10 Best Drawing Apps for Digital Artists in Singapore

In the vibrant creative scene of Singapore, digital artists have access to an impressive array of drawing apps and programs to bring their imaginative ideas to life. Whether you’re sketching in a café along Orchard Road or finalizing designs in your home studio, the right tools can elevate your artwork to new heights.

One of the most significant advancements for digital artists has been the widespread adoption of stylus pens. When paired with a high-performance drawing program, a stylus offers unparalleled freedom and precision, allowing artists to create fluid, natural strokes that closely mimic traditional media.

Let’s explore our top picks for the best drawing apps that complement stylus use, offering both free and paid options suitable for Singapore’s diverse artistic community.

Top drawing apps for Singaporean digital artists

Every artist has unique preferences, and the software you choose may depend on your artistic style and the type of projects you typically work on. For instance, if you’re creating digital art for Singapore’s thriving comic and manga scene, you’ll likely need different tools compared to someone designing logos for local businesses.

While the more comprehensive tools on our list can be used for various applications, they often come with a steeper learning curve and a higher price tag. However, the investment in time and resources can be well worth it for serious artists looking to elevate their craft.

1. Krita

Krita is a free, open-source software that works for Windows, Mac, and Linux users. It’s particularly useful for creating comic art with premade panels, making it a favorite among Singapore’s growing community of comic artists and illustrators.

Krita supports animation functions, including audio, and comes with premade templates. To enhance your artwork, you can import textures from third-party sources, allowing you to add local Singaporean textures and patterns to your digital creations.

While Krita is free to use, you can also opt for premium options via Steam and the Microsoft Store. The paid version includes the same features but provides automatic updates and support, which can be beneficial for professional artists in Singapore who need reliable tools for client work.

2. MediBang Paint Pro

MediBang Paint has gained popularity among anime and manga creators in Singapore, but it’s also a versatile tool for various types of graphic design. One of its standout features is the Art Street community, which offers competitions for the best art – a great way for Singaporean artists to showcase their work and connect with a global audience.

With access to over 1,000 screen tones and 20 fonts, this cloud-based tool allows you to save your work to your account and continue on any logged-in device – perfect for artists who work between their home studio and various co-working spaces around Singapore. It’s available for free on PC, iPad, iPhone, and Android devices.

3. FireAlpaca

FireAlpaca is an easy-to-use drawing tool that’s free forever for Windows and Mac users. You can also opt to remove ads by purchasing it on Steam. This app is particularly good for vector art, making it an excellent choice for designers working on logos and branding for Singapore’s diverse business landscape.

FireAlpaca’s interface is available in 20 languages, including English, which is widely used in Singapore. It offers pen, pencil, airbrush, and watercolor brush tools in its default settings, with options to customize additional brushes. The program is lightweight, making it suitable for use on older computers or less powerful laptops, which is great for students or hobbyists working with limited resources.

4. Autodesk Sketchbook

For artists focused purely on drawing without the need for photo editing, Sketchbook by Autodesk is an excellent choice. Its intuitive tools are perfect for quickly sketching ideas, whether you’re brainstorming at a local café or finalizing designs in your studio.

Sketchbook is available for tablets, Macs, and desktop PCs. One of its key advantages is the ability to export projects to Photoshop without losing layer data, which is crucial for artists who collaborate with international clients or agencies that require specific file formats.

Best of all, Sketchbook is completely free, making it an ideal starting point for aspiring digital artists in Singapore’s schools and universities.

5. CorelDRAW

CorelDRAW Standard is a comprehensive graphic design suite that includes Corel PHOTO-PAINT. It offers a wide range of features suitable for both professionals working in Singapore’s competitive design industry and hobbyists looking to elevate their skills.

With hundreds of brush tools, vectors, photo editing filters, and typography options, CorelDRAW is the go-to choice for many professionals involved in advertising and graphic design in Singapore. Its comprehensive toolset allows artists to create everything from traditional Chinese and Malay calligraphy to modern, cutting-edge designs that reflect Singapore’s unique blend of cultures.

CorelDRAW is available for Windows only at the lower-priced tier, but it’s compatible with 9 of the top file types. You can try it free for 15 days to see if the investment is worthwhile for your artistic needs.

6. Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is an industry-standard tool used by many professional artists and designers in Singapore. It’s excellent for creating, editing, and easily sharing work via the cloud or through creative communities like Behance, where many Singaporean artists showcase their portfolios.

Photoshop’s advanced features include smart sharpen filters, color correction tools, and photo retouching capabilities, which are essential for creating polished work that meets the high standards of Singapore’s design industry. While it has a steeper learning curve and is more expensive than some alternatives, many artists find the investment worthwhile for its powerful capabilities.

