Paper Boat
In this cozy realism project, we’re painting a little paper boat floating on the water. We start with a loose sketch, then slowly build up the water using layers of shapes, colors, and textures until it feels believable. No need for a pre-made palette, we’ll pick colors as we go and just have fun experimenting. But of course you can also download the color palette I created along the way.
Brushes used:
- Basic Sketcher
- Soft Brush
- Base Painter
- StandardBlender
- Flo Darka
- Flow Lighta
- Darken Line
- Lighten Line
- Overlay Brush
- Multiply Brush
- Studio Pen
- Soft Light Brush
Canvas Size:
- 2300 x 3000 pixels
Key Skills Learned:
- Building a base sketch: Start with loose lines to find the angles and shapes before refining.
- Layering water textures: Stack darker and lighter strokes to create ripples and depth.
- Blending and blurring for realism: Use smudge, Gaussian blur, and bloom to soften and add atmosphere.
- Crisp-edged object painting: Lock alpha and work with precise brushes for neat, clean boat edges.
- Creating reflections and ripples: Combine multiply layers and light strokes for believable water movement.
Blue House
Today we’re keeping it simple and super fun, we’re painting a sweet little blue house with fluffy clouds, fresh greenery, and all those tiny details that make it feel alive. We’ll start with a nice symmetrical sketch, use a bit of perspective magic for the fences, and then bring it all together with soft shadows, crisp highlights, and lots of playful texture.
Brushes used:
- Basic Sketcher
- Soft Brush
- Studio Pen
- Adjusted Soft Airbrush
- Aurora Brush
- Soft Rounded Mossy Grass Brush
- Dry Ink Brush
Canvas Size:
- 2300 x 3000 pixels
Key Skills Learned:
- Making symmetry and perspective work for you: use the symmetry guide for a perfectly balanced sketch and the perspective guide to nail those fences and tiles so everything sits just right in the scene.
- Laying down flat colors in neat layers: build the sky, house, roof, plants, and details each on their own layer so it’s easy to tweak colors or fix shapes later.
- Bringing surfaces to life with texture: from the soft, fluffy feel of clouds to the grain in wooden fences and stairs, different brushes add personality to each part of the illustration.
- Adding depth with shadows that feel natural: multiply layers and a soft brush help you place gentle shadows in just the right spots to give the house a cozy, three-dimensional look.
- Using light and reflections to add charm: soft highlights on the windows, little glints on the door, and sun-kissed edges on bushes make the whole piece pop.
Bear with Coffee
In this cozy little painting session, we’re creating something super cute, super chill, a sleepy bear on a tree stump, sipping on coffee (or tea, or cocoa, totally up to you), all wrapped in a calm, foresty vibe. It’s loose, painterly, and just really fun to do. We start with a soft sketch, build up those lovely background layers, and then slowly bring our bear and the world around him to life, one gentle brushstroke at a time. Nothing too precise, just relaxing and going with the flow.
Brushes used:
- Basic Sketcher
- Jagged
- Wet Acrylic
- Dry Mixer
- Tapered
- Impressionistic
- Soft Brush
Canvas Size:
- 2300 x 3000 pixels
Key Skills Learned:
- Sketching a peaceful scene with simple shapes
We start loose and light, a bean shape here, a soft circle there, just enough to map things out without overthinking it. - Layering painterly textures for atmosphere
Using big, soft strokes and playing with color gives us that dreamy, almost storybook forest look. - Using color to create calm and depth
We mix warm tones and soft shadows to gently lead the eye, with no harsh lines or loud spots, it’s all about the mood. - Adding soft texture and detail with purpose
Fur, bark, foliage, it’s all about little touches that keep things feeling fluffy, natural, and handmade. - Framing your subject to guide the viewer
We gently surround our bear with leaves, bushes, and soft shadows to keep him cozy and right at the heart of the scene.
Lemonade
Let’s dive into a summery realism piece, painting a juicy glass of lemonade (or maybe orangeade?)! We’ll focus on expression and brush character. This isn’t about pixel-perfect photo realism but more about creating a believable still life with painterly energy. The whole thing is built up from a rough sketch to detailed lighting and textures, layering in color, adjusting shadows, and letting the process breathe and evolve.
Brushes used:
- Basic Sketcher
- Flotastic Brush
- Overlay Brush
- Flo Darka
- Flo Lighta
- Darken Line
- Lighten Line
- Multiply Brush
Canvas Size:
- 2000 x 3000 pixels
Key Skills Learned:
- Creating expressive sketches from reference
Start loose with angular shapes and negative space awareness to define forms before refining. - Layering painterly textures with intentional brushwork
Using textured brushes to build depth while preserving a lively, expressive aesthetic. - Managing color and lighting for realistic glass and fruit
Careful use of lighting and reflection, including overlays and transparency, creates convincing form without over-polishing. - Combining structured process with spontaneous experimentation
Balancing process (alpha lock, layer building, selection tools) with creative detours for color and brush exploration. - Enhancing realism with subtle detailing techniques
Final passes with custom brushes add tactile texture, contrast, and visual interest without flattening the image.
