I’ve spent most of my life as a conventional artist, working with strategies that vary from tremendous arts to varied printing strategies. Shifting into digital artwork was an enormous step for me, largely as a result of utilizing a pill provides you a unique expertise in comparison with pencils and paper.
Once I first found Procreate I used to be surprised by the concept of getting a conveyable machine that enabled me to color digitally. Through the years Procreate has reworked from a fantastic drawing app to knowledgeable device. These days, I do most of my work in Procreate, utilizing an iPad Professional and Apple Pencil. But there are some things I nonetheless do in Photoshop, similar to cropping, resizing and making ready the picture for publishing.
On this workshop, I’ll be drawing a Roman-inspired lady in her backyard accompanied by three ravens. I’ll present you the complete strategy of how I produce work utilizing an iPad and Procreate. I consider this workshop will probably be of curiosity for individuals who have moved from conventional to digital artwork, but in addition for these artists who’re eager to see what are you able to obtain utilizing fashionable tablets.
For those who like this tutorial and wish to be taught extra, learn a few of our different Procreate coaching; learn the way Procreate may also help you grasp color and lightweight, use Procreate to create a fantasy character, and uncover learn how to use Procreate to analyse grasp artworks.
Tatiana is an idea artist and illustrator who’s labored on animated options. She’s passionate in regards to the movie and recreation industries. Earlier than she began working as an idea artist, she spent 6 years finding out tremendous arts and completely different graphic strategies, similar to etching and lithography.
Procreate tutorial: my brushes
These are the Procreate brushes we will probably be predominantly utilizing for this workshop.
Default brushes: Niko Rull
Default brushes: Niko Rull Moist Combine
I take advantage of these brushes more often than not. The primary is a default Procreate brush; the second is identical brush with Moist Combine – a characteristic launched in Procreate model 4 – turned on.
Procreate tutorial: draw a dramatic determine
If you wish to be taught extra about Procreate, learn the complete Procreate evaluation the place we put the software program via its paces. I hope you get lots out of this tutorial – you’ll be able to scroll to the underside of the web page to see the ultimate completed piece.
01. Sketching an thought
(Picture: © Tatiana Svistunova)
I create a couple of tough sketches, attempting out completely different concepts, compositions and poses of the character. As soon as I produce a sketch I’m pleased with, I arrange a brand new canvas full of medium-dark gray and duplicate the sketch on to it. Then I resize it barely to make sure that the proportions work higher on the canvas.
02. Placing within the stable strains
(Picture: © Tatiana Svistunova)
I begin the portray by drawing stable strains on high of the chosen sketch. Then I create a brand new layer and draw the outlines utilizing a typical Procreate 6B pencil brush. I don’t take into consideration any particulars – I’m solely drawing on the character and important objects within the portray.
03. Introducing a neighborhood color
(Picture: © Tatiana Svistunova)
I wish to apply native color – the true color of objects not affected by lighting or shadows. Having a neighborhood color will assist me to accurately apply gentle and shadows in a while, whereas retaining my meant color of all objects. I create a brand new layer for every group of objects (important character, ravens, tree and the background) and add color in every layer.
04. Establishing a Moist Combine
(Picture: © Tatiana Svistunova)
More often than not, I solely use two or three brushes. A characteristic that was launched again in Procreate 4 is Moist Combine, which makes any brush appear like it was used on an actual moist portray. I believe that utilizing it would make the portray look mushy and extra practical, particularly within the background. To allow Moist Combine I faucet on the comb and within the Settings menu choose Dynamics and Moist Combine.
05. Harnessing gentle and shadows
(Picture: © Tatiana Svistunova)
I wish to have two gentle sources: a chilly blue as the primary gentle and heat gentle as a secondary. This may assist me to indicate off the form and construction of all my objects. I allow alpha lock on every of layers that I’ve painted a neighborhood color on, then begin rapidly drawing the sunshine and shadows with out too many particulars. Utilizing alpha lock prevents me from drawing outdoors of the layer’s content material.
06. Studying to identify anatomy errors
(Picture: © Tatiana Svistunova)
I transfer on to the primary character and begin drawing her face and garments. I mirror the image in order that I can management the proportions of her face and proper any early anatomy errors. All the time attempt to benefit from your digital artwork instruments. For instance, as an alternative of drawing the character’s second eye from scratch, I simply copy the primary one and use it as a base.
