I started digital art about three years ago after breaking my wrist and not being able to hold a pencil comfortably. Someone in a forum suggested a tablet might be easier to manage, so I picked up a cheap Wacom Intuos and downloaded Krita. What started as physical therapy basically became my entire creative practice.

The learning curve was steep. Coming from traditional sketching, I couldn't understand why everything looked so stiff and over-blended on screen. I spent about six months chasing a 'natural' look before I realized I was fighting the medium instead of working with it.

If you're just starting out: lean into what digital does well first. Undo, layers, and color adjustment are superpowers — use them. You can add texture and constraint later once you understand the tools.