iPad tutorial: How to create amazing art with PenGo Paint

Getting creative is something a lot of us like to do, or wish we were better at, especially when we have an incredible device like an iPad in front of us that yearns to be used in such a way. PenGo Paint enables us to do exactly that, presenting a blank canvas from which we can create anything we wish. The app is full of great features that allow you to really experiment with touchscreen sketching, with impressive levels of editing and variation within the drawing tools. There are five of these on offer, ranging from a pencil to a fountain pen, and each comes with various stroke types, giving different final results in terms of how the virtual ink behaves. This does give creatives a real chance to express themselves in a way that would not normally be possible on a tablet. As well as being able to play with features like opacity, PenGo Paint also comes with a clever Smudging feature that lets you blend lines into one another. This tutorial will run you through the basics of PenGo, and hopefully put you on the road to creating some masterpieces of your own – or at least get you beyond stick men!

Step 1: Brush

The first thing you’ll need is the right brush for the piece you want to create. Find these under the Brush icon in the top menu, which itself is accessed with a single tap of the downward-pointing arrow.

Step 2: Size

You’ll also notice two scroll bars: one vertical and one horizontal. The vertical bar allows you to set the size/width of your brush stroke. Push it up for chunky lines and down for more precise sketching.

Step 3: Opacity

The second bar deals with opacity, or transparency, with moving the bar from left to right lightening the shade of any mark you make. This is ideal should you wish to create shadow effects, for example.

Step 4: Early sketches

Use these basic tools to create your first sketches, improving your understanding of the app’s response. Toggle both the on-screen scroll bars to see the full scope of what PenGo Paint can offer.

Step 5: Zoom

For real precision, use PenGo’s multitouch gestures to zoom in on different aspects of your image to apply some finer touches. Combine this with a smaller brush stroke to further enhance the effect.

Step 6: Smudging

One of the unique features of PenGo is the ability to smudge lines you’ve already drawn, something that is done in order to generate a blending effect when producing more detailed drawings.

Step 7: Brush type

While there are five main brush types in PenGo, each comes with a range of stroke variations to cater for all your artistic needs. These can alter in shape or how the ink behaves on the page.

Step 8: Colour chart