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Best Gifts for Digital Artists in 2023 – Artist Gift Guide

‘Tis the season for gift giving! Fa la la la la 🎵

Surprising your loved ones, or yourself, with a thoughtful gift is one of the most exciting parts of the holiday season. But it can be a bit tricky to pick the perfect gift for an artist who already seems to have everything they need, right?

In this artist gift guide, we have compiled a list of gifts—some are useful, others are for plain fun. There is something for every art lover here. Happy browsing! 🎅

For the artist who forgets to take a break

Are you the kind of artist who gets lost in their creative flow and totally forgets about taking breaks? Try the Pomodoro technique with this cute mini- timer. It’s super simple to use: flip the clock to set your desired time, and boom! The timer starts off automatically. ⏰
 

🛒 Shop it here.

For fighting creative block

These 9 dice are your ticket to bust through any creative blocks. They push you to try new things by suggesting subjects in different mediums that you might not typically explore.

Plus, they’re color-coded, giving you the freedom to decide how wild you wanna go out of your usual creative bubble. Just roll, brainstorm & create!

🛒 Shop it here.

For someone who paints everywhere, all the time

If you’re the kind of artist who’s always painting on the move with an “all-in-one” graphics tablet like an iPad, you gotta get an iPad case that keeps your Apple Pencil snug too!

Trust me, the relief of not digging through your bag for a rogue pencil when inspiration strikes is everything!

🛒 Shop it here.

For the techie artist

Ever spotted a color combo in the wild and felt like, ‘I have to paint with this’? I know I have!
With the Nix Mini 3 you can simply scan any object and the app gives you its RGB, HEX, and CMYK values on the spot. It’s basically an IRL color picker tool in your pocket!! 
 
🛒 Shop it here.

For the artist who forgets to charge their devices

Let’s face it, we digital artists have multiple gadgets—constantly glued to them for painting, looking for inspiration, or posting on socials. And hey, sometimes our artist brains forget to plug ’em in until it’s too late.
 
But fear not! Enter the wireless charger, your new desk buddy. Just put your phone or iPad there when you’re not using it, and say goodbye to those dreaded low battery notifications for good.
 
🛒 Shop it here.

For someone who is always freezing

The best painting sessions are the cozy ones, am I right? 🛋

Picture this: curled up on the couch wrapped in this blanket, your favorite show humming in the background, while you paint something just for the fun of it, no pressure at all! How does that sound?

🛒 Shop it here.

For a good time with the family

Get ready to bring your love for drawing to the family table with this award-winning board game! No worries about talent here—everyone can join in. All you need is a pen and paper, but if you want to maximize the fun, grab a large pad and some markers.
 
This is not just your ordinary drawing game, you’ll be challenged to draw blindly or with your wrong hand so be prepared. 😀
 

🛒 Shop it here.

For some low-pressure creativity

Feeling the pressure to consistently create exceptional art? Try this book.

It’s designed to let you experiment with traditional mediums – have to draw or paint directly in it. And gives an easy way to spark your creativity when you’re feeling uninspired. ✨

🛒 Shop it here.

For a music-loving artist

JBL Tune 710BT Wired and Wireless Headphones

If you’re an artist who instantly gets into a painting mood when your favorite tunes play, a comfortable pair of headphones is a must-have! I recommend opting for a Bluetooth version like this one, so you can stay tangle-free in your creative zone without dealing with wires. 

🛒 Shop it here.

For the superhero fan

You know when you’re watching an animated movie and you’re like, ‘How did they even paint that?’ These ‘Art of the Movie’ books spill some of the secrets. Check out this one on Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Whether you’re an MCU fan or just appreciate awesome art, this one’s a treat.

🛒 Shop it here.

For someone bursting with ideas​

You know, there’s something about sketching out your painting ideas on paper first. It lets you really brainstorm and visualize those characters or scenes you’re itching to create. And what’s even better? Doing it in a journal inspired by the starry sky! Each page features a different illustration that’s almost too gorgeous to draw on. Well, almost!

🛒 Shop it here.

For a step out of the comfort zone

Ready to venture beyond digital art next year? This 3D pen is a cool addition to your art supply stash. Get creative and watch your creations come to life in 3D!

🛒 Shop it here.

For the bookworm in you

Attention art lovers who enjoy reading! 📖
Dive into the intriguing stories behind 75 different hues and shades. Uncover surprising anecdotes related to fashion, politics, art, and war, all seen from the perspective of colors. These are the stories you never knew you needed.
🛒 Shop it here.
 

For a fun art exercise

We artists often believe we can spot more hues than the average person, but have you ever put that to the test? Enter the vibrant world of Hues and Clues, a game that challenges you to link hues with words and lets others guess the color you have in mind! 🤩

🛒 Shop it here.

For the quirky artist

Do you love art? Show it in your style! These Mona Lisa socks are perfect for adding a fun twist to your daily outfit. Plus, this seller’s got socks inspired by famous artists like Da Vinci, Klimt, van Gogh, and many others…

🛒 Browse the collection here.

For getting that pose right 🕺

If you could add just one more thing to your desk alongside your art gear, this posable mannequin would be my pick. Not only does it make for a fun decoration (you can even dress it up for the holiday season 🎅), but it’s incredibly handy for figure drawing—especially when paired with this cheat sheet.

This set includes four mannequins and a variety of accessories, from different hand poses to weapons, allowing you to create the exact character you imagined.

🛒Shop it here.

For the phone addict

If you’re an artist glued to your phone, you need to protect it well! These transparent phone cases not only have wonderful designs but also protect your beloved phone from scratches and drops. You can choose from 18 fabulous designs. ✨

🛒 Shop it here.

For painting in style

Who says you can’t look good while drawing? 😀 These 3 artist gloves are not only practical but bring a little color into an artist’s daily life! 

🛒 Shop the set here.

For color theory on the go

Introducing the ultimate color wheel keychain – this accessory isn’t just fun, it’s a functional color wheel too!
Take your color theory on the go, simply spin the wheel, and explore analogous, complementary, and triadic color schemes.

