Paper Boat
In this cozy realism project, we’re painting a little paper boat floating on the water. We start with a loose sketch, then slowly build up the water using layers of shapes, colors, and textures until it feels believable. No need for a pre-made palette, we’ll pick colors as we go and just have fun experimenting. But of course you can also download the color palette I created along the way.
Brushes used:
- Basic Sketcher
- Soft Brush
- Base Painter
- StandardBlender
- Flo Darka
- Flow Lighta
- Darken Line
- Lighten Line
- Overlay Brush
- Multiply Brush
- Studio Pen
- Soft Light Brush
Canvas Size:
- 2300 x 3000 pixels
Key Skills Learned:
- Building a base sketch: Start with loose lines to find the angles and shapes before refining.
- Layering water textures: Stack darker and lighter strokes to create ripples and depth.
- Blending and blurring for realism: Use smudge, Gaussian blur, and bloom to soften and add atmosphere.
- Crisp-edged object painting: Lock alpha and work with precise brushes for neat, clean boat edges.
- Creating reflections and ripples: Combine multiply layers and light strokes for believable water movement.
Lemonade
Let’s dive into a summery realism piece, painting a juicy glass of lemonade (or maybe orangeade?)! We’ll focus on expression and brush character. This isn’t about pixel-perfect photo realism but more about creating a believable still life with painterly energy. The whole thing is built up from a rough sketch to detailed lighting and textures, layering in color, adjusting shadows, and letting the process breathe and evolve.
Brushes used:
- Basic Sketcher
- Flotastic Brush
- Overlay Brush
- Flo Darka
- Flo Lighta
- Darken Line
- Lighten Line
- Multiply Brush
Canvas Size:
- 2000 x 3000 pixels
Key Skills Learned:
- Creating expressive sketches from reference
Start loose with angular shapes and negative space awareness to define forms before refining. - Layering painterly textures with intentional brushwork
Using textured brushes to build depth while preserving a lively, expressive aesthetic. - Managing color and lighting for realistic glass and fruit
Careful use of lighting and reflection, including overlays and transparency, creates convincing form without over-polishing. - Combining structured process with spontaneous experimentation
Balancing process (alpha lock, layer building, selection tools) with creative detours for color and brush exploration. - Enhancing realism with subtle detailing techniques
Final passes with custom brushes add tactile texture, contrast, and visual interest without flattening the image.
Realistic Macarons
In this sweet and beginner-friendly Procreate project, we dive into the tasty world of painting macarons. Whether you’re just starting out or brushing up your skills, this tutorial takes you step-by-step through the process—from rough sketching to adding lifelike texture and lighting. It’s all about building confidence with repeatable steps and having fun while painting something deliciously realistic. Grab your iPad and stylus—let’s paint some macarons that practically pop off the canvas!
Brushes used:
- Basic Sketcher
- Soft Brush
- Studio Pen
- Basic Flo Brush
- Dark and Light Shader
- Flo Darka Brush
- Flo Lighta Brush
- Lighten Line Brush
- Darken Line Brush
- Overlay Brush
- Standard Blender
Canvas Size:
- 2300 x 3000 pixels
Key Skills Learned:
- Building perspective and structure using rough sketching
Start with a simple sketch to block out macaron shapes and positions, using negative space to ensure proportion and balance. - Creating clean base shapes with crisp edges
Use the Studio Pen to outline and fill in macaron shapes, choosing base colors that will serve as a foundation for future shading and adjustments. - Applying realistic shading with clipping masks and alpha lock
Use the dark/light shader and Flo brushes to simulate natural lighting, adding dimension with subtle highlights and shadows. - Adding texture using custom detail brushes
Utilize the Flotastic set’s textured brushes to mimic the bumpy, airy surface of macarons, enhancing realism through varied brush strokes and pressure. - Blurring and softening with Gaussian blur and smudge tool
Refine focus by softening background macarons and shadows, creating depth and keeping the main subject sharp and engaging.
Realistic Butterfly
Ready for another deep dive into realism? In this session, I’m painting a butterfly on a flower—just me, my brushes, and the canvas, working through the process from the first loose sketch all the way to those satisfying final touches. I show you how I build up layers, choose colors intuitively, and refine the painting to create something that feels believable, not perfect. It’s all about taking the time to observe, make adjustments, and slowly bring it all to life.
Brushes used:
- Basic Sketcher
- Studio Pen
- Soft Brush
- Shader
- Light Shader
- Darken Line
- Lighten Line
- Overlay Brush
- Stippy Brush
- Spackle it Brush
- Standard Blender
Canvas Size:
- 3000 x 2000 pixels
Key Skills Learned:
- Blocking in foundational shapes: Using rough sketches and negative space to accurately place butterfly and flower forms.
- Layer organization for realism: Strategically separating body parts and flower elements across layers for easier detailing and adjustments.
- Creating depth with texture and shading: Adding grain, light/dark contrast, and stippling to give life to wings and petals.
- Refining with detail brushes: Using fine line and spackle brushes to mimic natural markings and textures on wings and stems.
- Enhancing with finishing effects: Applying noise, color tweaks, and blending modes like Multiply and Screen to boost contrast and realism.
