Cute Dragon
In this cozy little tutorial, we’re going to paint the cutest little dragon together. We’ll start with some super simple shapes for the sketch, then block in our base colors, and finally bring it all to life with soft painterly textures and lighting. It’s a really relaxing process, and I’ll guide you every step of the way. You can totally make it your own too—maybe give your dragon different horns or turn it into a water or earth dragon! I can’t wait to see what you create. Let’s jump in!
Brushes used:
- Basic Sketcher
- Opaque Thin
- Round Smeary
- Broad and Smeary
Canvas Size:
- 3500 x 3500 pixels
Key Skills Learned:
- Sketching with simple shapes: Begin with clean, basic ovals and gradually builds up a cute dragon structure, including the face, body, limbs, and wings.
- Refining details with layered sketching: Learn how to create a more polished sketch by lowering opacity and redrawing over it, adding expressive touches like lashes, eyebrows, and scale patterns.
- Building base colors using layers: Learn how to assign different parts of the dragon to separate layers and apply painterly base colors with shape-closing and color drop tricks.
- Adding painterly lighting and shading: Learn how to use alpha lock and blending techniques to add highlights, shadows, and depth, following a consistent light source and enhancing the 3D feel.
Cat on a Roof
In this super fun and easy Procreate tutorial, we’re going to paint a dreamy, starry night scene—complete with a glowing sky, textured rooftops, and of course, a cute little cat looking up at the stars. We’ll be using only brushes that are already in Procreate, and I’ll walk you through every single step so you can follow along with ease. I’ve also chosen a nice tall canvas for this one to really emphasize the sky—can’t wait to see what you’ll create! Let’s get started!
Brushes used:
- Quoll
- Niko Rull
- Oberon
- Flicks
- Splatter
- Soft Brush
- Tinderbox
Canvas Size:
- 1500 x 3000 pixels
Skills Learned:
- Blending painterly gradients: Using the Quoll brush with varied pressure to create rich color transitions while preserving texture in the sky.
- Layering textures with alpha lock: Learn to use Alpha lock to shade and texturize areas like the roof, chimney, and cat without coloring outside their shapes.
- Adding atmosphere with light effects: Use glow layers, splatter brushes, and the Bloom effect to enhance the dreamy night vibe with starry accents and a glowing moon.
Isometric Colorful Room
You can draw this in Procreate! In this easy step-by-step tutorial, I’ll show you how to create a colorful isometric room illustration from start to finish. It’s a great way to get familiar with isometric perspective while designing a fun, cozy space. So, grab your iPad and Apple Pencil and let’s get started!
Brushes used:
- 6B Pencil
- Studio Pen
Canvas Size:
- 3500 x 3500 pixels
Skills Learned:
- Using the Isometric Grid: Learn to use the isometric drawing guide and adjust grid settings for precise perspective.
- Sketching Basic Shapes: Break down furniture and objects into simple geometric forms aligned with the grid.
- Creating Clean Line Art: Use inking brushes to refine shapes, incorporating playful, rounded edges for a stylized look.
- Applying Color Efficiently: Use reference layers and drag-and-drop fills to quickly color different elements.
- Adding Shadows for Depth: Use clipping masks and multiply layers to create soft, directional shadows for realism.
Cute Little Bird
Want to create an adorable bird illustration in Procreate? This easy-to-follow tutorial walks you through every step, from sketching the basic shapes to adding texture and shading for a polished, stylized look. You can fully customize the colors and details to make it your own!
Brushes used:
- Round Chalk Brush
- Round Chalk Pencil
- Medium Nozzle
Canvas Size:
- 3500 x 3500 pixels
Skills Learned:
- Using basic shapes to build structure: Start with simple circles and ovals for the head, body, and wings, adjusting them for a natural composition.
- Creating texture with brush techniques: Use the Round Chalk Pencil and Medium Nozzle to add a soft, painterly texture and feather-like details.
- Layering and blending colors: Apply soft gradients and highlights to add depth, using alpha lock to contain shading within the shapes.
- Adding final details with freehand strokes: Enhance the illustration with stylized feather marks, a rosy cheek, and a curved branch for a complete composition.
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.
House on a Hill
This tutorial walks you through creating a whimsical, textured landscape in Procreate, complete with rolling hills, a cozy house, and expressive trees. The beauty of this painting lies in its wonky, imperfect strokes—so no need for perfectionism!
Brushes used:
- Monoline
- Nikko Rull
- Quoll
- Studio Pen
- Tinderbox
- Oberon
- Freycinet
- Burnt Tree
- Flicks
- Inka
Canvas Size:
- 2300 x 3000 pixels
Skills Learned:
- Layering for depth: Build hills in layers, placing darker tones in the foreground and lighter ones in the background to create a sense of depth.
- Adding texture with Alpha Lock: Use Alpha Lock and brushes like the Quoll and Nikko Rull to create painterly textures and blended gradients.
- Painting a wonky house: Construct a playful house with simple shapes, layering elements like the roof and windows for a fun, slightly offbeat look.
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.
Cute Little Hippo
Want to level up your Procreate skills? In this tutorial, we’ll take a simple base shape and transform it into a fully colored, painterly-style hippo illustration. Starting with a sketch, we’ll refine the drawing, add line art, apply flat colors, and finish with textures, lighting, and a background. Let’s dive in!
Brushes used:
- 6B Pencil
- Soft Brush
- Dry Ink
- Studio Pen
- Larapuna
- Gouache
- Basic Flo
- Oberon
- Ink Bleed
Canvas Size:
- 3500 x 3500 pixels
Skills Learned:
- Building a Sketch with Simple Shapes
Start with circles and ovals to form the head and body, refining with additional features like ears, snout, and legs. - Creating Clean Line Art
Use the Dry Ink brush for a textured, forgiving outline, adjusting pressure for varied line thickness. - Applying Flat Colors and Shading
Use a separate layer for base colors, adding shadows with Multiply mode and highlights with Add mode for depth. - Adding Painterly Textures
Blend colors using the Larapuna brush and Smudge tool to achieve a soft, natural paint-like effect. - Enhancing the Background
Use artistic brushes for abstract textures, adding layers of grass and light to complete the scene.
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.