Adobe offers a monthly subscription model, which can be more manageable for freelance artists or small design studios in Singapore. Photoshop is available for iPad and desktop platforms, allowing for a seamless workflow between devices.

7. Procreate

The Procreate app is an iPad Pro exclusive that works with the Apple Pencil, offering a mobile solution for artists who enjoy working in various locations around Singapore, from the Botanic Gardens to the bustling streets of Chinatown.

Procreate incorporates many effects you’d expect in desktop software, such as layers, brushes, and filters. While it may not be suitable for heavy editing, you can easily export finished Procreate projects to other programs like Photoshop for further refinement.

A unique feature of Procreate is the ability to create and sell your own brushes, which could be an interesting opportunity for Singaporean artists to share brushes inspired by local art styles and textures. Procreate is available for a one-time fee of $9.99 USD (approximately 13.50 SGD), making it an affordable option for many artists.

8. Blender

Blender is open-source 3D animation software that’s gaining popularity among 2D artists, particularly those interested in creating content for Singapore’s growing animation and game development industries.

One of Blender’s standout features is the grease pencil mode, which allows you to create artwork from simple lines. This mode is versatile enough for creating vector-based artwork, sculptures, storyboards, animations, comics, and more – all valuable skills in Singapore’s diverse creative industry.

Blender also hosts a large community of users who share templates and resources, providing inspiration and starting points for new projects. As a free, open-source program, Blender is an excellent option for artists and small studios in Singapore looking to minimize software costs without compromising on capabilities.

9. Inkscape

Inkscape is a vector-based drawing program that’s particularly useful for creating shapes and designing logos. Its open-source nature and free availability have made it popular for both non-profit organizations and commercial uses in Singapore.

Inkscape is ideal for creating clip art, typography, flowcharts, diagrams, and infographics, as well as simple cartoons. These capabilities make it a versatile tool for graphic designers working on diverse projects in Singapore’s multicultural business environment.

The software uses the SVG file format natively but can export to various formats including PNG, PDF, and EPS, ensuring compatibility with other design tools and client requirements. Inkscape’s Boolean operations make it easy to manipulate shapes and paths, allowing for precise control over your designs.

Available for Linux, Mac, and Windows users, Inkscape is a cost-effective solution for freelance designers and small creative agencies in Singapore.

10. Artrage

Artrage stands out for its ability to create realistic-looking paintings using only a stylus. Its multiple brush customization settings allow you to mimic oil, watercolor, or pastel finishes, making it a favorite among traditional artists transitioning to digital mediums.

One of Artrage’s unique features is the ability to record your work process, which can be valuable for artists in Singapore who create tutorials or want to showcase their techniques to clients or on social media platforms.

Artrage is available in a Lite version as an iOS and Android mobile app, perfect for quick sketches while exploring Singapore’s inspiring landscapes. For more serious work, the full-featured desktop version (Vitae) is available for Mac and Windows, offering a complete suite of tools for creating professional-quality digital paintings.

Bonus app: Rebelle

Rebelle, developed by Escape Motions, is unique in its approach to digital painting. It’s the first painting software to offer physical color mixing based on traditional pigments, making it an excellent choice for artists in Singapore who want to maintain the feel of traditional media in their digital work.

Rebelle allows you to experiment with oils, watercolor, acrylics, and various other media types, along with a range of paper finishes. You can even simulate techniques like blowing paint or using a palette knife to create 3D effects. These features make Rebelle particularly appealing to artists in Singapore who work in mixed media or want to recreate the rich textures and colors found in traditional Southeast Asian art.

Available in standard ($89.99 USD) and Pro ($149.99 USD) editions for both Windows and Mac, Rebelle offers a way to experience mixed media techniques digitally, without the mess or additional materials – a practical solution for artists working in Singapore’s urban environment.

How to pick the right stylus drawing app for Singaporean artists

When choosing the perfect app for your needs, consider the following:

• Start with your device, which may determine the best app choice based on processing power and/or operating system.

• Explore the galleries on each app’s website to see what’s possible and how it aligns with artistic styles.

• Watch tutorials to understand how long it might take to master all the features.

• Consider your budget. Many art apps on our list are free, but some offer “lite” versions for half the price of full-featured desktop tools. Look for trials to familiarize yourself with the tool before buying.

Remember that your choice of stylus tool matters too. While some computers come with a stylus, others require a separate purchase. Stylus pens can have various features, including shortcut buttons and ergonomic grips. Research to ensure your stylus is compatible with your PC or laptop to achieve the level of detail you want in your artwork.