Basic of Digital Art
Art has been in all times and with the computer’s progress the digital art began to grow and be a variation of techniques and styles within the digital art. You could summarize it to three different directions in digital art; 3D-graphic, vector-graphic and pixel-based graphic.
The art form that alone is most used is pixel-based graphic, the graphic that is the base to all pictures taken with a camera. One pixel is a small colour square and along with several millions pixels it forms what we see on televisions, computer display and so forth. If you Would enlarge a pixel-based picture it would give you a deteriorated quality and in order to avoid that there is certain programs that can figure out the additional pixels that becomes when you enlarge a picture. There is another way to go too, that is with vector-graphic.
That said we go over to next big genre. Vector graphic uses mathematical calculations to decide how different colour areas will be shown. It happens more often with production of logos and printed matters that will be elarged very mutch, it gives an equal good picture when it is small as a a mobilephone as an entire house wall.
3D-graphic most used when making animations/movies, photo realistic pictures and games. 3D-graphic takes quite some time to manage and requires alot of knowledge in order to finish a project. At the same time it is with 3D you can get the most convincing pictures and authenticity. The process starts with building the model/prototype in” digital clay” in order to color the model and set the light to the clay model. This is where you have to really take a step back and think. In what environment do you want your model to be shown at, is it in bright
The interface of Photshop CS3
sunlight or in the neon-flashing streets in Tokyo. It´s essential to have some reference picture to see how it is in real life to apply it to your own work. When the light is set you start to color the whole piece. Make texture on clothes, hair and giving some texture on skin for example, there is so many different things you need to have in mind so you can´t do this in the sleep!
There is an artist from Sweden that holds alot of knowledge how to work in the digital media. 
She has got several awards and front page on different magazines for her astonishing paintings. Her name are Linda Bergkvist (www.furiae.com). She has worked in the digital world over 10 years and all started when she got a tablet where she almost right away started to draw in the digital world. She has done this ten years and to be one of the greatest you really need to have inspiration and discipline to work even when your not on the mood or are tired. Just keep draw the piece over and over again to draw it to it.
Two of Linda Bergkvist artworks.
If you want to read more you should definitely go to these site that are great forums for digital artist where you even can find some of the big guns. Gives you a boost on the creativity part.
CGTalk.com
Deviantart.com
My last tip I really have to share is one great freeware OpenCanvas where you and your friends can paint together and see each others artwork grow to something real nice. Or you can even paint on same canvas and work twice as fast. Don´t underestimate the fun in painting together on-line with someone else.
