Clip Studio Paint Brushes: My Favorites and How I Use Them

As digital artists, we're often overwhelmed by the numerous brush options available in our software. In this article, I'll be sharing my favorite Clip Studio Paint brushes and how I use them in my creative process. My goal is to help you discover new brushes and techniques to improve your own artwork.

Before we dive in, I want to announce that Zeke's Lunchbox has a Kickstarter campaign launching on November 25th. If you're interested in supporting the project, be sure to back it when it goes live. I'll provide a link at the end of this article.

Now, let's get started with my favorite Clip Studio Paint brushes!

Clip Studio Paint Brushes

I often find that the names of the brushes in Clip Studio Paint can be deceiving. I use them for different purposes than their intended use. In this article, I'll be sharing the brushes I use in the order I use them in my artwork, from sketching to coloring to blending and cleanup.

Sketching Brushes

When it comes to sketching, I prefer using the Pencil tool (shortcut key: A) over the Sketching tool. The Pencil tool has different weights and textures, making it suitable for creating detailed and textured sketches. The Design Pencil is similar to the Pencil tool but has a slightly denser texture.

Why This Article is Helpful

Digital art can be overwhelming with the many options available. This article aims to help beginners make informed decisions about which brushes to use. By sharing my workflow and favorite brushes, I hope to provide valuable insights and tips for improving your artwork.

Clip Studio Paint Strengths

One of the strengths of Clip Studio Paint is its range of built-in brushes that are similar in quality to those in Photoshop and Procreate. I haven't felt the need to download additional brushes, as the ones provided are sufficient for my needs.

Quick Keys and Navigation

I use the quick keys A and S to switch between the Pencil and Brush tools. The quick keys may vary depending on your setup, but I recommend customizing them to suit your workflow.

Sketching Brushes in Clip Studio Paint

I prefer not to use the "Real Pencil" brush for sketching due to its faint and grainy texture. The "Darker Pencil" brush is an alternative, but it lacks the ability to produce thin lines. My go-to brush for sketching is the "Dense Watercolor Brush" from the Brush tab. This brush is dense and deliberate, allowing for quick sketching with varying line weights. It can produce thin and thick lines with good depth and lightness and darkness, making it more versatile than the "Darker Pencil" brush.

Filling and Painting in Clip Studio Paint

Instead of laboriously filling shapes with a brush, I use the Lasso tool to quickly fill areas. This saves time and allows for more focus on overall composition rather than details. The Lasso tool comes with automatic settings and an instant fill bucket tool.

For blending, I use the "Opaque Watercolor Brush" from the Watercolor tab (accessed by pressing the "S" key on the keyboard). This brush allows for effortless and instant blending with minimal effort. I use this brush in the early stages of a piece to blend tones and shades. Later on, I may switch to other brushes to add more depth and detail to the piece.

Digital Painting Brushes and Techniques

Watercolor Brushes

The Watercolor brushes are great for blending smoothly and creating buttery textures. They have instant blending capabilities, making them useful for creating realistic skin tones and undertones.

Adding Texture with Real Pencil Brush

The Real Pencil brush adds grittiness and texture to digital painting, disrupting the "fluffiness" of digital painting. It can be used to add bounce lights and create a more realistic look.

Cross Hatching and Blending

Cross hatching and blending are essential techniques for adding realism to skin tones and undertones. I use blues, oranges, and greens to create a more realistic look. Blending is key to creating a smooth and realistic finish.

Eraser Brushes in Clip Studio Paint

The Eraser brushes are essential for cleaning up and refining your artwork. I use the Hard Eraser Brush for cleaning up delicate areas with a taper on the end. The Soft Eraser Brush is great for softening edges and creating a more subtle look. The Multiple Layers Eraser Brush is a game-changer for cleaning up complex layers and finding specific areas to delete.

General Digital Painting Tips

When it comes to digital painting, I recommend working quickly and loosely to add energy to a piece. Encourage making a mess and then cleaning it up. Use speed and movement to add energy to a piece. Remember, cleaning up is always possible, so focus on getting tones down quickly and efficiently.

Zeke's Lunchbox Kickstarter Campaign

About Julia and Zeke's Lunchbox

I'm Julia, an artist, designer, and content creator focusing on creating colorful and strange artworks. Zeke's Lunchbox is a business collaboration between me and my partner Julian. We've been developing and researching Zeke's Arcana, a tarot deck that brings a colorful, feminine reinterpretation of the Rider-Waite deck.

The Ramp Up Mini Kickstarter

This is the first Kickstarter campaign for Zeke's Lunchbox. The campaign is a smaller, more manageable project to help us learn and prepare for the larger tarot deck project. The funds raised will act as a security blanket for when we launch the bigger tarot deck project.

Rewards Included in the Kickstarter

• Gold Foil Limited Edition Art Prints:
  • Featuring "The Lovers" and "The Devil" cards.
  • Designed to work as companions, with similar compositions and contrasting themes.
  • Limited edition, exclusive to this Kickstarter campaign.

Be sure to back Zeke's Lunchbox Kickstarter campaign when it goes live on November 25th. I hope you found this article helpful, and I look forward to seeing you in the next one!