Digital Art Basics

Explore & Discover

Open YouTube and search for "digital art for beginners" — channels like Ctrl+Paint and DrawWithJazza post free lessons that show you exactly what digital drawing looks like. Watch two or three videos without any pressure to draw yet. Notice how artists use layers, color pickers, and brushes differently than pencil and paper. Download Krita or Autodesk Sketchbook — both are completely free — and just click around the toolbar to see what each tool does. Don't worry about making anything good. You're just getting familiar with a new world. You're ready for the next step when you can name three tools in Krita or Sketchbook and describe what each one does.

Learn the Basics

Head to Ctrl+Paint.com and work through the free "Digital Painting 101" playlist in order. These short lessons cover the three things every digital artist needs: how layers work, how to pick and mix colors using the color wheel, and how brush opacity and size change your lines. Open Krita alongside the videos and practice each skill as you watch — pause, try it, rewind if needed. Aim for 20–30 minutes of practice daily. You don't need a drawing tablet yet; a mouse works fine for learning fundamentals. You're ready for the next step when you can create a new canvas, add multiple layers, and paint a simple color gradient using at least three colors.

Build Your First Project

Pick one simple subject — a Utah canyon rock, a pine tree from Memory Grove Park, or even your favorite game character — and draw it from scratch using what you learned. Start with a rough sketch layer, then add a color fill layer underneath, then paint details on top. Use at least four layers total. Watch one reference video on "how to sketch digitally" if you get stuck, but push through and finish something even if it looks rough. The goal is completing a piece, not perfection. Save your file AND export a flat PNG so you can share it. You're ready for the next step when you have one finished digital drawing saved and exported as a PNG file.

Experiment & Iterate

Take your first drawing and make three different versions of it. Change the color scheme on one — try warm desert tones (oranges, reds) inspired by Arches or Capitol Reef. On another, experiment with a different brush texture, like a watercolor or charcoal brush. On the third, add a simple background. Follow the "Paintable" channel on YouTube for short technique challenges. For each version, write one sentence in your sketchbook about what worked and what you'd change. This trial-and-error process is how real artists level up fast. You're ready for the next step when you have three distinct versions of one drawing, each experimenting with a different technique.

Advanced Techniques

Learn two advanced skills: custom brushes and digital shading. On YouTube, search "how to make custom brushes in Krita" and build at least two brushes of your own. Then watch a tutorial on "cel shading" or "soft shading" — both are popular styles used in game art and animation. Apply shading to a new drawing using light source logic: pick where your light comes from and stay consistent. If you have a drawing tablet by now, this is the step where it starts to feel really natural. Check out Lospec.com for free pixel art palettes if you want to branch into that style. You're ready for the next step when you can demonstrate two different shading styles on the same subject.

Final Project Showcase

Create one polished piece that shows everything you have learned — custom brushes, layered shading, a real background, and intentional color choices. Pick a subject that means something to you: a Salt Lake City skyline, a Wasatch mountain scene, a character you invented, or fan art of something you love. Spend at least three full sessions on it. When it's done, post it to a free portfolio site like ArtStation or Behance, or share it in a digital art community like r/learnart on Reddit. Write a short caption describing your process. You're ready for the next step when your final piece is published online and you can explain three specific choices you made while creating it.