What my First Tablet Taught me about Digital Art

Before I was making emotes, Game Over, and hi-res digital anime-style illustrations, I was all about traditional art. My go-to materials included COPIC markers, Pigma Micron pens, and even Blue Line paper. But supplies were expensive, colors were hard to replicate in prints (we'll save that one for another day!), and mistakes were very costly. Moving to digital seemed like the perfect solution to my problems, even if it meant learning another way to create art.

It wasn't.

My first tablet was a Wacom Bamboo, an 8x8" tablet with only 6x6" of drawing space. I thought I was upgrading, but instead, I found myself fighting against my own hardware. The square drawing space vs. rectangular screen and canvas issue made smooth sketching and maneuvering around in Photoshop impossible. On top of that, my heavy hand wore down the nibs, scratching the surface until I was dodging rough spots while drawing. And don't get me started on the low pressure sensitivity that left every line looking flat, pixelated, and lifeless.

After a few months, I quit digital art entirely.

I went back to traditional art for years before finally giving digital another shot. It took a better tablet, better software, and a better understanding of what actually works for my drawing style. Over on my Adventurer's Guild Patreon, I’m sharing more about that process, including old sketches, lessons learned, and what finally made digital art click for me. If you’ve ever struggled with making the switch, you’re not alone.

If you're considering making the switch, there's hope.

Come check it out, share your experiences, and get exclusive access to my creative process for products, manga, and more.