when it started and program preferences

Keep in mind that a lot of my advice will be regarding digital art. That is my primary and most experienced medium.

If you don't want the entire story, I love Clip Studio Paint and still use it as my main program. I think I've been using it for at least 4-5 years now. I also use CSP since it doesn't make my computer shit itself like Photoshop does. I also really like the asset shop and the program's ability to transfer PS brushes.

Free alternatives I've used are Medibang and Krita. (Note: on the PC)

• Medibang has an interface that's pretty similar to CSP, so it's not entirely unfamiliar if you ever choose to switch to Clip Studio. FireAlpaca has an animate feature, but I don't like that program as much.
• Krita has an interface more like Photoshop. It's a little hard to navigate, but can really compete with PS.

I started drawing at a fairly young age, and the first few years of drawing digitally was done with a mouse and MS Paint. My main motivation was to be like all the artists who posted their My Little Pony speedpaints on YouTube. I loved ponies and I still do! Although now it's in the form of Umamusume. Crazy how it goes full circle. I still love mlp though!

Then the shift toward paint tool sai happened. I remember using the demo version and still figuring out how to draw with a mouse (and at some point, a touchpad). I wish I liked using SAI more. I did before, but since finding other programs, I have more of a preference for those.

The last program I moved to was Medibang before I stuck with Clip Studio. It's crazy that so much has changed over the course of, what, 10 years? It's been a crazy yet awesome journey, and I love seeing the changes over the years even if I'd rather hide under a rock than look at my previous works. Ultimately, I hope that what I write here is beneficial to you all, and you can experience the same joy I do when creating!