Your First Digital Painting,
Done With Confidence.
A patient, step-by-step journey through Rebelle 8 — perfect for anyone who wants to paint digitally, especially older adults who value a calm, encouraging pace with no tech overwhelm.
Sound Familiar?
Whether you're a traditional painter making the leap to digital, or a complete beginner who's always wanted to create art — this course was designed for you. It's especially well-suited for older adults who want a patient, jargon-free learning experience.
You keep putting it off
Rebelle has been sitting on your computer for months, but the interface feels overwhelming every time you open it.
You're a skilled traditional artist
You can paint beautifully on paper or canvas, but the digital world feels like starting over from scratch.
You've wondered "Am I too old for this?"
You're not. This course was built specifically with patience and clarity for learners who prefer unhurried, thorough instruction.
You want results you're proud of
Not just a basic tutorial — you want to finish a real, complete digital painting you'd want to hang on the wall or share with friends.
By the end, you will create your first complete digital painting — with confidence.
- Navigate Rebelle 8's interface with total ease
- Use brushes, erasers, and blending tools confidently
- Mix colors and build beautiful custom palettes
- Work non-destructively with layers and masking
- Complete a full painting from reference to finished art
- Export, print, and share work you're genuinely proud of
12 Modules. An Ever-Growing Library.
One Complete Painting.
Every module builds on the last, so you're never lost — just steadily growing in skill and confidence.
What Students Are Saying
"I've found Digital Art Academy to be a rich haven for those wanting to get into digital art. It is full of friendly and helpful folk — students and instructors who are brilliant. Patience and kindness abound. Digital Art Academy is a superb place to grow your skill."
"My art has progressed tenfold. Karen is able to give specific, just-in-time feedback — and she teaches you the software in service of your work, so the learning actually sticks. Karen is also the host of a fabulous art community where she has made it a safe and fun environment. Without her, there wouldn't be such a great community."
"This has been the best way to learn digital painting coming from a traditional art background. After I found Karen Bonaker's classes, I never turned back. Karen has started teaching Rebelle — software that traditional artists will feel right at home with. All I can say is, I highly recommend the Digital Art Academy."
Join the DAA Student Collective
When you enroll, you're not just getting a course — you're joining a warm, encouraging community of fellow digital art students. The DAA Student Collective is your go-to place to ask questions, share your work, celebrate your wins, and learn alongside other students who are on the exact same journey.
Ask Anything — No Silly Questions
The Collective is a judgement-free zone. Confused about a tool? Post your question and get a real, helpful answer — from Karen or from fellow students who've been there.
Ask Questions Anytime
Stuck on a tool or a technique? Post your question and get answers. No question is too basic — we build understanding together.
New Lessons Added Regularly
Your enrollment isn't a snapshot in time. As new lessons and techniques are added to the course, you get them automatically — at no extra cost.
Learn Alongside Others
There's something special about knowing other students are on the same journey. The shared experience of learning together is what transforms a course into a community.
Karen Bonaker
Karen is a traditional fine artist who fell in love with digital painting
and never looked back. She founded the Digital Art Academy on one belief: that the transition
from canvas to screen should feel exciting, not overwhelming.
Her teaching style is
patient, encouraging, and refreshingly jargon-free. She explains not just what to
click, but why — so you actually understand Rebelle 8 rather than just following
along.
Karen is also an active presence in the DAA Student
Collective, where she answers questions, celebrates student wins, and keeps the
community warm and welcoming for artists at every stage.
Start Painting With Confidence
Get full, lifetime access to every lesson, every update, and the complete course community.
- 12 modules & an ever-growing lesson library
- 4–5 hours of HD video instruction
- Printable lesson guides & transcripts
- Complete a real, frameable painting
- Lifetime access & all future updates
- Access on any device, at your own pace
- Lesson discussions & Q&A with fellow students
- New lessons added regularly — included free
Questions? We've Got Answers.
Not at all. This course starts from absolute zero with Rebelle 8. If you have traditional art experience, that's a wonderful foundation — but it's not a requirement either. Everyone is welcome.
A graphics tablet (like a Wacom Intuos) is highly recommended for the best experience, but you can start with a mouse. We cover setup options in the very first module.
This course is built for Rebelle 8. Escape Motions offers a free trial, so you can download and try it before purchasing the software.
Lifetime access. Once you enroll, the course is yours forever — including any future updates or new lessons we add.
All sales are final. Because course content is delivered digitally and is immediately accessible upon enrollment, we are unable to offer refunds. We encourage you to review the full curriculum and FAQ carefully before purchasing to make sure this course is the right fit for you.
Completely. There are no deadlines, no live sessions you can miss, and no pressure. Go at your own pace — take a week on a single module if you need to. This is your creative journey.