Learn Digital Art w/o the stylus…

[AFAB Transwoman]

Hey, so I don’t have the Apple Pencil and I’m not able to buy one soon enough so….

I was wondering if the idea of learning about digital art using my fingers is worth it or if there is nothing to be learned without the proper tools.

If this is doable, I’d also love some resources on what beginner’s need to focus on. Thank you in advance!!

 

[Named User]

Draw using paper and pencils. You can’t design digitally unless you know how to draw. That means understanding line, perspective, color, shape, composition, and storytelling.

You can then take pictures of your drawing, put it into Illustrator, then use the pen pen tool to trace the shapes and add shadow and highlights.

Are there any example images that are similar to what you want to be able to do?

 

[Blue Gem Kosher Queen]

If I learned anything from spending a lifetime saying I cant do digital cuz I dont have a stylus is that not embracing your limitations is for suckers.
If you know how to draw for realsies, just do it and put it online. If you dont own the cool pencils and pens, do it too. If you only have a mouse and MS Paint, fucking go ahead. Is better to be called a DA tard than to not see your style grow.

If your pen (or pencil) and paper is good chances are the only thing you need to do in digital is inking.

 

[Inside your walls]

If you wanna learn how to draw something specifically, my suggestion is taking the object you want to learn to draw and then breaking it into shapes to understand what makes it that.

The alternate route is taking a picture of something you wanna learn to draw, trace it first and then
try to draw it by yourself. Usually then compare those two works you did to see what you need to work on and fix.

Also don't be afraid to take shortcuts when it comes to art with "art cheats" because
you'd be surprised how many professional artists solve drawing complicated stuff.

 

[Targeted Individual]

I'd say you should buy the proper tools.
It's difficult enough to draw on a screenless tablet, if i had to draw with my fingers i would kill myself.

 

[Targeted Individual]

If this is doable, I’d also love some resources on what beginner’s need to focus on.

I would recommend these videos.

Perspective and shapes are the most important thing, perspective allows to properly place the characters into a setting and shapes make your art interesting.

 

[CEO of Husbandos]

I recommend trying using a universal stylus pen as a cheap alternative, I was able to buy a tablet with a pen this year and soon I completely lost the desire to draw, thanks depression

 

[We Are The Witches]

Drawing with your fingers is too inaccurate, you'll probably not reach your full potential doing that, unless you actually want to invest time/effort that could be spent elsewhere.

You'll eventually get a stylus, so focus on that. Do traditional art, and as they've told you, learn to draw (perspective, anatomy, shadows, color-theory, etc). That's the main thing, those are the skills you want to develop.

If you absolutely want to do digital art as soon as possible, I'd recommend the cheap, standard Wacom (non-display) that's around 60$ or so, I have a couple and have had no problems with them for years, but I can only speak from my experience (since it's non-display, it'll feel different than drawing like normally).

 

[Kari Kamiya]

I learned to draw digitally with a mouse before I got a drawing tablet. It's doable if you put your mind to it.

 

[NaggotFigger]

What I most suggest drawing was to draw on papers, pencil and any pens you wished. Though, even though I do actually draw on a touchscreen with my finger sometimes, but it does actually fucking hurts your finger or your neck, especially when you are sitting and placing your phone or tablet and draw.

The risk has its own game. Best app to do this shit was ibisPaint or Medibang; but they all have shit ass blurring tool anyway, so when you are doing soft-shading: Just pick an airbrush and call it a day. The only reason you use a blur on these two is to give depths of field anyway; and it still sucks balls unless you do it on a small canvas size; just use gaussian blur instead.

Also, the pressure and the size of your finger to a drawing app can cause great inaccuracies, too; so I recommend you to save your money until you get a graphic tablet for your PC or Mac. Do not get those that has a plastic circle stylus that attaches to the tip like a dildo; they suck cock in my opinion. Save your bucks if you have art experience in both digital and trad.

Plus, I had been drawing with a mouse a lot when I was a child, putting aside from my old ass graphic tablets; but if you want to, the risk of your hands hurt gives you good rewards. Start first with MSPaint, then to any apps you find having the best curving tools. I use CSP with a mouse once, and its curve tool is very immaculate, and I enjoyed using them if I want to draw something with no pressure sensitivity.