A definition of digital painting is using a computer to paint in the same way that an artist would paint with traditional media. A true digital painting does not employ the use of any outside filter such as those used to turn a photograph into an oil painting for instance. The digital painting is done in the same way a traditional artist would paint on canvas or paper.

But why would anyone want to paint digitally? For me, it's because the tools are always right at hand; a large studio cluttered with canvases and paint fumes is not necessary and there's no mess to clean up. The colors can be more brilliant and true-to-life than any other painting medium or they can be as subtle and subdued as the artist desires. It's just exciting to explore all the possibilites of this relatively new medium!

Here are a couple of screenshots showing the tools and a painting in progress in a digital painting program. This is not meant to be a tutorial but is only meant to give a brief look at digital painting. If you are interested in knowing more about this medium, please feel free to contact me, check my links page or do a search on digital painting.

Below is a screenshot of a quick sketch of an apple. I used the digital pencil to make the sketch (and the digital eraser to clean it up a little! lol)

It depends on the subject, but I normally don't sketch a lot of detail. The following screenshot shows the painting in progress. I like to experiment with the various brushes and chose the watercolor brush for this apple.

Notice the selection of brushes available in this particular program. Other programs may have a different selection but they all mimic real life painting brushes very well.

And here is the finished apple. This was all done using traditional painting methods and without the use of filters.

The apple, on a transparent background and without the watermark or drop shadow, is available in the Free Stuff section of the website.