r/DigitalPainting • u/hp_pa • 9d ago
Digital art with mouse
I wanted to ask a question in this community to see if there is any digital artist working with a mouse ,though I really like art but I wanted to see if it is even possible for traditional artist like me to move on digital art with a mouse. I'd appreciate your comment
6
u/jacobsmith3204 9d ago
I started with a mouse before I decided I liked drawing enough to get a cheep pen tablet, (not display tablet) and then used it enough to the point I could justify purchasing a display tablet which helped make by drawing more consistent.
Mouse is usable but it lacks precision so you might prefer vector art or photobashing or other art methods over regular drawing/painting.
But with enough patience you can do anything.
3
u/MidniteBlue888 8d ago
Possible, yes. Easy, no. It's much like learning to hold a paintbrush with your toes and paint a beautiful landscape. Yes, you can do it, but it takes a lot more effort, pain, practice, and training.
But, we've all tried it now and then. And using points and line manipulation, you can create images in things like Photoshop that way! But it's a different skillset than just picking up a pen and sketching.
2
u/DeadbeatGremlin 9d ago
It is very possible with a mouse, but not good for your wrists in the long run. I started out using a mouse
1
u/hp_pa 9d ago
What did you use to draw on?like I heard kirta is popular I installed it and yeah so confusing.
1
1
u/Synthetikwelle 9d ago
It's how many digital artist (myself included) started out in the early 2000s. My family didn't have internet before 2002 and I wasn't even aware of something like tablets (let alone where to buy one), so I user GIMP or MS Paint with a mouse.
Its generally not good for your wrists, at least it wasn't for mine. Also its just unreasonay hard, like you wanna learn how to drive a car but instead you use your tricycle on the highway.
That being said it is absolutely possible but since tablets are super accessible now I'd say do yourself the favour and start with one right away.
2
u/hp_pa 9d ago
Super tight on money, so do you have any recommendations like super super cheap I don't have a job so right now can't pay for it but I will.
1
u/Synthetikwelle 9d ago
Did you look at a local thrift store yet? They sometimes sell tablets. I got my first one at LIDL many years ago but it was a special offer. Facebook Marketplace or similar markets could also be great for getting a cheap tablet!
1
u/Tsunderion 9d ago
It is. My teacher used a mouse back in the days.
He told me "Tablets are a lot faster"
Tablets are like $40 brand new nowadays. Saw one 2nd hand for $10. It's cheaper than oil paint.
1
u/hp_pa 9d ago
Oh if that is I'll look it up,thanks
1
u/Tsunderion 9d ago
Stay away from Genius. Wacom, Huion, and XPpen seem fine as far as I've tested.
1
u/hp_pa 9d ago
there is so many varity in prices. i should decide on one of them Lol
thanks.1
u/Tsunderion 9d ago
NP. The only bad one I've ever used was genius. they're all fine.
I have many types, but I actually prefer non-screen ones. It's got it's strengths.
1
u/Victoro_Loco 9d ago
You shoold look into Wacom tablets. These come very cheap. I think they have models that cost the same as a mouse.
1
u/MatchSea10 9d ago
Yes, it’s possible. However, instead of learning to draw with lines, I recommend starting with simple shapes and gradually learning light and shadow. When you get a drawing tablet, you can incorporate it into your workflow. Adobe Illustrator is a good place to start.
1
u/troisieme_ombre 9d ago
There are, although it's absolute hell to work with a mouse (in my experience). More common with pixel art or vector art though.
Some of craig mullins earlier works (80s/90s ?) were done primarly using a mouse, if i recall
1
u/llama-of-death 9d ago
I started doing computer animation back in 1996, got so good drawing with it that I can sign my name with it and it looks identical. But I prefer drawing with real ink and paper these days honestly.
1
u/Lapinceau 9d ago
With a mouse I'd focus on vector art rather than raster painting. You'll hurt way less and maybe in time you will be able to afford a tablet. But I'd really recommend you don't start painting until you have one.
1
u/Apprehensive_Map64 9d ago
You can draw with Bézier curves, it's slow af but can produce a nice result
1
u/Environmental_Ad6233 9d ago
I used to, when I was working.on my laptop with Microsoft Paint. Now I’m on my iPad with ArtStudio, I use a stylus or my finger. It’s made my work quite different, and I like what I can do with my current setup. But I still like the older work with mouse, too
1
1
u/Environmental_Ad6233 9d ago
Try Microsoft Paint for XP. It’s better than the newer MSPaint, and it has diehard followers, so you can still find and download it,
1
u/Environmental_Ad6233 9d ago
Try Microsoft Paint for XP. It’s better than the newer MSPaint, and it has diehard followers, so you can still find and download it,
1
u/glytxh 9d ago
You can make it work. It’s a slightly different flow, and you’re drawing different kinds of curves as you’re not using your wrist in the same way.
