Art College Crash Course, Lesson 11: Tablets and Digital Tools Without Going Broke
Or: why a $3,000 tablet won't fix your anatomy.
The big tablet myth
Here's how it goes for a lot of beginners: 1. Buy a very expensive drawing tablet. 2. Expect it to make your drawings amazing. 3. Discover your drawings look exactly the same, just on a screen.
A tablet is a tool, like a pencil. If you can't draw a hand on paper, a fancy screen won't do it for you. Practice will.
Your three options
1. Screenless tablets
Examples: Wacom Intuos, Huion Inspiroy, XP-Pen Deco Price range: roughly $50–$400 How they work: You draw on a pad and look at your computer screen. Pros: Affordable, tough and great for learning. Cons: Drawing in one place and looking at another feels strange for the first week or two. Best for: Beginners on a budget.
2. Display tablets
Examples: Wacom Cintiq, Huion Kamvas, XP-Pen Artist Price range: roughly $250 to several thousand How they work: You draw right on the screen. Pros: Feels close to drawing on paper. Cons: Pricey, heavy and needs a computer. Best for: Artists who already draw a lot and know they love digital.
3. All-in-one tablets
Examples: iPad with Apple Pencil, Microsoft Surface, Samsung Galaxy Tab Price range: roughly $400–$2,000 How they work: A computer and a drawing screen in one. Apps like Procreate make the iPad a favorite. Pros: Draw anywhere: the couch, the bus, the park. Cons: Some pro animation software, like Toon Boom Harmony, runs on desktop computers, not on an iPad. Best for: Sketching on the go and artists who like simple apps.
Prices change all the time, so check current prices before you buy.
The five digital art traps
"If I buy it, I'll draw more." Motivation comes from you, not the tool.
"Pros need the most expensive tablet." Many pros still use older tablets.
"I have to pick the 'right' brand." Pick what works for you.
"I need all the shortcut buttons." Most artists use three or four.
"A better tablet will fix my art." Only practice does that.
How to choose
What do you need? Learning: screenless. On the go: all-in-one. Serious studio setup: display tablet.
Ignore the hype. Your favorite artist's setup isn't your setup.
Set a budget and stick to it.
The best tablet is the one you'll actually use.
Free software to start
You don't need expensive software either. Krita is free for drawing and painting. Blender is free for 3D and even has 2D animation tools. Many schools and libraries also offer free access to professional programs.
Try this
Before you buy anything, draw the same picture on paper and, if you can borrow one, on a friend's or school's tablet. Which felt more natural? That's your answer for now.
Up next
Lesson 12: Animation Basics. The 12 principles that make drawings come alive.
What's your current setup? Tell us in the comments.
The revolution will not be graded.
New episodes drop on YouTube first. Subscribe to Mr. Bray Labs so you never miss one.