🛒 Shop it here.

For jazzing up your art journal

The perfect little gift for artists who love writing notes and ideas with pen and paper! This set of 104 stickers, showcasing famous paintings and sculptures, will instantly add flair to any journal page and might even inspire some painting ideas!

🛒 Shop it here.

For the warm beverage enthusiast 🍵

Picture this: as you’re drinking your morning coffee, a cute little panda pops out from your mug, greeting you with charm! These endearing 3D mugs are sure to brighten up even the dullest Mondays. Take your pick from 7 distinct designs, each promising a touch of joy to your daily routine.

🛒 Browse the collection here.

For painting your wildest ideas

Ever had a great idea in mind, but felt like your art skills weren’t quite there yet? That’s where the Digital Painting Academy comes in. ✨

Whether you’re just starting out or a seasoned artist, it’s got you covered. The Learning Path covers all the basics, great for both newbies and more advanced artists. Plus, for you skilled artists, there’s the Portfolio Builder Project, showing you how to turn those fantastic ideas into reality on your digital canvas.

🛒 Browse it here.

The post Best Gifts for Digital Artists in 2023 – Artist Gift Guide appeared first on Paintable.

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The Perfect Christmas Gifts for Digital Artists – Holiday Gift Guide

It’s that time of the year again 🎅🎁

Find the perfect Christmas gift for your digital artist BFFs, your family, and yourself! 

Team Paintable has carefully picked out a list of goodies and gadgets that any digital artist would love to find under their tree. 🎄 

Our personal fave:  a gift of the Digital Painting Bootcamp! This 5-day course is perfect for beginner digital artists. Join here.

Digital Painting Bootcamp

FREE FOR A LIMITED TIME

In 5 fun days, you’ll learn solid step-by-step foundational sketching, coloring, and lighting techniques while creating the most realistic illustration you’ve ever done! ​

David’s Favorite Headphones

A comfy pair of headphones is a staple of any digital artist’s tool kit. Whether you use it when watching Digital Painting Academy courses or listening to music while painting, it’s something every artist needs. This set by Sony was tried, tested, and stamped with approval by David. ✅

🎁 Get it here.

Handy Controller for Artists

Does the perfect gift exist? We think so! This TourBox controller can do everything a keyboard does, but it takes up a lot less space on your desk. Who doesn’t love that? 

🎁 Get it here.

The Secrets of Digital Art

Not just for coffee tables! This high-quality book by Laura H. Rubin is filled with stunning paintings rendered in a hyper-realistic style, and step-by-step tutorials demonstrating the artist’s workflow.
For artists looking to go pro, this book gives a glimpse behind the scenes of Laura’s journey from an art student to a professional digital painter.

🎁 Get it here.

Padded Artist Glove

Comfy and cool! This two-finger artist glove, with extra padding, will help your hand glide on the screen without leaving palm or fingerprints it or activating palm detection. Great stocking filler for digital artists.

🎁 Get it here.

Adorable Apple Pencil Skin

Who doesn’t love a fun skin for their gadget? These animal-shaped Apple Pencil skins are a great way to bring joy into your daily art practice.
They are compatible with the 1st generation Apple Pencil, here is an alternative for the 2nd generation pencil. 

🎁 Get it here.

Apple Pencil Travel Case

Raise your hand if you’ve ever misplaced your Apple Pencil charging adapter. 🙋‍♂️ I’m sure many of us have been there, here’s the solution: you can keep your Apple Pencil and accessories organized with this travel case. 

🎁 Get it here.

Mount Your Tablet for more flexibility

We artists are known for our less-than-ideal posture when drawing.  Spending hours and hours leaning over a tablet can do real damage to the spine and neck.
Tablet mounts have entered the chat. Mounting the drawing tablet allows you to change the angle and position of the tablet for maximum comfort.

🎁 Get it here.

Clean Desk, Clear Mind!

This is one of those things you don’t think of buying, but once you have it, you can’t live without it. 
Every digital artist ever has a cable jungle behind their desks, unless they have a cable organizer kit like this one.

🎁 Get it here.

Foot rest for Better Posture

Another one for better posture! We are clearly very passionate about the topic. 😀
Putting your feet up on a footrest relieves pressure from your joints and allows you to sit for long hours without getting that uncomfortable pins and needles sensation in your legs. Anyone receiving this gift will thank you later.

🎁 Get it here.

Sleek Mouse with RGB Lights

Most artists have a mouse already, what makes this so special? It lights up! 💡 The mouse has customizable RGB backlights that will make even the most boring tasks a little more fun.

🎁 Get it here.

Calibrate your Monitor to Perfection

Seeing an accurate color on your monitor(s) is so important for digital artists. If you don’t feel like splurging on a certified color-accurate monitor, this handy tool will get the job done. Fire up the app, place the SpyderX Pro on your screen and wait for the magic to happen. ✨

🎁 Get it here.

Inspirational: The War of Art

Something every creative person should read… This uber-popular book by Steven Pressfield talks about the mental blocks creatives face, an action plan how to overcome the obstacles of ambition and in general how to succeed in the creative world. A life-changing must-read!

🎁 Get it here.

Budget-friendly Tablet

A digital artist’s first tablet! Artists don’t need expensive tools to create beautiful art. This Wacom Intuos Small is the perfect starter tablet for anyone looking to get into digital art.

🎁 Get it here.

Perfect Screen Tablet

This HUION Kamvas 24 is the dream tablet for anyone looking to get serious about digital art. With its 24″ HD screen and super responsive pen, it feels like traditional art, but better. The ultimate splurge gift for digital artists.

🎁 Get it here.

“All-in-one tablet” for Art on the Go

In our Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Digital Painting, we talked about the different tablets artists can go for, and we got a lot of questions about the “all-in-one” tablet. Is it good enough for pros? Who do you recommend it to?
The answer is: It depends on the artist!  

All-in-one tablets like this 2022 Apple 10.9-inch iPad are perfect for artists who like to draw away from home and don’t want to drag a tablet and a laptop with them everywhere they go. These tablets are on the pricey side, but they are powerful enough to create professional-level artwork.

