Cute Little Hippo
Want to level up your Procreate skills? In this tutorial, we’ll take a simple base shape and transform it into a fully colored, painterly-style hippo illustration. Starting with a sketch, we’ll refine the drawing, add line art, apply flat colors, and finish with textures, lighting, and a background. Let’s dive in!
Brushes used:
- 6B Pencil
- Soft Brush
- Dry Ink
- Studio Pen
- Larapuna
- Gouache
- Basic Flo
- Oberon
- Ink Bleed
Canvas Size:
- 3500 x 3500 pixels
Skills Learned:
- Building a Sketch with Simple Shapes
Start with circles and ovals to form the head and body, refining with additional features like ears, snout, and legs. - Creating Clean Line Art
Use the Dry Ink brush for a textured, forgiving outline, adjusting pressure for varied line thickness. - Applying Flat Colors and Shading
Use a separate layer for base colors, adding shadows with Multiply mode and highlights with Add mode for depth. - Adding Painterly Textures
Blend colors using the Larapuna brush and Smudge tool to achieve a soft, natural paint-like effect. - Enhancing the Background
Use artistic brushes for abstract textures, adding layers of grass and light to complete the scene.
How to draw Eyes
In this week’s tutorial I’d like to show you easy ways to draw eyes for your characters. These are perfect for your children’s book illustration style characters or semi realistic characters. I’ve created a handy practice sheet you can use to try out different styles.
Also, I found this super handy and inspiring website where you can find loads of character design sheets. Just check out their visual library 👍🏻 https://characterdesignreferences.com/
I have also attached a cheat sheet to this post that I made last year for the how to draw a stylized portrait tutorial.
10 Easy Drawings
Looking for quick, simple, and fun Procreate drawings? Here are 10 super easy Procreate drawing ideas for when you are bored!
Brushes used:
- Studio Pen
- Monoline
- Soft Brush
Canvas Size:
- 2500 x 2500 pixels
Skills Learned:
- Using Liquify for Shape Adjustments: Master reshaping and refining objects with Procreate’s Liquify tool
- Employing Clipping Masks and Alpha Lock: Gain control over layers by confining details like patterns and shading to specific areas.
- Customizing Backgrounds and Adding Textures: Learn to complement your drawings with subtle gradients, shadows, and textures for depth.
- Working with Symmetry Tools: Efficiently create intricate designs, such as umbrellas and suns, using radial and vertical symmetry.
- Layer Organization and Advanced Effects: Manage layers with features like reference, layer masks, and blending modes to create glowing effects and polished compositions.
Cute Raccoon
Let’s bring a charming, slightly scruffy raccoon to life in Procreate! Using a mix of soft textures and bold strokes, this tutorial walks you through sketching, inking, coloring, and adding rich fur details for a warm, hand-drawn look. Whether you’re a beginner or refining your style, this lesson will help you create a playful, expressive raccoon illustration by using reference photos as a source of inspiration (and information)
Brushes used:
- Basic Sketcher
- Studio Pen
- Round Chalk
- Carbon Stick
- Hatcher
Canvas Size:
- 3500 x 3500 pixels
Key Skills Learned:
- Building a Balanced Sketch
Use simple circles and rough guidelines to construct a raccoon with cartoony proportions and expressive facial features. - Layering Base Colors with a Soft Look
Instead of stark black and white, warm orange and brown tones create a more inviting feel, blending for natural depth. - Adding Fur Textures for a Hand-Drawn Effect
Use chalk and charcoal brushes to create scruffy, layered fur that gives the raccoon personality. - Enhancing the Eyes for Expressiveness
Large, round pupils and soft shading add depth and a lifelike sparkle to the raccoon’s gaze. - Refining with Highlights and Whiskers
Finishing touches, like delicate whiskers and subtle background textures, complete the illustration with a polished yet organic look.
Cute Polar Bear
Let’s paint a cozy, adorable winter bear together in Procreate! This beginner-friendly tutorial shows you how to use just two free brushes included in the app. Along the way, you’ll learn powerful techniques like using Alpha Lock, layer blending modes, and the Smudge Tool, all while creating a cute bear decked out in winter gear. Ready to bring this bear to life? Let’s get started!
