Paper Cutout Mandala
Okay, so today we’re mixing two things I love — a paper cutout look and a mandala vibe. And oh my gosh, this project is SO fun. It’s one of those where you just go with the flow, let your shapes happen, and end up with something super delicate and beautiful. You’re not aiming for perfection here, we’re layering, carving, erasing, and creating something totally unique and totally you. Just trust the process, okay? It’s gonna be magical.
Brushes used:
- Monoline
- Studio Pen
Canvas Size:
- 2500 x 2500 pixels
Key Skills Learned:
- Setting up radial symmetry for perfect mandala balance
We use Procreate’s radial symmetry guide to get those lovely balanced shapes without stressing, it’s like drawing one petal and getting eight for free! - Adding soft, layered shadows for a paper cutout feel
By duplicating layers, using alpha lock, Gaussian blur, and multiply mode, we make those layers pop with depth. Hello, dreamy shadow magic. - Carving details with the eraser like real paper art
The eraser isn’t just for fixing, we use it like a blade to “cut” our shapes and make things look super delicate and detailed, just like real cut paper. - Keeping things tidy with grouped layers
We keep things organized by grouping each shape layer with its shadow, so your canvas doesn’t turn into chaos while you’re layering away. - Letting go and designing from instinct
Honestly? The best part is just trusting your gut. No need to copy anything exactly, your mandala will be unique, and that’s exactly the point.
Fall Leaf
In this cozy tutorial, we’re creating a lovely fall leaf that’s just barely hanging on. Full of texture, light, and those warm autumn vibes. It’s super beginner-friendly, and we go step by step, starting with a little wiggly branch and building up to a beautifully glowing leaf scene. We keep things loose and relaxed, nothing has to be perfect! You’ll learn a bunch of fun techniques, and by the end, your canvas will be full of soft background light, glowing textures, and that final touch of fall magic.
Brushes used:
- Studio Pen
- Soft Brush
- Clay Brush
- Through the Cracks
- Veins Brush
- Fine Liner
- Medium Brush
Canvas Size:
- 2300 x 3000 pixels
Skills Learned:
- Using clipping masks and blend modes to layer effects
We build up soft glows, shadows, and textures without messing up our base colors, super helpful! - Adding natural textures with custom and native brushes
From the crackly texture to warm edges, we use a mix of brushes to make the leaf feel real and full of character. - Creating soft lighting and blurred backgrounds
With just a few colors and some blur magic, we add dreamy light and subtle depth to the background. - Shaping with Liquify and tidying up with the eraser
We tweak our shapes gently and crisp up those leaf points for a more polished look, easy fixes, no stress. - Finishing touches with glow and bokeh effects
A little rim light, a few floating lights, and just like that, your scene comes to life.
Glowing Flower
In this fun and easy tutorial, we’re taking a simple flower photo and turning it into a dreamy, glowing illustration—step by step. I’m working on a nice square canvas, and I’ve got a handy little brush pack ready (linked for you, of course). We’ll be layering petals, playing with color, and using some of Procreate’s glow effects to really make this flower shine. Super relaxing, super satisfying. You can follow along with my photo or bring in your own favorite bloom!
Brushes used:
- Studio Pen
- Light Brush
- Glitter Streak Brush
- Confetti Brush
- Light Pen
- Soft Brush
Canvas Size:
- 3500 x 3500 pixels
Key Skills Learned:
- Outlining petals with smooth strokes
Using the Studio Pen, we gently trace the shape of each petal keeping the lines clean and flowy. - Building depth with layered colors
We stack soft color layers underneath our line work to build the flower from the inside out, one petal group at a time. - Creating that signature glow
By duplicating our layers and playing with Bloom and Gaussian Blur, we give the petals that dreamy, magical glow effect. - Adding soft highlights with the light brush
We gently brush the tips of the petals with soft highlights in matching tones to boost contrast and softness at the same time. - Finishing with sparkles and glowy touches
We sprinkle in some subtle sparkles and light dots, and even add a soft glow underneath for that final pop of magic.
Evening Beach
Summer may be fading, but that doesn’t mean we can’t squeeze out one last warm, relaxing memory. This tutorial is all about embracing those final summer vibes with a peaceful beach scene full of soft gradients, layered cliffs, and gentle waves. It’s light, easygoing, and perfect for anyone looking to unwind with some simple, satisfying steps. Grab your pen and let’s send off the season with one last golden sunset.
Brushes used:
- Soft Brush
- Studio Pen
- Monoline
Canvas Size:
- 3000 x 2000 pixels
Key Skills Learned:
- Creating a soft gradient sky
You’ll use the Soft Brush with varying opacities to build a glowing sunset with smooth transitions and gentle lighting. - Layering rock and cliff shapes
With the Studio Pen, you build depth by stacking jagged landforms in the foreground and background. - Shaping stylized waterlines with foam
Using the Studio Pen and Liquify tool, you form dynamic, wavy shoreline shapes and accent them with dashes and highlights to suggest foam. - Using layer masks for soft light fades
Learn to add subtle lighting effects by combining solid shapes with layer masks and soft brush fades, adding realism without harsh edges. - Drawing and detailing palm trees with freehand selections
You craft palm fronds using the freehand selection tool with color fill, giving you a quick and controlled way to draw detailed tree leaves.
