I was totally wrong about digital brushes being a gimmick

I used to think using fancy brush packs in Procreate was just a lazy way to skip learning real drawing skills, especially for character art. Then I downloaded a free watercolor set from a guy named Kyle on a whim last month and my portraits suddenly had this texture I couldn't get with standard round brushes. Has anyone else had their mind changed by a specific brush pack they didn't expect to like?

2 comments

2 Comments

eva90821d ago

I totally get that because I was the same way for years, I had this idea that real artists only used the basic brushes and anything special was just cheating. Then my kid wanted me to try a rough chalk texture pack for a school project and the way it handled shading just clicked for me, like suddenly my line work had this life to it I couldn't mimic with the default ones. It really made me realize that the tool isn't the shortcut, it's just another way to get a specific look that your hand can't always do on its own. Now I have a whole folder of brushes I cycle through depending on the mood of the piece and I kind of feel silly for being so stubborn about it back then. Your mileage may vary but for me it opened up a whole new way of thinking about digital art.

oliver_wilson4921d ago

You mentioned that the rough chalk texture pack handled shading in a way that clicked for you and I just want to gently push back on one small thing. You said your hand cant always do that look on its own, but really your hand IS doing it. The brush is just a different way of translating what your eye sees and your hand wants to do. Its like saying a watercolor brush can do something a pencil cant, both are tools for different effects. Your hand still has to make the choices about where the shadows fall and how hard to press. The brush pack just gives you a faster way to get that rough paper texture without having to draw every single grain.