Creating art on ipad : A modern canvas
- Pascal Lagesse
- Oct 3
- 2 min read
When people think of art, they often imagine brushes dipped in oils or acrylic, canvases stretched on wooden frames, and paint-stained palettes resting on easels. For centuries, this has been the image of the artist at work. Yet in the 21st century, the artist’s studio has expanded. The iPad, once thought of as just a sleek gadget, has become a genuine canvas in its own right.
Despite this, digital painting faces skepticism. Many still see it as “less authentic” than traditional painting, as if the lack of a physical brush or canvas diminishes its artistic value. But history shows us that every new medium—from photography to acrylic paint - was once met with doubt. Over time, each proved its worth as a vehicle for creative expression. For my Zafer style paintings, painting on canvas or ipad is as tedious and time consuming. One must make a difference between AI that has for years been changing, by a single click, photos into paintings and art created from scratch on a digital canvas.
A turning point for digital art came when David Hockney, one of Britain’s most celebrated painters, embraced the iPad as a tool. With his series of luminous digital paintings, exhibited in major museums, Hockney not only legitimised the medium but also showed the world that creativity is not bound by tradition. His works reminded us that the essence of art lies in vision, imagination, and the ability to communicate feeling - not in the material used.
Digital painting offers unique possibilities: layering, undoing, experimenting endlessly without waste, and sharing instantly with the world. Far from replacing traditional art, it expands the vocabulary of artistic creation. Personally, its a perfect learning and experimentation tool that helps me in the development of the Zafer style.
In the end, art is not defined by the tool, but by the artist. Whether on canvas, paper, or screen, what matters is the story told, the emotion stirred, the vision made visible. In my opinion, digital art is not a lesser form, it is art that is constantly evolving.
I have the feeling I have to evolve with it.
Loved this perspective! It’s great to see how art evolves with technology — the iPad as a canvas really expands what’s possible. Whether traditional or digital, what matters most is the feeling and story behind the work. Thanks for sharing this inspiring insight. For more information click here..https://luminaarthub.com/
Dear Pascal, thanks indeed. I guess that me scribbling on paper or writing via the keyboard is to some extent linked to what you are sharing.
You said (quote) 'what matters is the story told, the emotion stirred, the vision made visible'... allow me to add that time from seed to fruit can indeed be shorten too, but with significant concentration. But this message is not meant for you.