10 Apps Every Artist Needs

As modern-day artists, we have so many tools at our disposal that artists of the past didn’t have. There are many apps that I use on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis as an artist that I thought I would share with all of you. You may already use some of them, or maybe you use others. If there are any apps that you love to use in your art practice that I don’t talk about here, please list them in the comments below so that we can all benefit from each other’s experience!

These apps aren’t necessarily in any particular order. Some are used in the actual creation process while others I use to share artwork or edit the images/video files.

1. Canva

Canva is a great graphic design app. You can use it to create artwork, posters, announcements, and much more. My main use for Canva is for cover images for YouTube Videos, Instagram Reels, and other graphics for articles or videos. I don’t use it to create designs that I would sell. It is very simple to use, has great templates, and can have your own content easily uploaded to it.

2. iMovie (Video Editor)

As an artist who posts videos to YouTube and other social media platforms, I need a video editing app. I am an Apple user and I like using my laptop more than just my phone. For this reason, I use iMovie. This is by no means the only video editing app or even the best. I have just been using it since I was a young teenager so I am most familiar with it. There are so many video editing apps for both desktop and mobile devices that people use.

Which is your favourite video editing app? Let us know in the comments below!

3. Social Media Apps

Sharing my artwork across different social media platforms is almost a staple for artists. I use platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and more. I have each of these apps on my mobile device so I can easily upload a story, post, or photo of what I am working on. If you use both Facebook and Instagram, you can use the “Business Suite”. This allows you to create a post for both Instagram and Facebook in one place. I find it very convenient instead of having to do them each separately.

Which social media platform has been the most successful for you?

4. Square

Square is a payment platform that you can use anywhere that you have an internet connection. If you are an artist that does markets or similar events, being able to accept all types of payments on location is very important as people move more and more away from using cash. With Square, you can accept debit, credit, apple pay, google pay, and more. You just need to have a device to connect it to and some type of terminal. 

Do you have any alternatives to Square?

5. Measure

Measure is an app I use as an artist when I don’t have my tape measure nearby. I use it in two main ways. 

First, I use Measure when measuring an artwork that is all packaged up and being prepped to ship. I do all of my own measurements and weighing in my studio so I can just purchase the shipping label online so I don’t have to wait in line at the post office. Using measure allows me to easily measure the dimensions of the parcel.

I also use Measure when working on a piece when I am working with the rule of thirds. It makes it easy to measure where those points are on the canvas.

6. Michaels (An Art Store App)

Having the app of the art store nearest you is very handy as an artist. Michaels is the only art supply store in my city so I go there often for my supplies. Having the app makes it easy to check if things are in stock before I go. When I am in the store, it also makes it easy to scan my membership card and any other coupons or offers.

Where do you get most of your art supplies? Do they have an app?

7. Colour Wheel

For a long time, I didn’t really use a colour wheel. The more I have learned, the more I have referenced colour wheels. It is quite easy just to have a colour wheel printed off to hang in your work area, but some apps allow you to do more and try different tints and hues of the colours that you are working with. I have often just searched for colour wheel online but there are good free apps out there as well.

What colour wheel app do you use?

8. Notes

Do you ever have an idea strike you at the most inopportune time? I know I definitely do. I use my Notes app to quickly jot down ideas that come to mind so I don’t forget them.

I also use my Notes app to keep a list of projects I have on the go, a list of orders I need to fulfill, a shopping list of art supplies that I need, and more. Having all of my art-related stuff in this app helps keep me organized and feeling the most efficient.

How do you keep track of everything?

9. Sketchbook

Sketchbook is a sketching, painting, and illustration app for all devices. I mainly use this app on my laptop. There are dozens of different tools you can use and allows the use of layers. I do a little bit of digital art but mainly use Sketchbook to just get ideas out of my brain and onto a rough draft. I also use Sketchbook to draw out all of my mixed media pieces before actually

10. Photos (Photo editing app)

A photo editing app is almost a must as an artist. Here are the different ways in which I use my photo editing app. I mainly use my photo editing app for editing pictures for my website and social media and cropping images or scans of my artwork for prints.

There are a lot of different photo editing apps out there. I use photos because that is the default app on my Mac and it does everything I need it to. There are many others for both mobile and desktop. 

Which photo editing app do you use and why?

I hope you enjoyed my list of apps that every artist needs. Again, if there are any apps that you would like to add, just do so in the comments below! If you would like to donate so that I can continue to put out articles like this, click on the button below: