Retro Doodle

During this easy tutorial we’ll be creating a colorful retro doodle! We’ll be using some photos as a base, so the process is really easy. You can use the same technique for loads of different objects 😃

Here are links to the photos we use during this tutorial:

Brushes used:

  • Monoline Brush
  • Dry Ink

Canvas Size:

  • 3000 x 4000 pixels

Skills Learned:

  • Photo Manipulation: Learn to rearrange and resize photos on your canvas, setting the stage for your doodles
  • Creating Outlines: Master the use of the Dry Ink brush to trace and simplify your objects into basic, doodle-like shapes
  • Quick Shapes: Utilize Procreate’s Quick Shape feature for perfect circles and straight lines, making your doodles look crisp
  • Coloring Techniques: Explore harmonious color selection and apply flat colors using the Monoline brush for a cohesive look
  • Adding Shadows and Highlights: Discover how to use layer blending modes like Multiply and Screen to add depth and dimension to your doodles
Landscapes

House by the Lake

In this easy Procreate drawing tutorial I’ll guide you through the steps of creating this colorful and stylized landscape illustration. We’ll be using free Procreate brushes and start out with very simple shapes to which we will add texture later on. During this easy tutorial you will learn to master the basic features of Procreate.

Brushes used:

  • Monoline Brush
  • Fineliner Brush
  • Spackle it Brush

Canvas Size:

  • 2300 x 3000 pixels

Skills Learned:

  • Layer Management: Learn how to effectively create, organize, and manipulate layers
  • Color Blocking: Master the technique of color blocking to lay down the foundational shapes and elements of your landscape
  • Shape and Line Work: Develop your skills in crafting wobbly lines for hills and precise shapes for structures
  • Texturizing Techniques: Explore the use of the spackle it brush to add texture and depth to various elements of your scene
Landscapes

Stylized Landscape

In this easy Procreate drawing tutorial I’ll guide you through the steps of creating this lovely stylized landscape illustration. You don’t need any experience with Procreate to be able to follow this easy tutorial, I will be guiding you through all the steps!

Brushes used:

  • Monoline Brush
  • Fineliner Brush
  • Spackle it Brush
  • Dark Noise Brush

Canvas Size:

  • 2300 x 3000 pixels

Skills Learned:

  • Creating and Manipulating Basic Shapes: Learn to draw, duplicate, and align circles and rectangles to form the foundational elements of your landscape
  • Clipping Masks: Make use of clipping masks to ensure your paint will stay inside a shape you created
  • Texturing Techniques: Add texture to your landscape making use of my free Procreate brushes
Portraits

Closeup Eye

In this beginner friendly Procreate tutorial I will break down the steps of drawing this realistic close up of an eye. I’ll guide you through all the steps of course, so I’m sure you can create this too! Have fun!

Brushes used:

  • Monoline Brush
  • Soft Brush
  • Nikko Rull
  • Gesinski Ink
  • Shale Brush
  • Gloaming Brush
  • Basic Flo Brush
  • Brush Pen

Canvas Size:

  • 2300 x 3000 pixels

Skills Learned:

  • Creating Perfect Shapes: Utilize the quick shape tool combined with the edit shape function to fine-tune arcs and circles
  • Layer Management: Master the use of layers, including how to use clipping masks and blending modes like multiply and screen to add depth and detail
  • Detailed Adjustments: Employ tools like Gaussian blur and the smudge tool to blend colors seamlessly, enhancing the realism of the eye
Creatures

Cockatoo

Here’s a fun and approachable tutorial on drawing a charming cockatoo in Procreate. Perfect for beginners, this guide walks you through each step, ensuring you create a bird that’s uniquely yours. Whether you’re experienced or just starting, if you follow along, you’ll end up with a delightful cockatoo. Let’s get started!

Brushes used:

  • Monoline
  • Round Chalk
  • Chalk Pencil
  • Smudgy Hair
  • Dark Noise

Canvas Size:

  • 2300 x 3000 pixels

Skills Learned:

  • Creating Basic Shapes: Start by drawing ovals and transforming them into the body and beak of your cockatoo, using Procreate’s quick shape tool
  • Using Liquify Tool: Shape your bird’s body with precision by pushing and pulling the canvas, giving it a natural and dynamic form
  • Adding Texture and Detail: Employ the Round Chalk and Chalk Pencil brushes to give your cockatoo a realistic texture, adding feathers and shading
  • Layer Management: Learn how to use and organize layers effectively to build depth and detail, especially for the beak and headdress
  • Smudge Tool Techniques: Create the soft, feathered look of the cockatoo by blending colors with the Smudgy Hair brush, enhancing realism
Food

Pumpkin – Happy and Scary

In this tutorial, we created two types of pumpkins in Procreate—one cute and one creepy—with a fun reveal trick to surprise your viewers. The process was straightforward and required no prior experience. We’ll start by drawing and shaping the pumpkin, adding textures, and then moving on to carving and detailing each version of the pumpkin. Finally, we used a mask to create the reveal effect, switching between the cute and creepy versions seamlessly.

