I asked a professional illustrator what to buy to get started in digital art — 3 starter packs for 3 different budgets to celebrate World Art Day

Today is World Art Day, and while I'm not remotely artistic, I do have very talented friends who are.

To celebrate and offer guidance to those looking to finally leap into creating digital art, I asked my friend Robert for his advice. Robert is a professional illustrator with over seven years of experience working for clients such as Apple, Red Bull, EA, Nike, and now he works on AAA video games.

Combined with my tech expertise, we came up with three product tiers for those looking to get started with digital art, and honestly, I'm kind of tempted to start drawing myself after checking out some of these products.

This guide starts small, but gets pretty expensive quickly, and Robert wanted me to make sure that I emphasize the best way to start creating digital art is with whatever tools you've got access to.

You don't need the best to make amazing artwork, but sometimes treating yourself makes it that little bit easier. So celebrate World Art Day 2026 by treating your passions to a brand new way to draw and get creative, with expertise from a professional illustrator.

A great place to start

Robert says, " A Wacom Android tablet gives you everything you need to start making digital art." And that's why he recommends the Wacom MovinkPad 11. It has similar technology to Wacom's most impressive drawing tablets and grants you access to Clip Studio Paint, an excellent platform to get started drawing digitally.

If you already own a computer, buying a drawing tablet without a display to create with popular apps like Photoshop is a great option too.

And finally, if you want a multipurpose product, you can't get better than a standard iPad, granting you access to the Apple ecosystem and Procreate, one of the best apps for digital art out there. Robert says Procreate excels because "it's simple and intuitive," although at this price point, an entry-level iPad is only 11 inches, and the standard Apple Pencil has no pressure sensitivity.

Oh, and of course, Rob says it's always a good idea to still sketch offline and get inspiration from the outside world, so grabbing some markers is always advised.

Ready to spend a little more

So you're already creating digital art, but you want to take the next step and treat yourself to some excellent products that will enhance your passion.

If you're looking for an iPad, the 13-inch Air is the best bang for buck because you get a larger display to draw on and compatibility with the Apple Pencil Pro (yes, it has pressure sensitivity).

I've also included the best drawing stand, because Rob often tells me about his sore shoulder, and one of the best ways to combat Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) is to have good posture and a more comfortable drawing experience.

Some Pros actually opt for Wacom over the Apple ecosystem, and the MovinkPad Pro 14 has an OLED display with vivid colors that some will tell you is the best drawing experience on the go.

The Wacom Intuos Pro is the favorite of many digital artists, especially if you have access to a computer (hence my inclusion of the MacBook Neo), because you can have a way more comfortable posture when not drawing directly on a screen. Rob says he loves his Intuos Pro, especially when he's got body aches.

Your parents believe in you (and you've got money to spend)

The final tier of products are for those who (or already) draw professionally. In fact, some of these prices are so eye-watering, that unless you know you need a $3,500 Wacom display, you probably shouldn't even consider it.

Rob says the iPad Pro is one of the best displays for drawing, because it looks beautiful and colors pop from the screen. You can combine it with the Apple Pencil pro listed above to get barrel rotation and hover functionality.

He's also included the Tour Box which is excellent for streamlining artistic workflows, and can be combined with the best Wacom tablets on the market.

If you're serious about graphic design and digital art, the products listed below will serve for years to come, although an iPad Pro is maybe more realistic than spending a large mortgage payment on a 27 inch Cintiq Pro.

Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.