Choosing the right software can feel a bit like trying to find the perfect pair of shoes. You want something that feels comfortable, is easy to use and actually suits the way you like to work.
There are loads of apps out there, so it can be difficult to know where to start. You might be a beginner trying digital art for the first time, a hobby artist who enjoys creating at the weekend, a student building a portfolio, or even a professional artist who wants to be able to work while they’re out and about.
Before you start downloading every app you come across, have a look at what each one actually does.
Think about the things that matter to you. Do you need lots of brushes? Layers? Good typography options? Animation? Vector tools? Perhaps you need to work with particular file types because of what you plan to do with your artwork afterwards.
There’s no point choosing an app with loads of impressive features if you never use half of them.
It’s also worth thinking about the device you’ll be using. Are you an iPad person, an Android user, or do you prefer working on your phone?
A larger tablet gives you more space to draw, while a phone is great for those moments when you have an idea and want to get it down quickly.
If you use a stylus, check that the app supports things like pressure sensitivity and palm rejection. These little details can make drawing feel much more natural.
And don’t forget about storage. If you create large, detailed artwork, those files can take up quite a bit of space.
Different apps suit different artists
One thing I’ve learnt is that there really isn’t a single app that’s perfect for everyone.
If you love digital painting, you’ll probably have different requirements from someone who mainly creates vector illustrations. Pixel artists, comic artists and people who create graphics for social media will all be looking for different things too.
So rather than asking, “What’s the best digital art app?”, it’s probably better to ask, “What’s the best app for the way I want to work?”
And then there are the boring-but-important things such as pricing, subscriptions and free trials.
Have a look at what you actually get for your money before signing up. If there’s a free trial, take advantage of it and see whether you actually enjoy using the app.
It’s also worth checking how easy it is to move your artwork between devices. If you sometimes work on your iPad and sometimes on your computer, you don’t want to discover halfway through a project that your files don’t transfer properly.
From First Sketch to Finished Artwork
Creating art on a tablet or phone can feel a little strange at first. You’re basically carrying a tiny art studio around with you.
Once you’ve got your device and stylus sorted, spend a little time getting to know your app.
Learn the shortcuts and gestures. Find out how to undo, zoom, rotate and change brushes quickly. These things might seem unimportant when you’re starting out, but they can save you loads of time once you get into a project.
I’d also recommend organising your brushes.
It’s very easy to download loads of lovely brushes and then end up with a huge collection that you never use. Keeping your favourites somewhere easy to find makes life much simpler.
When you have an idea for a new piece, don’t just jump straight in.
Have a think about what you’re actually going to use the artwork for. Is it going on Instagram? Are you going to print it? Is it going into your portfolio? Perhaps you’re creating a pattern or illustration that needs to be used somewhere else.
This will help you decide on things like canvas size and resolution before you start.
Then you can get on with the fun part — sketching.
Your first sketch doesn’t need to be brilliant. It’s really just there to help you work out where everything is going to go.
Once you’re happy with the basic idea, you can start adding your linework, colours and details.
This is where layers become incredibly useful.
Instead of putting everything on one layer and hoping for the best, you can keep different parts of your artwork separate. That means you can change the colour of something, move an object or make corrections without ruining everything else.
It’s one of those things that might seem confusing when you first start digital art, but once you get used to layers, you’ll probably wonder how you ever managed without them.
Don’t forget to back up your work
There’s nothing worse than spending hours on a piece of artwork and then losing it.
If your app supports cloud storage or automatic backups, it’s worth using them.
And if you regularly move between your phone, tablet and computer, work out how you’re going to transfer your files before you get too far into a project.
It might not be the most exciting part of making art, but it can save you a lot of headaches later.
When your artwork is finished, you’ll also need to think about how you’re going to export it.
PNG and JPEG files are useful for sharing online, while PSD files can be handy if you need to keep all your layers or send the artwork to someone else to work on.
If you’re preparing something for print, you may need a PDF and you’ll want to make sure you’re using the right colour settings.
It sounds complicated, but once you understand what each file type is for, it becomes much easier.
Making Digital Art on a Small Screen
Working on a phone or tablet isn’t quite the same as working on a big computer screen.
For one thing, you might find yourself zooming in and out constantly!
But that’s okay. Zooming in is actually really useful when you’re working on small details.
If your lines are looking a little shaky, try using a stabiliser if your app has one. And don’t feel that you have to add every tiny detail straight away.
I find it much easier to get the bigger shapes and composition right first and then worry about the little things afterwards.
One of the great things about mobile art is that you can create pretty much anywhere.
You can sketch an idea while you’re sitting in a café, make a quick drawing while you’re travelling, or work on a project when you suddenly get that little burst of inspiration.
Of course, it isn’t perfect.
Small screens can become annoying when you’re working on a complicated piece. Your battery can disappear surprisingly quickly, and some apps can be quite demanding on your device.
And then there are subscriptions.
It’s very easy to end up paying for several different apps without really thinking about whether you use them enough to justify the cost.
So keep an eye on what you’re actually using.
When is it time to upgrade?
Some artists are perfectly happy working entirely from a phone or tablet.
Others eventually reach the point where they want a bigger screen, a keyboard or a desktop program.
There’s nothing wrong with either approach.
If you find yourself constantly wishing you had more screen space or struggling with larger projects, it might simply be time to add another tool to your setup.
You don’t need to buy everything at once.
Start with what you have, learn how to use it and upgrade when you actually feel that you need to.
And finally, remember to keep some of your work-in-progress.
Save those early sketches and screenshots. They can be really useful when you’re building a portfolio because they show how your artwork developed rather than just showing the finished piece.
It’s also worth checking the licensing rules for any brushes, fonts, textures or other assets you use. Just because something is available to download doesn’t necessarily mean you can use it however you like.
At the end of the day, you don’t need the most expensive tablet or the most complicated software to make good digital art.
You just need tools that work for you.
Once you find a setup that feels comfortable, you can stop worrying quite so much about the technology and get back to what you actually wanted to do in the first place — making art.