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.
Frog Prince
Today we’re creating a super cute and delightfully derpy frog illustration that’s beginner-friendly and packed with charm. We start with simple sketching using basic shapes to block out the frog and its surroundings. Then we dive into adding rich textures and playful details — from the frog’s rosy cheeks to stylized lily pads and flowers, finishing it all with atmospheric water textures and a few charming insects for that extra pop.
Brushes used:
- Basic Sketcher
- Studio Pen
- Flotastic Brush
- Grunge Rock
- Rough Spackles
Canvas Size:
- 3500 x 3500 pixels
Key Skills Learned:
- Building forms from basic shapes: You learn to break down a complex subject into simple ovals and lines to build your sketch foundation.
- Layer organization for coloring: Each part of the scene is layered for flexibility, helping you keep things clean while coloring.
- Alpha lock for non-destructive texturing:You use alpha lock to safely add shading and texture to each colored element.
- Texture layering for visual depth: Textures like grunge rock and spackles are layered with different opacities and brushes to create natural-looking surfaces.
- Creating subtle visual focus: Leaf placement and petal direction are strategically used to guide the viewer’s eye to the frog, reinforcing composition.
Tree with Lights
This tutorial was such a cozy one—I’m bringing you a peaceful, slightly magical tree painting filled with whimsical branches, soft clouds, glowing lanterns, and sparkly evening vibes. There’s something so calming about building a tree from sketch to fully lit centerpiece, and I loved showing you all the little tricks to make it feel balanced and alive. Let’s break it down.
Brushes used:
- Basic Sketcher
- Soft Mossy Grass
- Soft Brush
- Studio Pen
- Smudgy Leaves
- Scattered Leaves
- Flotastic Brush
- Bark Brush
- Simple Grass
- Flowers Brush
- Mercury Brush
- Lighten Line
- Darken Line
- Shiny Particles
- Overlay Brush
Canvas Size:
- 3000 x 2000 pixels
Key Skills Learned:
- Building a balanced tree composition: Learn to loosely sketch and plan dynamic curves in branches, giving the tree a sense of flow and personality.
- Layering foliage with variation and depth: Use a combination of smudgy and scattered leaf brushes in layered shades to create believable light and form in the tree’s canopy.
- Using layer masks for natural overlaps: Mask grass over rocks and trunk bases for realism without messy erasing; this keeps things non-destructive and clean.
- Adding glowing effects and magical touches: Create realistic lantern glows using bloom and Gaussian blur, then finish with sparkles for a dreamy final atmosphere.
Painterly Portrait
This was such a fun one—first tutorial at the new desk, and we’re diving into a super expressive, painterly portrait! It’s all about loose brush strokes, bold colors, and embracing imperfection to create something full of life and character. We walked through sketching a stylized head, adding color with confidence, and finished with some of my favorite Procreate tricks to bring it all together.
Brushes used:
- Basic Sketcher
- Old Brush
- Chalk Blocker
- Round Smeary
- Opaque Thin
- Rake Brush
- Overlay Brush
Canvas Size:
- 3500 x 3500 pixels
Key Skills Learned:
- Sketching expressive facial proportions: Start with circles and guidelines to create a stylized but balanced head shape with facial feature placements.
- Layer-based coloring workflow: Separate layers for background, face, hair, neck, and clothing keep things clean and make adjustments easier.
- Brush blending for painterly effects: Use the Round Smeary and Chalk Blocker to create expressive color variation and texture without losing structure.
- Smudging with the Rake brush: Bring it all together with the Rake brush set to Smudge—perfect for soft painterly effects and stylized textures.
- Finishing touches with light and overlays: Use Overlay brush and Chromatic Aberration to fine-tune highlights, warmth, and depth for a professional polish.
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.
Balcony House part 2
Part 2 is here! Let’s bring our cozy balcony house to life with COLOR!
Now that we’ve built the structure of our whimsical 3D house, it’s time to dive into the fun part — painting! In this second part of the tutorial, we’ll turn our sketch into a full illustration filled with warm colors, textures, playful curves, flowers, and charming details.