🎁 Get it here.

Digital Painting Academy

Whether it’s for yourself or the artist in your life, this world-class library of premium masterclasses, workshops, challenges, hands-on exercises, and tools is your golden ticket to mastering the art of digital painting! 

The skills you learn will be yours for a lifetime.

🎁 Get it here.

The post The Perfect Christmas Gifts for Digital Artists – Holiday Gift Guide appeared first on Paintable.

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Halloween-themed Goodies for Digital Artists

Halloween is drawing near, get ready with this festive gear

It’s one of my favorite times of the year – Halloween time!

Have a look at this list of spooky and cute Halloween gear for you and your digital artist bestie, curated just for you by Team Paintable. 👻  

Pick out a favorite or two, and celebrate in festive style with me!

And don’t forget to join the number one spooky digital art challenge of the year, the One Week Portrait Halloween edition!   Register here. 👇

ONE WEEK PORTRAIT HALLOWEEN EDITION

A free digital painting masterclass & challenge teaching you how to create your best (or creepiest) portrait ever, in 5 days!

Poses with Boney-Wan Kenobi

Put aside the usual anatomy model, and reference your poses using this cool (or creepy?) 3D skeleton. Boney-Wan Kenobi, as Team Paintable calls it, has movable joints capable of creating a wide range of poses.   

🎁 Get it here.

Adorable Halloween Stickers

Do you love Halloween as much as we do? Don’t shy away from telling everyone that. Decorate your laptop, notebooks, water bottles, or car with these adorable vinyl Halloween stickers. Give some to your friends too, with this 100-sticker pack there’s plenty to go around.

🎁 Get it here.

Cute Ghost in your Pocket

We all know the AirPods earbuds’ simple white case can feel a little boring, that’s why the colorful cases were invented. But this company takes this onto a whole new level turning the AirPods case into the cute ghost toy perfect for Halloween enthusiasts. Look at them, don’t they make you smile?

🎁 Get it here.

Phone Case with Iconic Horror Characters

Which horror aficionado wouldn’t love a phone case featuring iconic horror movie characters like Pennywise, Pinhead, Hannibal, and co.?

The fact that they were drawn in a cute cartoon style that makes them look harmless is just the cherry on top.

🎁 Get it here.

Witches’ Favorite Cauldron

Brew your daily dose of tea or coffee in this stylish mini cauldron mug, perfect for you witches and wizards out there.

🎁 Get it here.

The Perfect Halloween Accessory

If you want to wear something Halloween inspired but don’t feel like going all out with a Halloween costume, this is for you. This set of 3 Apple watch bands features characters from the Tim Burton movie, The Night Before Christmas. 

The bands are compatible with a range of Apple watches, check if yours is compatible here.

🎁 Get it here.

The Art Book

The Art of Gu Zheng Wei, aka Guweiz, is the ultimate art book to draw inspiration from this time of year. It’s filled with moody paintings, stories about the artist’s life, and breakdown of the creative process behind some of their iconic paintings. You won’t be able to put it down.

🎁 Get it here.

Bring the Moon into Your Home

The ultimate mood lighting for Halloween is here in the form of this cordless lunar lamp. Do you want an eerie Blue moon in the middle of the day? No problem! Shut the blinds and adjust the color on the remote. What could be cooler than this? 

🎁 Get it here.

Cool Halloween Suckers

Whether you want to give out candy to trick-or-treaters or just have them in your personal stash, these lollipops are a must-try this Halloween. 

🎁 Get it here.

For the Chocolate Lovers

If you are not a candy person, we got your back. KitKat makes these fun Halloween-themed packs that are definitely worth trying.

Are you worried they might melt during delivery? This one ships with a cold pack! 🥶 

🎁 Get it here.

Hocus Pocus T-shirt

Celebrate Halloween in style with this soft witchcraft-inspired tee. Check out the different colors and designs Amazon offers.

🎁 Get it here.

No Fuss Halloween Costume for Adults

Looking for a last-minute Halloween costume? These onesies might be what you are looking for. This company offers a selection of different characters you can dress up as, like Monster Inc.’s Mike Wazowski, Olaf from Frozen, and many others. Browse the selection.

🎁 Get it here.

Halloween Socks

Add a touch of personality to your wardrobe with these whimsical Halloween socks. They look so cool you might be tempted to wear them all year round.

🎁 Get it here

Leather Journal for Secret Ideas

Imagine this: You cozy up on the couch with a cup of your favorite hot beverage, music playing softly in the background. You open up this beautiful leather journal and let your ideas flow onto this rustic paper. Sounds dreamy, doesn’t it?

🎁 Get it here.

Skeleton Keychain

This adorable Tim Burton-inspired keychain is a perfect reminder that Halloween is right around the corner. 

🎁 Get it here.

Eye Mask – Not for Sleepwalkers!

Put on this hilarious sleeping and fall asleep on the couch to play a little prank on your family during the spooky season. Don’t recommend it for sleep walkers, though!

🎁 Get it here.

ONE WEEK PORTRAIT HALLOWEEN EDITION

A free digital painting masterclass & challenge teaching you how to create your best (or creepiest) portrait ever, in 5 days!

The post Halloween-themed Goodies for Digital Artists appeared first on Paintable.

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Back to School Art Space Makeover

School is back in for the fall, my friends! 🍁

One of the most exciting perks to a new academic year is unwrapping brand-new tools to help you succeed, am I right? 🤓

Team Paintable has put together 17 must-haves that will boost your new semester.  

Not in school?  No problem- these treats will give your art space a sprinkle of personality, and get your creative juices flowing again.  Go ahead, treat yo’ self AND your artist bestie.  🎁

Here’s to a great year!

It’s More Than a Speaker…

A speaker that displays your pixel art, wakes you up in the morning, supports voice memos, AND you can play Tetris on? Who could ask for more?

🎁 Get it here.

‘Everything is content, don’t forget to film it…’

If you’re having a hard time adjusting to making reels, this overhead phone stand will be great for you. Mount it to your desk and start painting,

🎁 Get it here.