07. Including a sample to the character’s garments
(Picture: © Tatiana Svistunova)
I create a brand new layer and begin drawing the sample with out gentle and shadows. After I’m pleased with the sample’s look, I faucet on the layer, select Choose and create a brand new layer with the choice preserved. Now I begin to paint over the choice, allowing for gentle and shadow. When working with the patterns, it’s best to at all times understand that a sample will comply with all folds and creases on the material.
08. Shifting on to the ravens
(Picture: © Tatiana Svistunova)
All three ravens are on the identical layer, so I would like to maneuver every one on to separate layers. I choose them utilizing the Choice Software, open the Transformation toolbar, and lower and paste the choice to a brand new layer. I transfer and resize them till I’m pleased with the composition.
09. Making use of raven references
(Picture: © Tatiana Svistunova)
I assemble some raven reference pictures right into a single picture, open the reference board picture in Pictures and maintain it open utilizing the iPad’s Slide Over mode. Beforehand, you can solely put a secondary app on the right-hand facet, which was uncomfortable for right-handed customers. iOS 11 allows you to rearrange the place of the secondary app.
10. Adjusting curves
(Picture: © Tatiana Svistunova)
I zoom out of the image to verify I’m pleased with the progress I’ve made. I believe that the primary character is just too vivid for such a lighting and her pores and skin tone is just too pink. I faucet a Magic Wand icon on the top-left nook of the display screen and select Curves. I choose Crimson channel and slide the curve down to scale back the pink.
11. Growing background depth
(Picture: © Tatiana Svistunova)
The background is a forest within the golden gentle with no sharp edges however solely a silhouettes of bushes. I believe it’s the proper a part of the portray to make use of the brand new moist brushes. First I draw the background. Then I add a couple of branches between the background and the primary tree to create a mid-ground and provides the picture much more depth. I take advantage of lighter values for the mid-ground to indicate the space.
12. Rendering the tree
(Picture: © Tatiana Svistunova)
The final a part of the illustration is the tree that the primary character leans on. After rendering the tree, I really feel that it seems to be too chilly in comparison with different objects within the scene, so I duplicate the layer with the tree and cut back the blue color solid utilizing Curves. The tree trunks within the midground ought to be lighter than the primary tree, so I take away all modifications made to mid-ground bushes from this layer.
13. Ending with the lighting
(Picture: © Tatiana Svistunova)
Now I wish to make the sunshine extra intense. I create two layers and switching them to make use of Exhausting Mild mode by tapping the “N” character close to the right-hand facet of the layer, then select Distinction. Utilizing a mushy Airbrush I add a couple of rays of sunshine. I then decrease the opacity of those two layers to reinforce the realism.
14. Including closing particulars
(Picture: © Tatiana Svistunova)
After I’ve completed my portray, I go away it for a couple of hours earlier than I add any closing touches. This helps me to have a look at it with recent eyes. It’s even higher to return again to it the next day. I resolve so as to add a couple of strokes to the primary character’s tiara, carry in additional particulars on the tree and make the background just a little bit much less saturated and vivid.
Procreate tutorial: professional suggestions
Listed here are some key suggestions to bear in mind if you’re working in Procreate.
Methods to spot errors
Flip your canvas (click on Changes > Canvas > Flip Canvas Horizontally) to focus on anatomy or perspective errors early on. It’s even less complicated to do in case you’re working historically – simply put a mirror in entrance of your work-in-progress.
Maintain your references useful
It’s useful that Procreate allows you to create reference boards in the identical app that you simply use for drawing. Nevertheless, you too can open an internet browser within the iPad’s Break up View mode and drag and drop photos from the browser on to your Procreate canvas. You too can use this when drawing patterns or matte portray.
Study to manage your tonal values
Generally it turns into tough to decide on the right tones of colors, so contemplate tonal values as an alternative. Create a brand new layer full of black and place it on the high. Faucet on the “N” letter subsequent to the title of the layer and select Colour mode. Now you’ll be able to merely show and conceal this layer to see tonal values in your picture.
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