Learn to draw on iPad with Apple Pencil! ShadowDraw guides beginners step by step — practice daily, have fun, and see your art skills grow.
Learn to draw with confidence using your Apple Pencil. Featured by Apple as App of the Day in 2023 and 2025.
ShadowDraw® is the easiest way for beginners to learn how to draw on iPad using their Apple Pencil. Our guided lessons teach you step-by-step by showing the real strokes of professional artists, helping you build confidence, accuracy, and real drawing fundamentals from your very first session.
LEARN TO DRAW THE SMART, BEGINNER-FRIENDLY WAY
ShadowDraw breaks every drawing into simple, guided steps. You follow the same strokes as a professional artist, learning:
* Line control
* Shapes & construction
* Proportions
* Shading
* Final detailing
Each step unlocks only after you complete the previous one, giving you a structured, supportive learning path—like having a private art teacher with you on your iPad.
THOUSANDS OF STEP-BY-STEP LESSONS
Explore beginner-friendly drawing lessons across the most popular art subjects:
* Manga & Anime Characters
* People & Portraits
* Animals (cats, dogs, horses, birds, dragons, and more)
* Architecture & Buildings
* Botanical & Nature Drawing
* Birds & Butterflies
* Coloring & Simple Shading
* Holiday & Seasonal Art
* Warm-Ups & Foundations
* Sketching Basics
With over 2,000 guided tutorials, there’s always something inspiring to draw.
PRACTICE YOUR WAY
ShadowDraw offers two flexible learning modes:
Art Teacher Mode
We pick brushes and colors so beginners can focus on fundamentals.
Sketch My Way
Choose your own tools and colors for creative freedom.
BUILD A DAILY DRAWING HABIT
Short, approachable lessons help you build confidence and stay consistent. ShadowDraw makes daily practice easy, fun, and motivating—even for busy beginners.
RECOGNIZED BY APPLE & TRUSTED WORLDWIDE
ShadowDraw has been featured in the App Store collections, including:
* Incredible iPad Apps
* Great with Apple Pencil
* Apple Pencil Starter Kit
* Better with Apple Pencil
* The Best Drawing Apps
* The Best Apps for Creatives
ShadowDraw has also ranked as the #1 Drawing App in its category.
Apple writes:
“With over 1,500 hand-drawn lessons developed by real artists, ShadowDraw is a drawing app for beginners who want to improve their skills through daily step-by-step exercises.”
PRAISED BY THE PRESS
The New York Times “ShadowDraw… teaches drawing forms by having you follow along the animated pen strokes of another artist in an updated take on the ‘copying the masters’ approach.”
MacBreak Weekly — Pick of the Week “…the next generation of step-by-step.”
Also featured by CNET and Creative Bloq.
LEARN TOGETHER WITH SHADOWDRAW+
A ShadowDraw+ membership unlocks the full library and supports Family Sharing, so everyone in your household can learn to draw at their own pace.
WE’RE HERE TO HELP
Need support or have feedback? Contact us anytime through in-app Chat Support.
Email: support@shadowdrawapp.com
Website: shadowdrawapp.com
Instagram: @shadowdraw
For our EULA agreement, please visit:
https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
ShadowDraw® and Shadow Draw™ are trademarks of Shadow Draw Inc.
I just got it today and thought why not and try when I started a hour ago I was happy but there’s 1 thing I don’t know what ones are free I clicked all the animal ones and all of them weren’t for free then others and I still don’t know how to tell what ones are free and what ones aren’t bc it’s annoying needing to click them to see{by clicking start lesson or the other word} so if u can, can u response and tell me if there’s anyway to see its free with out doing all of that.But the one lesson I done was pretty helpful for drawing elk/deer idk what one it was:> but its really good for people that are starting or need a hand or 2 but yea its good just need to know how to tell how its free, and I know that’s what I been saying everywhere in this review so sorry but yea be nice if u can tell me:)
Fun, theraputic, value for money
Hoopy Rachel
Free version is great, paid version is excellent and well worth it.I used the free version for a couple of days, and really enjoyed the process of drawing - as someone who can only manage badly formed stick figures, it has been amazing to see how sketches are formed and built up. I decided to go all in and buy a year’s subscription, figuring I could cancel within a week if I didn’t use it, but I already know I won’t cancel.I am learning to draw at long last! It is incredibly relaxing and therapeutic. I am learning how to get proportion right and how to gradually build a sketch up. I use the art tutor version of a sketch a few times, and then try and create without any line prompts and then from memory.Also I work with people who have additional needs and older people with mobility issues, and I am also very excited to let them try this app with the Apple Pencil - I think it will be brilliant for improving motor skills and mental wellbeing.Highly recommended app. It works out to a fraction over £1 per day or something for a year sub, and well worth it to develop a daily sketching habit, learn how to draw at long last, and feel the therapeutic benefits.
Enjoying it
Konizuu
I am fairly new to the art game and have been using shadow draw as a way to get myself more used to drawing/sketching even if I am following steps. I believe it has really helped and am very thankful for all that is going into the app in order to help blooming artists with their journey : ) However I do have two suggestions I would like to make which I think would be beneficial for those using the app.1 - On the own artist mode (when using a lesson) could there be a prompt that shows when the artist should sketch and when they should ink? Like the teacher’s mode but the user is being told in order to get used to the process.2 - Could there be like a filtering or some sort of system that helps organise the courses from beginner material to intermediate and then whatever else? Like maybe a grading could be used to put on a lesson at the end and that could be used to then filter if a lesson is suitable for a beginner/intermediate or another level.These are just a few thoughts I had whilst making use of ShadowDraw, thank you for all the stellar work!
So helpful
Jordor42
I downloaded this app yesterday and did the free drawings and have enjoyed it so much I wanted to subscribe. Sadly the subscription button wasn’t working and I contacted the app about it not expecting to hear back until Monday. I was replied to within an hour and the person I spoke to was so kind and asked for a video so they could see what the issue was. After I see that evildoers, he told me he would give me 6 moths free of the app for helping. After sending him the video and helping a bit fit her, he then went on to offer me a whole year free for helping. I am so very grateful to have spoken to such a kind and helpful person who was so generous. I love the app and can’t wait to draw lots!
This update includes bug fixes and performance improvements.
• Fixed an issue with saved drawings
• Updated Spanish and Swedish localizations
Enjoying ShadowDraw? Your review helps us keep improving and helps other beginners discover the app. Simply tap on Rate and Review in the Menu to share your feedback!
Version 2026.4
Subscriptions
ShadowDraw: Monthly Plan
Premium access to ShadowDraw+ for one month.
Free Trial
ShadowDraw: Yearly Plan
Premium access to ShadowDraw+ for one year.
Free Trial
The developer, Shadow Draw Inc., indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .
Data Not Linked to You
The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:
User Content
Identifiers
Usage Data
Diagnostics
Privacy practices may vary based, for example, on the features you use or your age. Learn More
Accessibility
The developer has not yet indicated which accessibility features this app supports. Learn More
Information
Provider
Shadow Draw
Size
860.3 MB
Category
Graphics & Design
Compatibility
Requires iPadOS 16.0 or later.
iPad Requires iPadOS 16.0 or later.
Mac Requires macOS 13.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later.
