How I Discovered Digital Art

I used to enjoy drawing on paper as a child. The thought of creating my own world with a pencil and a paper is all I was ever infatuated with. However, I grew up and changed priorities. After years of focusing on music, I learned at around 17 years old that I was no longer good at drawing. I tried to get back to it, only to realize that my drawing hand have gotten too shaky that I couldn’t even draw a single pair of lips. It dawned on me that, just like plants (or people), even talent can wither when neglected.

Even though I was starting to accept the fact that I had outgrown the artistic child I once was, I still held on to my love for all things art. Essentially, art is the practice of using one’s imagination to create something that can evoke different reactions or emotions in people. Artists believe that to make art is to recreate reality. The ability to produce art was a special thing, and a part of me refused to let it go. The more artworks I come across of other people, the stronger my desire to retain my artistic side have become. I looked for ways to practice drawing again without having to waste paper. In my search, I found the “Paper” app on my 3rd generation iPad. Paper is an immersive sketching platform wherein you can use special tools to sketch, draw, paint, or design to your heart’s content, using a stylus or just your fingertip. I thought it was the perfect alternative to the traditional pencil and paper. I was also able to discover and use other similar platforms, such as Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Fresco, Corel Painter, ibisPaint, Paintstorm Studio, MediBang Paint, and Procreate (the one that I currently use).

One of my first ever digital artworks. (Made on Paper)

After only a few months, I quickly became used to digital drawing. I was producing artwork after artwork, and grew to love digital art more than its traditional counterpart. I learned how to produce art in many forms, including flyers, logos, posters, greeting cards, and more. I discovered the characteristics that would make for an effective digital artwork, such as perfect duplicability, interactivity, networkability, variability, and compositeness. I also learned how to apply small animation onto my artwork, which is effective for gathering attention. Recognition from fellow artists and positive feedback from friends, family, and even strangers encouraged me to keep creating, even though self-doubt and imposter syndrome would occasionally creep in.

It is amazing how far one’s passion can take them. Now, as I am typing this, I am working on my own art portfolio website. I also just opened a small online store where I sell products showcasing my designs. I can safely say that the future is starting to look up for me as an artist. I hope that whoever is reading this will never give up on the things that they truly love.