Best Digital Painting Tutorials for Beginners

A good way to get started in digital art is to learn the basics.

Foundational Skills First

• Basic tool navigation tutorials – Canvas setup, brush selection, layer management
• Digital brush basics – Pressure sensitivity, opacity, and flow settings
• Color theory fundamentals – Color wheel, harmony, and digital color selection
• Basic composition principles – Rule of thirds, focal points, and visual flow

Progressive Learning Paths

• Simple object studies – Start with basic shapes, fruits, or household items
• Value studies – Black and white exercises before moving to color
• Light and shadow basics – Single light source exercises
• Texture practice projects – Creating wood, metal, fabric textures

Great Tutorial Sources

• Ctrl+Paint – Extensive free library of digital painting fundamentals
• Art Station Learning – Structured courses from professional artists
• Proko – Strong focus on fundamentals that apply to digital work
• Marc Brunet’s YouTube channel – Accessible technique breakdowns
• Domestika – Affordable courses with professional production quality

Project-Based Learning

• Guided paintings – “Paint along” tutorials where beginners follow an instructor
• Simple character design – Basic character creation focusing on silhouettes and shape language
• Environment thumbnails – Quick, small landscape studies to build confidence

Structuring Progressive Digital Painting Tutorials for Your Website

Here’s a comprehensive approach to organising beginner-friendly digital painting content with a clear progression path:

Level 1: Digital Fundamentals (Weeks 1-2)

1. Software Orientation
2. • Interface walkthrough (focus on one primary software, with notes for others)
   • Setting up a workspace and customising brushes
   • Saving files, resolution considerations, and export formats
2. Basic Tools Mastery
3. • Digital brush control exercises (straight lines, curves, pressure sensitivity)
   • Layer management and organization
   • Selection tools and masks basics
3. First Simple Project
4. • Guided still life: Simple apple or sphere with basic shading
   • Focus on achieving smooth gradients and basic form

Level 2: Artistic Foundations (Weeks 3-5)

1. Value Studies
2. • Creating a value scale (5-10 steps from black to white)
   • Black and white studies of simple objects
   • Learning to see and reproduce values accurately
2. Basic Colour Theory
3. • Digital colour wheel and colour picker usage
   • Limited palette exercises (3-5 colours only)
   • Temperature contrast basics (warm vs. cool)
3. Intermediate Project
4. • Simple landscape with atmospheric perspective
   • Focus on depth through value and colour relationships

Level 3: Developing Skills (Weeks 6-8)

1. Light and Shadow
2. • Single light source studies on basic forms
   • Cast shadow fundamentals
   • Reflective light and bounce light
2. Texture Fundamentals
3. • Hard vs. soft surface techniques
   • Brush selection for different textures
   • Layer blending modes for texture effects
3. Composition Basics
4. • Thumbnail sketching techniques
   • Rule of thirds and focal point exercises
   • Visual flow and eye movement
4. Advanced Project
5. • Character portrait or detailed still life
   • Combining all previous learnings

Level 4: Special Topics (Weeks 9-12)

1. Painting Techniques
2. • Digital glazing and layering
   • Brush customization for specific effects
   • Blending techniques comparison
2. Subject-Specific Guidance
3. • Environment painting fundamentals
   • Character design basics
   • Concept art workflow
3. Final Project Series
4. • Multi-session comprehensive painting
   • Progress tracking and refinement techniques

Content Structure Recommendations

• Begin each tutorial with clear learning objectives
• Include downloadable brushes and starter files
• Create 5-10 minute quick tip videos complementing longer tutorials
• Develop practice exercises with reference images for each skill
• Include “common mistakes” sections highlighting typical beginner errors
• Add progress checkpoints with visual examples of expected results
• Create downloadable PDF cheatsheets for key concepts

You will find some good ideas on You Tube and Pinterest, which may help you get started.