Art Apps for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch

Over the past two or three years I have been amazed (and dismayed) by hearing how many people have ended up with serious back, arm or wrist problems as a result of long hours at the computer. Digital artists are certainly not immune.

A few months ago I too started to get lower back ache after sitting too long at my desktop. The backache is improving since I took to stuffing a cushion (folded in two) down the back of my office chair to support my lower back.

I don’t have wrist or arm trouble, but then I never use a mouse. I draw, paint and mouse about with a stylus on my Wacom drawing tablet. I keep the Wacom tablet on my lap.

I have just got an iPad, which I find even more relaxing to use, as you can hold it in one hand or prop it on your knees to paint on it with your fingers. I still paint on my iphone too, which is even easier to hold. I do have to admit the ipad gets a bit heavy to hold up in one hand for too long.

All the same, both ipad and iphone free you up to move, stand and sit as you please to draw and paint. (You can also draw and paint on an iPod Touch.)

All at once, the world is your studio – though you don’t even have to leave your own house to become more mobile! About the only place you can’t paint, blog or answer your email on an iphone is in the bath!

It’s a good idea to get a timer to remind you it’s time to get up and move around if you’re sitting for long at your desktop. With all the famous apps for phones and computers, it’s ironic that there doesn’t seem to be one alarm app that will do this – at least I haven’t found one. Probably a cheap kitchen timer will do the job.

I recently began a course of weekly Pilates classes, which also help and get me moving.

How about you? If anything particularly works for you, please do add a comment. I’m sure there are many, many who would love to know!

Tags: back strain, digital artist, fitness, repetitive stress, tips, valerie beeby, workout

Shepherd’s Delight, originally uploaded by purple0wl.

I’ve had my iPad for a couple of weeks now. Still experimenting.

Compared with my iPhone, the iPad with its larger screen is certainly easier to draw on.

As a matter of fact, as far as I can see, the pictures you end up with are no larger than those on the iPhone or iPod Touch. Most artists’ finger painting apps can be used on the ipad with little alteration. They appear as a small rectangle marooned in the centre of the iPad screen.

All is not lost, however. There’s a button to double the display size and work at 2x magnification. This is easier than constantly pinching in and out, as you have to do on the smaller machines to work on detail.

This larger working size makes it easier to paint with a wide variety of brushes and fancy textures.

An app called Magic Brush will even allow you to make your own brush.

The fleece of this sheep was made in Magic Brush from a shape cut out of a photo (taken with my iphone) of some pastel paper. I could then use it just like any other brush, altering size, colour and transparency.

Magic Brush allows you to add a background to paintings made with your custom brushes. I added this sunset.

The result was then exported to a photo app called PhotoStudio, and a rusty texture added.

All was still not finished. I found I needed to alter the sheep’s legs and tail. This I did in Brushes app. To paint over the alterations, I had to emulate the rusty texture with the range of ready made but very adaptable Brushes tools.

I learned a lot!

Tags: art, Art on the iPhone, brushes, creative, digital painting, drawing tablet, ipad, iphone camera, learn, painting, purple owl, valerie beeby

The Women, originally uploaded by purple0wl.

This image was created from an iphone photo of statues in the grounds of Arundel Castle, southern England.

Channels, blending modes and filters were played one against the other in Corel Painter to give an eerie glow.

How about making selections and masks in painting apps for the iphone. Are they possible? I have tried about thirty painting, drawing and photo apps on my iphone, and at first I scratched my head and said no. Then I realised the answer was yes.

You can draw masks in Vihgo, applying various textures and lighting effects to the unprotected areas.

Layers in Brushes, Layers and Sketchbook Mobile give plenty of scope for masking effects. You could paint a ship on a transparent layer, and erase around it to reveal a photo of the sea below. That’s much like using a mask.

I’m sure there are other ways of selecting and using masks in iphone drawing and painting apps. Can you think of any? Do comment and let me know!

Tags: art, Art on the iPhone, brushes, corel painter, creative, digital art, digital painting, iphone apps, iphone photo, ipod, ipod touch, photo, purple owl, valerie beeby

If you’re keen on painting portraits, you’ll never be short of a model at Julia’s Portrait Party. Flickr groups, as far as I know, are all free to join, and this portrait group is a splendid opportunity.

Post up a photo of yourself for others to paint, and lo and behold, before you lies your choice of over a hundred fascinating faces to paint as you desire.

Marvellous. Not only does this give you an ever-increasing choice of mug shots young and old. The huge range of styles that other artists have used are sure to give you ideas.

You’ll find the Portrait Party here.

This portrait of Julia Kay was finger painted on my iphone. I laid down the foundations of her face with the app Gesture, working on the portrait itself in Brushes. Texture and lighting were added with the help of Photo Studio and Photo FX.

Tags: art, Art on the iPhone, brushes, digital painting, drawing faces, face, ipod touch, learn, portrait, purple owl, valerie beeby