Landscape in a Jar
Hey there, art lovers! Since you all enjoyed the last pen and ink tutorial, I’m back with another one to guide you through every step. For this, you only need black, and we’re using three brushes from my treasure chest, which you can grab at freefromflo.com if you haven’t already. Don’t forget to download a paper texture photo for the background! I used this one. The canvas is 2300 x 3000 pixels. Ready? Let’s dive in!
Brushes used:
- Fine Liner Brush
- Stipple Brush 2.0
- Pine Tree Long Brush
Canvas Size:
- 2300 x 3000 pixels
Skills Learned:
- Inserting and Adjusting Textures: Learn how to import a paper texture and fit it perfectly onto your canvas
- Using Quick Shape and Symmetry: Master the Quick Shape tool to create perfect shapes and use the symmetry tool for balanced designs
- Layering Techniques: Explore how to create guides and work on separate layers to keep your design clean and editable
- Adding Depth with Stippling: Use the Stipple Brush to create gradient effects and add a misty, atmospheric feel to your artwork
- Final Touches with Custom Brushes: Add natural-looking elements like trees, clouds, and stars, and make them blend seamlessly with the rest of your illustration
3D Yes
In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to create a glowing, 3D-looking “YES” text effect by combining Procreate and Adobe Fresco. The process begins with designing a simple shape in Procreate, then moving into Adobe Fresco to refine the text and add detailed shadows and highlights. Finally, you’ll return to Procreate to enhance the piece with additional effects like bloom and Gaussian blur, giving the text a polished, floating appearance.
Brushes used:
- Monoline
- Soft Brush
- Script
- Hard Round Brush
Canvas Size:
- 2500 x 2500 pixels
Skills Learned:
- Creating a 3D text effect: By layering shadows and highlights, you achieved a realistic, three-dimensional look
- Using Alpha Lock for precise painting: Alpha Lock helped in keeping paint strokes contained within specific areas
- Exporting and importing between Procreate and Adobe Fresco: Learned how to seamlessly switch between the two apps to leverage their unique features
- Utilizing Bloom and Gaussian Blur: Added a soft glow and smooth shadows to enhance the visual impact of the text
- Implementing a layer mask for non-destructive editing: Layer masks allowed you to refine shadows and highlights without permanent changes
Part 9: Hands and Feet
This is the ninth lesson in the Learn to Sketch series! In this lesson we’ll focus on sketching hands and feet. I’ll show you how I approach sketching hands and feet, looking at simple shapes. I will also show you what you need to keep in mind when sketching. As always, it all comes down to practice and putting in the hours. Good luck!
I’ve added the exercise file I used during the demonstration. Of course you can also grab your own reference images or use your own hands and feet as reference!
Skills Learned:
- Simplifying Shapes: Begin by breaking down hands and feet into their most basic forms. For hands, think of the palm as a rectangular block and group the fingers together before detailing individual ones. This method helps in reducing complexity
- Understanding Structure: Pay attention to the underlying structure of hands and feet. Noticing the arches in fingers and toes, as well as the volume and cushions where the digits attach to the palm or foot, is crucial
- Proportion and Alignment: Learn to measure distances between joints and ensure that the width of the wrist is narrower than the palm. Recognize that fingers and toes are not uniformly straight but have varying lengths and alignments
Ghost Dog
In this tutorial, we’ll create a spooky yet adorable ghost dog in Procreate, perfect for beginners! I was inspired by a photo from Unsplash, and now I’m excited to guide you step-by-step through this fun project. You don’t need any prior experience, just a canvas and a few brushes from my treasure chest, which you can get for free if you haven’t already. Grab your stylus or even just your finger, and let’s dive in!
Brushes used:
- Round Chalk Brush
- Fineliner Brush
Canvas Size:
- 2300 x 3000 pixels
Skills Learned:
- Creating Perfect Shapes: Learn how to draw a perfect circle using Procreate’s snapping tool, ensuring precise and symmetrical shapes
- Using Alpha Lock for Shading: Apply shadows and highlights to specific areas without affecting the entire layer
- Adding Texture: Use brushes to hand-color elements, maintaining a textured, chalky effect that adds character to your digital paintings
- Symmetry Tool: Utilize the drawing guide and symmetry tool for perfect alignment, especially when detailing the dog’s face
Pumpkin – Happy and Scary
In this tutorial, we created two types of pumpkins in Procreate—one cute and one creepy—with a fun reveal trick to surprise your viewers. The process was straightforward and required no prior experience. We’ll start by drawing and shaping the pumpkin, adding textures, and then moving on to carving and detailing each version of the pumpkin. Finally, we used a mask to create the reveal effect, switching between the cute and creepy versions seamlessly.
