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.
