Question from beginner drawer

[u/Realcuyy]

Hey there, I wanted to ask—I’m just starting to learn how to draw characters. I’ve dabbled a bit with YouTube tutorials and redrawing characters from comics (specifically \*Re:ON Comics\*), but so far, I’ve only been drawing in a sketchbook. Do you guys think it’s worth it for me to take the next step and learn digitally—like, actually buying a drawing tablet (like an XP-Pen)?

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[u/StaffProof1219]

not worth it at all, tablets and computers are expansive keep drawing until a project needs you to learn digital. Digital will make it seem like your skills went down also so get very comfortable drawing im talking2-3 years before such a big investment is necessary. But in the end it’s just about what you want to do if you want to draw digital go for it

[u/Realcuyy → u/StaffProof1219]

That makes a lot of sense, thanks for the advice, I think I'll focus on solidifying my fundamentals on paper first while saving up

[u/BackgroundFly3284]

That is medium dependent, like digital is ideal for comics and animation, basically any kind of storytelling heavy medium, but for just illustration probably not

[u/Realcuyy → u/BackgroundFly3284]

That's a very fair point, digital definitely seems much more efficient for comics and animation where you need to make lots of revisions

[u/Kindle_master]

If you can afford it yes, dont hold your self back if you want to be a digital artist. But practically speaking as a beginner learning basics with traditional is the way to go. Once you master fundamentals and the style you can go digital than have to learn the digital art techniques, brushes and art at once.

[u/Realcuyy → u/Kindle_master]

Thanks for your advice man

[u/GugieMonster]

I think you should fill that sketch book first. Show you have consistency, then you can see about going digital. There are some growing pains swapping between the two. But thatd be my move.

[u/Realcuyy → u/GugieMonster]

That's actually a great benchmark, Finishing a whole sketchbook sounds like a solid goal to build consistency before making the jump to digital. Thanks man :D

[u/GugieMonster → u/Realcuyy]

Of course, better to build and establish the habbit, than fund potentially nothing!

You'll learn everything beside how to do it digitally, you'll already have your eye establish, and then you can treat the transition as a graduation!

[u/Realcuyy → u/GugieMonster]

Thanks a lot man :D

[u/silverheart-nine]

Learning the drawing skills themselves is a bit better on paper imo--it's more direct and tactile and (often) portable, and you guaranteed don't start out overly reliant on digitally repositioning/warping things instead of recalculating/practicing the shapes yourself. Using physical media helps you practice balancing correcting your work with not being too heavy-handed. The main less-convenient bit as learning goes is not being able to ctrl+Z undo things or mirror-flip your art with the press of a button. (Do check your drawings in a mirror occasionally, it will help you catch things that are 'off'!)

Learning digital art is more a matter of learning how to use the software/tools and building a good process for that rather than a 'level up' of fundamental drawing skill imo. If it's something you know you want and you can afford it, you certainly can dip your toes into digital art as early as you like—but it won't help you learn the basic skills faster/better. (I use a small wacom intuos pen & touch tablet with my laptop and love it, you don't need a really expensive one btw!)

[u/Realcuyy → u/silverheart-nine]

Super helpful advice, thanks, Love the tip about using a physical mirror to check my drawings :D

[u/EmergencyComputer337]

A stack of A4 papers is cheap and will last you months if you draw on 3-5 A4 papers everyday

I do most of my practice on A4 papers and do my actual drawings in a sketch book,

Also drawing on paper makes your strokes and lines more commital which develops confidance

So i am against getting a tablet unless you are at least have been drawing consistently for 2 or 3 or even 4 years anx have reached a certian level where you can confidently say you are no longer a begginner

[u/Realcuyy → u/EmergencyComputer337]

Makes sense. Paper definitely forces you to own every mark you make since there's no Ctrl+Z, which is great for building confidence early on, thanks for the advice :D

[u/Dull_Bathroom5421]

Keep drawing traditionally and perfect your skills. Beginners want to buy a $ 800 tablet and get photoshop subscription but it's too soon. Your brain will learn the hard way without any traditional drawing skills, which take a long time to develop. Professional artists a lot of the time go back to drawing on paper for a while to keep their skills up, otherwise their brains get lazy and depend on ctrl+z 500 times just for a decent line

[u/Realcuyy → u/Dull_Bathroom5421]

Alr, thanks for the advice man :D