I started reviewing the iPhone apps ToonFX and SketchMee (which are iPhone apps that deserve more praise than they get) and found myself in a little philosophical puzzle about the nature of art, and you can’t say that for many apps! iPhone!
There are now hundreds of art apps on the app store alongside ToonFX and SketchMee and, in addition to apps like Brushes that require artistic input, many iPhone art apps allow you to create visually stunning effects from your photos with just a click of a button!
Examples include:
TypeDrawing Draw with text. This fun app uses a single letter or phrase to draw!
Artist’s Touch This application requires little artistic talent uses a variety of textures and painting tools.
PotteryWheel Create your own pottery!
ToonFX is one of those apps, but it does create some fantastic images.
The effect is no different from the ‘rotoscopy’ used in Keanu Reeves’ film ‘A Scanner Darkly’ (a 2006 animated film directed by Richard Linklater based on the novel by one of my favorite authors, Philip K. Dick. Twists and then read this boy’s books!).
In addition to creating comic effects, the ToonFX iPhone app also lets you paint over the top of your creation to add a final creative touch of your own! SketchMee creates some awesome images too!
Why Apps Kill Creativity
My only problem with these iPhone art apps (and computer art in general) is that they take the feeling of real accomplishment out of the act of creation!
If we could all click our fingers and thus all instant artists could paint as well as DaVinci, suddenly the Mona Lisa becomes less than perfect like anything else other than a historical document!
It is the rarity, individuality and dedication of artistic talent (also in the comic world) that makes a work of art special.
Apps like ToonFX and SketchMee are wonderful toys, but as computers become more powerful at deconstructing and recreating the building blocks of various art techniques, I feel that sometimes this devalues the art itself, as the end result it does not contain anything from the artist or anything from the computer. (or in this case iPhone).
If all you have to do to create art is press a button, is it really art?
In response, I would say yes (up to a point!).
The photographer is an artist and must use his knowledge and artistic eye to choose an image from billions of possible images and then manipulate it to arrive at something different or pleasing to the eye, which is easier said than done.
ToonFX can be used as a tool for the true artist or as a toy for the creatives at stake, so in the end you have to decide which of these you are!
So should you get these apps?
These pretty deep philosophical art questions aside, I still love the ToonFX and SketchMee apps, and I’m sure you will too!
ToonFX is a bit more expensive than the average $ 1: 99 (£ 1.59) app but if you have any interest in comics, art or painting and like to get a little more creative with your iPhone, this app is definitely one! for you!
SketchMee is also a bit more expensive than our average app, but it’s worth the extra pennies or pennies.