Digital Art
The medium that works for some but absolutely does not work for others.
I, myself, really enjoy it. I love being able to adjust colour dynamics just by moving the mouse, removing brush strokes with a click, and getting to explore different compositions while I’m working. I was able to get used to the glassy screen and the lovely aftertaste of screen eyes. That being said, I’ve also met people who can’t stand it and find it way harder than classic traditional approaches. The cliffside steep learning curve doesn’t help.
So, it is a mixed bag. Definitely. But why not give it a try?
I use the app Procreate to work on my pieces. I have worked on it for around a year and would recommend it over any art programme.
It has enough features to rival Photoshop (£20 a month, thanks to Adobe), despite being a one-time payment of £10. However, this may seem like a bit much for some who just want to give it a go before making any commitments. I did not start with Procreate and most digital artists I know also didn’t.
I’m going to go through some free art apps that are available on the App Store at the moment so that beginners can feel more confident trying digital work as they won’t pay for them.
HEADS UP:
Some of these apps have in-app purchases attached to them. I wouldn’t buy these because I am doing a free app ranking.
Also while apple pencils do help, they are not completely necessary😄 good digital art can still be made with a finger. There are also cheaper alternatives to styluses (including touch-screen pens that tend to cost £5 or under).
Brushes Redux
IN-APP-PURCHASES: None
(First Art App I ever got!)
Fun Fact: Pretty sure David Hockney used to use it at some point.
Learn more in this article: "Room with a view: How David Hockney created digital art for a lockdown"
Pros
Very simple to use, the interface is intuitive
And beginners won’t feel lost
Has a really nice time-lapse feature
Cons
Only ten layers maximum (this hurts as someone who uses 70+ layers per piece)
Very few brushes (There is a customisable feature, but it is quite limited)
Quite a bit of lag, drawing on it doesn’t feel very satisfying(Only impacts people using an Apple Pencil)
The pen pressure is sometimes unresponsive
No layer settings
VERDICT:
I could see people using this app for abstract art, or just to play around a bit with the brushes. I would use it as an introduction to digital art, to see if you might like it or not. Unfortunately, this means that you’re likely to move on from it quite quickly.
Autodesk Sketchbook
IN-APP-PURCHASES: None
(The second drawing app I ever used! I’ve created many drawings on it before moving on to procreate.)
Pros
Excellent User Interface
Great Variety of Brushes
Colour Dynamic Options
Comes with a Perspective Grid
Comes with tutorials on how to use the app
Cons
No Alpha Lock/ Clipping Mask (not the biggest con, but will become an issue later on as you get more experienced and want to try more complex stuff)
Sometimes freezes and lags
VERDICT:
The interface makes it a good choice for digital-art beginners. Another app may need to be considered if the user chooses to move on to very complex pieces, but it is definitely a good place to start drawing.
Art Set 4
IN-APP-PURCHASES: None
This app is weird because it feels the least like a digital art app out of the ones reviewed. But because this app is appealing to quite a few people, I decided to include it.
Pros
SO SATISFYING TO DRAW ON
The brushes are dynamic, with the colours interacting with each other incredible well
Cons
No layers (although that would somewhat defeat the app’s purpose, they have included an undo button so it doesn’t seem too far-fetched)
The user interface is slightly odd and will take some time to get used to (all the pens are lined up across the sides, interesting choice)
VERDICT:
This app was made for people trying to imitate a traditional drawing on an iPad or phone thus taking away the “digital” feeling of it. If you are scared of digital drawing, but find iPads convenient to draw on, give it a try! For others, I still can’t say I wouldn’t recommend it, because the brushes are mediocre. I’m keeping this app and playing with it whenever I’m bored.
Medibang Paint
IN-APP-PURCHASES: YES for more brushes and no ads (comes in subscriptions starting at £2.79 a month)
Pros
Tons of features
Comes with how-to tutorials
Comes with a perspective grid
Has a lot of community features embedded in the app (which will encourage you to draw or get involved)
No lagging
Cons
Some brushes feel…off (mainly the airbrush and the smudge tool)
Ads at the top of the screen while drawing
Full-screen ads play when you click on some buttons (i.e returning to the Home Screen after finishing a piece
The user-Interface is fine but it is quite outdated (mainly the pop-up buttons and grey colours).
VERDICT:
As long as you are tolerant of ads, this app is excellent. It is feature-packed, has great additional features, and can absolutely be used for big projects. If it seems too daunting even after all the tutorials, then it may be best to move on to this app after trying a more simple one. Apart from that, I would highly recommend it.
Those are all the apps for now. Here are some final tips if you want to start digital art.
Don’t be discouraged by traditional art.
Making digital art doesn’t come easy, especially when you have never tried it before. You’re bound to start with art that may look worse than paper drawings, but it’s just the start! As you get more and more experienced, you’ll see your level quickly skyrocket!
Use tutorials.
I’d highly recommend YouTube channels such as Sinix Design and Lavendertowne for good videos on how to improve.
Take it slow.
Go over fundamentals and how to achieve them before moving on to more challenging tasks.
Most importantly, just have fun!
If you are not having fun with it, then it will be 10 times harder to find the motivation to practice. Just take breaks frequently and draw when you want to.
Comentarios