Digital Art Basics| Corel Draw Tutorial for Beginners

Having received a few questions about the digital art software I use and what exactly digital art is I thought I might share some details of how I am working it all out and my ‘cheat sheets’.

I took a borrowed few moments away from motherhood (it is school holidays in Australia) and my university classes (they start again in two weeks), to create these swatch cards and I thought I could share them with you guys.

I find the best way to learn is to have a visual example, so I decided to make up some quick reference sheets for some of the different brushes I have access to on Corel Essentials 6. Just like with normal brushes I have particular types of digital brushstrokes that I am drawn to and interestingly I actually like different brushes in the digital world so don’t restrict yourself to start off with. The best way to find out your favourites is through experimentation and in order to be able to quickly and easily remember which brush is which while I am learning, these little sheets will be very handy to have on my wall.

Quite a few people ask me about digital painting and how it works so I thought this might help to explain some of the steps.

Basically it’s the same as traditional painting in most senses, you choose a brush and a surface, add a bit of colour and let your imagination run free, but it’s a lot easier and cleaner in the digital world.

1. Corel Painter Essentials — Brush options (with white background) credit: Unfettered Artist

2. Corel Painter Essentials 6 — Brush options (with black base layer) credit: Unfettered Artist

Step 1

Start with a blank (in this case white) canvas,

Step 2 (optional)

Put down a base layer, you can choose any colour but I decided to add a black base for greater contrast.

Ooooh that reminds me of one of the major benefits of digital art, I realised the contrast just wasn’t enough against a plain white background after I finished testing each brush (it would make sense if I noticed it earlier but I was having too much fun comparing the brushes). No problem though as I can add in a base coat underneath my completed painting that shows off the texture of the canvas as well —

No mess,

No fuss,

Brilliant!

Step 3

choose your weapon e.g. brush texture and just go at it.

Just like with normal brushes I have particular types of digital brushstrokes that I am drawn to and interestingly I actually like different brushes in the digital world so don’t restrict yourself to start off with. The best way to find out your favourites is through experimentation, just watch my 5 year old!

[I love the similarities of using a pen on a tablet to a brush and canvas (albeit an ultra smooth one) which is what I used for this exercise but you can also use a mouse.]

I primarily enjoy using oil/acrylic affect brushes which you can see in the first two pictures and if you look closely at where the black undercoat stops you can see how even your paper choices can influences a painting (I chose canvas for this project).

3. Corel Painter Essentials 6 — Blender options (showing the different affects) credit: Unfettered Artist

The third picture shows the different blenders that can be used, some are more appropriate to different mediums but it gives me an idea on the different effects I can produce.

4. Corel Painter Essentials 6 — My 3 favourite brushes (variable flat, glazing round, opaque acrylic) credit: Unfettered Artist

The fourth picture shows my absolute favourite brushes, these three Corel Essentials brushes are pretty much the only ones I use in my paintings at the moment and can create a lovely, diverse range of textures together.

5. Corel Painter Essentials — Red tailed Black cockatoo (painted using my 3 favourite brushes) credit: Unfettered Artist

These last two pictures are from. an image I posted to my Instagram account (I included the bonus zoom in below to help you really get a feel for it).

It shows an example of where I have used all 3 brushes together in my most recent painting [a Red tailed Black Cockatoo]

6. Corel Painter Essentials 6 — Red tailed Black Cockatoo close up credit: Unfettered Artist

I have shared a few more progress shots of this painting previously. You are welcome to have a look at my Instagram or my Ko-fi account if you are interested in more behind-the-scenes process images and videos.

I will also be sharing the final Red tailed Black cockatoo to those platforms.

These brushes are really fun and I am happy with the paintings I can make from them but I can’t wait until I can save up for the full Corel Painter program which has the full range of real feel brushes in it. — — It is sort of like a comparison between student brushes/paint and artist grade materials if that helps, the level you can produce is so much higher.

I am squirelling away my dollar bucks (any other Bluey #abcbluey fans out there, oh my gosh I love that show almost more than my 5yr old) right now but I decided to make a Ko-fi account as well.

Ko-fi is a little like Patreon but instead of the commitment of regular payments you can make a one-off donation to “buy an artist a coffee” which to me is a bit lighter and more fun.

So, if you would like to shout me a coffee and give me a boost towards my full wings my account name is Unfetteredartist on ko-fi (link in my Instagram bio)

I would love to have a virtual coffee with you☕ .

Please do not feel under any obligation to share a coffee with me, i have just had a few requests from followers asking how they could support my art.

I have started this publication with the hopes of inspiring more artists with behind-the-scenes stories about my digital art adventures and possibly more tutorials.

If you have any questions about the programs I use or my process please don’t hesitate to ask, whether it’s for you to decide if you want to try digital painting or if it’s just for curiosity’s sake.

I found digital painting for the first time last year and I still have a heap to learn but I am happy to share whatever I have picked up thus far.

Originally published at https://medium.com.