Ready, Set, Get Organized!

Do you want one of those clean, zenned out desk situations you see on Pinterest? Desk organizers like this is how they achieve that perfect home-office aesthetic. Give it a try. 

🎁 Get it here.

Sleek Vertical Stand for your Stylus

Don’t you hate it when the pencil you just put down next to your tablet rolled off the desk? This stylus stand will save your mental health.

🎁 Get it here.

Keeing a Clean Desk Made Easy

Mouse pads are out- and desk pads are IN! This stylish desk pad will not only enhance the performance of your mouse, but it will also protect your desk from spills and scratches. And it looks nice too, and when you get tired of the color, flip it over.

🎁 Get it here.

Crampy Hand? Try this 👇

If you’re used to working long hours on your tablet, but every so often an annoying cramp in your fingers forces you to stop, a pencil grip like this can come in handy.

🎁 Get it here.

Keep it Tidy with a Monitor Stand

Improve your posture by raising your monitor to eye level, and get some extra organizational space as a bonus with this monitor stand.

🎁 Get it here.

Stay Organized on the Go

Remember how different pencil cases looked before? Filled to the brim with colored pencils, markers, and erasers. Now this little guy can fit all you could need, a charger cord, earphones, an Apple pencil (or two).

🎁 Get it here.

Always Be Yourself, Unless…

…you can be an artist. Then always be an artist. Let the world know how awesome artists are with this stainless steel travel mug.  (Makes a perfect gift for your artist bestie, too.)

🎁 Get it here.

The Thing You Didn’t Know You Needed

This cord organizer is the unsung hero of home offices. Small, discreet, easy to mount everwhere and keeps your desk tidy.

🎁 Get it here.

Elegant Phone Stand for Your Desk

Whether you use it to look at your reference photo on your phone or to watch movies while painting, this elegant stand can be a perfect little addition to your desk set-up.

🎁 Get it here.

Planter Pots for a Touch of Personality

Mini planter pots perfect for succulents.  If you’re not great at keeping plants alive, put a couple of fake ones in them. We won’t tell if you don’t… 

🎁 Get it here.

David’s Neon Cactus

Have you seen David’s cactus sign in the background of some of his videos? Here’s your chance to decorate your art space with the same neon lamp David has in his office to get you in the mood for those long nights of drawing.

🎁 Get the 🌵 here or check out the store for the full collection of neon signs.

Charge Your Tablet Inside Your Bag

This bag will be perfect for those long hours you spend drawing away from home. Carry it with you and charge your iPad right from the bag.

🎁 Get it here.

The Perfect Starter Tablet

You don’t need a fancy and expensive tablet to learn digital art. Grab this perfect starter tablet from Wacom, and start drawing…

🎁 Get it here.

A Tablet for the Pros

If you’re on your way to becoming a professional artist and ready to invest in your future. Wacom Cintiq is a great option for you.

🎁 Get it here.

The Art of Digital Painting

Paintable’s Digital Painting Academy is a collection of 8 step-by-step sequential Learning Paths, put together by pro artist David Belliveau.  Inside, you’ll learn every topic needed to paint from imagination

Everything is broken down into manageable pieces, packed with exercises, and put into the right order for you. All you need to do is start at the beginning, go through the modules, exercises, and homework to see progress!

Membership includes monthly Live Q&A YouTube sessions with David, where you can submit your artwork and get his feedback and paint-overs.  Where else can you pick the brain of a pro artist Live?

Learn more.

The post Back to School Art Space Makeover appeared first on Paintable.

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Festive 4th of July Themed Gifts & Goodies for Your Holiday

4th of July gifts and goodies for a festive holiday!

Summer is upon us! And that means sunny days, watermelon, and some relaxed time off for the U.S.A.’s birthday. 🥳 

Team Paintable is taking the opportunity to celebrate with family and friends by getting out the grill, sending off fireworks, and getting festive with Independence Day themed goodies.  

Have a look below at our curated list of awesome 4th of July gifts and treats for your favorite digital artists, and join us for the holiday! 🎇

Ethan Becker’s Sunglasses

Independence Day is a great excuse to get inspired the famous YouTube artist, Ethan Becker with these great USA aviator shades. Try them now!

🎁 Get it here.

The America Monopoly

Celebrate this year with a classic board game! This special edition America Monopoly will give you the true Monopoly experience and unique twist. Purchase pieces of American history, learn about the culture and famous american people.


🎁 Get it here

Temporary Tattoos

Tattoos for the whole party! Have fun with these festive temporary tattoos during the holiday.  

🎁 Get it here.

iPad Pro Case

Planning to paint out and about during the holidays? Protect your iPad with this retro Stars-and-Stripes iPad Pro case.  

🎁 Get it here.

Blow Pops

Embrace nostalgia with cherry, strawberry lemonade and blue razz flavored Blow Pops. Who wants one?

🎁 Get it here.

USA Ice Mold

Will the July 4th festivities be too hot to handle? Now you can chill your drinks with your favorite American states. Cheers!

🎁 Get it here.

Pop-Art Phone Case

Are you looking for a stylish new phone case? This phone case will not only give military-grade protection to your phone, but also features a stunning USA themed piece of art.

🎁 Get it here.

Silicone Keyboard

Do you spend hours upon hours at night painting, or looking for inspiration typing away on your keyboard? Dampen the sound of your keyboard clicks with this awesome Starts-and-Stripes silicone cover.  

Get it here.

Water Bottle

Stay hydrated, folks! 

This stainless steel water bottle comes in 4 different sizes, perfect to carry around with you when you’re outdoors.

🎁 Get it here.

History of America in 101 Objects

“This book will spark the interest of just about anybody”

Take a fascinating journey of American history through 101 objects from across the Smithsonian’s museum. Featuring George Washington’s sword, Hope Diamond, and Andy Warhol’s Marylin Monroe…

🎁 Get it here.

The 50 States Infographic Map Book

Explore the United states through this fun book filled with facts about the 50 states. 
🎁 Get it here.

