In today’s world, digital art is quickly becoming more and more commonplace. And although some still regard traditional art as superior, it’s no secret that digital art is commanding the stage more than ever before.

 If you’re a sprouting CG artist questioning your decision, or an established one thinking about switching out a stylus for a paintbrush, you may be wondering if you have what it takes. We’ll break down the differences between the digital painting process and traditional painting to help you discover which artistic approach is your perfect match:

Digital Painting Process

Many traditional painters may find themselves enticed by the prevalence of digital art, and for good reason. There are a number of features of the digital art process that are creatively  liberating! Here are just a few distinctive characteristics that set digital painting apart:

• Non-destructive: One of the biggest benefits to digital painting is the ability to easily create and erase elements without affecting the entire piece. This non-destructive process not only boosts efficiency, but also gives you more control of the outcome. Unlike traditional art, where the materials you’re working with don’t always make things easy, a stylus is a much more user-friendly tool. That means, whether you’re adding, deleting, duplicating or resizing elements, you have much more power over the process.
• Accessible: Unlike traditional art, which requires all the right tools and materials before getting started, the only tools digital painting really require are devices people may already own, such as a tablet or even a smartphone. And even if you don’t have one, there’s a good chance you’re at least familiar with how they work, which demystifies the process and makes beginning your digital painting journey far less intimidating. 
• Convenient: Similarly, the lack of required tools makes this artform much more convenient and straightforward. Instead of having to lug around your supplies everywhere you go, with digital art, everything you need can be held in your hands. There’s no trips to the sink to empty your muddy water, no messy clean up, and no running out of paint. In addition, there’s much more use and versatility in, say, an iPad compared to paint brushes and canvases, making the investment as a newbie far less risky.
• Transferable: With the proliferation of the digital in our world, the ability to transfer and apply your skills outside of the digital painting niche is a huge bonus. If you want to dabble in other areas of digital art—such as web, graphic or animation design—it is much easier to do so after gaining experience in digital painting. As in all things, there may still be a learning curve, but many of the techniques and principles you’ll learn will help you build a toolkit that is highly desirable in the broader industry.

Traditional Painting Process

Although some may fear digital painting will one day replace its traditional counterpart, traditional art is far from being endangered. The visceral experience of creating art by hand is something ingrained in our nature, and although digital art is gaining popularity for a number of reasons, it will never be a true substitution. Here are just a few unique aspects of traditional art-making that renders it timeless:

• Tactile: As mentioned before, nothing can replace the sensation of creating something physically with your hands. Your ability to work with materials and manipulate and bend them to your will is a unique talent that takes time to develop, but is also hugely rewarding. Through doing this, you not only understand physical materials better, but can practice motor and coordination skills without having to stare at a screen all day.
• Leading the way: Although digital art is creating its own identity, at the end of the day, much of what digital art strives for is to closely resemble traditional art. While digital art is still chasing the beauty of traditional painting, those putting brush to canvas are leading the experimental fringe of the art form. 
• Highly unique: While you can easily reproduce a digital artwork, traditional pieces can never be recreated exactly, even by the same artist. That means every single stroke, color, and gesture is entirely unique. This not only adds more individualization to the craft, but also will likely add more monetary value as well.
• Control: Similarly, unlike with digital art, you can’t just hit “undo” if you make an unwanted mark somewhere along the way. While this may paint a negative picture, in the end, you’ll learn techniques that you wouldn’t have bothered with otherwise, and develop care and decision-making skills in your process. You’ll unlock ways to problem-solve that simply aren’t demanded in the digital painting process, ultimately bolstering your control and confidence as an artist.

Which is Right for You?

Traditional and digital painting processes both have their own strengths and limitations. While digital art is accessible in many ways and offers new and improved experiences, traditional art can never be replicated, and its experiences are much more tactile. Regardless, the choice is entirely personal, and as a beginner, you should definitely take the time to dip your brush in both. And luckily, choosing to focus on one doesn’t mean having to completely forsake the other.

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