7 Reasons Every Beginner in Digital Art & Animation Should Invest in a Drawing Tablet
If you're just starting out in digital art or animation, one of the best decisions you can make early on is to invest in a drawing tablet.
Many beginners try to make do with a mouse or touchpad — and while it's possible, it’s far from ideal. A drawing tablet doesn’t just make the process easier — it makes it faster, smoother, and a whole lot more fun.
You don’t need to spend $100 on a high-end device. Even affordable tablets under $35 can massively improve your workflow, comfort, and overall results. As someone who recently made the switch myself, I can confidently say: you’ll wonder why you didn’t get one sooner.
Here’s why getting a drawing tablet is one of the smartest things you can do as a beginner.
1. Natural Drawing Experience
Let’s be honest , using a mouse to draw is not very comfortable, you might have gotten used to it but switching will definitely be worth it . A drawing tablet gives you pen-like precision and mimics the feel of drawing on paper.
Most tablets come with pressure-sensitive pens, meaning your lines will change thickness based on how hard you press. This gives your art a natural flow, whether you're sketching characters, shading, or animating keyframes.
2. Speeds Up Your Workflow
Digital art is time-consuming, especially animation. With a tablet, you can draw, erase, blend, and control details much faster than using a traditional mouse.
Working with a drawing tablet will drastically improve your workflow, helping you move through frames, scenes, and concepts in less time. The smoother input lets you focus on your creativity instead of constantly fighting with your tools.
3. Essential for Building a YouTube Channel
If you're planning to build a YouTube or TikTok animation channel, this tool is almost non-negotiable.
Posting regular content is key to building an audience. A tablet helps you work faster, polish your art, and output animations more consistently — which is vital if you want to start earning through your content.
Even beginner channels can grow if the animation looks clean and expressive. A tablet is how you get there.
4. Precision That a Mouse Can’t Match
The biggest advantage of a tablet is control. Whether you’re doing line art, lip sync, or subtle hand movements, a pen is 10x more precise than a mouse.
You can also control stroke width and opacity with pen pressure, which means you can do more in fewer steps. For animation, that saves you a lot of time per frame — and a lot of frustration.
💰5. It Doesn’t Have to Be Expensive
A lot of beginners think drawing tablets are out of their budget — but that’s no longer true. There are great models under $35 that work well with most free and paid software.
Brands like XP-Pen, Huion, and Veikk have beginner-friendly options that are reliable, responsive, and plug-and-play. You don’t need a screen tablet (like a Wacom Cintiq) when starting — just a basic tablet that responds to your hand naturally.
I wrote another blog post breaking down some cheap beginner-friendly tablets, all currently on discount.
It's perfect for anyone who wants to try out digital art or animation without risking money on a device they might regret.
Whether you’re just unsure or you don’t have the budget right now, this guide will help you choose smart:
[Drawing tablets under 35 dollars]
6. Helps You Learn Faster
When you’re learning anything new, the right tools matter. Trying to animate or draw with a mouse just adds frustration and slows your progress.
Tablets help you focus on the fundamentals:
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Form and proportion
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Gesture drawing
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Line control
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Clean up and color
That means you build your skills faster and get better results even as a beginner.
7. Most Studios Expect It
If you’re dreaming of freelancing, working in animation, or getting hired at a studio one day, a tablet is a must.
Almost every digital art or animation job will expect you to be comfortable using one. Starting with a budget tablet now gives you a head start and builds the habits and muscle memory you’ll need later.
It Makes You Want to Create More
This one’s personal, but real: the day I bought my drawing tablet, I instantly felt more motivated to draw. It’s satisfying.
It feels good. And that keeps you creating more — which is the real secret to improving.
🔄 Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I start digital art without a tablet?
Yes, but you’ll be limited. A mouse doesn’t offer pressure sensitivity, comfort, or speed. For animation especially, a tablet makes the process much more manageable.
Q: Do I need a screen tablet to get started?
No! Many professionals still use non-screen tablets. They're cheaper, last longer, and are great for learning.
Q: Will cheap tablets work with free software?
Yes. Most budget tablets are compatible with Krita, Blender, FireAlpaca, Opentoonz and Clip Studio Paint — so you can get started without spending on software either.
Final Thoughts
As an artist, I can honestly say: investing in a drawing tablet is 100% worth it.
It helps you:
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Draw faster and better
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Learn faster
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Create more consistently
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Build a content channel that can turn into income
And you don’t need to spend a lot to get started.
If you’re on the fence, check out this guide to cheap beginner tablets — it’ll help you take the first step without regrets:
👉 [Drawing tablets under 35 dollars]
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