DIGITAL ART SITES

Day after day whilst working with schools I find that teachers very often do not have photo editing software on their computers. Photographs from class digital cameras are usually huge and the uploader for the learning platform can't deal with them.There is a vast range of very useful art software on the web, much of it can be used freely on-line but also software to do most tasks can be downloaded and installed so that one has access anytime and anywhere, with no need of an internet connection.

I decided to list a few sample sites, this is by no means a full list of those available, just a few of my favourites. These could be useful to most teachers.


PAINTING

1. Sumo Paint – http://www.sumopaint.com/app/    A full on-line graphics package offering a wide range of tools and effects.
2. Sketchpad - http://mugtug.com/sketchpad/ A full graphics package offering a wide range of tools and effects
3. Art Pad - http://www.art.com/asp/artpad/default.asp Pick up a paintbrush and choose a colour! This painting site records a picture while it is being created and plays it back as time lapse movie.
4. Slimber - http://slimber.com/ An online drawing application allowing users to draw online, replay and save their drawings. Users can rate, comment and share drawings.
5. Live Brush - http://livebrush.com/ Livebrush is a drawing application. It employs an easy-to-use brush tool that reacts to your gesture. By combining simple motion controls with brush styles, Livebrush offers a fun and unique way to create graphics.
6. Odosketch - http://sketch.odopod.com/  Choose soft water-colour type of pens to sketch and create pictures.

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPH LIVE EDITING

1. Picnik -  http://www.picnik.com/  Picnik offers easy to use yet powerful photo editing tools .
2. Pizap - http://www.pizap.com/ Says it is the world’s easiest editing program – well maybe .
3. Lunapic - http://www.lunapic.com/editor/  Lunapic gives photo editing and animation tools.
4. Photofunia - http://www.photofunia.com/ A fun application, choose classic image to add your face to e,g, the Statue of Liberty or the Mona Lisa.
5. Be Funky - http://www.befunky.com/ Make photos works of art by applying a range of drawing / painting styles to your photograph.

TEACHING ART SITES

1. The Artist’s Toolkit - http://www.artsconnected.org/toolkit/index.html Explore the tools that artists use – like line, colour and balance – to build works of art.
2. Leonardo’s Workshop - http://www.alifetimeofcolor.com/play/leonardo/index.html  
3. Carmine’s Line and Shape - http://www.alifetimeofcolor.com/play/lineshape/flash3page.html Learn about lines - So many to see. Then discover shapes - A better artist you'll be!

ART FOR LITTLE CHILDREN

1. Pbskids - http://pbskids.org/curiousgeorge/games/mix_and_paint/mix_and_paint.html  
2. Mix and Paint, a fun colour mixing simulationCrayola colouring pages - http://www.crayola.com/free-coloring-pages/ 
3. Crayola drawing and painting  - children can choose a tool and mix the paint on screen http://www.crayola.com/coloring_application/index.cfm 
4. Billy Bear – Learn to draw http://www.billybear4kids.com/Learn2Draw/Learn2Draw.html a project for kids
5. Learn to Draw - http://ababasoft.com/how_to_draw/paint_brush_mi.html Make cards and e-mail

FUN SITES

1. Artisancam - http://www.artisancam.org.uk/ lots of exciting projects to try out
2. Bonomo -  http://bomomo.com/  Great fun, use the tools to create unique images 
3. Doink - http://www.doink.com/ - a fun animation site, create vectors and animate them

DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL

1. Gimp -  http://www.gimp.org/  - GIMP is the GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a freely distributed piece of software for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring. It works on many operating systems, in many languages. 
2. Tux Paint - http://www.tuxpaint.org/ A painting program suitable for children
3. PhotoPerfect Express -  http://www.arcadiasoftware.com/photoperfect-express.html A Windows only photo editing program.