Brushes used:

  • Monoline
  • Script
  • Fineliner
  • Is It Grunge
  • Dark Noise
  • Nebula
  • Blackburn

Canvas Size:

  • 2300 x 3000 pixels

Skills Learned:

  • Liquify Tool for Shaping: Adjusts shapes easily using the Liquify tool, providing better control over the final form
  • Alpha Lock for Texture: Uses Alpha Lock to ensure added textures stay within the shape
  • Layer Mask for Carving: Applies a layer mask to carve out facial features, allowing for non-destructive edits
  • Symmetry Tool for Efficiency: Utilizes the symmetry tool to save time while creating symmetrical designs, like the creepy pumpkin’s face
  • Clipping Mask for Layer Effects: Implements clipping masks to add lighting and shadow effects that apply only to specific parts of the drawing
Creatures

Fun Doodle

In this delightful Procreate tutorial, we dive into the whimsical world of doodle creation! Creating these colorful doodles is super fun and relaxing. And following my step by step instructions it’s super easy!

Brushes used:

  • Chalk Pencil
  • Fineliner Brush
  • Script Brush

Canvas Size:

  • 2300 x 3000 pixels

Skills Learned:

  • Sketching Techniques: Learn to sketch with the Chalk Pencil, using simple shapes to build complex doodles. Emphasis is placed on using Quick Shape for perfect ovals and clean lines
  • Layer Utilization: Discover the advantage of using multiple layers for different elements, allowing easy rearrangement and adjustments during the creative process
  • Line Work: Master the art of clean line work with the Fineliner Brush, including varying line weights for added visual interest
  • Coloring and Patterns: Explore efficient coloring methods using a reference layer and adding playful patterns for more intricate designs
  • Shading and Highlighting: Understand how to add depth and dimension to your doodles by applying shadows and highlights, considering the light source for consistency
Drawing Fundamentals

Part 8: Animals

This is the eighth lesson in the Learn to Sketch series! In this lesson we’ll focus on animals. I’ll show you how you can approach sketching animals and the different approaches you can use. I’ll also show ways to exercise and train your animal sketching skills.

I’ve added the exercise file I used during the demonstration. Of course you can also grab your own reference images or go plein-air sketching!

Skills Learned:

  • Sketching from the Outside In: Starting with angular, box-like outlines to capture the overall shape before moving inward for details
  • Sketching from the Inside Out: Visualizing and constructing the animal’s form with basic shapes like circles, cylinders, and rectangles
  • Utilizing References and Anatomy: The importance of using reference images and understanding animal anatomy for accurate sketches
  • Creating a Feedback Loop: Comparing your sketches to references or basic shapes overlaid on your work to identify and correct mistakes
Drawing Fundamentals

Part 7: Landscapes

This is the seventh lesson in the Learn to Sketch series! In this lesson we’ll focus on landscapes. I’ll show you how you can approach sketching landscapes and what you can think of when creating your landscape, like textures, line weight, working from big shapes to small shapes, creative freedom, etc.

I’ve added the exercise file I used during the demonstration. Of course you can also grab your own reference images or go plein-air sketching!

Skills Learned:

  • Sketching from Big to Small Shapes: Start with the overarching shapes of your landscape, such as mountains and clouds, before honing in on the details. This technique helps in laying down the basic structure of your sketch
  • Creating Depth through Line Weight and Texture: Learn how to use varying line weights and textures to differentiate between the foreground, midground, and background, enhancing the depth and dimensionality of your sketches
  • Creative Freedom in Composition: Break away from strictly adhering to reference images or real-life views by rearranging elements in your landscape. This encourages unique compositions and personal expression in your artwork
  • Thumbnail Sketching for Composition Exploration: Develop quick thumbnail sketches to explore different compositions and perspectives before selecting your favorite to develop further. This practice boosts creativity and helps in visualizing various possibilities