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.
Top Down Room View – Part 2
Now that our line art is done, it’s time to bring our room to life with color, patterns, and lighting. We’ll start by laying down flat colors, adding shadows, and then transforming our scene into both a day and night version using Procreate’s blending modes and effects.
Brushes used:
- Basic Sketcher
- Studio Pen
- Soft Brush
- Medium Brush
- Flower Pattern Brushes
- Stippel Brush
- Tiny Patchy Brush
- Signs Brush
Canvas Size:
- 4500 x 2500 pixels
Key Skills Learned:
- Adding Flat Colors Efficiently: Use separate layers for different elements, drag-and-drop colors, and apply the selection tool with color fill to speed up the coloring process.
- Applying Patterns for Texture: Use clipping masks with pattern brushes like stipple and patchy textures to add subtle detail to rugs, walls, and beddings.
- Creating Realistic Shadows: Multiply layers help cast soft shadows from objects, giving depth and dimension to the scene. A soft brush and selection tool refine shadow placement.
- Adding Light Rays for a Day Scene: Use Add blending mode with a soft brush to paint in sunlight streaming through the windows. Gaussian blur and layer masks help control the intensity and realism.
- Crafting a Night Scene with Glow Effects: Use Bloom and Soft Light blending modes to make lamps glow, adding warmth and contrast. Adjust shadows for a darker ambiance while keeping key highlights.
Top Down Room View – Part 1
Alright, let’s get into this fun two-part tutorial where we create a cozy top-down bedroom scene in Procreate! In this first part, we focus on sketching and line art using a perspective grid. If you want, you can grab my premade grid and brush pack to make things easier. We build the entire room layout, adding furniture, books, rugs, and even small decor elements like an alarm clock and slippers. Once the rough sketch is complete, we refine it into clean line art, ready for coloring in part two!
Brushes used:
- Basic Sketcher
- Studio Pen
Canvas Size:
- 4500 x 2500 pixels
Key Skills Learned:
- Setting up a perspective grid: Placing vanishing points at the top and bottom for a top-down view and adjusting grid settings for accurate proportions.
- Sketching room elements with perspective: Using a guided perspective grid to build furniture, bookshelves, and decor with proper alignment.
- Adding organic shapes to the scene: Switching off drawing assist to freehand sketch pillows, blankets, plants, and rugs for a natural look.
- Adding depth and texture to objects: Using broken lines for wood texture, subtle curves for fabric, and extra details like shadowed edges to enhance realism.
Winter Girl Illustration
Let’s dive into this cozy character illustration! We will build up a warm, wintery look layer by layer. From the initial sketch to refining details, adding flat colors, and bringing in textured depth, this tutorial covers everything to make your illustration pop!
Brushes used:
- Basic Sketcher
- Studio Pen
- Dry Ink
- Flotastic Brush
- Round Chalk
- Smudgy Hair Brush
Canvas Size:
- 2300 x 3000 pixels
Key Skills Learned:
- Using Symmetry for Sketching: Start with a centered guide to sketch out a balanced character, then turn off drawing assist to add natural variation.
- Layering for Flat Colors: Organize colors by layering elements like hair, clothing, and accessories separately to maintain control.
- Applying Texture with Alpha Lock: Use Alpha Lock and textured brushes like the Flotastic brush to add depth, shadows, and variation to clothing and accessories.
- Detailing Facial Features: Build up soft shading, add subtle freckles, and use a mix of colors for natural-looking warmth and expression.
- Enhancing Hair with Smudging and Highlights: Create volume and movement using the Smudgy Hair Brush, layering darker and lighter shades for a dynamic look.
Dream House Landscape
Let’s dive into this fun and easy Procreate tutorial to create a charming Studio Ghibli-inspired landscape. We’ll use a loose, painterly style to build depth with a mix of simple shapes, textured brushes, and soft colors. From sketching the scene to refining the final details, I’ll guide you through every step to make this painting process both relaxing and enjoyable.
