As a digital artist and business owner, having the right tools makes all the difference between a frustrating session and a flow state. Over the past decade, I’ve experimented with countless apps, devices, and platforms—yet there are a handful I return to every single day. These trusty digital tools for artists help me create everything from seamless Procreate patterns to polished mock-ups, manage my projects, and even find inspiration when I’m stuck.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to upgrade your setup, here’s a peek inside the digital toolkit I use every day to run my art business. (Affiliate links included.)

iPad Pro & Apple Pencil

Why I Love It: The iPad Pro has completely transformed how I create. Its vibrant screen and fast response time let me draw directly in apps like Procreate, without lag or delay. It’s portable, powerful, and the closest thing I’ve found to drawing on paper—just with layers and an undo button.

Must-Have Accessory: The Apple Pencil (2nd gen) is pressure-sensitive and tilt-responsive, making lines feel intuitive and natural.

🛒 Buy the iPad Pro on Amazon | Get your Apple Pencil here

Procreate

Why I Love It: This app is my go-to for sketching, painting, and designing. Procreate’s interface is intuitive and packed with features—layer blending, time-lapse recording, custom brushes—you name it. I use it to design everything from seamless patterns to hand-drawn elements for my shop.

Pro Tip: Save your own brush sets for different projects (I have one just for mandalas and another for textured patterns), so you’re never digging around mid-session.

🛒 Download Procreate from the App Store

Affinity Designer

Why I Love It: Instead of expensive Adobe tools, I’ve transitioned to Affinity Designer which offers many of the same professional-level features without the subscription. I use it to fine-tune my Procreate files, make vector-based tweaks, and prep designs for print or licensing.

Pro Tip: Use layer groups and snapping tools to clean up complex patterns or align elements with precision.

🛒 Explore Affinity Designer

Notion

Why I Love It: I use Notion to organize almost every aspect of my creative business (and personal life). From content calendars and product development to tracking affiliate links and blog post drafts, Notion keeps everything in one easy-to-navigate workspace.

Pro Tip: Set up a “Creative Hub” with templates for blog posts, collection planning, and social media checklists—you’ll never waste time wondering what to do next.

🛒 Start using Notion for free

Canva Pro

Why I Love It: Canva is my favourite tool for making quick social media graphics, email headers, and other visuals. It’s especially helpful when I want to create Pinterest pins or blog post covers using my own designs and mock-ups.

Pro Tip: I batch-create promotional graphics for every new product or blog post, using templates to keep things looking cohesive.

🛒 Try Canva Pro free for 30 days

Placeit

Why I Love It: Placeit makes it incredibly easy to generate professional mock-ups for my art and pattern designs. I use it to visualize how a design will look on everything from tote bags to phone screens, as well as level up my Zazzle listings and social media posts.

Pro Tip: Save time by “Favouriting” for your top mock-ups so you can easily find them later.

🛒 Check out Placeit’s mockup library

YouTube & Skillshare

Why I Love It: When I’m stuck on a creative problem or just need a burst of inspiration, I turn to YouTube and Skillshare. Whether it’s learning a new Procreate technique, trying out a fresh social media strategy, or diving into surface pattern design tips—there’s always something new to discover.

Pro Tip: I keep a list of my favourite tutorials and classes, so I can revisit helpful resources whenever I need a creative boost.

🛒 Explore Skillshare classes | Follow helpful artists on YouTube

Bringing It All Together

By combining these digital tools for artists, I’ve streamlined my entire workflow—from initial sketch to final product mock-up—with just a few clicks each day. Whether you’re selling art on print-on-demand, teaching online classes, or creating just for fun, having the right digital tools can save you time and unlock more creative freedom.

Ready to try some of them for yourself? Check out the affiliate links above, and let me know which tools make the biggest difference in your own art journey!

What did I miss? Share your favourite digital tools for artists in the comments below—let’s keep inspiring each other.

Cheers,