Tips for Aspiring Digital Artists: From Beginner to Beyond - by Candy Gerhardt - Artist at Candy Hearts Art
Dreaming of creating stunning digital art on your iPad? You’re not alone!
What if I told you, all that’s standing in your way, is you?
One of the most user friendly art programs in the world is called “Procreate”. You’ve probably heard of it. The programs title itself is a clever play on words since “procreating” is creating life, whilst you could also be a “pro” at “creating”, and, I mean of course, your art, should be your baby.
From Procreates sleek design, and welcoming user interface, it’s easy to see why it’s so popular in modern times amongst artists. There are many helpful features such as importing a private reference piece if you don’t want to share your secrets with the world, to tapping the screen with two fingers to undo something.
You can also double tap the side of your apple pencil with your index finger (or pointer finger if you prefer) to easily switch between brush tools from paint brush to eraser, and back again.
Learning features like these will make creating your artwork a breeze! There is also such thing as a clipping mask, which is a feature that allows you to paint within the boundaries of a layer.
Imagine a colouring in book, and you don't want to colour outside of the lines, clipping masks are that but digital. This feature is a favourite among many emote artists, cell shading artists, and cartoon artists. Knowing the tools is just the start, though.
I can tell you some of my scheduling secrets for creating better art within a few months.
Intrigued?A lot of artists will tell you that you need to draw every day to improve. This might be their experience, but it hasn’t been mine, and in fact, that would lead me into burnout.
What if I told you, that small incremental consistency was the key? I manage an art business, I home school my child, I have trauma so I need to work on self care as well as cooking, cleaning, and managing a household.
I need to do all of this, and still come up with new content for posting on my social media, etsy and my website.
I spend honestly, about an hour a day on marketing. But the real secret is, I only do art maybe one or 2 days a week. Sometimes I follow tutorials. I paid $39 for an excellent tutorial on 21 draw and it has really levelled up my anatomy skills.
However, be careful, selective, and do your research before doing any paid courses. Some of them are preying on artists.
Anyway, my big secret? I do art for maybe 2 days a week at 2 hours per art session. That’s all! I just keep doing it every week, on whatever day works for me. The rest of that time? I spend engaging on my social media, reposting old content. Less is more.
This schedule may or may not work for you, it depends where you are at in your art journey. In the beginning, I drew a LOT.
But if you’re a seasoned artist like me, and you want to improve, but you don’t have hours and hours a day to do it, this has been an amazing schedule.
I have time with my family, time for myself, and best of all, when I’m doing art I am actually present and enjoying it, rather than forcing it.
So, whether you're just starting your Procreate journey or looking to refine your existing skills, remember that progress isn't about perfection – it's about finding what works for you.
Experiment with the tools, embrace your own pace, and don't be afraid to challenge the 'rules.' You've got this! Now, grab your iPad, open Procreate, and let your creativity flow.
And if you’re looking for some custom brushes to get you started, or some cute stickers to decorate your workspace, be sure to check out my shop!
Article by Candy Gerhardt
Artist at Candy Hearts Art