Brushes used:
- Basic Sketcher
- Flotastic
- The Surface
- Aurora
- Smudgy Foliage
- Dynamic Color
- Soft Mossy Grass
- Soft Brush
- Overlay
- Stipple 2.0
- Spackles
- Flowers 2
Canvas Size:
- 3000 x 2000 pixels
Key Skills Learned:
- Creating Depth with Foreground, Middle Ground, and Background: Sketch out the landscape with a clear distinction between the three layers—foreground (trees and grass), middle ground (house and bushes), and background (mountains and sky).
- Using Textured Brushes for a Painterly Effect: Employ brushes like Flotastic and Smudgy Foliage to create organic edges, blending colors naturally while maintaining a soft, illustrative feel.
- Building a House with Proper Perspective: Use a perspective grid to construct the cabin, ensuring accurate angles for the roof, windows, and doors. Keep the lines loose and playful to match the overall aesthetic.
- Adding Atmospheric Details like Clouds and Shadows: Sketch fluffy, dramatic clouds with rounded strokes and enhance depth by placing soft shadows under the roof, around bushes, and along the mountains.
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.
Tree with Hearts
In this tutorial, we’re making a simple yet stunning heart tree design, perfect for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, or just showing someone you care. Using a carefully crafted brush pack and color palette, we’ll layer watercolor effects to create soft, artistic textures. Let’s dive in!
Brushes used:
- Studio Pen
- Flotastic Sketcher
- Hearts Brush
- Wet Mixer Brush
- Round Watery Brush
- Watery Brush Pen
- Half Loaded Brush
Canvas Size:
- 2500 x 2500 pixels
Key Skills Learned:
- Building a tree structure
Sketching the trunk and branches with organic strokes, keeping branches thinner as they extend outward. - Adding realistic bark texture
Using Alpha Lock and a textured brush to create natural, streaky bark details. - Creating watercolor heart foliage
Layering heart stamps, blending edges with wet brushes, and softening shapes for a watercolor effect. - Enhancing depth with masks and smudging
Using layer masks and smudge tools to create a soft, realistic bleed effect in the hearts. - Painting textured grass and ground
Mixing colors with wet brushes and adding expressive strokes for a natural grassy base.
How to draw Eyes
In this week’s tutorial I’d like to show you easy ways to draw eyes for your characters. These are perfect for your children’s book illustration style characters or semi realistic characters. I’ve created a handy practice sheet you can use to try out different styles.
Also, I found this super handy and inspiring website where you can find loads of character design sheets. Just check out their visual library 👍🏻 https://characterdesignreferences.com/
I have also attached a cheat sheet to this post that I made last year for the how to draw a stylized portrait tutorial.
Cute Raccoon
Let’s bring a charming, slightly scruffy raccoon to life in Procreate! Using a mix of soft textures and bold strokes, this tutorial walks you through sketching, inking, coloring, and adding rich fur details for a warm, hand-drawn look. Whether you’re a beginner or refining your style, this lesson will help you create a playful, expressive raccoon illustration by using reference photos as a source of inspiration (and information)
Brushes used:
- Basic Sketcher
- Studio Pen
- Round Chalk
- Carbon Stick
- Hatcher
Canvas Size:
- 3500 x 3500 pixels
Key Skills Learned:
- Building a Balanced Sketch
Use simple circles and rough guidelines to construct a raccoon with cartoony proportions and expressive facial features. - Layering Base Colors with a Soft Look
Instead of stark black and white, warm orange and brown tones create a more inviting feel, blending for natural depth. - Adding Fur Textures for a Hand-Drawn Effect
Use chalk and charcoal brushes to create scruffy, layered fur that gives the raccoon personality. - Enhancing the Eyes for Expressiveness
Large, round pupils and soft shading add depth and a lifelike sparkle to the raccoon’s gaze. - Refining with Highlights and Whiskers
Finishing touches, like delicate whiskers and subtle background textures, complete the illustration with a polished yet organic look.