Andy Warhol Polaroid Book

We’re used to sharing our lives on Instagram, but what was before then? Famous artist, Andy Warhol shared his through a series of polaroids.
Take a peek into 30 years of his life with this collection of polaroid pictures featuring photos of celebrities, friends, and lovers. Study the photos and build your visual library to paint different faces with ease.

🎁 Get it here.

Reese’s Miniature Cups

The perfect festive little treat for the holidays! These look great in a clear bowl on your party table.

🎁 Get it here.

USA Poster

This beautifully designed poster of the United States can be the perfect gift for anyone who loves minimalistic art style. You can even put colorful pins and stickers on the states you’ve been to, or are dreaming of visiting.

🎁 Get it here.

Apple Watch Band

Ready, set, accessorize! Complete your July 4th outfit with this stylish american flag Apple Watch band. Compatble with Apple Watch series 1-7.

🎁 Get it here.

Cozy onesie

Whether you’re planning to spend the 4th of July evening cozied up on your couch or sitting around a campfire, you can’t go wrong with this star-spangled onesie.

🎁 Get it here.

Need more gift ideas? Check out an other gift guide here. 🎁

10 ‘MUST HAVE’ BRUSHES FOR PAINTING

Free Download:

Designed to Paint Incredible Portrait Details!

The post Festive 4th of July Themed Gifts & Goodies for Your Holiday appeared first on Paintable.

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25 Best Gifts for Digital Artists in 2021

One for your favorite artist… one for you…

Every year Team Paintable hand-picks their favorite 25 best gifts for digital artists.  Have a browse through the 2021 cut below, and if you think something’s missing, let us know in the comments!

Some of these items are affiliate links, meaning if you purchase them, Paintable may earn a small commission to help support our free tutorials (at no extra cost to you!).  So you’ll be doubly supporting digital artists.  🙌  Win-win!

This is the 2022 version of the pro-level digital painting software favorite, Corel Painter. Compatible with all Wacom devices and most RTS drawing tablets and styluses, use it to bring to life sellable, stunning illustrations, fantasy art, concept art, and painterly effects. 

🎁 Get it here 

If your favorite artist loves to create process videos of their masterpieces, this tripod will be a very welcome (and well-used) addition to their kit! David uses it to create his Insta reels and YouTube videos.

🎁 Get it here

This little sidekick saves a LOT of time by giving you instant access your favorite Procreate shortcuts! Designed for Mac OS/IOS, it’s an ergonomic efficiency booster that keeps your workspace clear of wires and clutter. Comes in the pink color below, and also white.

🎁 Get it here

Want to speed up your workflow, and get some repetitive motion stress relief for your hand & wrist? Tourbox is a new controller that does that by replacing shortcuts and keyboard inputs. Program the buttons to your own preferences- works with Photoshop, Illustrator, Lightroom, Premier, Affinity Photo, Canva, and other graphic design, drawing, video, and audio editing software. 

🎟 Use Paintable’s coupon code TB2020090203DB for $10 off!
🎁 Learn more here.

XP-Pen’s got a Holiday Edition of their super-portable Artist 13.3 Pro display tablet! With a screen size that’s comparable to your laptop, it’s compatible with Windows, Mac OS X, Photoshop, Illustrator, and more. Includes shortcuts stickers pack to optimize your workflow, free sketch downloads, battery-free stylus, pen holder, drawing glove, and other exclusive goodies.   

Get an additional 10% with code PAINTABLE for a limited time!
🎁 
Check it out here

XP-Pen’s Innovator Display tablet has a wheel that lets you zoom in/out of your canvas and adjust brush size in a flash. Create vivid, vibrant artwork with sharp details anywhere you want to go. Includes a batter-free stylus for hours of uninterrupted drawing.

Get an additional 10% with code PAINTABLE for a limited time!
🎁 Get it here.  

For the young – and young at heart – artists, the LINE FRIENDS edition of XP-Pen’s Deco 01 V2 graphics tablet is a unique, fun, and affordable treat! Works with Mac, Windows, and Android devices, and is compatible with ibis Paint, FlipaClip, SketchBook, ArtRage, and other software. Comes with super cute LINE FRIENDS accessories including a pencil holder, bookmarks, sticky notes, and more.

Get an additional 10% with code PAINTABLE for a limited time! 
🎁 Get it here

Get your iPad to stay put and stay elevated at the just the right angle with this high-quality adjustable stand designed by and for digital artists! Easy to open and lock into one of 4 positions. No more shaking, sliding, and tipping as you’re trying to draw. Includes the gel wrist pad and pencil stand.

🎁 Get it here

Scan any object to find its color- a real life eyedropper tool to grab digital color values inspired directly by nature and your environment!  Great for artists who need to communicate color to colleagues and clients. 

🎁 Get it here.

Perfect for kids and beginning artists, this graphics tablet replaces your mouse and turns your computer into a digital drawing canvas. Compatible with PC and Mac, use it with Photoshop, Manga Studio, Clip Studio Paint, and many other softwares. 

🎁 Pick from small or medium here.

A step up from the Beginner Wacom One includes a screen display, giving you the freedom to work and paint from anywhere!  

🎁 Get it here

Love Photoshop, but hate the color picker? Us too! 

This handy Photoshop plug-in will change the way you color your digital paintings. It speeds up your workflow, letting you pick better colors, with less headache. If you often feel lost in a sea of color, Coolorus will help you narrow down and automatically pick the perfect colors to match your painting. 

Digital Painting Academy members: Check the Resources section for 40% off! 

🎁 Get it for Windows and Mac here.

If your artist craves that grippy paper feel when drawing on their iPad Air or iPad Pro, they’ll love these screen covers! They’ve got the perfect paper texture, plus they don’t cover the camera, don’t leave fingerprints, don’t change the touch sensitivity of the screen. 

🎁 Pick one up here

The most powerful drawing and painting app for your iPad. Everything you need to create expressive sketches, rich paintings, gorgeous illustrations and beautiful animations. For professional and aspiring artists. 

🎁 Get it here.