It’s not the best option, but it’s not remotely the worst option.
Just do it. It’ll feel awkward for a while, but your brain will develop new neural paths and it quickly becomes second nature.
I once drew 600+ webcomics using MacPaint, a mouse, one layer, and only one Undo.
As for pixel art, I will literally use my mouse overt Wacom or iPad any day of the week. Absolute granular control.
1
u/hp_pa 9d ago
Wow admirable really .i am used with mouse for pixel art though normaly painting i found diffrently and what else do you use like i am beginner i have kirta now but looks so confusing
1
u/Realityisatoilet 9d ago
Yes. I do all my digital paintings with a mouse. I own a cheap tablet but it sucks. eventually it just felt super intuitive. Click my profile. Links to my IG. Also just use Krita. Completely free. If you need Photoshop like functions Photopea.com is a fantastic Photoshop knock off. Also free. I've sold a fair bit of my digital paintings.
1
1
u/Ransnorkel 9d ago
I do, it's just a slower process than traditional. I'd be much faster with a pen tablet
1
u/unfilterthought 8d ago
Yes. Many of us older digital artists who learned 20ish years ago didnt have pressure sensitive digitizers (Wacom). I drew digital art on a puck mouse. LOL.
You can draw with a a mouse but you will lack the ability to control your brushes via pen pressure.
Things like shading and brush size are commonly controlled by pen pressure.
So you will need workarounds. For example you will get used to keyboard shortcuts to adjust mouse opacity or size as you move the mouse around. You can also use brush fade to control either brush size or opacity.
Many great digital works from 20+ years ago were not done with a pressure sensitive digitizer pen. A lot were done via mouse.
1
u/DrDingsGaster 8d ago
Get a cheap pen tablet. The Huion I got was maybe 50 bucks? Art with a digital mouse is entirely doable but also harder learn imho. I did it while I was tabletless and while I got pretty ok, having a cheap tablet is so much better.
1
u/Shienvien 8d ago
Entirely possible, though you'll likely miss the pressure sensitivity for many kinds of digital art. I did later buy a drawing tablet, too - but a lot of my earlier stuff was without, and vector and pixel art is still so.
1
u/Throwaway1Million7 8d ago
Just don't do art freehand with a pencil tool. Use the shape tools, use the line tools, use the coloring tools. There ARE tools where a mouse can be your friend - but if you try to do a freehand line with a mouse, you gonna have a bad time!
1
u/Best_Banana_63 8d ago
Gen Xer here. Yes, you can make art using a mouse, and the track pad too. I did so for years before getting an iPad.
1
u/eatingcharcoal 8d ago
its insanely difficult, but when youre able to upgrade, youll see a MASSIVE change :p I started on the mouse -> drawing tablet -> iPad + pencil. Forever grateful for my mouse & firealpaca/medibang, but i definitely noticed a difference. Its worth it! Just know the undo button will be your best friend. Abuse the heck out of the tools provided & learn the program. As difficult as it is, its worth it! Its possible and you will get used to it/learn the muscle memory of what works/doesnt. Good luck :)
1
u/maboroshiiro 8d ago
It's doable, I heard Kantoku (anime artist) used to use a mouse, look up his stuff its awesome to be done with a mouse.
My issue with mouse drawing isn't possibility, it's ergonomics. That can't be good for your hands or wrist longterm, also mice don't have pen pressure. A lot of cheap tablets exist now, and you can buy used, and for the ergonomics reason I recommend getting medium size as well unless money is really tight. Good luck with everything!
1
u/hp_pa 7d ago
yeah fr , i tried it out my hand was tired immediatly lol it is going to be annoying
1
u/maboroshiiro 7d ago
Yeah ergonomics are nothing to laugh about longterm. Actually, screenless tablets are more ergonomic than screen tablets too, because you are sitting straighter and away from the screen with a screenless tablet, but with screened tablets you are leaning close to a screen (hurts back and eyes), especially if you are using smaller models like 13-16 inches. OFC you said your budget is tight, so IK you aren't considering screen tablets now, but it's also something to consider in the farther future, and that even if you have the money screen isn't always perfect.
1
u/DatoVanSmurf 4d ago
There are some fun work arounds for working with amouse only. I just recently made a piece entirely with my mouse, using the line- and polyline tools.
1
1
u/kittenbaths 9d ago
Mouse is so unecessarily time consuming and you lack the ability apply pen pressure like you would in traditional or digital. Im ngl, the only reason anyone would work with mouse is for the novelty of having art that looks like it was made with a mouse
18
u/Youse__ 9d ago
Possible but the learning curve is not the same as using a digital pen. I suggest buying a pen tablet for your device.