Digital Drawing: Layers and Brushes (Part 12)

Practice digital layers in this art lesson: digital drawing: layers and brushes (part 12).

🎨 Studio Brief #34

Digital art uses layers like transparent sheets stacked together.

🎯 Your mission

Trust your hands more than your head.

⚡ The twist

Don't fix mistakes. Build with them.

What you'll learn

Digital art uses layers like transparent sheets stacked together. You can draw on one layer without affecting others—this makes editing and experimenting easy.

Get ready

Techniques you'll practise

digital layersbrush typesnon-destructive editing

You will need

Drawing tabletDigital cameraPhoto editing softwareComputer with design software

Step 1 of 4

Open a drawing app. Create a new canvas. Add a background color layer.

Step 2 of 4

Create a new layer for your sketch. Draw a simple subject with a pencil brush.

Step 3 of 4

Add another layer below the sketch for color. Paint inside the lines—the sketch stays untouched above.

Step 4 of 4

Experiment with different brushes: watercolor, marker, airbrush. Each creates different effects.

Did you know?

🤯 Mind = Blown

🤯 Art rules exist mostly so you can break them on purpose.

🌟 Artist Spotlight

🎨 Every artist you've heard of started with one wobbly first try.

You did it!

Next: Photo Manipulation Art (Part 12)All lessons

🎯

Next Smart Project

We'll pick an art project that matches exactly where your skills are right now.

✨ More to explore

🌍 Where you see this: Art shapes everything you look at — once you notice, you can't unsee it.

🏆 Try this week: Make one piece of art today — even tiny, even messy.

👨‍👩‍👧 At dinner: “Tell me about the part of your art you love the most.”

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Digital Drawing: Layers and Brushes (Part 12)

Techniques you'll practise

You will need

Next Smart Project

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Digital Drawing: Layers and Brushes (Part 12)

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