Discover Top Procreate Sketch Brushes for Creative Digital Art

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 24 May 2023 9 min read

Are you an aspiring digital artist looking to step up your game with Procreate? One of the most important aspects of digital art is finding the right tools, and Procreate sketch brushes are the key to unlock your full potential. In this blog, we'll explore different types of Procreate sketch brushes, how to create custom brushes, and tips for getting the most out of your digital art experience. Let's dive into the world of Procreate sketch brushes and see what they have to offer!

Understanding Procreate Sketch Brushes

Procreate sketch brushes are an essential part of the digital artist's toolkit. They help you create various textures, lines, and effects to bring your artwork to life. Let's take a closer look at the importance of sketch brushes, the different types available, and how to adjust brush settings for the perfect stroke.

Importance of Sketch Brushes

When it comes to digital art, sketch brushes play a vital role in the creative process. They allow you to:

Experiment with different styles and textures
Create more realistic and organic artwork
Control the pressure, size, and opacity of your strokes
Blend colors and apply shading more effectively

By understanding the various types of Procreate sketch brushes, you can discover new ways to express your creativity and develop your unique artistic style.

Different Types of Brushes

Procreate offers a wide range of sketch brushes, each with its own unique characteristics. Some common types include:

Pencil brushes – Perfect for sketching, outlining, and adding fine details to your artwork.
Charcoal brushes – Ideal for creating rich, textured shading and adding depth to your drawings.
Ink brushes – Great for achieving smooth, bold lines and creating intricate patterns or calligraphy.

By experimenting with different brush types, you can find the perfect tool to bring your artistic vision to life.

Adjusting Brush Settings

Procreate sketch brushes are highly customizable, giving you complete control over the look and feel of your strokes. Some of the settings you can adjust include:

Size – Change the brush size for thicker or thinner lines.
Opacity – Adjust the transparency of your brush for a more subtle or intense effect.
Pressure sensitivity – Control how much pressure is required to achieve a certain effect, such as a thicker line or more opaque stroke.

By tweaking these settings, you can easily tailor your Procreate sketch brushes to suit your specific needs and artistic style. Remember, practice makes perfect—so keep experimenting until you achieve the desired results!

Top Procreate Sketch Brushes

Now that you have a solid understanding of Procreate sketch brushes and their importance, let's dive into some of the top brushes available. We'll explore pencil, charcoal, and ink brushes, and discuss what makes each one unique. Remember, the key to mastering Procreate sketch brushes is experimentation, so don't be afraid to try out different brushes to see which ones work best for you!

Pencil Brushes

Pencil brushes are a staple in any artist's toolkit. They're perfect for sketching, outlining, and adding fine details to your artwork. Some popular Procreate pencil brushes include:

6B Pencil: This brush mimics the classic 6B pencil, offering a soft, textured stroke that's perfect for shading and sketching.
Technical Pencil: With a precise, sharp tip, this brush is excellent for adding intricate details or creating clean, crisp outlines.
Procreate Pencil: A versatile option that provides a balance between texture and smoothness, making it suitable for a wide range of sketching styles.

Don't forget to play around with the size, opacity, and pressure sensitivity to achieve the perfect pencil stroke for your artwork.

Charcoal Brushes

Charcoal brushes are ideal for creating rich, textured shading and adding depth to your drawings. They can help you achieve a more traditional, hand-drawn look in your digital art. Here are some top charcoal brushes to try out:

Vine Charcoal: This brush offers a natural, grainy texture that's perfect for creating loose, expressive strokes or subtle shading.
Compressed Charcoal: With a denser, more intense stroke, this brush is great for adding bold, dramatic shading and depth to your artwork.
Charcoal Block: This brush provides a large, flat surface that's perfect for quickly filling in large areas with a consistent, textured finish.

Remember, adjusting the brush settings can help you achieve the desired level of texture and depth in your charcoal strokes.

