It isn’t the same as traditional art, of course, but digital art can be incredibly freeing to work with – applying texture is much easier, every color you could ever need is at your fingertips, and the ability to move and resize parts of a drawing is a lifesaver. So, where does one start?

Tablets

The drawing tablet is the tool that allows you to draw directly in whatever program you use. While it is possible to use a mouse to draw, many digital artists prefer the use of tablet and stylus, as they use the same type of movements as drawing with a pencil and allow for variety in stroke width based on pen pressure.

For a long time, Wacom was the only well-known producer of digital art tablets, but recently there has been a rise in more affordable brands, such as Huion. Most brands work very similarly, so whichever you choose will ultimately be based on your price range and whether or not you want your tablet to have extra functions, such as the buttons on a Wacom Cintiq that can be set to execute different keyboard shortcuts.

A major thing to keep in mind when picking out a digital art tablet is the difference between tablets with and without a screen. A tablet with a screen acts as a secondary monitor on which you can draw directly, but tends to be more expensive. A tablet without a screen takes a bit more getting used to as you have to learn how to draw while looking at your computer screen instead of your hands. This does emphasize the fact that digital art requires slightly different skills than traditional art but shouldn’t be considered a negative – many digital artists use screenless tablets, preferring the fewer number of cords they require for a more streamlined experience.

One last important thing to note is that digital art does not always require a laptop or desktop computer. If you have the iPad Pro and an Apple Pencil, you’re already well-equipped to start creating digital art. This setup has gained popularity in the last couple of years in particular, with a number of artists forgoing their drawing tablet and computer altogether in favor of the iPad and Pencil!

Art programs

From something as simple as MS Paint to something more complex and customizable as Photoshop, a digital art program of some kind is perhaps the barest essential for creating digital art, much like traditional drawing requires some kind of marking utensil and a surface on which to mark.

When starting out digitally, the cost of some programs can be intimidating. For example, three of the most popular digital art programs – Adobe Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint and Paint Tool Sai – offer plenty of features and an immense library of brushes, but come with a hefty price tag as well. Luckily, there are a number of free programs available which not only offer some of the same features as the more expensive programs, but can also be more user-friendly in terms of interface.

For a free, user-friendly art program that doesn’t compromise on features such as layer blending modes and custom brushes, my top recommendation is Autodesk Sketchbook Pro. Autodesk recently made its program available for free, and the official blog has an immense backlog of brushes for download, from chalkier brushes to watercolor. Sketchbook Pro was my first art program, and I still make use of it for some of my absolute favorite textured brushes. Sketchbook Pro also has an iPad version available.

Of the more expensive programs, Clip Studio Paint has my vote. Not only is it a one-time payment  – unlike Adobe’s subscription plan for Photoshop – but it also goes on sale for half price regularly. While less intuitive than Sketchbook Pro, Clip offers a massive library of resources, animation capabilities and – a must for me personally – the ability to save your own color swatches. You can also get Clip on your iPad, though you’ll have to purchase the iPad version separately.

Speaking of the iPad, the drawing app most popular with artists who work primarily on their iPad is Procreate, which boasts a price tag significantly lower than some previously mentioned computer drawing programs at $9.99. Procreate does allow for multiple layers, as well as custom brushes, a feature extremely hard to find in other iPad drawing apps. It also lets you work in high resolution, meaning that you can create print-ready images without having to export and fiddle with the file.

As with my previous article on traditional art supplies, this is by no means an exhaustive guide, just a collection of hopefully helpful information. However you create art, I hope you ultimately find it a rewarding experience!

“I was an artist, as many children are, from the beginning. I was the kid who spaced out in class (first through sixteenth grades) and drew pictures in the margins of my papers. Still do. I lived for the assignments and class projects that required building and designing things. Years later in graduate school I would learn, for the first time, that I am actually a visual / kinesthetic learner. We used to call it ‘right brained.’ It’s the way my brain is wired and it finally made sense why I struggled in school with math and linear type thinking. Still do! I was blessed to have parents who encouraged my art expression and my career goals. And I was fortunate to be able to take four years, eight semesters, of high school art which helped fan the flames of my passion,” said Quinn.

Quinn earned a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master of Science in Education from Northwest Missouri State University. He also completed coursework and part of the dissertation for a Doctorate of Education from Baker University.

Before joining Jewell faculty, Quinn began teaching art at Lathrop High School, in Lathrop Mo., where he served for seven years. Then he taught secondary art in the Liberty School District for fourteen years. While there, he also taught adjunct metal smithing and photography courses at Jewell. He will be retiring after teaching at Jewell for eighteen years.

“I’ve been asked why I didn’t attend Jewell when most of my family did, and it was simply because Jewell didn’t offer an Art Education major at the time. I had been good-naturedly teased about being the black sheep of the Jewell alums in the family, but I was able to redeem myself, to everyone’s satisfaction, by becoming part of the faculty,” said Quinn.

Although Dr. Quinn is scheduled to retire from full time teaching next semester, he will not be in full retirement. He plans to continue to teach adjunct classes at Jewell in the fall and in the future. He will also enjoy some free time to work on side projects and be around his granddaughters.

“I might finish that dissertation, or not. I have several sculpture ideas ready to be completed. If I win the lottery, I may donate funds to establish the Johnson-Nore-Quinn School of Visual Art at William Jewell College. But most importantly I plan to hang around my granddaughters more who are eight, five, and three months, so they can teach me how to be a better artist,” said Quinn.

Quinn’s greatest joy in being a teacher has always been working with students. It is what motivated and sustained him. He also greatly appreciates the collegiality and friendships he formed at Jewell. He feels honored to be part of the Jewell family.

“Some of my earliest memories are of hearing about William Jewell in reverential tones from my parents and grandparents, and visiting the campus with my dad as a child. Jewell was considered a sacred place to our family. It represented the highest standards of learning, opportunity, possibility, and a future. Jewell has been a part of the interwoven fabric of our family, and I can recall even as a small child of understanding that it was a special, even magical, place. To become a part of that heritage has truly been a blessing and privilege,” said Quinn.

Photos by Mykala Crews.