Should I Learn to Draw on a Tablet? (A Beginners Guide) — Joby Dorr (2024)

You may be tempted by the streamlined, clutter free appeal of digital art or the versatility of digital tools that allows you to create a wider range of artistic styles effects. Not only does digital art save time and reduce clutter, but it also boosts creativity with features like undo and redo options, infinite color palettes, and the ability to experiment with layering and textures so you may be asking: "Should I learn to draw on a tablet?"

You should learn to draw on a tablet if you want to pursue a hobby or career in digital art. As a general rule, practicing drawing using a tablet can better your art style and thus improve your digital artwork. Additionally, learning to draw on a tablet is more beginner-friendly in some ways.

Discover the basics of drawing on a tablet with our beginner's guide, including tips on creating digital artwork and improving your skills. Learn about the nuances of using graphics and screen tablets and find our top pick for beginners.

Learning to Draw on a Tablet for Beginners

Unlike traditional art, drawing on a tablet can come with a learning curve because of its integration with technology. In this section, we will break down the technical aspects of learning to draw on your tablet so you can begin doing so with ease.

Here are some steps for beginners on learning to draw on a tablet:

Now that you know how to use your tablet to draw, let's move on to how long it takes to learn to draw on a tablet.

How Long Does It Take to Learn to Draw on a Tablet?

Some of us who are beginning our digital media journey might already have some creative concepts for digital art in our heads and are eager to begin sketching away. Luckily enough, it may not take very long for you to learn how to use your tablet for drawing.

It generally can take anywhere from a few minutes up to three days to begin feeling comfortable on a tablet.

Of course, the time it takes for you to adjust to using your tablet over traditional media is affected by the type of tablet you own, how complex its system and features are, and how tech-savvy you are. Digital art and tablets are just like any other art medium and tools; it will take some time to get comfortable using them and everyone proceeds at their own pace. Luckily the digital tools are built to be fast and intuitive.

How Hard Is It to Draw Digitally?

For those of us who aren't quick to click with learning technology, we might not want to spend a lot of money on a tablet if it's too hard for us to draw digitally. So, how hard is it to draw digitally?

Factors like drawing in two areas at once with a lack of hand-eye coordination and having a slick screen rather than the texture of paper making your stylus slip might make drawing digitally hard for some people.

Despite there being a bit of a learning curve for getting used to drawing on a tablet, many factors actually make it easier to create art:

  • Art media will never run out (brushes, paints, etc.).

  • You can undo mistakes without making eraser marks.

  • You can color match without needing to mix more paint.

  • Quick fill makes creating art take less time.

Exploring Graphics Tablets and Screen Tablets for Digital Art

If you are thinking about going digital with your art, you might be wondering which kind of tablet will be the best to go with: graphics tablets or screen tablets? According toTabletFeast, the global pen tablet market is expected to achieve a market size of 803.9 million by 2027. So, it is obviously a huge market with a vast array of options to choose from which can feel very overwhelming. The best place to start is the difference between graphics tablets and screen tablets.

Graphics tablets are devices you can hook up to your laptop or desktop computer for creating digital art. What you draw on the tablet with its stylus shows up on the computer screen. On the other hand, screen tablets are devices you can draw directly onto using your finger or a stylus.

Some more specific differences between using graphics tablets and screen tablets for creating digital art are shown in the table below:

A top-notch painting software won't improve your art style, but practicing using one that is easy to learn and has many tools may help you do so. So, what's a painting software that makes digital drawing easier?

According to XP-PEN, "Adobe Photoshop is the favorite for all professionals, mainly due to all the highly advanced tools it has, and its second-to-none brush engine." Other lists made by artists on the internet that name the best painting softwares also have highly praised Photoshop.

Let's also take a look at the best free and paid painting softwares.

The Best Free Painting Softwares for Tablets

For beginner digital artists who don't have the money to spend on fancy painting softwares, there are free ones out there that still provide everything you need to get started with drawing on your tablet.