This is a serious digital painting tablet from Huion for pro-level artists- think of it as an additional monitor with drawing tablet capabilities. Connect to your laptop or desktop that has an HDMI and USB port (it’s not a standalone portable-style tablet). Fully laminated screen.

🎁 Get it here

Ross Tran is one of Team Paintable’s favorite digital artists to follow. 💗 Follow his original character Nima as she travels to different elemental worlds after having her soul fractured and scattered across the universe. Beautiful artwork that will inspire any digital artist!

🎁 Pick it up here

Protect your drawing tablet in style, while keeping connectors, styluses, adapters and cables all from getting lost. This is a great case that comes in lots of different colors to pick from.

🎁 Get it here

This super-cute soft silicone sleeve for your 2nd Gen Apple Pencil will surely make your favorite artist smile!  Charging-friendly and does not interfere with double-taps. 

Price Range: $
🎁 
Pick a color here.

Bring some zen and life to your favorite painting space with this set of air plant holders. Add some plant friends and some twinkly string lights, and you’ll have a gift that will bring a smile to anyone’s face every single day! 🌿

🎁 Get it here

Paintable’s Head of Student Happiness, Mariana, loves Affinity software for creating concept art and print projects, photo editing, and publishing. Works on Mac, Windows and iPad, the files can even work across different devices and OSes if you’ve got a team.

🎁 Learn more here

Let your artist create characters, scenes, and 2D animation with this simple but powerful software. 2 versions: “Debut” is for early animators, and “Pro” is for artist who want professional quality without a fussy workflow.

🎁 Get it here

Let your artist explore digital science fiction, fantasy, and anime through letters, interview, portfolio expos, and tutorials in the best digital arts magazine around!

🎁 Get an annual subscription for Kindle here

David is mesmerized by this levitating, spinning moon light, so it naturally made the list this year!  😁  Set it to glow white, yellow, or a gradient and gaze at it when you have trouble snoozing.

🎁 Get it here

An extra-large, colorful mouse pad brightens a work area and helps keep devices in place. Also make mouse movements smoother and more accurate, reducing fatigue during long work sessions!  

Price Range: $
🎁 
Pick from 5 artistic patterns here.

Whether it’s for yourself or the artist in your life, this world-class library of premium masterclasses, workshops, hands-on exercises, and tools is your golden ticket to mastering the art of digital painting! The skills you learn will be yours for a lifetime.

🎁 Get this gift here.

10 ‘MUST HAVE’ BRUSHES FOR PAINTING

Free Download:

Designed to Paint Incredible Portrait Details!

The post 25 Best Gifts for Digital Artists in 2021 appeared first on Paintable.

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25 Best Gifts for Digital Artists in 2020

This is the 2020 gift list to inspire your favorite digital artists!

Looking for the perfect, thoughtful gift for your favorite illustrator or painter (including yourself) this year?  Have a browse through the best 25 gifts for digital artists in 2020.  They’re all hand-picked favorites, each one approved by the artists on the Paintable team!

Some of these items are affiliate links, meaning if you purchase them, Paintable may earn a small commission to help support our free tutorials (at no extra cost to you!).  So you’ll be doubly supporting digital artists.  🙌  Win-win!

Draw on your tablet all day without fatigue with this ergonomic elevator stand designed by & for digital artists! David uses this daily, and loves the wide adjustment range. 

Price Range: $$
🎁 Get it here 

Here’s a stocking stuffer that will bring your favorite artist some colorful comfort every time they pick up their Apple Pencil! They’ll get a better grip with this silicone sleeve that comes in multiple colors.

Price Range: $
🎁 Pick a color set here.  

Smudging your artwork because of your hand resting on the tablet can be so frustrating. This glove saves you from that, reduces friction, and keeps your thumb and first two fingers free to feel the stylus. Works on either hand! 

Price Range: $
🎁 
Get it here.

Want to speed up your workflow, and get some repetitive motion stress relief for your hand & wrist? Tourbox is a new controller that does that by replacing shortcuts and keyboard inputs. Program the buttons to your own preferences- works with Photoshop, Illustrator, Lightroom, Premier, Affinity Photo, Canva, and other graphic design, drawing, video, and audio editing software. 

Price Range: $$$
🎟 
Use Paintable’s coupon code TB2020090203DB for $10 off!
🎁 Learn more here.

XP-Pen’s got a brand new Holiday Edition of their super-portable Artist 13.3 Pro display tablet! Compatible with Windows, Mac OS X, Photoshop, Illustrator, and more. Includes shortcuts stickers pack to optimize your workflow, free sketch downloads, battery-free stylus, pen holder, drawing glove, and other exclusive goodies.   

Price Range: $$$$
🎁 
Check it out here.

XP-Pen’s Innovator Display tablet has a wheel that lets you zoom in/out of your canvas and adjust brush size in a flash. Create vivid, vibrant artwork with sharp details anywhere you want to go. Includes a batter-free stylus for hours of uninterrupted drawing.

Price Range: $$$$
🎁 Get it here.  

The easiest way to learn the many keyboard shortcuts for Adobe Photoshop CC! Soft, ultra-thin, and washable… protects your keyboard from your coffee too.  

Price Range: $
🎁 
Get it here.

Raven, our Head of Student Happiness, loves this matte, paper-like screen film while drawing and painting on her iPad. “It feels like a sketchbook and offers your investment screen protection. It’s pretty great for digital artists that like a tactile feel!” 

Price Range: $
🎁 
Get it here.

Scan any object to find its color- a real life eyedropper tool to grab digital color values inspired directly by nature and your environment!  Great for artists who need to communicate color to colleagues and clients. 

Price Range: $$
🎁 
Get it here.

Perfect for kids and beginning artists, this graphics tablet replaces your mouse and turns your computer into a digital drawing canvas. Compatible with PC and Mac, use it with Photoshop, Manga Studio, Clip Studio Paint, and many other softwares. 

Price Range: $$
🎁 
Pick from small or medium here.

A step up from the Beginner Wacom One includes a screen display, giving you the freedom to work and paint from anywhere!  

