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
Poké Bowl
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:
- Flotastic Sketcher
- Flotastic Brush
- Flo Darka
- Flo Lighta
- Overlay Brush
- Darken Line Brush
- Lighten Line Brush
- Soft Brush
- Multiply Brush
- Standard Blender
Canvas Size:
- 3500 x 3500 pixels
Key Skills Learned:
- Using multiple layers for efficient workflow: Layers are created for individual elements like tomatoes, rice, corn, and leaves, allowing precise adjustments and shading
- Adding realistic shading with Flo Brushes: Shadows and highlights are built with Flo Darka and Flo Lighta brushes to give depth and texture to various elements
- Crafting loose painterly styles: Balancing refinement and expressiveness, use textured brushes and deliberate smudging to keep a hand-painted feel
- Building complex details step by step: Intricate parts, like kernels and leaves, are developed in phases: base colors, shadows, highlights, and fine adjustments
Kingfisher
In this detailed Procreate tutorial, we dive into creating a lifelike painting of a kingfisher. I’ll guide you from setting up your canvas to refining the final details of your artwork, blending techniques and colors to capture the essence of this beautiful bird.
Brushes used:
- Basic Sketcher
- Soft Brush (Airbrushing)
- Studio Pen
- Basic Flo Brush
- Flow Darka Brush
- Flow Lighta Brush
- Darken Line 2 Brush
- Lighten Line 2 Brush
- Overlay Brush
- Barky Brush
- Standard Blender
Canvas Size:
- 4000 x 3000 pixels
Skills Learned:
- Sketching and Proportion Planning: Begin with a rough sketch to identify large shapes and refine them gradually, considering key landmarks like the eye, beak, and body positioning
- Creating Base Colors and Texture: Establish base colors with opacity-controlled strokes
- Layering and Detailing: Apply the darken and lighten line brushes for shadow and highlight detailing, focusing on feather patterns and fine line work for a realistic look
- Edge Softening and Feather Effects: Use the smudge tool strategically to soften edges and mimic the natural texture of feathers
Realistic Pumpkin
It’s the pumpkin season! So it’s the perfect time to paint one. I thought it would be nice to paint a realistic one and I think the reference picture has the perfect mood. In just a few steps we’ll create the perfect pumpkin painting. Have fun!
Brushes used:
- Base Painter
- Shader Brush
- Flow Darka
- Flo Lighta
- Darken Line Brush
- Lighten Line Brush
- Standard Blender
- Overlay Brush
- Light Shader
- Dark Shader
- Soft Airbrush
Canvas Size:
- 3500 x 3500 pixels
Skills Learned:
- Setting Up Reference and Canvas: Easily set up a reference image by dragging it into a split screen or using Procreate’s built-in reference feature
- Creating a Base Shape: Use the Base Painter brush to create a solid base layer, starting with dark, muted colors for an opaque pumpkin shape
- Shading and Layer Masking: Apply Alpha Lock and use the Shader brush to add depth, darkening the lower areas for dimensional shading without affecting the background
- Refining with Texture: Utilize Flo Darka and Flo Lighta to add subtle details and texture, giving the pumpkin a realistic appearance while building up soft creases
- Adjusting and Blending: Use the Liquify tool and smudge tools for final adjustments, then add highlights and refine edges for a smooth, natural fade into the background