Creating digital illustrations is one of the most popular forms of artistic expression today. Artists create pictures or designs using computer software, then add texture, color, and composition to make their images lovable.
Illustrations are very common these days- you will probably use them at least once every week when reading this article! They can be designed and adapted for any media format, from blogs to websites, tablets, phones, and more.
There are many types of illustration styles that artists develop unique skills in. For example, cartoonists design funny pictures with lots of bold lines and shapes. Photorealistic illustrators strive to achieve a level of realism by including shades of gray and textures.
This article will talk about some different style categories and how they relate to making your own creative artwork.
Learn to draw with a pen
Many people begin drawing by using a brush or crayon, then use a different tool like a dry shampooed marker to put their signature on it. Some artists even start with a computer program such as Photoshop or Sketch before moving onto another digital art medium!
The first step in becoming an artist is learning how to draw with a pencil! There are many ways to learn this skill. You can either buy a new notebook and write down shapes, patterns and figures, or you can find free online resources for beginner artists.
There are several websites that offer lessons on drawing with a regular pencil. The best way to learn is to focus not only on doing whole drawings, but also practicing individual lines and proportions. By mixing up your practice of styles, you will expand your artistic repertoire more quickly than just staying within one genre.
After mastering the basics with a standard #2 pencil, move onto some harder materials such as HB (hollow-braded) or B (bladed) pens. These take longer to burn out so you get better control over how much color you add to your design.
Learn to use a marker
When it comes down to it, digital illustration is all about using markers. A marker is any shape or object that you add into your image. They are most commonly used to create lines in an image, but you can also do things like add circles or triangles as markers.
The trick to using a marker well is to learn how to draw with one! You will find there are many ways to do this, so no matter what kind of look you want, there’s a way to get it.
There are several types of markers you can use in illustrative art. Some examples include: brush strokes, pen lines, drips, dots, and free-hand drawing. All of these can be done in various styles and with different levels of complexity.
This article will go over some basic concepts of digital painting via illustration.
Learn to use a brush
A key part of digital illustration is being able to select which colors you want to use and where you want to place them in your image. You can take many different routes when choosing color schemes, but one of the most fundamental ways to begin is learning how to use a brush!
When working with brushes, you will choose a source asset (usually a picture or pattern) as the basis for your design, then add other colors onto that base using the tool’s various settings. Once all those colors are in, you can blend and mix them together to create new shades!
There are two main types of brushes: natural-looking ones and geometric ones. Natural looking brushes have wider bristles that spread out more slowly, creating a smoother look. Geometric brushes have very thin, sometimes almost flat bristle shapes that quickly spread apart! Both types of brushes are useful to know!
Another important thing to note about brushes is their scaling. It is easy to go too fast while painting, so it is good to know some tricks to keep things smooth.
Learn to use a pencil with a brush
When creating digital illustrations, there are two main tools you will need to learn how to utilize effectively– Pencil and Brush.
The most popular way to begin working in the pen style is by learning how to draw using a pencil first! By practicing drawing with a sharpened stick of graphite, your hand will get familiar with the weight and texture of the tool.
Once this is done, you can take the pencil away and add some lines and shapes with your computer’s graphics software or tablet app. You can also mix and match which ever medium you prefer to work with next.
By mixing both media, it becomes more versatile for you to experiment with and create different styles.
Learn to use a marker with a brush
Sometimes, digital artists get so focused on using other styles that they forget how to draw in their own style. Drawing is a form of expression, and if you never put your own signature on something, then people will not recognize you as an artist!
So what are some easy ways to learn how to draw like a pro? The first thing is to learn how to draw with a marker and a brush.
Many beginner artists start by drawing lines and shapes, but nothing more than basic geometric figures. They may also add simple textures or patterned brushes, but never both at once!
As advanced artists, we can already tell when someone has learned how to draw well because their work looks authentic and professional. It feels natural and fluid!
There are many different types of markers and texture paints you can use for this. You do not need expensive supplies to achieve great results. In fact, there are plenty of accessible products you can find online and at stores such as Amazon, Walmart, and Target.
Mix your paints
As mentioned before, illustration is not just about using solid colors or patterns. It is to use different textures, shapes, styles, and creative ways to portray messages and images.
Mixing up your paint brands can be done in many ways. You can mix them within a medium, like watercolor or acrylics; mixing with other materials such as gel pens, markers, or ink; or even combining both!
There are so many ways to combine digital illustrations that it becomes hard to keep up with all of them. But don’t worry, we have you covered! In this article, we will go over some easy ways to mix up your own style by experimenting with texture, color schemes, and pattern repeat.
Texture
Textured paintings are very popular these days and for good reason! They add depth and dimension to an image which aids in visual appeal. Adding texture to your painting can come from either adding brushstrokes, dry brushing, layering solids and/or patterns onto a canvas, or printing off of a material and then cutting into pieces.
Some artists layer paper, plastic wrap, or cardboard under their paint to create an interesting effect. All of these different types of textures give new life to old pictures! If you would like to try creating your own look, start with laying down one element first (like a cutout) and work from there.
Color Schemes
Colors used together develop a theme or scheme.
Create texture
When creating textures in digital illustration, there are two main things to consider. The first is how you want your piece to feel. Are you going for sleek or cartoony?
A very popular way to create texture is with brush painting. Artists use brushes that have soft edges to add more detail to their pieces by dragging them across the surface of an object. This technique can be applied to almost anything!
Another helpful tool for adding depth to your illustrations is using washes. Washes are layers of colors that slowly blend together as they go down the paper. Using this method, start with a plain color layer and then gradually lower its intensity until it’s completely gone. Then repeat with another color mix!
And lastly, remember that not every area needs to have a lot of detail. You can leave some parts simple if they give the image focus. In fact, sometimes less is more! Your audience will enjoy seeing the artistic process behind your work, instead of being focused on all the details.
Take your time to experiment with these tools and see what effects you can achieve.
Learn to use different shapes in your illustrations
When it comes to digital illustration, there are many ways to go about it. One of the most fundamental types is using various shapes in your artwork!
There are eight major shapes that every artist should know how to draw, identify, and work with. These include squares, circles, triangles, ovals, lines, semicircles, and polygons.
By learning how to draw each shape, you will find they all relate back to one another. For example, drawing a circle requires drawing a square or line, then adding a diameter to make a hollow sphere. Drawing an oval requires drawing two parallel lines and a third shorter line between them, creating a longer rectangle.
Knowing these basic shapes helps you create more interesting pictures. They can be applied to almost any genre- florals, landscapes, still life, and so on. The best way to learn how to draw each shape is by doing. Try making some sketches, experimenting with colors, and studying their styles.