Ink Brushes

Ink brushes are fantastic for achieving smooth, bold lines and creating intricate patterns or calligraphy. They allow for a clean, polished finish that's both striking and elegant. Some popular Procreate ink brushes include:

Studio Pen: This versatile brush offers a smooth, pressure-sensitive stroke that's great for creating precise lines and detailed illustrations.
Brush Pen: With a flexible, brush-like tip, this brush allows for more expressive, fluid strokes, making it perfect for calligraphy or gestural drawing.
Syrup: This unique brush creates a thick, gooey stroke that's perfect for adding a touch of whimsy or a hand-lettered feel to your artwork.

As always, don't hesitate to experiment with different settings to find the perfect ink brush for your artistic style.

By exploring these top Procreate sketch brushes, you'll be well on your way to creating stunning digital artwork that showcases your unique creative flair. Happy drawing!

Creating Custom Procreate Sketch Brushes

As you become more comfortable with Procreate sketch brushes, you might find yourself wanting to create custom brushes that cater to your unique artistic style. Fear not, fellow artists! Procreate makes it easy to design your very own brushes. Let's go over the basics of creating custom brushes, starting with shape sources, moving on to grain sources, and finally adjusting the settings of your new masterpiece.

Shape Sources

The shape source is the backbone of your custom brush. It's the silhouette that determines the brush's overall outline. To create a custom shape source, follow these simple steps:

Open Procreate and create a new canvas.
Draw your desired brush shape using any existing brush.
Tap the "Actions" menu (the wrench icon) and select "Add" under the "Brushes" tab.
Create a new brush and select "Shape" under the "Source" tab.
Tap "Import" and choose the canvas you just created.
Adjust the Scale and Rotation as needed.

And voila! You've just created a custom shape source for your new brush. The sky's the limit when it comes to the shapes you can create, so don't be afraid to think outside the box.

Grain Sources

Now that you've got your shape source, it's time to add some texture with a grain source. The grain source determines the brush's texture, giving it depth and personality. Here's how to create a custom grain source:

Open Procreate and create a new canvas.
Using any existing brush, draw a pattern or texture you'd like to use for your custom brush.
Tap the "Actions" menu (the wrench icon) and select "Add" under the "Brushes" tab.
Select your custom brush and tap "Grain" under the "Source" tab.
Tap "Import" and choose the canvas you just created.
Adjust the Scale and Rotation as needed.

With your custom grain source in place, your brush is starting to take on a life of its own. Remember, the more unique the texture, the more distinctive your brush will be!

Custom Brush Settings

Now that you have your shape and grain sources, it's time to fine-tune your brush's behavior. Procreate offers a plethora of settings that you can adjust to make your brush truly one-of-a-kind. Some key settings to explore include:

Spacing: Adjust the space between brush stamps to create a smoother or more textured stroke.
Scatter: Increase or decrease the randomness of brush stamps for a more organic or uniform appearance.
Flow: Control the amount of paint your brush applies with each stroke, allowing for more transparent or opaque lines.
Pressure: Customize the pressure sensitivity of your brush to create thicker or thinner lines based on your drawing style.

Experimenting with these settings will help you create the perfect custom Procreate sketch brush that caters to your artistic needs. So, go on, unleash your inner brush designer and let your creativity flow!

Organizing Procreate Sketch Brushes

Now that you have a collection of fantastic Procreate sketch brushes, both default and custom, it's time to get organized. A well-organized brush library makes it easier to find the perfect brush for your creative projects. In this section, we'll discuss how to create brush sets, sort brushes, and import and export brushes for a seamless creative experience. Let's dive in!

Creating Brush Sets

Brush sets are a convenient way to group your Procreate sketch brushes by type, style, or project. Creating brush sets is a breeze, and will save you time when you're in the zone and need that perfect brush. Here's how to create a brush set:

Open Procreate and tap the "Brushes" tab.
In the top right corner, tap the "+" icon to create a new brush set.
Name your brush set, and tap "Done."
Drag and drop your desired brushes into the new set for easy access.

Now you can quickly find the brushes you need, without scrolling through endless options. Remember, you can create as many brush sets as you like—so go ahead and organize your Procreate sketch brushes to your heart's content.

Sorting Brushes

Within your brush sets, you may want to sort your brushes further for even easier access. Procreate allows you to sort brushes based on various criteria, such as name, creation date, or your personal favorites. Here's how to sort your brushes:

Open a brush set within the "Brushes" tab.
Tap "Edit" in the top right corner.
Select the brushes you want to sort, then tap the desired sorting option (name, date, etc.).
Optionally, drag and drop brushes to rearrange them manually.
Tap "Done" to save your changes.

