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Do exercises done in traditional drawing help improve your linework on a pen tablet (without a screen)?

4:58 PM, Wednesday April 15th 2026

Hi everyone. I’d like to know how I can improve my linework and muscle memory when drawing on a pen tablet (without a screen).

There are many exercises that help improve your lines in traditional drawing, and I feel like those skills transfer easily to digital when you’re using a pen display. I guess traditional drawing and drawing on a pen display follow the same logic, because you’re looking directly at the surface you’re drawing on.

With a pen tablet (no screen), it’s different. The hand–eye coordination changes because you’re looking at your computer screen instead of the surface where you’re making your strokes.

My linework has improved a lot in traditional drawing, but when I switch to my pen tablet… I can’t draw a single line without hitting “Ctrl+Z” a million times.

Does anyone have any tips for improving my linework on a pen tablet? Are there specific exercises to improve your linework on a pen tablet (without a screen)? Should I do the same exercises on this pen tablet that I do on paper? Or should I get a pen display?

Thanks!

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Faber Castell PITT Artist Pens

Faber Castell PITT Artist Pens

Like the Staedtlers, these also come in a set of multiple weights - the ones we use are F. One useful thing in these sets however (if you can't find the pens individually) is that some of the sets come with a brush pen (the B size). These can be helpful in filling out big black areas.

Still, I'd recommend buying these in person if you can, at a proper art supply store. They'll generally let you buy them individually, and also test them out beforehand to weed out any duds.

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