Since many traditional artists as well as digital artists have asked me several times what do I use to create my digital paintings (digital fine artwork), I’ve decided to include as part of my journal an brief explanation of the tools I use to create my artwork.

Hardware:

I am currently using the Wacom Cintiq 21X monitor/tablet shown below (featuring one of my digital drawings). The Cintiq functions as my monitor and at the same time, as my tablet, so I paint/draw with an electronic pen or stylus directly to my monitor. So this monitor is my drawing table and support! The stylus/pen is sensitive to pressure so I can draw/paint with strokes of different opacities and size.

If I am at my other computer, I use my Wacom Intuos 3 Tablet featured below. With this type of setup, I paint/draw on the tablet, as shown here, and whatever I draw/paint is shown on my secondary 21″ monitor (not shown).

When I am away from my studio/office, I travel with my Toshiba Tablet PC, shown bellow. My Tablet PC is a computer/notebook that allows me to rotate and turn the screen ‘upside-down’ to allow me to write, draw, or paint directly to the display, just like the Cintiq.

Software

I use Painter IX to paint digitally and PhotoshopCS to prepare my reference material and web content. I believe Painter is the best program for Digital Fine Arts because of it's many options and wide range of brushes and many different categories. Even is an artist don’t want to create a finish product digitally, the program is still great to do your color studies, sketches, putting down your ideas, playing with composition and other alternatives. Photoshop, in my opinion, is the best program for photo editing and composition.

So, now you have an idea of what I use to create my colorful Digital Fine Art.

Thanks for visiting my journal once more.

Don’t forget to scan through other dates on the calendar at the top right. You really don’t want to miss anything, right?  See you soon.