Brushes used:
- Sassafras Brush
- Oberon Brush
Canvas Size:
- 2500 x 2500 pixels
Skills Learned:
- Using Alpha Lock for controlled shading: Alpha Lock limits your painting to the active layer’s contents, perfect for adding shadows and highlights without going outside the shape
- Layer blending modes like Multiply and Overlay: Multiply enhances shadows, while Overlay introduces subtle atmospheric effects like soft lighting or color accents
- Effective use of the Smudge Tool: Blends strokes and colors for a soft, painterly texture
Cute Giraffe
Let’s paint something challenging! I think this poké bowl is perfect, there are lots of different shapes and textures, making it a nice ‘puzzle’. In this video I will take you through my process of figuring this ‘puzzle’ out and building a color palette along the way.
Brushes used:
- Basic Sketcher
- Studio Pen
- Flotastic Brush
- Round Chalk Pencil
- Paper Mixer Brush
- Scratchy Chalk Brush
- Smudgy Hair Brush
- Soft Edge Faded
- Light Pen
Canvas Size:
- 3500 x 3500 pixels
Key Skills Learned:
- Applying base colors and building texture: Learn to use layers for each element, flat color application, and brushes like the Flotastic Brush and Round Chalk Pencil to add texture and detail to the illustration
- Adding depth with Multiply layers: Use layers set to Multiply mode for subtle shadowing and use tools like the Soft Edge Faded brush to create 3D effects
- Enhancing highlights with Add layers: Add light effects to edges and features, making the character pop by blending highlights with tools like the Paper Mixer Brush
- Creating a dreamy background and starry atmosphere: Create a complementary background using brushes, smudge tools, and adding stars and sparkles for a whimsical look
Cartoon Girl Character
In this tutorial, I’ll show you a super easy and fun way to draw a cartoon-style girl character in Procreate. I’ll take you through every step, from setting up your canvas to adding the final touches, and share some of my favorite tips to make the process smooth and enjoyable. With just a few brushes and some simple techniques, you’ll have a cute character in no time! Let’s get started!
Brushes used:
- Monoline
- 6B Pencil
- Studio Pen
Canvas Size:
- 2500 x 2500 pixels
Skills Learned:
- Shaping Features with Liquify: We’ll use the Liquify tool to tweak shapes like cheeks and eyes to get that perfect cartoon look
- Keeping Layers Organized: I’ll show you how to layer everything neatly and use clipping masks for shading, highlights, and adding details
- Drawing Fun Facial Features: Learn my tricks for creating cartoony proportions with simple guides for the eyes, nose, and mouth
- Using Layer Masks Like a Pro: We’ll use non-destructive editing techniques so you can make adjustments without worrying about mistakes
Cute Fox
Welcome to this simple and fun tutorial for creating a charming, painterly fox in Procreate! Using just the default brushes, you’ll learn to craft expressive strokes and vibrant textures while keeping things light and easy.
Brushes used:
- Old Brush
- Dry Brush
- Gloaming Brush
- Burnt Tree
Canvas Size:
- 2300 x 3000 pixels
Skills Learned:
- Creating expressive fur textures: Use outward strokes and varied brush sizes for a natural fur effect, highlighting areas with lighter tones for depth
- Adding painterly details with layers: Separate elements like the body, ears, and tail into distinct layers to keep work organized and editable
- Using Alpha Lock and Smudge tools: Alpha Lock refines painting within shapes, while smudge tools blend colors and textures
- Final touches with Bloom and Backgrounds
Adding subtle bloom effects creates a gentle glow, while textured brush strokes bring the background to life
Cute Bird
Let’s create something fun and painterly—a cute little bird! Follow along as we sketch, layer, and paint using bold colors and textures to bring this imaginary bird to life. You can use my color palette or your own to make it unique. Let’s have fun!
Brushes used:
- Flotastic Sketcher
- Smeary Brush
- Opaque Round Brush
- Darken Line Brush
- Lighten Line Brush
- Flo Darka Brush
- Rake Brush
Canvas Size:
- 3500 x 3500 pixels
Skills Learned:
- Sketching a foundational structure: Start with simple shapes to outline the bird’s head, body, wings, and feet
- Layering and color separation: Use separate layers for different color zones (e.g., yellow and blue areas)
- Detailing with texture and highlights: Use textured brushes and subtle highlights to make the bird’s features more vivid and painterly
- Creating a cohesive background: Use soft, minimal strokes in muted tones to complement the main subject without drawing attention away