Sorting your brushes within sets not only saves time but also helps you maintain a clean and efficient creative workspace.

Importing and Exporting Brushes

Sharing brushes with fellow artists or using brushes from other creators is a great way to expand your Procreate sketch brushes library. Procreate makes it simple to import and export brushes—let's see how:

Importing: To import a brush, tap the "+" icon in the Brushes tab, then tap "Import." Locate the brush file (usually with a .brush or .brushset extension) and tap to add it to your library.
Exporting: To export a brush, swipe left on the desired brush within a brush set, tap "Share," and choose a sharing method (email, AirDrop, etc.). The recipient can then import the brush into their Procreate app.

By importing and exporting brushes, you can collaborate with other artists, discover new styles, and enhance your digital artwork with unique Procreate sketch brushes.

With your Procreate sketch brushes now organized and ready to go, you're well-equipped to tackle any creative project that comes your way. Remember that practice makes perfect, so don't be afraid to experiment with different brushes, settings, and techniques. Happy creating!

Tips and Tricks for Procreate Sketch Brushes

Now that your Procreate sketch brushes are organized and ready for action, let's dive into some tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your digital art experience. In this section, we'll discuss pressure sensitivity, blending brushes, and eraser tools. By mastering these techniques, you'll be able to create stunning artwork with ease. So, let's get started!

Pressure Sensitivity

One of the key features of Procreate sketch brushes is the pressure sensitivity offered by the app. This feature allows you to control the thickness, opacity, and other brush properties by simply adjusting the pressure you apply with your stylus. Here are a few tips to help you make the most of pressure sensitivity:

Get Comfortable: Find a grip and pressure level that feels comfortable for you. Experiment with various grips and pressure levels to determine what works best for your drawing style.
Adjust Settings: You can tweak the pressure sensitivity settings of your brushes in the "Brush Settings" menu. This allows you to fine-tune the brush response to your personal preferences.

By mastering pressure sensitivity, you'll be able to create dynamic strokes and add depth to your artwork with ease.

Blending Brushes

Blending is an essential skill for creating smooth transitions and realistic textures in your digital artwork. Procreate offers a variety of blending brushes, each designed to achieve different effects. Here are some tips for using blending brushes:

Choose the Right Brush: Experiment with different blending brushes to find the one that best suits your needs. For example, the "Smudge" tool is perfect for softening edges, while the "Wet Mix" brush helps create a painterly effect.
Adjust Opacity and Pressure: By adjusting the opacity and pressure sensitivity of your blending brush, you can control the intensity of the blending effect. Lower opacity and lighter pressure will create a subtle blend, while higher opacity and heavier pressure will result in a more dramatic effect.

Practice and experimentation are key to mastering blending techniques, so don't be afraid to play around with different brushes and settings to achieve your desired look.

Eraser Tools

Eraser tools are often overlooked, but they play a crucial role in refining your artwork and creating clean, polished designs. Procreate offers a variety of eraser options, each with its unique capabilities. Here are some tips for using eraser tools effectively:

Match Your Brush: You can use any of your Procreate sketch brushes as an eraser by tapping and holding the "Eraser" icon and selecting your desired brush. This allows you to create seamless erasures that match the texture and style of your drawing.
Lock Transparency: If you want to erase only specific areas of a layer without affecting the entire layer, you can use the "Lock Transparency" feature. This is especially useful when working with multiple layers or intricate designs.

By mastering the use of eraser tools, you'll be able to fine-tune your artwork and create clean, professional-looking designs.

With these tips and tricks in your arsenal, you're well on your way to becoming a Procreate sketch brushes pro. Remember, the key to success is practice and experimentation—so don't be afraid to try new techniques and explore different brush settings. Keep creating, and enjoy the process!

If you're excited about exploring the world of digital art with Procreate, don't miss the workshop 'Procreate Basics: Making Digital Art' by Sameera Maruvada. This workshop will teach you the fundamentals of Procreate, helping you make the most of top sketch brushes and create stunning digital artwork.