Do you have any advice on efficiently learning how to draw dynamic figures from imagination, especially in perspective? I'm an oil painter trying to become a concept artist and the move from observational skills to more imaginative skills has been more difficult than I initially imagined it would be.

I was having the identical debate a couple of years ago before I decided to get my Cintiq 16 pro. I actually started out with procreate when it first started and the apple pencil didn't exist. It's an incredible powerful tool that can be used to produce professional quality art, so I'd never say anything negative about Procreate. Having said that, it isn't the industry standard which is why I decided to go with the Wacom. I can't say that I regret that decision at all. The learning curve will likely be steeper with a Wacom, but it opens up more windows when it comes to experimenting with other programs. Personally, I'm getting into blender and learning to model and animate etc and I'm so glad that I went with a Wacom for that reason. The lack of portability is a downside and it will ultimately come down to what kind of work you're looking to do and where you're trying to take your art.

Hi! I've been painting with oils for the past 3 years now and had to learn everything I know through online tutorials and experimentation. There's a lot of confusing elements when it comes to oils and the materials necessary. I personally started by looking at the online tutorials by Florent Farges and I would recommend him completely because of how simple he makes it. Even then, I still find myself ignoring some of the key principles/techniques that he stressed as I found my own way of working with the medium (and I'm sure you will too). I personally use 'Sandodor' by Windsor and Newton as my solvent of choice, although there are many benefits to liquin and linseed oil that you should think about and experiment with. If you're looking into those, Andrew Tischler has some great videos on the subject. The great benefit of Sansodor is that it's very non-toxic and doesn't smell at all. Ultimately, your solvent/medium of choice will come down to what kind of painter you are and what effect you're trying to achieve. With surfaces, you really need to think about what kind of painter you are. Stretching canvases is fun and useful, but really isn't necessary if you're just starting out. I'd recommend buying a small, primed canvas and a small primes gesso wooden panel. It's definitely worth getting your own gesso, but again, you don't need to prime your own surfaces. once you have those two surfaces, I'd recommend given them both a go and trying to complete a portrait on them or something. You'll get a feel for the texture of a canvas and how that really makes you think about your application of paint, and you'll also get a feel for a smoother surface that gives you a little bit more freedom and fluidity. Personally, I'll paint on a canvas if I'm doing something very large and I'll paint on a gesso panel if I'm doing something smaller. Good luck with your oil painting journey! I fell in love with it, but it will take time and patience.