My SO is so damn sweet he got me a galaxy tablet with a pen out of the blue. Something I'd been on the fence about due to general cost and hesitance due to me sometimes dropping hobbies or different things that frustrate me too much (I'd been looking at iPad's more so due to the prevalence with artists and the cost of THAT was pretty darn high). I'm determined to get good rn though. Any advice for someone who has been a strict pen/pencil and paper artist moving to a tablet? My biggest problem I'm facing might just require maybe a different art program and brushes since it's my linework. Just seems all wonky when I remove the sketch lines. Maybe it's just a matter of practice and needing a tapered brush but the program I use (infinite painter) I can't seem to find one I like. Please suggest stuff if there's better programs out there. I'm willing to pay a one-time fee for a REALLY good program but I don't wanna get burned if it's not as good or useful as I'd hoped.

I took a quick look, and it seems like Krita isn't doing all too well as an android app at the moment. Lots of corrupted files and errors and crashing for a lot of people. The PC version is purportedly better. Maybe I'll look into programs that have a "brush stabilizer" as a feature at least.

Howdy! I'm not a tablet artist, but a long time digital artist, so maybe I can help a little.

For programs, I use FireAlpaca, which I'm not sure is available in app form, but I do know that MediBang is which is pretty much the same! I can recommend it, because while it doesn't have all the functionality of other programs, it's totally serviceable, especially for starting out, and is free!

When you say linework is wonky, what do you mean? Is it wobbly/shaky, or just not coming out how you want it to? If it's the former then like said, I would recommend using a stabilizer. Medibang should have one. It scales from 0-100, and you can kind of fiddle with your setting until you find something comfortable for you. Lower settings will stabilize less but give you more freedom, whereas higher will result in smoother lines but will essentially create input lag. I have mine set to 24, some people like it higher or lower, it's just a personal preference thing. :)

If however it's the latter, and you just don't like how things are coming out, it could be harder to pinpoint the problem. Trying different brushes is a good idea, experiment a bit and find something you like. Maybe try a textured brush to more closely mimic pencil, if you haven't? It might help you get closer to your pencil/paper style. You could also try doing more OR less detailed sketches (depending on what you're doing rn). More detailed helps me to better visualize what it's going to look like after lineart, and less means that I spend more time on the lines and don't get as attached to a sketch that isn't going to reflect my final result - so either way could be helpful to try. Everyone's different! Or, just keep the sketch - refine it, go back over areas that are too messy and erase non-essential lines, but skip clean lines and just let the sketch be the final result! Liking the sketch more than the finished picture is a super common artist phenomenon though, so regardless of what you do, you're not alone in that. :)

I use Clip Studio Paint pro, you can still get it as a one-time purchase but you only get the version you pay for, so when they update it, you can choose to either pay for the license again, keep your old version, or use a monthly plan. I have only ever paid once for it, I believe it's roughly around 55 usd right now. They sometimes have sales. They're trying to implement a monthly subscription service thing and people are Not liking it, so they're at least for now still keeping the pay once-option.

Another one I can actually recommend is Paint Tool SAI, it's a slightly simpler program than CSP but I've been using it for years and you can create your own brushes. It's a Japanese program, and costs roughly around 50USD I think. I'd recommend CSP, since you get a lot more content for roughly the same price point.

I use Wacom Intuos Pro as my tablet, and idk what you use, but I would recommend getting used to the tablet's properties. Does it have automatic pen pressure, or do you have to download a separate program for it? (I remember my ancient Wacom needed a separate pen pressure bit but I assume most come with one by now). Here's a video about pressure points/pressure levels. Basically pen pressure = lets you use brushes that taper off / have different levels of colour per stroke. It's what makes using a tablet pen a pen, instead of just a stylus.

Next, at least for me this was what I struggled with the most when I was only starting, was just.. basic hand-eye coordination. if you're used to drawing traditionally, it might be natural to look at the paper when you draw - unless you have an ipad/ Cintiq/other higher end tablet, chances are you're drawing on a dark slab but the image appears only on your screen. Just drawing circles and lines and whatever you do to warm up to strengthen that hand-eye coordination is going to be helpful.

Same with whichever program you end up choosing, getting the basics down of how layers and different brushes work, for example. Makes learning new stuff more fun when you familiarise yourself with your tools! But hey, enjoy drawing and welcome to the world of digital art!

I have a Galaxy tablet so it's just a screened tablet not really 100% intended for drawing. Part of the reason I dropped digital art for years was no matter how much I practiced with the screenless tablet the disconnect was on the level of trying to relearn how to draw with my foot. I wasn't keen on spending years upon years to rebuild what I already had built in my brain yaknow? Maybe if I was much younger and more amateur at art it would have been better and easier to pick up but no. The screen is much easier although I need to find the setting for the S-pen to be the only thing that reacts to the screen since I keep having little marks show up from my hand when I take the pan ever so slightly too far away from the screen lol. Mine does have pen pressure and all that good stuff.

I've been playing some kind of "Draw something" clone called "Doodle Me" since the original died ages ago (I know draw with friends is there but it isn't the same :'( ). I feel like it's nice for trying to draw from memory actually. And the lack of layers forces you to get a little creative with how I draw since its A LOT like just drawing on my sticky notes at work without a pencil. I tend to block out shapes in colorful highlighters and outline and add detail on top. The game is more fun with friends since we can try to make references with things we all know or with inside jokes lol! The groups function is so great for that.

My biggest issue is finding brushes I enjoy using and work well for how I draw too. Really autodesk seems to be working the best for me so far. A good balance since a lot of the others its either AD hell, expensive subscription and no pay once option, the things I like are few but its free, etc. Autodesk actually has the majority of very useful tools free and payment is VERY low and one time for new brushes and more premium functions and I'm debating just giving them some money. The free version is also pretty much devoid of ads or at least not ones I ever notice much if at all.

At this point just sitting down and getting started is a barrier. Especially because I'm currently obsessed with paper mario :') Its all I wanna do...

i just got a new tablet also; it is called the ugee s640, and it is yellow.