Bazaart by Bazaart Ltd
Bazaart is a collage application that comes with a plethora of tools and resources that will immediately turn your blank canvas into a flourishing masterpiece. For starters, you can choose any canvas size you want. If you are not quite sure what size to begin with, Bazaart provides a bunch of templates - portrait, square, landscape - as well as other formats for Instagram, Facebook. Twitter, Pinterest, and Youtube. Oh yes, you can customize the size to your liking. Collage is the medium so just about anything can be added to your digital creations. There is no need to fear the challenge of facing a blank canvas because Bazaart comes with tons of media preinstalled. You can search for images on the web, explore a library of photographic images, add stickers, tons of fun fonts, and photos from your camera roll or iCloud Drive. Bazaart's interface is intuitive, incorporating gestures to swap between layers and/or projects. While you have fun collaging, you can enhance your workflow and creativity by using Bazaart's adjustment tools, filters, and magical cut-out tools. You can use Bazaart as your private art portfolio or you can share your creations with an online community. There is no need to fear art school. Bazaart is your personal mobile studio. Bazaart was free for many years but now comes with a subscription fee of $20 a year.
Art Studio Pro
Art Studio Pro is considered one of the best options for artists or anyone who wants to create art on iOS devices. Similar to Pixelmator, Art Studio Pro was developed to be cross-platform: the app can be accessed from iOS devices and Macs. This enables users to begin a project on their Mac and continue editing it on their iPhone or iPad. Art Studio Pro comes with a plethora of features that are available for creating and editing art, including project management, iCloud integration, layers with 27 blending modes, hi res canvas sizes, and adjustment tools; layer masking and effects, selection tools, filters, pencil, paint and wet paint options; brush editor with 80 customization options; clone and heal stamps; smudge, blur, and sharpen tools; dodge, burn and sponge applications; bucket fills with patterns and gradients, and advanced export options. If you had to choose one app for all your art creation needs, Art Studio is an excellent choice.
Procreate
Procreate is one of the most advanced painting apps and is the winner of the prestigious design award by Apple. Powered by Metal, Apple's unique graphics API, Procreate offers 64 bit painting, producing a super fast experience. All existing projects can be accessed from the display library, and new canvases can be created to determine the size, DPI, and layer options. Projects can be previewed by using pinch and zoom gestures, tapping to close and double tapping to open. Files can also be imported to start new projects and files can even be dragged into Procreate from the Files app using the iPad split-screen feature. Procreate comes with an intuitive, multi-touch workflow, using gestures to cut, copy and paste; launch full screen; rotate canvas; zoom in and out; and clearing layers. In addition to menus on the top and sides of the workflow, sliders allow for precision and accuracy when controlling brush size and opacity. Procreate's robust brush system includes two core elements, shape and grain, and advanced options for fine tuning stroke properties. Procreate is a superlative art creation app.
Tayasui Sketches
Next to Paper, Tayasui Sketches of one most innovative drawing applications available for iOS. The application comes with a tool bar with various options for pencil, pen, and brush marks, and a color swatch menu for custom colors. The tool bar also includes the ability to control the size of the brush mark and opacity. Some of the latest features introduced by Tayasui Sketches include layers and painterly effects. The user interface is defined by swiping gestures to access controls smoothly and quickly. Receiving regular updates, Tayasui Sketches has evolved to coincide with Apple's operating systems, combining the skeuomorphism of early designs with the flatness that was introduced in iOS 7.
Paper
Paper by FiftyThree is one of the most beautiful applications available for the iPad. What is most impressive is the user interface, which makes full use of the iPad touchscreen, using swipes and pinching gestures to switch between documents and pages. A tool bar slides up from the bottom to reveal different tools for drawing and applying washes. Tools are purchased through in-app purchases. Version 1.2.1 introduced a mixing palette and the ability to add background colors and version 1.3.1 enables you to pinch and zoom into specific areas of a drawing, much like a magnifying glass. In 2013, FiftyThree also introduced "Pencil," a stylus that pairs with Paper via bluetooth. Check it out the My Apple Podcast review on YouTube.
Forge by Adonit Corp
Similar to Paper by Fifty-Three, Forge moves the traditional concept of the sketchbook into the digital age. Sketchbooks are beautifully conceived in digital format, enabling the user to set up projects that show a progression of steps and ideas. Projects appear in a smooth grid format, and each sketch can re-positioned or placed in the corners as ideas that can be accessed later from any project. When a drawing is launched full screen, you can access a menu of five drawing tools, plus and eraser, a tool for importing images, and a palette tool for colors. Users also have the option to sync the Jot pen for more control. Forge also makes use of pinching and swiping gestures to navigate between projects. Check out our review to learn more.
FoolProof Art Studio
Foolproof by Studio Mee turns your photos into action paintings. You can import any photo, but portraits work the best. The application interface is designed like a virtual artist's studio. You begin by choosing an easel with a textured canvas, with warm or cool tones. The canvas conceals the photo and you have the option to choose thick or narrow brushstrokes. Using your finger as a brush, you begin by swiping across the textured canvas with rapid gestures, as quick zigzag patterns of color begin to reveal the photo underneath. You can reveal details of the photo by slowing the pace of your finger. Save your project as a photo or video that captures the transformation of your image from start to finish.