Ever since apps and software that allow you to draw and paint digitally have emerged, some artists delved into the medium or switched completely. While it can be just as difficult as traditional painting, there are features that come with digital art that you just can't have with traditional painting.
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1. Lower Costs
You can rack up costs depending on what colors you need, how big your canvas is, how often you paint, and what kind of paint you use. Paint isn't exactly cheap, and opting for the less expensive ones can affect the outcome of your artwork as they can be more diluted. For reference, some oil-based paints can cost up to $60 per gallon, and that's just for one color.
2. Brush Variety
Unlike physical brushes, you won't be limited to what you have in your inventory as you can create your own digital brushes however much you like. You'll even be able to create unique shapes and forms to easily paint desired textures on your artwork. If you don't want to create customized brushes, there are downloadable brushes online depending on the software you use.
3. Unlimited Color Palettes
You technically have unlimited color palettes if you know your way around color mixing, but you will still need the appropriate paint to produce the colors you want. With drawing apps having color wheels, you won't have to go through the process of mixing paint or buying the specific color, and you can even preview the color immediately.
4. Option to Undo
Traditional painting leaves little option for correction, especially with certain types of mediums like watercolor. Even with others like acrylic or oil painting, you need a certain level of skill to cover up a mistake. With digital painting, you can undo your mistakes easily more than once, and you won't have to worry about distorting other parts of your work.
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5. You Can Work By Layer
One of the best parts about digital painting is that you can separate your layers. That means that you can draw an outline on one and add a base color on another. If you don't want the outline on your artwork, you can simply delete the layer that has it. It also gives you the freedom to edit certain layers without distorting the others.
6. Cleaner Workspace
Painting can leave a lot of mess to clean up once you're finished. No matter how careful you are, there's always a chance that the paint will end up in places you don't want it to. There are also the materials you will need such as your paints, paintbrushes, water or thinner to clean your brushes, and many other items you need cluttering the space.
7. Not Needing Many Materials
Digital painting requires very little from an artist. Sometimes, all one will ever need is a computer and an app to create the artwork. Most painters will also use pentabs since they offer better control with strokes and lines. It could be an expensive investment at first, but you won't need anything else after that such as restocking on paints and canvases.
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