Making digital art without a tablet is achievable; however, it can take a bit of rethinking how artwork is traditionally created. There are a few methods to consider when making digital art without a tablet, and each has its own set of strengths and weaknesses.
One way to create digital art without a tablet is through the use of vector graphics programs. Vector graphics programs allow artists to create images using mathematical equations rather than pixels.
This gives artwork greater clarity regardless of the size at which it is viewed, and allows for easy manipulation and scaling of artwork with no loss in quality. Vector graphics programs such as Adobe Illustrator or Inkscape are widely available, and tutorials are plentiful online.
For those looking for more organic-feeling artwork, raster graphics programs such as Adobe Photoshop can be employed to great effect. Raster graphics programs work by creating images out of pixels rather than mathematical equations like vector graphics do, giving artwork the ability to have greater detail when zoomed in on but at the cost of some clarity when scaled up or down. Photoshop has become an industry standard for creating digital art and there are numerous tutorials available online for both experienced and novice users alike.
Finally, for those looking for a more hands-on approach to creating digital art without a tablet, there are several painting programs available that allow artists to use their mouse/trackpad or keyboard instead of a stylus and tablet. Programs such as Krita or Paint Tool Sai provide pressure sensitivity settings that can be adjusted to mimic traditional painting techniques such as brush size and opacity changes with each stroke depending on how hard the artist presses down on their mouse/trackpad or keyboard button.
No matter which method an artist chooses to create digital art without a tablet, it’s important to experiment with each one until they find what works best for them before settling on one method over another. Digital art doesn’t have to be limited by what type of equipment an artist has access to; all it takes is some creativity, experimentation, and practice!
Conclusion: With some creativity and practice, making digital art without a tablet is possible using vector or raster graphics programs or painting programs that support using the mouse/trackpad or keyboard instead of a stylus and tablet. Experimenting with different methods will help artists find which works best for them before settling on one particular approach over another.