Brushes used:
- Studio Pen
- Flotastic Brush
- Fine Liner Brush
- Darken Line Brush
- Lighten Line Brush
- Scattered Soft Bush
- Rounded Tufts Brush
- Flowers Brush
- Base Painter
Canvas Size:
- 3500 x 3500 pixels
Key Skills Learned:
- Using layer organization to streamline complex illustrations: Separate layers for base colors, textures, lighting, and tiny details help manage even dense scenes like this balcony house.
- Adding texture with brushes for natural realism: The Flotastic and Fine Liner brushes add subtle texture to wood, rock, and roof tiles, making flat areas come to life.
- Mastering light and shadow for atmosphere: By creating multiply and screen layers with masks, you’re able to paint dynamic lighting and soft shadows for drama and depth.
- Painting plants that feel organic and lush: Using soft scatter brushes and varying opacities helps give foliage a layered, overgrown, natural look.
Balcony House part 1
In this first part of a two-part tutorial, we’re diving into a beautiful and ambitious project: sketching a cozy balcony house inspired by charming German towns, all in 3D perspective. I’ll show you how you can build a playful, storybook-style house from rough shapes to refined sketch, laying the groundwork for the detailed coloring in the next session.
Brushes used:
- Basic Sketcher
Canvas Size:
- 3500 x 3500 pixels
Key Skills Learned:
- Using a two-point perspective grid: Learn to set up and manipulate vanishing points to construct a believable 3D house structure.
- Switching between assisted and freehand drawing: Master toggling Drawing Assist to combine precise architectural lines with freeform, curved sketching.
- Designing storybook architectural elements: Create charming features like rounded doors, arched windows, wooden beams, and hanging flower beds.
- Customizing workflow with QuickMenu: Set up and use Procreate’s QuickMenu for faster access to tools like Drawing Assist during complex projects.
Watercolor Love Jars
In this cheerful little tutorial, we’re making a super sweet Mother’s Day-themed illustration—but honestly, this one’s perfect for anyone you love (including yourself!). We’re keeping things loose, playful, and a little bit messy, just how we like it. You’ll sketch some cute jars, add inky outlines with character, and finish it off with soft watercolor vibes. Whether you’re brand new or a seasoned doodler, it’s all about having fun and making something from the heart. Let’s dive in!
Brushes used:
- Basic Sketcher
- Flotastic Inker
- Watery Dual Color Brush
- Splatter Brush
- Ultra Soft Mixer
Canvas Size:
- 2300 x 3000 pixels
Key Skills Learned:
- Using Symmetry for Balanced Sketching: Quickly block out the jar shape and maintain proportion while allowing for playful imperfections.
- Loose Inking for Expressive Texture: Incorporate wobbliness, broken lines, and hatching for a charming, handmade feel without pressure for perfection.
- Layering Watercolor with Dual Colors: Apply rich, blended washes using Procreate’s dual color functionality to create a vibrant, blotchy background and object fills.
- Non-destructive Painting on Separate Layers: Preserve ink lines while experimenting with color options and maintaining flexibility throughout the process.
- Adding Final Touches with Splatter and Blender: Finish the piece with textured splatter and softened edges using the ultra soft mixer, enhancing the watercolor look.
Girl with Flowers
In this tutorial, we’re creating a sweet, spring-inspired girl surrounded by loads of flowers. I’ll walk you through my full process — starting with a super rough sketch to figure out the pose and composition, then building it up with cleaner lines, soft colors, and all the finishing details. You’ll see how I like to plan things out, experiment with color (lots of flower power!), and bring everything together in a relaxed, playful way. Nothing too polished or perfect here — just a fun, creative flow. Feel free to follow along, tweak things, and make it your own!
Brushes used:
- Basic Sketcher
- Flotastic Brush
- Studio Pen
- Shader
Canvas Size:
- 3000 x 4000 pixels
Key Skills Learned:
- Planning a composition using the rule of thirds: Positioning the main subject and elements thoughtfully for balance and flow.
- Layer management for efficient workflow: Using multiple layers and clipping masks to keep elements organized and editable.
- Sketching and refining stylized anatomy: Breaking down the face, hands, and body into simplified forms, then cleaning them up.
- Color blocking and building palettes: Laying down rough color shapes to test compositions, with tips for palette inspiration.
- Adding texture and detail with brush variety: Bringing life to flowers, fabric, and skin with sketchy lines, shading, and subtle gradients.