Price Range: $$$$
🎁 
Get it here.

Love Photoshop, but hate the color picker? Us too! 

This handy Photoshop plug-in will change the way you color your digital paintings. It speeds up your workflow, letting you pick better colors, with less headache. If you often feel lost in a sea of color, Coolorus will help you narrow down and automatically pick the perfect colors to match your painting. 

Digital Painting Academy members: Check the Resources section for 40% off! 

Price Range: $
🎁 
Get it for Windows and Mac here.

This sleek case protects your Apple Pencil and other styluses, charger and cable, and earphones. 

Price Range: $
🎁 
Pick one up here.

The most powerful drawing and painting app for your iPad. Everything you need to create expressive sketches, rich paintings, gorgeous illustrations and beautiful animations. For professional and aspiring artists. 

Price Range: $
🎁 
Get it here.

Perfect addition to Procreate! Bypass the trial-end-error learning the software with this comprehensive Beginner’s Guide to Procreate. Tutorials, quick tips, and inspiring examples will get you going fast. 

Price Range: $
🎁 
Get it here.

This tablet case protects your iPad from bumps and drops, and is also an adjustable magnetic stand with 8 angles to keep you comfortable while painting. Has a convenient charging-compatible elastic pocket for your Apple Pencil.

Price Range: $$
🎁 
Pick from 5 colors here.

Having a good surge protector is essential to keeping your digital art devices safe. This one has an elegant braided cord, USB outlets for charging cords, and can be mounted to your wall or desk.

Price Range: $
🎁 
Get it here.

This super-cute soft silicone sleeve for your 2nd Gen Apple Pencil will surely make your favorite artist smile!  Charging-friendly and does not interfere with double-taps. 

Price Range: $
🎁 
Pick a color here.

This iPad case looks great, and comes in several colors. Holds and protects in style all of your USB cables, credit cards, adapters, styluses… and your iPad of course. 

Price Range: $
🎁 
Get it here.

Add coffee or tea and a happy little scene appears. Comes in a fun, colorful gift box to stash in a stocking.  Who wouldn’t love it?  

Price Range: $
🎁 
Snag it here.

A popular set of brushes by Roman Melentyev, this is perfect if you’re looking for one brush set to cover pencils, ink, watercolor, oil, his 2020 Airbrush Pro set, and more!

Price Range: $$$
🎁 
Get it on CreativeMarket here.

Raven (Paintable’s Head of Student Happiness) always has a fun, colorful water bottle by her side. “Every artist I know is always dehydrated, so my friend and I have been a lot better off in that department by having one of these insulated water bottles available at our desk- no condensation, stays cold all day!” 

Price Range: $
🎁 
Lots of beautiful color gradients to choose from, here.

This changed the game for teammate Raven’s digital painting setup: monitor arms! “This opens up a lot of space on your desk and allows you to move the monitors to your pleasure- with great cable management!” Monitors can be placed in portrait or landscape position.

Price Range: $
🎁 
Get it here.

An extra-large, colorful mouse pad brightens a work area and helps keep devices in place. Also make mouse movements smoother and more accurate, reducing fatigue during long work sessions!  

Price Range: $
🎁 
Pick from 6 artistic patterns here.

Whether it’s for yourself or the artist in your life, this world-class library of premium masterclasses, workshops, hands-on exercises, and tools is your golden ticket to mastering the art of digital painting! The skills you learn will be yours for a lifetime.

Price Range: $
🎁 Get this gift here.

10 ‘MUST HAVE’ BRUSHES FOR PAINTING

Free Download:

Designed to Paint Incredible Portrait Details!

The post 25 Best Gifts for Digital Artists in 2020 appeared first on Paintable.

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A Good Dose of Ko-fi to Start Your Artistic Career

Looking for a great way to start earning an income with your digital artwork?

When you want to be a professional illustrator, or even just get your art in front of more eyes, one of the smartest things you can do is build your own tribe. This is a group of fans who love to stay updated on your latest pieces, get a sneak peek at a work in progress, or simply say hello and thank you for inspiring them today! And if you’re looking to earn an income from your digital art, when you have this sort of community, earning becomes so much easier.

🎁 Keep reading till the end of this post for a great Ko-fi bonus we have for you!

Recently, I came across a FREE online platform that offers an easy, low-pressure way to start making an income from your art.

It’s called Ko-fi (like the beverage ☕, not the wrestler!). The concept is really simple, you showcase your art and invite fans to leave you a donation (roughly the price of a coffee) and message to support your work. It’s like a cross between a tip-jar and a simplified crowdfunding campaign.

How does Ko-fi work?

It took me about 10 minutes to get set up on Ko-fi, super easy. 

First you claim your page. If you’re looking to accept money, you can connect your page to PayPal, and then other payment methods if you like. Personalize your page with your best artwork, add a bio, a goal, and a video if you like.

Then you can create a gallery of your art (finished pieces, works in progress etc) and also add videos, blog posts and audio clips to help fans get to know you too.

Once it looks just how you want it, share your page link everywhere! 🎉

Your fans then visit your Ko-fi page, see what you’ve been up to, and can “buy you a coffee”, which means sending you a small contribution. 💲

You can also unlock paid Ko-fi Gold features like subscriptions (getting monthly support from your subscribers), commissions, and additional ways to personalize your page.

Here’s how the Paintable Ko-fi page is looking so far:

Why do artists love Ko-fi?

❤ When someone likes your work, they can donate a “coffee” (or a hot chocolate, a cup of tea, a beer, or even a cupcake!). Payments are made directly between fans and artists and no fees are taken by Ko-fi. 

👋 One of the best things about Ko-fi is its community. From your page, you can write updates to your fans and followers, and if you don’t have any yet, start posting anyway — you might even get featured on their website (this is also great place to find inspiration and the perfect place to find new artists to follow)!

