Explore how artists can thrive using both mediums in the age of AI. Let’s talk about what really works—and how I blend both worlds to make meaningful (and sellable) work.
This topic has been on my mind a lot lately. With AI-generated artwork getting better and faster, I’ve been asking myself (and getting asked by others): “Is traditional art still worth doing?”
Or maybe: “Should I go fully digital instead?”
Prefer to listen?
If you’re someone who likes to “see it on paper,” keep reading. Otherwise, watch the quick video from my Art Biz Unfiltered series on YouTube. In this podcast-style episode, I’m sharing why I still use both traditional and digital tools—and how blending them has made my art more profitable, personal, and powerful.
My Background: Why I Care About Both
Before I ever touched an iPad, I spent years working with my hands—painting, sculpting, throwing clay. I got my BFA in 2008, did artist residencies, and earned my MFA in ceramics and sculpture in 2013. I didn’t even know what Procreate was.
That changed in 2018 when I finally gave digital art a shot. And guess what? I loved it. By 2019, I was making a full-time income from my digital designs—but I never stopped using traditional tools.
Why Traditional Art Still Matters (Especially Now)
AI art is efficient and sleek—but that’s also what makes it feel cold. Our job as artists isn’t just to make something “clean.” It’s to make something human. That’s where traditional tools shine.
Even if you don’t sell your traditional pieces directly, they still add so much to your creative process. Here’s how I keep that hand-made feel alive in my digital workflow:
I Use Realistic Procreate Brushes (That I Make)
I started creating my own Procreate brushes back in 2018 because I’m annoyingly picky—and I wanted my brushes to feel like real gouache, watercolor, and ink.
Want to try them? You can download my free BrushSet.
In my Realistic Watercolors class, I go in-depth on how to create watercolor effects that actually look traditional. You can watch it with a free trial to the Studio.
I Turn Real-World Textures Into Brushes: I still love working with messy materials—ink, paint, paper textures—and turning them into digital brushes. It only takes a few minutes, and it makes your work feel unique.
I share the whole process in my Create Realistic Procreate Texture Brushes Class inside the Studio.
Bonus: You never have to worry about commercial-use restrictions when you make your own tools!
I Share My Process: Let’s face it—most people don’t know what we do as digital artists.
So I show them! I photograph the textures, the mess, the paper scraps… That way, buyers and licensors can see the hand behind the art—even if the final product is digital.
I Still Make Repeat Patterns by Hand
Sometimes I even create repeat pattern motifs on paper. It’s slower, yes—but it changes the way I think about shape, layout, and color.
I go into this technique in my Traditional Pattern Design Class (also in the Studio).
I Take “Off-Grid” Art Days to Reset: When I feel creatively blocked, I go analog. Paint, collage, ink, even crayons—whatever sounds fun and totally unlike “work.”
“Movement = flow.” If I’m stuck, I move.
(And I almost always come back with a new idea for a collection.)
But Don’t Worry—You Can Still Digitize Everything
Even if your final deliverables are digital, that doesn’t mean your entire process has to be. I teach a full Traditional to Digital workflow in the Studio, showing how to scan, clean, and convert your handmade work for digital use.
Final Thoughts: You Don’t Have to Pick a Side
Traditional or digital? I choose both. What matters most is that your art reflects YOU. That might mean layering a scanned ink wash onto a digital piece. It might mean building brushes from scratch. It might mean doing weird paper collages and surprising yourself. You’re not “just” a digital artist or “just” a traditional one—you’re an artist. Use the tools that make your work feel real.
Keep Learning with Me: Start your free trial to The Studio and unlock all my classes.
Traditional Pattern Design Techniques Class
- Learn to create repeat patterns using ink, paper & Procreate
- Combine traditional art with digital tools for bold, authentic designs
