Digital Art: Your Practical Starter Kit

Want to make art on a screen but don’t know where to start? You’re in the right place. Digital art lets you draw, paint and edit right from a tablet or laptop, and you can share or sell your work instantly. Below you’ll find the basics you need to get going, the tools that won’t empty your wallet, and a few shortcuts to turn your ideas into finished pieces quickly.

Pick the Right Tools Without Breaking the Bank

The first question most beginners ask is, "Which program should I use?" If you have an iPad, Procreate is a solid choice – it feels like a real sketchbook and the learning curve is gentle. For Windows or Mac users, Photoshop is the industry standard, but its subscription can add up. Good news: there are free alternatives that work just as well. Krita and GIMP are open‑source, packed with brushes and layer support, and they run on most computers.

Don’t forget about the hardware. A basic drawing tablet from Wacom or a budget-friendly XP‑Pen can give you pressure sensitivity without costing a fortune. Even a smartphone with a stylus can handle simple illustrations if you start with apps like ibis Paint or Autodesk SketchBook. The key is to test a few options and stick with what feels natural to your hand.

Turn Your Sketches into Pixel‑Perfect Pieces

Got a pencil sketch you love? You can digitise it in two easy steps. First, snap a clear photo or scan the drawing. Make sure the lighting is even and the image is in focus – blurry shots add extra cleanup work later. Second, import the photo into your chosen software and use the “Image Trace” or “Live Paint” tools to convert the lines into editable vectors. If you prefer a softer look, simply layer the photo under a new brush layer and start painting over it.

When you work directly on a tablet, you can skip the photo step altogether. Use a lightbox app to overlay a photo of your sketch on a new canvas, then trace with a digital brush. This method keeps the original line quality and speeds up the workflow.

Once your artwork is on screen, experiment with colour palettes. Websites like Coolors or Adobe Color let you generate harmonious schemes in seconds. Apply the colours to separate layers so you can tweak each element without affecting the whole image.

Ready to share or sell? Platforms like Etsy make it simple to upload digital files, but remember to keep track of your earnings for tax purposes. In the UK, any income from selling digital art – whether it’s a printable, a custom commission, or a Canva template – must be reported on your self‑assessment return. Keep a spreadsheet of sales, fees and expenses; it will save you headaches when tax time rolls around.

If you’re thinking about licensing, sites like Canva have specific rules. Only use elements marked as “Commercial Use Allowed” and read the license details carefully. Selling Canva templates on Etsy is legal as long as you follow those guidelines and avoid copyrighted assets.

Finally, ask yourself how you want to monetize your skill. You can sell prints, offer freelance illustration gigs, create tutorial videos, or even launch an NFT collection. The most successful digital artists mix several streams – it keeps income steady and lets you explore different creative outlets.

Bottom line: start with a low‑cost tool, digitise your hand‑drawn ideas, experiment with colour, and set up a simple system to track sales. With those basics in place, you’ll be creating and earning from digital art faster than you think.