Creativity is the result of the thoughts existing in our brain. Sketching can quickly take the fleeting inspiration in our minds down, thus turn our quick conceptual sketches into fully finished artwork. This is why artists always like to use sketchbook (can be a book or pad with blank pages for sketching) such a core approach to assist in the implementation of their creative processes, on which they can draw and paint easily and freely.

Keys to Drawing is one of the best drawing guides for self-learners. Its mission is, as Bert Dodson told us, "Anyone who can hold a pencil can learn to draw". Of course, that doesn't work without your determination and hard work.

AlienSkin Snap Art is a well-known filter application specially designed for replacing the heavy hand painted work. It is capable of quickly and intelligently converting digital photos to a variety of hand-drawn styles with artistic feeling and lifelikeness, so as to avoid that many complex and repetitive manual work. Also, it is much more effective than action and brush features in Photoshop.