Plants/Flowers

Watercolor Cactus

In this tutorial, I’ll show you how you can create a super cute watercolor cactus in Procreate. We’ll go step by step, from sketching a simple pot to adding soft watercolor textures and tiny details that bring everything to life. It’s a fun, relaxed project that’ll help you get comfortable with watercolor painting on your iPad. No pressure, just play!

Brushes used:

  • Round Watery Brush
  • Fineliner Brush

Canvas Size:

  • 2500 x 2500 pixels

Skills Learned:

  • Building watercolor texture with pressure and layering
    By keeping your pen on the screen, you blend naturally and recharge pigment with every lift, just like real watercolor.
  • Creating dimensional shapes using color layering
    Layering multiple shades of green and red adds depth and realism to both the cactus and the pot.
  • Using layer masks for subtle highlights
    Layer masks allow for non-destructive edits that bring volume and realistic lighting to your piece.
  • Detailing with fine lines and brush variation
    Switching to the fine liner brush introduces fine textures like cactus needles and salt-like specks.
  • Smudging techniques for watercolor blending
    The smudge tool with the round watery brush helps soften edges and enhance the natural flow of pigment.

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