Realistic Sunflowers
In this sun-drenched realism project, we’re diving into painting vibrant sunflowers, starting from a clever sketching method that eases you into observational drawing and ending with expressive, layered brushwork. This process isn’t about perfection—it’s about gradually building up a piece that feels alive, full of movement, warmth, and your own style. Whether you’re tracing to learn structure or sketching freehand to challenge your skills, this tutorial offers a flexible path forward. Along the way, there are happy accidents, smart layer organization (or fixing it when it goes wrong!), and a fun mix of soft blending and bold stylization. Let’s get to it.
Brushes used:
- Basic Sketcher
- Flotastic Brush
- Base Painter
- Standard Blender
- Soft Brush
- Darken Line
- Lighten Line
- Flo Darka Brush
Canvas Size:
- 4000 x 3000 pixels
Key Skills Learned:
- Using photo references to guide sketching: practice creating simplified abstract shapes from reference photos.
- Layer organization for efficient painting: The tutorial stresses thoughtful layer use to separate background and foreground elements, making editing and detailing more manageable.
- Selective detail and focal points: Detail is concentrated in the foreground sunflower while the background stays soft and blurry, teaching visual hierarchy and emphasis.
Realistic Milk
Time for another realism challenge—this time, we’re painting a bottle, a glass of milk, and a can. The key to realism here is mastering reflections, lighting, and crisp edges. I’ll walk you through my process, from sketching and blocking in colors to refining highlights and shadows. Let’s dive in!
Brushes used:
- Basic Sketcher
- Soft Brush
- Studio Pen
- Basic Flo Brush
- Standard Blender
- Flo Lighta
- Flo Darka
- Lighten Line
- Darken Line
- Overlay Brush
Canvas Size:
- 3000 x 4000 pixels
Key Skills Learned:
- Sketching with Proportions & Symmetry
Start with a rough sketch, thinking of the overall shapes and relationships between objects. Use the symmetry tool for precision but rely on observation for accuracy. - Creating Crisp Base Shapes
For sharp-edged subjects like glass, block in flat colors with the Studio Pen before refining details. Use separate layers for easier adjustments. - Building Realistic Lighting & Reflections
Glass relies on accurate light and shadow. Use the Flo Darka and Flo Lighta brushes to gradually build depth, blending carefully for soft transitions. - Adding Highlights & Shadows for Dimension
The key to making objects look reflective is crisp highlights. Use the Lighten Line and Darken Line brushes for thin, precise reflections and edges. - Refining with the Smudge Tool
Blend edges strategically—soften transitions in smooth areas while keeping crisp lines where reflections or material changes occur.
Realistic Plant
Creating a beautifully detailed plant painting requires patience and a few essential techniques. In this tutorial I will walk you through the process step by step, from sketching to final detailing. It’s a great exercise!
Brushes used:
- Basic Sketcher
- Studio Pen
- Soft Brush
- Basic Flo Brush
- Darken Line 2
- Lighten Line 2
- Flo Darka
- Flo Lighta
- Overlay Brush
Canvas Size:
- 3000 x 4000 pixels
Key Skills Learned:
- Using negative space to measure proportions: Checking the shapes between objects helps ensure accuracy when sketching and positioning elements.
- Layering for better control: Separating leaves, vases, and the background makes it easier to refine details without affecting other parts of the painting.
- Enhancing realism with texture and color variation: Using both soft and crisp brushes, subtle textures, and color shifts creates depth and a more organic look.
- Adding reflections for a glossy effect: Duplicating, flipping, and fading the vases’ reflections on the table gives the final artwork a professional touch.
Frozen Bubble
Frozen bubbles are enchanting, aren’t they? In this tutorial, we’ll take on the challenge of painting one, step by step, breaking down every detail. From building a textured background to crafting the delicate icy patterns of the bubble, this process is all about layering, blending, and experimenting with light.
Brushes used:
- Soft Brush
- Monoline Brush
- Base Painter Brush
- Standard Blender
- Lighten Line Brush
- Basic Flo Brush
- Flo Lighta Brush
- Darken Line Brush
- Overlay Brush
- Light Pen
Canvas Size:
- 3500 x 3500 pixels
Key Skills Learned:
- Creating a Dynamic Background: Start with a dark base and use soft gradients to establish depth and atmosphere for the bubble’s setting
- Using Layers Effectively: Divide elements into layers (background, foreground, and bubble) for better control and easy adjustments during painting
- Detailing with Highlights: Incorporate crisp and soft highlights to enhance the bubble’s reflective surface and mimic realistic ice patterns
Winter Morning Landscape
In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to paint a stunning winter landscape in Procreate. Using only built-in brushes and step-by-step guidance, we’ll explore essential techniques like creating depth with layers, adding realistic textures, and playing with blending modes to bring a cold, serene scene to life. Perfect for both beginners and seasoned Procreate users, this is a great way to expand your skills and experiment with wintery tones.
Brushes used:
- Soft Brush
- Spectra Brush
- Freycinet Brush
- Little Pine Brush
- Wet Acrylic Brush
- Old Brush
- Medium Brush
- Mercury Brush
Canvas Size:
- 3000 x 2000 pixels
Skills Learned:
- Creating gradients for skies: Use the soft brush and Gaussian blur to create smooth, multi-toned gradients for atmospheric depth
- Using masks and blending modes: Learn to apply layer masks, Alpha Lock, and blending modes like Multiply and Overlay
- Enhancing textures and shadows: Blend brushes like Wet Acrylic and Old Brush with smudge tools to create detailed textures and realistic shadows
- Adding glow and highlights: Use clipping masks, light blending modes, and the airbrush tool to emphasize areas of light and enhance focal points