Brushes used:
- Monoline
- Script
- Fineliner
- Is It Grunge
- Dark Noise
- Nebula
- Blackburn
Canvas Size:
- 2300 x 3000 pixels
Skills Learned:
- Liquify Tool for Shaping: Adjusts shapes easily using the Liquify tool, providing better control over the final form
- Alpha Lock for Texture: Uses Alpha Lock to ensure added textures stay within the shape
- Layer Mask for Carving: Applies a layer mask to carve out facial features, allowing for non-destructive edits
- Symmetry Tool for Efficiency: Utilizes the symmetry tool to save time while creating symmetrical designs, like the creepy pumpkin’s face
- Clipping Mask for Layer Effects: Implements clipping masks to add lighting and shadow effects that apply only to specific parts of the drawing
Stylized Night Sky
In this tutorial, you’ll create a stunning starry night sky in Procreate, guided step-by-step, even if you’re new to the app. The tutorial makes use of free brushes from Procreate and Flo’s Treasure Chest, and it covers everything from painting a textured background to adding constellations and glowing stars.
Brushes used:
- Grunge
- Monoline
- Heavy Metal
- Polygons
- Burnt Tree
- Spires
- Pine Tree Forest
- Light Pen
- Flare
- Soft Brush
Canvas Size:
- 2300 x 3000 pixels
Skills Learned:
- Creating Textures: Learn to apply textures to both the sky and mountains using a variety of brushes
- Gaussian Blur: Utilize the Gaussian Blur tool to add subtle glow effects to elements like the moon
- Layer Management: Master using layers and alpha lock for precise control over where textures and details are applied
- Constellation Drawing: Design your own constellations with the Light Pen brush, adding a personal touch to your night sky
- Brush Customization: Modify brush settings, like turning on “Randomized” for the Flare brush, to create unique effects
Fun Doodle
In this delightful Procreate tutorial, we dive into the whimsical world of doodle creation! Creating these colorful doodles is super fun and relaxing. And following my step by step instructions it’s super easy!
Brushes used:
- Chalk Pencil
- Fineliner Brush
- Script Brush
Canvas Size:
- 2300 x 3000 pixels
Skills Learned:
- Sketching Techniques: Learn to sketch with the Chalk Pencil, using simple shapes to build complex doodles. Emphasis is placed on using Quick Shape for perfect ovals and clean lines
- Layer Utilization: Discover the advantage of using multiple layers for different elements, allowing easy rearrangement and adjustments during the creative process
- Line Work: Master the art of clean line work with the Fineliner Brush, including varying line weights for added visual interest
- Coloring and Patterns: Explore efficient coloring methods using a reference layer and adding playful patterns for more intricate designs
- Shading and Highlighting: Understand how to add depth and dimension to your doodles by applying shadows and highlights, considering the light source for consistency
Pen and Ink Moon
In this tutorial we’ll create a lovely pen and ink illustration of a moon with a landscape inside, it’s super easy! As always, I will guide you through all the steps. Here you can grab the photo texture I used.
Brushes used:
- Syrup Brush
- Stipple Brush
Canvas Size:
- 2300 x 3000 pixels
Skills Learned:
- Inserting and Adjusting Photos: Learn how to insert a photo into your canvas and adjust it to fit perfectly using Procreate’s transform tool with uniform settings
- Creating and Manipulating Shapes: Use the Syrup Brush to draw perfect circles and create a crescent moon by layering and resizing shapes, ensuring precise alignment
- Adding Texture and Details: Enhance your artwork with horizontal lines and stippling techniques
- Selective Shading with Stippling: Master the stippling technique for shading different elements, focusing on areas like mountains and the road to create a gradient effect from opaque to transparent
Part 8: Animals
This is the eighth lesson in the Learn to Sketch series! In this lesson we’ll focus on animals. I’ll show you how you can approach sketching animals and the different approaches you can use. I’ll also show ways to exercise and train your animal sketching skills.
I’ve added the exercise file I used during the demonstration. Of course you can also grab your own reference images or go plein-air sketching!
Skills Learned:
- Sketching from the Outside In: Starting with angular, box-like outlines to capture the overall shape before moving inward for details
- Sketching from the Inside Out: Visualizing and constructing the animal’s form with basic shapes like circles, cylinders, and rectangles
- Utilizing References and Anatomy: The importance of using reference images and understanding animal anatomy for accurate sketches
- Creating a Feedback Loop: Comparing your sketches to references or basic shapes overlaid on your work to identify and correct mistakes