How to Draw Digital Art: A Beginner's Guide to Procreate & Krita
Key Takeaways
- Start with a cheap tablet (like a Wacom Intuos Small for $80) before upgrading to an iPad Pro.
- Procreate is best for iPad users ($12.99 one-time); Krita is free for Windows/Mac/Linux.
- Master layers, brushes, and pressure sensitivity first—these are the building blocks of digital art.
- Practice daily for 20 minutes using simple exercises (circles, lines, shading).
---
Step 1: Choose Your Setup (Tablet + Software)
Digital art doesn't require a $2,000 Cintiq. I started with a used Wacom Bamboo (2012 model) and Krita. You can too.
Hardware options (sorted by price):
- Screenless tablet: Wacom Intuos Small ($80), Huion HS64 ($50). You draw on the tablet while looking at your monitor. Takes a week to get used to hand-eye coordination.
- Pen display: Huion Kamvas 13 ($300), iPad 9th gen + Apple Pencil ($400). You draw directly on the screen. More intuitive, but pricier.
- iPad Pro + Procreate: $800+ total. Overkill for beginners, but the best if you plan to go pro.
Software choices:
| Software | Price | Platform | Best for |
| ---------- | ------- | ---------- | ---------- |
| Procreate | $12.99 (one-time) | iPad only | Illustrations, sketching, social media art |
| Krita | Free | Windows, Mac, Linux | Comics, concept art, animation |
| Photoshop | $22/month | Windows, Mac | Photo bashing, complex editing |
| Clip Studio Paint | $50 (one-time) | Windows, Mac, iPad | Manga/anime, comic panels |
My recommendation: If you own an iPad, buy Procreate immediately. If you're on a laptop, download Krita—it's 100% free and has 90% of Procreate's features.
---
Step 2: Configure Your Tablet and Software
When you plug in a new tablet, Windows or macOS will install generic drivers. This is wrong.
1. Install the proper driver from your tablet manufacturer's website (e.g., Wacom Desktop Center, Huion Tablet Driver).
2. Map your tablet to your monitor. In Wacom settings, check "Force Proportions" so a circle on the tablet draws a circle on screen, not an oval.
3. Adjust pressure sensitivity. Open your software's brush settings. Set the pressure curve to a gentle "S" shape. This gives you soft strokes at light pressure and bold lines when you press hard.
Pro tip: In Krita, go to *Settings > Configure Krita > Tablet Settings* and enable "Use Windows Ink" if your strokes are jittery. In Procreate, turn off "StreamLine" for dynamic brushes—it smooths your lines too much.
---
Step 3: Master the Canvas and Layers
Digital art is forgiving because of layers. Think of layers as transparent sheets stacked on top of each other.
Your first canvas:
- Size: 3000 x 3000 pixels at 300 DPI (dots per inch). This is overkill for social media, but gives you room to zoom in and refine details.
- Color mode: RGB (not CMYK, unless you're printing).
Layer structure for a character illustration:
- Layer 1: Rough sketch (blue pencil, low opacity)
- Layer 2: Clean line art (black, solid)
- Layer 3: Base colors (one layer per color group)
- Layer 4: Shadows (multiply blend mode)
- Layer 5: Highlights (screen blend mode)
Keyboard shortcuts to memorize:
- `Ctrl + Z` (undo) – but Procreate has two-finger tap for undo
- `B` for brush, `E` for eraser (Krita and Photoshop)
- `[` and `]` to resize brush
- `Alt + right-click` (Wacom pen button) to pick colors
---
Step 4: Drawing Techniques for Beginners
The Ugly First Sketch
Start with a rough sketch using a round brush at 10-15% opacity. Don't worry about clean lines yet. Focus on proportions and composition.
Example: Draw a character's head as a circle, then add a cross for the face center. Place the eyes halfway down the circle, not near the top. I see this mistake constantly.
Line Art: Clean and Confident
Create a new layer above your sketch. Reduce sketch opacity to 30%. Now draw with a stable hand:
- Use a brush with pressure sensitivity (e.g., "Ink" in Procreate, "Bristle-2" in Krita).
- Draw in one smooth motion. If you hesitate, the line gets wobbly.
- Fix wobbly lines: In Krita, use the "Dynamic Brush" tool with stabilization set to 10. In Procreate, enable "StreamLine" to 30%.
Flat Colors: Block It Out
Create a new layer below your line art. Use the "Selection" tool (magic wand in Krita, automatic selection in Procreate) to select areas outside your line art, then invert. Fill with a mid-tone gray.
Then add color layers on top:
- Skin: #F5D6C6
- Hair: #3B2F2F
- Eyes: #4A90D9
Shading: The 3-Value Rule
Don't overcomplicate shading. Use three values per color:
1. Base (mid-tone)
2. Shadow (darker by 30% in brightness, 10% in saturation)
3. Highlight (lighter by 20%, desaturated)
Example for skin:
- Base: #F5D6C6
- Shadow: #D4A88C (add a new layer set to Multiply, paint with this color)
- Highlight: #FFE8D6 (add a new layer set to Screen, paint on edges)
---
Step 5: Practice Routine (20 Minutes a Day)
Consistency beats talent. Here's my recommended daily practice:
Week 1-2:
- 5 minutes: Draw circles, straight lines, and ellipses without lifting the pen.
- 5 minutes: Copy a simple drawing (like a cube or apple) from a reference.
- 10 minutes: Draw a character head using the Loomis method (Google it).
Week 3-4:
- 5 minutes: Gesture drawing (poses from QuickPoses.com, 30-second each).
- 10 minutes: Shade a sphere using the 3-value rule.
- 5 minutes: Color pick from a photo and match the hues manually.
After 30 days, you'll be comfortable enough to draw without relying on tutorials.
---
FAQ
Q: Can I learn digital art without a drawing tablet?
A: Technically yes—you can draw with a mouse or your finger on a phone. But it's painful and slow. A $50 Huion tablet will save you months of frustration. If you're broke, use Krita's "Freehand Path" tool to create vector lines.
Q: Why does my line art look shaky?
A: Two reasons: low tablet resolution (old models) or incorrect pressure curve. Update your drivers, set stabilization to 10-20%, and practice drawing arcs from your shoulder, not your wrist.
Q: What's the best brush for beginners?
A: The default round brush in Procreate (6B Pencil) or Krita (Basic-5 Size). Don't download 500 brushes yet—learn to control pressure and opacity with one brush first. I used the same brush for 6 months.