5 Best Tools for Digital Art in 2019

Jae Johns
6 min readSep 3, 2019

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There has never been a better time to make digital art. This is partially because it is increasing in popularity, and partially because of the tools that are available. In the world of Instagram, getting your art in front of an audience is easier than ever. You just have to make some great art, apply the right hashtags, and let the internet do the rest. You can easily connect with your audience and share the art that you have worked so hard on. The only thing to consider is how you want to make the art, which means having the right tools.

Making digital art has never been easier with the introduction of great software and awesome tablets. There are countless devices available that can help you to get the most out of your drawing experience. In the tablet world, digital artistry is quickly becoming a primary focus. While you used to have to depend on a tablet that connected to the computer, the process has gone mobile. All over, you can see digital artists and creatives working on these tools to create viral images. Each tool is a little unique, so do some research to find your dream setup.

iPad Pro

The iPad Pro is quickly becoming the go to device for digital artists around the world. This state of the art tablet has plenty of great things to offer creatives. With this device, you have access to a wide collection of drawing apps. These can enable you to work in a beautiful interface that has all of the tools that you need. The device itself is known for its fluid and easy use. It comes in a variety of storage options and offers cloud storage. This makes it ideal for storing your art easily as you work on it.

A primary benefit to the iPad Pro is that it offers amazing hardware with a full creative suite. This device allows you to go completely mobile with your digital art process. The iPad Pro offers up to ten hours on a single charge, making it easy for you to work for a full day on the go. Since it is a mobile device, it makes it easy for you to design, create, and upload with ease. It’s easy to see why artists are flocking to this sleek and fluid device for their digital art needs.

Apple Pencil

For digital artists working on any of the compatible iPad models, the Apple Pencil has become incredibly popular. This amazing tool allows you to draw easily on an iPad as if you were drawing in real life. It offers impressive touch and pressure sensitivity. This means that the device understands and reacts appropriately for your every tilt and swirl. This device easily allows you to draw, shade, and paint with a variety of tools. It is compatible with every major digital drawing app in the market, providing easy integration.

The Apple Pencil is currently available in two models that both offer award winning performance. The original offers a lightning connection that can be charged and connected by plugging it into the device. The new model offers wireless charging, and magnetically adheres to the device itself. As an added bonus, it offers a double tap feature that allows you to switch between tools. Both offer rapid charging, providing you with over thirty minutes of use with just fifteen seconds of charge. This makes it a reliable tool that can work as long as you can!

Adobe Creative Cloud

For a digital artist looking to turn it into a career, Adobe Creative Cloud provides you with all of the tools that you could ever need. This subscription service grants you easy access to all of Adobe’s top programs and even offers you cloud storage. It’s easy to work on your digital art through every step of the process. You can create, edit, and make marketing materials for a single monthly cost. An additional perk is that Adobe offers discount pricing for select groups like students. You gain access to everything from Photoshop to Illustrator to Lightroom.

The real perk most people prefer when getting the Creative Cloud is the use of Photoshop. Many popular digital artists draw in one system and manage coloring in Photoshop. This can help you bring your digital art to the next level. In the event that you truly go pro, the system even offers tools to make amazing websites. This can allow you to make a stunning visual portfolio and offers you the ability to open up for commissions. The tools that come with the Creative Cloud are all relatively expensive, making the full subscription a major savings.

Surface Pro 6

In the event Apple isn’t really your jam, Microsoft now has your back with the Surface Pro 6. This device is the newest model of Microsoft’s stunning Surface line, and it has only gotten better. While Apple offers a unique tablet experience, the Surface offers you a full PC experience to suit your needs. This lets you enjoy a complete computer that you can also easily draw on. The Surface’s size and slim design makes it perfect for working on the train or in your favorite library. This device offers an amazing 13.5 hours of battery life, making it ideal for a full day of work.

The Surface Pro 6 was designed to be a tool for artists as well as the average person. It offers a unique studio mode that is ideal for drawing. The device is even smart enough to know when you want to switch from laptop to tablet mode. The Surface’s versatile kickstand allows you to draw and edit at any angle. The incredibly responsive touchscreen offers compatibility with Windows Ink to bring a complete drawing experience. You can enjoy doodling with your finger or the renowned Surface Pen, making it easy to customize your use.

Surface Pen

The Surface Pen was made to be a digital art tool. Though it might look like any old stylus, it is anything but. This device was created to help you get your thoughts written down or sketched out easily. It holds true to a more original pen design, offering the pen on one end and a rubber eraser on the other. This, combined with the material design, makes your Surface drawing experience feel exactly like pen and paper. It has excellent sensitivity and offers virtually no lag when drawing or writing.

The Surface Pen markets itself for its responsiveness to the touch of a digital artist. You can easily rest your hand on the screen and draw just like you would on paper. This makes it ideal for people looking for a more natural experience. The pen itself is designed with the feel of a typical pen, and a single battery can last up to a year. This means that you can enjoy your mobile drawing experience for months before you even have to think about. The Surface Pen is a friendly artist tool that will help you get your work in good order.

Conclusion

The modern world is full of tools for digital artists. You can enjoy exploring and researching to find a device that is right for you. It is often best to go into a store and demo these items if you can. This will let you know that it feels right. At the end of the day, these powerful tools will help you take your art game to the next level. Just make sure you use the right hashtags when you post!

If you want to know 5 more of the best digital art tools, check out the 10 Best Tools for Digital Art.

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Jae Johns

Share my insights and experiences to help you become a successful creative and make a full time income doing it. More at jaejohns.com/blog