I’m hunting for new apps for artists and designers to spice up my learning journey.
It’s a great feeling when you upgrade your skills using an iPad!

Are you ready to take your creativity to the next level with your iPad?
I’ve been on a quest to find new apps that can spice up my learning journey and help me upgrade my skills.

Today, I’m excited to share with you my top picks from my recent exploration!

These apps aren’t just about functionality; they bring a touch of fun and innovation to your digital art process. I’ll give you my first impressions rather than a full review, hoping to inspire you to give them a try.Let’s dive into the world of digital art with these iPad apps:

• Art Set 4: A realistic painting experience that feels like using traditional media.
• Pixaki: Jump into pixel art with a user-friendly interface and animation capabilities.
• Nomad Sculpt: Discover the simplicity of 3D sculpting with this game-changing app.
• Hypersketch: Stay tuned for this minimalist sketching app in development.

So, whether you’re into sketching, painting, or exploring new design dimensions, there’s something for everyone. Let’s get started!

4 iPad Apps for Artists and Designers

I searched for new sketching apps for my iPad, Macbook, and also Oculus Quest2.
Let me share with you my recommendations for the day!

It’s not a complete review of each, since I am still learning how to use them.
It’s my first impression that I hope will encourage you to try them as well!

Let’s start with the apps for iPad today.
(I will cover the Macbook and Oculus in the upcoming days.)

Let me know in the comments at the end of this article your favourite apps or software!

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Art Set 4

You can download the app here: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/art-set-4/id1418530800

Art Set 4 is among the same family of “painting software” as the famous Corel Painter on desktop.
They aim to replicate traditional drawing and painting tools as realistically as possible.

• The toolbar is super user-friendly and beautiful
  compared to the Procreate preview of brushes.
• The painting on canvas looks real.
  It imitates the thickness of your gouache painting for example.
• The colors blend when you add an extra layer of paint on top.
• By default, your fresh paint is wet,
  you have the option to dry the color on the spot,
  so you can add more paint on top without the blend effect.
• Something non-realistic but I love digital art is the eraser.
  You can erase your paint in a super clean way! Hehe
• The presence of the layers is another cheat
  we have as digital artists compared to the traditional method.
• The app is a lot more affordable compared to Painter.

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Pixaki

You can download it here: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pixaki-4-pro/id1447665380

Let’s jump into Pixel art!

Born in the ’80s, I remember the watch I had on my wrist when I was 10 years old.
My brother bought it for me during a trip to Canada.
I had a Batman video game on it!
We could play with a few animated pixels throwing “batman’s shuriken” to the enemies!

I couldn’t be insensitive to pixel art when I saw the revival through the Crypto Punks and many other NFT projects! Since I grew up, I worked hard on my sketching skills, so I got to try pixel art too!

• Pixaki is super simple to use! Beginners will adapt fast.
• The app looks like a mini Photoshop with a reduced interface to the minimum!
• You can animate your pixel art!
  They propose the option of the “Onion” (to draw the next image, the previous one is displayed with a lower opacity for you to use it as a reference)
• The layers are definitely best to create easily and freely.
  For example, with the basic 3 layers setup.
  1. Top layer is your lines. 2. Second layer displays the colour. 3. Third layer is your background.
• The app is also affordable.
  If you are not sure you want to dive in, you can try free alternative apps online (See Pixelchain below)

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Nomad Sculpt

You can get it here: https://nomadsculpt.com/

Nomad Sculpt is my top fav software at the moment!
I discovered Nomad Sculpt by chance on Tik Tok.

I always thought I was not a “3D guy”, so I specialized in sketching.
I labeled myself as a sketcher, and I would never be deep into 3D since my brain could not comprehend the process as smoothly as in sketching.

It’s not that I disliked 3d art.

I tried to learn years ago (15 years ago) with Maya, 3dsMax, Poser, and Zbrush… I even went to extra classes our teachers prepared for the volunteers.
We were only 2 or 3 students haha.
I was excited to start. But I was overwhelmed from day 1 by the sophisticated interfaces and tools.
I gave up focusing on sketching on paper and tablet, using 2D tools like Sketchbook Pro, Adobe Photoshop, and Illustrator.

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Hypersketch

Under development
Update: The app Hypersketch is now available on the Apple store!

My friend Don Koh from Singapore is developing a sketching app for designers.
It aims to be minimalist, and cover the creative stage when you doodle and communicate your ideas.

I had the chance to be one of the beta testers to share my feedback. 🙂
Stay tuned for this upcoming and promising app!

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That’s all for today!

Conclusion: Empower Your Design Journey

We’ve explored some fantastic iPad apps that can transform your digital art and design experience.
Here’s a quick recap to keep you inspired:

• Art Set 4: Offers a realistic painting experience with a user-friendly interface.
• Pixaki: Simplifies pixel art creation and animation, perfect for beginners and enthusiasts.
• Nomad Sculpt: Opens up the world of 3D sculpting with its intuitive tools.
• Hypersketch: A minimalist sketching app in development, designed for the creative process.

So, what’s next?

• Expand Your Skillset: These apps provide new ways to express your creativity, helping you grow as an artist or designer.
• Stay Innovative: By incorporating these apps into your workflow, you’re embracing the ever-evolving field of digital art.

Remember, your passion for design is your greatest asset.
Whether you’re just starting or looking to make a change, these tools can help you create, innovate, and have fun with your art.

Iif you’ve enjoyed this journey or have any questions, drop a comment below or let me know if you’d like more app recommendations. Let’s keep exploring, keep creating, and keep enjoying the ride!

Happy designing.

Cheers,
Chou-Tac

PS: Tell me in the comments your favorite apps or software!