In case you are unfamiliar with how a digital painting is made, here is a basic explanation: I use the computer program Photoshop which provides tools that simulate traditional painting methods. Additionally, I use a piece of hardware called a pen tablet (made by Wacom) to interact with Photoshop organically. That is to say, whatever I do with the pen on the tablet is translated by Photoshop onto my computer screen. The tip of the pen is both pressure and tilt sensitive which means that my skill as an artist is essential to the process. It’s truly incredible technology!

Portrait Painting

Below is an example of a digital portrait painting. In terms of skill, it is no different than a traditional painting. I process digital portraits in my mind and use skill-sets in the same way that I work with and build a painting from start to finish. There are some small differences, however: I don’t have to mix paint, clean brushes, or wait for paints to dry. So using a computer to paint digitally saves me so much time!