Seaside Shop – Part 1
In this first part of our seaside shop project, we’re laying the groundwork — literally. We’re starting with perspective, getting that sketch in place, and then moving on to line art. It’s a big one, so I’ve split it in two. Take your time with this part, enjoy it, and don’t stress about getting everything perfect. Once we’ve got this base done, the next part will be all about color, texture, and bringing the whole scene to life. For now, just follow along and have fun with it!
Brushes used:
- Basic Sketcher
- Flotastic Inker
Canvas Size:
- 3000 x 2000 pixels
Key Skills Learned:
- Setting up a clean two-point perspective
We place vanishing points off-canvas and use the grid to guide all our structural lines, everything from windows to countertops stays in perfect perspective. - Switching Drawing Assist on and off naturally
You’ll see when it makes sense to draw with assist on and when to switch it off for more organic shapes like clouds, plants, or rocks. - Adding personality with everyday objects
We sketch tons of little shop details: jars, bottles, benches, even a parasol to make the whole scene feel cozy and full of life. - Inking with character, not perfection
Using the Flotastic Inker, we go over our sketch with lines that have a bit of wobble, because that hand-drawn charm makes all the difference.
Realistic Macarons
In this sweet and beginner-friendly Procreate project, we dive into the tasty world of painting macarons. Whether you’re just starting out or brushing up your skills, this tutorial takes you step-by-step through the process—from rough sketching to adding lifelike texture and lighting. It’s all about building confidence with repeatable steps and having fun while painting something deliciously realistic. Grab your iPad and stylus—let’s paint some macarons that practically pop off the canvas!
Brushes used:
- Basic Sketcher
- Soft Brush
- Studio Pen
- Basic Flo Brush
- Dark and Light Shader
- Flo Darka Brush
- Flo Lighta Brush
- Lighten Line Brush
- Darken Line Brush
- Overlay Brush
- Standard Blender
Canvas Size:
- 2300 x 3000 pixels
Key Skills Learned:
- Building perspective and structure using rough sketching
Start with a simple sketch to block out macaron shapes and positions, using negative space to ensure proportion and balance. - Creating clean base shapes with crisp edges
Use the Studio Pen to outline and fill in macaron shapes, choosing base colors that will serve as a foundation for future shading and adjustments. - Applying realistic shading with clipping masks and alpha lock
Use the dark/light shader and Flo brushes to simulate natural lighting, adding dimension with subtle highlights and shadows. - Adding texture using custom detail brushes
Utilize the Flotastic set’s textured brushes to mimic the bumpy, airy surface of macarons, enhancing realism through varied brush strokes and pressure. - Blurring and softening with Gaussian blur and smudge tool
Refine focus by softening background macarons and shadows, creating depth and keeping the main subject sharp and engaging.
Happy Goldfish
Want to draw a happy little goldfish? In this easy Procreate tutorial, I’ll guide you through every step—from setting up your canvas and choosing colors, to layering textures and adding vibrant underwater plants. It’s super relaxing, and by the end, you’ll have a playful underwater scene full of life and light. Just follow along, and you’ll create something beautiful in no time.
Brushes used:
- Charcoal Block
- Carbon Stick
- Round Chalk Brush
- Fine Liner Brush
- Charcoal Roll
- Shale Brush
Canvas Size:
- 2300 x 3000 pixels
Skills Learned:
- Layer management and alpha lock techniques: Efficient use of layers, grouping, and alpha lock to add detail without breaking clean edges.
- Using Procreate’s brush variety for textures: Combining different brushes like carbon stick and chalks to add dimension.
- Drawing organic underwater plants: Building variety in shape and color to populate the background and foreground with depth.
Chibi Boy
If you’ve ever wanted to draw a super cute chibi boy in Procreate, this tutorial’s for you. We go step-by-step without speeding anything up, making it easy for anyone to follow along — even if you’re totally new to drawing characters. Whether you copy the look exactly or mix it up with your own style, you’ll walk away with a finished drawing that’s full of personality.
Brushes used:
- Monoline
- 6B Pencil
- Studio Pen
- Soft Brush
- Round Chalk Pencil
Canvas Size:
- 2500 x 2500 pixels
Skills Learned:
- Using symmetry tools for balanced facial features
Learn how to activate and customize Procreate’s symmetry settings to draw perfectly mirrored elements like eyes, ears, and eyebrows. - Shaping facial structures with Liquify
Master the Liquify tool to sculpt your base head shape, elongate features, or tweak proportions to get that classic chibi style. - Layer management for clean design workflow
Understand how to use clipping masks, alpha lock, and layer order to control shading, highlights, outlines, and more. - Creating expressive eyes with shadows and highlights
Discover how to layer shapes, use subtle gradients, and add highlights to bring your character’s eyes to life. - Detailing hair with light, shadow, and texture
Learn how to build depth in the hair using shape layering, gradients, highlights and crisp outlines.
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.