Two of the best free painting software art platforms for tablets are:

Now that you know the best free painting softwares, let's move on to the best paid ones.

The Best Paid Painting Softwares for Tablets

Though fancy, paid painting software won't improve your drawing skills, it can make the digital art process much easier and even include some unique features that free painting software wouldn't.

Two of the best paid painting software options for tablets are:

Now you know everything there is to know about learning to draw on a tablet.

Conclusion

If you want to experiment with other mediums and styles than traditional art, you should learn to draw on a tablet. Not only is it easier on the bank in the long run, but it's also easier to complete a piece of digital art using all of the tablet's features.

Should I Learn to Draw on a Tablet? (A Beginners Guide) — Joby Dorr (2024)

FAQs

Should I Learn to Draw on a Tablet? (A Beginners Guide) — Joby Dorr? ›

You should learn to draw on a tablet if you want to pursue a hobby or career in digital art. As a general rule, practicing drawing using a tablet can better your art style and thus improve your digital artwork. Additionally, learning to draw on a tablet is more beginner-friendly in some ways.

Is drawing on a drawing tablet easy? ›

Drawing Tablet With Screen — Making Drawing Easy & Better

You only need to adjust to the screen surface, and you're golden. Drawing tablets without a screen may be cost-effective but makes creating artwork a complex process. So, if you're a beginner, a digital drawing pad tablet is ideal for creating artwork.

What is a good tablet to start drawing on? ›

Wacom Intuos Pro

Wacom is one of the industry leaders when it comes to drawing and graphics tablets. With virtually no lag and 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity in the included battery-free Wacom Pro Pen, the Wacom Intuos Pro is the best drawing tablet on the market for professional artists.

Should you learn to draw on paper before tablet? ›

1 – A tablet is not a “Magic wand”.

But if you can't draw on paper, you won't be able neither on tablet. The tablet pen of your Wacom or iPad Pro is just an extension of your hand. However, if you can already do professional drawing on paper, it will enhance even more your skills.

Is drawing tablet good for beginners? ›

The consensus is that display tablets are better for beginners. New digital artists experience less of a learning curve since they are drawing directly onto their image. Pen tablets and displays are two of the best drawing accessories for iPad users.

How long does it take to learn to draw on a tablet? ›

I got used to it almost immediately, it's similar enough to drawing on paper. Give it a few weeks though, definitely would be weird if you used a pen tablet for years.

Is it better to start draw digitally or on paper? ›

But which one is best if you want to learn how to draw? Actually, there's not much of a difference. For both traditional and digital art, the best way to improve as an artist is: practice, practice, practice! If this is your first time drawing, try practicing with a reference.

Is it better to draw on a tablet or pencil? ›

The advantages of the graphic tablet

It takes less time. You can erase endlessly, the drawing does not wear out, there is no irreversible stain, you do not have to start over. The rendering is smoother and more hom*ogeneous. The tools and options are endless.

Should you learn to draw realistically first? ›

If you don't want to draw things that are in the real world and instead draw from your imagination, you still have to be able to represent what you intend. By learning how to paint realism first, you develop the skills to represent what you envision, even if it's abstract.

Is drawing a skill or a talent? ›

Drawing is both a talent and a skill. Some people may have a natural aptitude or talent for drawing, which can give them a head start in learning. However, talent is not a requirement to become proficient at drawing. Drawing skills can be developed through practice, learning, and dedication.

Is it easier to learn to draw on paper or a tablet? ›

There are a ton of good artists out there who use only digital and went to traditional mediums much later than most. All that being said, it's often easier to pick up pencil and paper to learn and practice the fundamentals, but these days, with iPad, it's just as easy.

Do drawing tablets work on their own? ›

They typically need to be connected to a computer — fully mobile “workstation” tablets with their own built-in systems do exist, but iPads tend to just be more practical given the difference in weight. Drawing tablets are available in numerous sizes and can be broadly split into two categories: display and non-display.

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