My $40 brush pack turned my art into a muddy mess

I was so excited to try a new set of digital brushes I bought online for about forty dollars. The previews showed amazing textures for painting hair and fabric, things I really struggle with. I opened them up for a big portrait piece and started using this one brush that was supposed to make perfect, wispy strands. Instead, it just made these weird, blurry smudges that looked like my subject got caught in a rainstorm. I spent two hours trying to make it work, adjusting every setting I could think of, but the whole piece just got muddier and muddier. I finally had to scrap the whole layer and start over with my basic round brush, feeling pretty silly. Has anyone else bought a fancy brush set that just did not work the way you hoped at all?

2 comments

2 Comments

scott.mia3d ago

Ever think it's your skills, not the brush?

the_zara2d ago

Yeah, the "it's your skills, not the brush" line used to be my exact thinking. I fought it for years, using cheap brushes and getting frustrated. Then I borrowed a decent one from a friend for a single painting session. The control was just different, it didn't fight me. It didn't make me a better artist overnight, but it sure made practicing a lot less of a battle. A good tool lets you focus on the skill part instead of wrestling with the brush itself.