📈 Many creators use Ko-fi to set up fundraising goals so that fans can contribute to something specific, whether that’s buying a new tablet (maybe you have your eye on the new Wacom One), an iPad Pro, or a new desk for your home studio! 😍

😍 Every month, $1.2m is donated to artists through Ko-fi. These payments are being made directly between fans and artists, with no fees being taken by Ko-fi. Since Ko-fi launched, it’s helped creators receive over $23 million to fund their coffee-fueled painting sessions and creative passions. 😮

🥇 While it’s completely free to set up your profile, update your gallery, interact with fans and artists, and accept donations (with no cap or fees!), Ko-fi’s paid Gold membership adds great things, allowing artists to accept commissions and monthly donations, create private updates that can only be unlocked with a one-off or monthly donation (perfect for sneak peeks, tutorials, progress shots, and close-ups)!

Artists Killing It on Ko-fi!

Mandy Jacek, an illustrator and artist, uses Ko-fi to fund her own passion project: a comic called “WANDER”. The Ko-fi community helped her build a new office space at home, and upgrade her Cintiq tablet! She was also featured in Ko-fi’s blog, allowing her to reach even more new fans!

Mona (Monarobot), an artists from Chiapas Mexico, gives her Ko-fi fans exclusive early access to her new projects and behind-the-scenes content using Ko-fi Gold. She’s received over 5000 “snacks” from her fan so far! 😁

And Noonie, a Brazilian self-taught artist living in Japan, says: “Thanks to my Kofi supporters I can now work full-time on what I love most in my life: art. Thank you for making this possible, I will be eternally grateful ❤

Top tips for getting the most out of Ko-fi

If you’re thinking about setting up a Ko-fi profile and posting your art, but you’re not sure where to start, check out our top three tips for getting the most out of Ko-Fi.

1. Post often
Share your page, images and content regularly on socials to engage your fans! If you don’t have anything new to share, ask for opinions – like what subject they want to tackle next.

2.  Start small
Some artist and creators make a decent ‘4 figure’ monthly income on Ko-fi, but from what we’ve seen most are using it to fund creative expenses and make a side income. Ko-fi is a great opportunity to build your tribe and get to know and reward the people who are backing you.

3.  Be a fan
The more you give, the more you get. We’re all in this fun, creative ride together, and it’s so much better if you do it with friends! Don’t forget that Ko-fi is also a goldmine of creative inspiration, so if you see a piece of art that makes you smile or say, “Wow!”, consider buying the artist a coffee or leaving a friendly note on their page.

How to get started with Ko-fi

Want to see what it’s all about? Head on over to Ko-fi to claim your page and start sharing your art.

If you’re interested in getting the extras like changing up the coffee for something more “you”, or setting up commissions and unlocking all of the other perks of a Gold membership, you can check that out too.  Get 10% off annual Ko-fi Gold memberships for life! Just for being part of the Paintable community.).

Are you a member of the Digital Painting Academy? Jump inside the member’s area for a link to get 25% off of Ko-fi Gold!

The post A Good Dose of Ko-fi to Start Your Artistic Career appeared first on Paintable.

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Fast-track Your Learning by Building A Painting Habit

Are you ready to get serious about building your digital painting talent?

BE A BETTER ARTIST BY FEBRUARY 2023

 Join David and the Paintable Tribe community for 5 minutes every day in January to level up! 

We know that building any skill and developing any talent means putting in many hours of the activity. I’ve worked with some digital art students that will spend entire afternoons once or twice a month, working on their illustration, and become frustrated because they’re not progressing as quickly as they’d like.

It’s when they commit to a regular, consistent habit of developing their skills, that their progress really takes off!

That’s the key I’m sharing with you today:

When it comes to developing your digital painting skills, the frequency of your art sessions is more important than the amount of time you spend at each sitting! 

 And I have a tool for you to build your own habit! 🙌

Build a Painting Habit

In this video, I show you:

  • What exactly “building a digital painting habit” looks like
  • How much time is actually needed at each sitting for you to see progress
  • The 3 steps to take to build your own painting habit

I’ve also added a downloadable worksheet that I actually use when I get serious about building (or re-building) my own habits.

Watch the video below: 👇

👇 You can download this free PDF of the X Effect sheet right below, and use it for your first 30 habit-building days!

Give it a good 30 days to make your new schedule a solid habit. Then, leave a comment below and let me know if you’re having more fun, and seeing better progress in your skill development!

The post Fast-track Your Learning by Building A Painting Habit appeared first on Paintable.

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Photoshop vs Procreate for Digital Painting

Itching to know what it’s like to switch from a Wacom tablet with Photoshop to an iPad Pro with Procreate?

I’m shaking things up in a big way today! 

In all of my tutorials and course modules so far, I’ve been teaching you using Photoshop on a Wacom tablet with a MacBook.  I’ve been dying to try out Procreate on an iPad Pro, so I can give you tips and tricks using those tools.  And today, I’m bringing you along as I get started!

In this video, I unbox my new 12.9 inch iPad Pro, and give you my first impression of the Procreate app. 

While working on the same illustration using the same process on both setups, I give you my thoughts on:

  • What it’s like to work on an iPad after years of using a Wacom tablet and MacBook.
  • What are the big differences between the 2 hardware setups
  • Comparing the feel of the Wacom pen vs the Apple pen
  • The plusses and minuses I’ve experienced using Photoshop vs Procreate 
  • The biggest difficulties I’ve seen as a professional artist working on the iPad
  • Is the Procreate app powerful enough for professional work as an illustrator?

Photoshop vs Procreate - Digital Painting - Paintable

Let’s get into it!

If you’re getting started with Procreate, rather than starting with a portrait like I did, I recommend starting with a smaller illustration like in the Ultimate Beginners Guide here

And if you’d like to set up your workspace like mine, here’s what I’m using:

I’d love to hear your first impressions of Procreate!  What did you find most difficult to get used to, and what are your favorite tips for using it?  Put it in the comments below!

I’ve also prepared a gift for you – here it is:

10 ‘MUST HAVE’ BRUSHES FOR PAINTING

Free Download:

Designed to Paint Incredible Portrait Details!

The post Photoshop vs Procreate for Digital Painting appeared first on Paintable.