Watercolor Whale
Ready to paint something fun and relaxing? In this tutorial, we’re going to create a super cute watercolor whale in Procreate. I’ll guide you through every step, from the rough sketch all the way to those sparkly finishing touches. It’s all about keeping it loose, having fun, and not worrying too much about being perfect. We’ll use some great watercolor brushes (you can grab my free Treasure Chest brush pack if you haven’t yet!), and by the end, you’ll have a soft, painterly whale full of texture, charm, and even a little golden sparkle. Let’s dive in!
Brushes used:
- 6B Pencil
- Studio Pen
- Round Watery Brush
- Watercolor Brush
- Flicks Brush
- Spackle it Brush
- Inka Brush
- Light Pen
Canvas Size:
- 2500 x 2500 pixels
Skills Learned:
- Sketch a whimsical character with simple shapes
We start with a fun, exaggerated whale sketch, nothing realistic here, just loose shapes and a happy face. - Build up painterly edges using watercolor brushes
By layering soft strokes and not following the lines too closely, we get those lovely, organic watercolor edges. - Add rich texture with layering and alpha lock tricks
Duplicating and blending layers helps us build up that opaque, textured look, just like real watercolor paint. - Use brush masks and spackle brushes for realistic details
We create effects like watercolor salt textures and spatter using masks and fun custom brushes. - Bring your painting to life with gold accents and light
With a few extra highlights and sparkle using the light pen, your whale gets that magical, glowy finish.
Neon Animal Art
Bring your favorite animal to life with a bold neon twist in this easy step-by-step Procreate tutorial. Whether you’re drawing your own pet or using the provided cat photo, I will walk you through creating glowing line art with dynamic color and depth. I will show you exactly how to use layering, color blending, and effects to create striking neon art, even if you’re new to Procreate. You’ll finish with a glowing result that’s ready to share, and maybe even be inspired to try more animal designs.
Brushes used:
- Studio Pen
- Soft Brush
Canvas Size:
- 2300 x 3000 pixels
Skills Learned:
- Importing and preparing a reference photo
You learn how to import an image, resize or reposition it, lower its opacity, and prepare it for tracing. - Layered linework for stylized illustration
You trace major outlines using Studio Pen at varying sizes and opacities, switching brush size to emphasize shape and flow. - Alpha Lock & color blending for depth
By locking linework layers and applying gradients with the Soft Brush, you add dimensional neon color effects without straying outside the lines. - Creating a neon glow using blending modes and blur
You duplicate line layers, apply “Add” blend modes, and use Gaussian blur at different levels to create glowing, layered neon light. - Final bloom effect for polish
Using the Bloom feature adds an extra touch of radiant glow, enhancing the neon look and finalizing the artwork for sharing.
Watercolor Girl
I’ve got another lovely watercolor project lined up for you – this time, we’re painting a graceful lady with a flowy dress and soft, dreamy textures. We’ll start with a simple sketch, build up soft watercolor layers, and finish with some playful butterflies and splatters to give it that extra bit of magic. It’s a gentle, relaxing process – perfect if you’re in the mood for something elegant and a little whimsical. Let’s get into it and enjoy the flow together.
Brushes used:
- Basic sketcher
- Round watery
- Water bleed
- Water flicka
- Blotch
- Big splatter
- Small brush
- Fineliner
Canvas Size:
- 2300 x 3000 pixels
Key Skills Learned:
- Building a loose, confident sketch
Start with simple shapes to block out the pose, giving your figure structure and flow before refining into something more elegant. - Layering soft watercolor tones
Work in delicate passes with the round watery brush, letting colors blend naturally for that light, painterly feel. - Adding warmth and depth with color variation
Introduce pinks, blues, and yellows to create rich skin tones and subtle shadows – don’t be afraid to be bold with it! - Creating flow with splatters and smudging
Use expressive splatters and gentle smudging to bring the dress to life and add some lovely, organic texture. - Finishing with whimsical details
Add butterflies, little flicks, and soft white highlights to pull everything together and give it that dreamy, magical finish.
Happy Avocados
Ready for some serious cuteness? In this cozy, beginner-friendly Procreate tutorial, we create an adorable avocado couple – perfect as a sweet gift or just for fun. The steps are super chill and easy to follow, and there’s plenty of room to play with expressions, colors, and little touches like rosy cheeks or textures. You’ll leave with a finished illustration full of charm and personality!
Brushes used:
- Inka
- Shale
- Copperhead
- Quoll
Canvas Size:
- 2300 x 3000 pixels
Skills Learned:
- Building layered base shapes: Start with rough, egg-like shapes and build up complexity by stacking colored layers for depth and dimension.
- Using Alpha Lock for clean shading: Apply Alpha Lock to shapes like the pit or avocado body to shade without spilling over edges.
- Mixing brushes for detail work: Switch between expressive and tidy brushes—like the Copperhead and Shale—to balance sketchy charm with clean outlines.
- Adding personality with minimal facial features: Use just a few lines for eyes, mouths, and limbs to give the characters playful expressions and gestures.
- Enhancing illustrations with subtle texturesL Use texture brushes and layer masks to softly distress or enrich the drawing, especially on the background and outer edges.
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.