Cool Art Apps for the Rest of Us

You don't have to master Photoshop or take fancy art classes to create great looking original art. Here are 5 low-cost super easy apps for creating artistic and fun images in just a few minutes.

SpinArt
You can start your creative journey with SpinArt. Yes, it may be a top-rated kids app,  but maturity is overrated, right? Take your inner messy artist and go back in time to those childhood fairs where you could create a masterpiece right before your eyes. Talk about instant gratification.   It isn't the most intuitive program so you might want to read the directions or watch this video for a little direction.

Best part of this app? No muss, no fuss and no mess to clean up. Give it a whirl.

Price: $0.99



Spawn Lite
With this app, your finger is your paintbrush. Watch hypnotic swirling waves of light as you move your finger around the screen. If you double tap the particles, an explosion of fireworks ensue. And if you're really like what you see, you can take a screen shot by pressing the home button and the lock button at the same time. So the next time you're in line for that latte, take a trip to Spawn Lite and watch the time whiz by.

Price: Free




JD Reflect
If you like to roll with a kaleidoscope, JD Reflect app may be for you. Simply choose your shape, color palettes, design and play to watch the magic unfold. Creator Joshua Davis calls this one "Dynamic Abstraction". Once you try it, you'll agree.

Price: $2.99


TatTap Tattoo
Been debating getting some permanent ink on your canvas? TapTat Tattoo allows you to create a virtual tattoo and place it on uploaded image of yourself for a nifty preview. If you need some inspiration from Angelina, they have an archive of celebrity tattoos to choose from. TatTap Tattoo also has a forum where you can find the most recommended artist where you live, if you're ready to take the plunge.

Price: $0.99


Jackson Pollock
If you really need to keep it simple, have little patience and want to be an instant artist, visit Jackson Pollock.org. When you enter the site, simply move your mouse around and watch the genius within unfold. With a click of the mouse you add a new color. Press ALT and any key to change the color of the drip. There. You did it. Go make big money.


Graffiti
If you're a little more advanced, Facebook's massively popular app Graffiti lets you draw art on friends' profiles. The key is using the right tools - a trackpad won't give you the precision you need but a mouse or graphics tablet will.   Be sure to play with all of the colors and brush sizes for maximum effect. Check out their art print gallery for inspiration here.  

Price: Free




Smarthistory
Maybe you, er, missed art history classes at school. It's never too late to learn from the masters. Indulge your curiosity and find some inspiration at Smarthistory. What started as a podcast for the Museum of Modern Art has turned into a rich reservoir of information that makes art history accessible and dynamic. You can dig into their deep catalogue of time periods, styles and artists. If you'd rather sit back, relax and be taught, you can watch from Smarthistory's exhaustive video library. Find out what makes Leonardo DaVinci's Last Supper a masterpiece here. Smarthistory lets you ditch the heavy and expensive textbooks and find your inspiration. For free.

Now it's your turn to be the artist. My LifeScoop wants to see your designs -- the good, the bad and the ugly! Upload your created piece here. Your work just may be featured in our Favorite Entries follow up!

To upload your image, go to the My Life Scoop community page. You'll need to join -- it's fast and free.  Once you are logged in, simply upload your image via the photo icon.


Ready? Set? Go!