Floral Design in Procreate: Tips & Techniques

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 11 July 2023 8 min read

When it comes to creating beautiful floral designs, Procreate can be your best friend. This powerful app has a myriad of brushes and features that can help you bring your floral vision to life. Whether you're a budding artist or a seasoned pro, learning how to use flower brush procreate effectively can take your designs to the next level. So, let's dive right into the world of floral design in Procreate.

1. Getting Familiar with Procreate

Before we start creating masterpieces, let's first get our bearings in Procreate. This app might seem overwhelming at first, but once you understand the basics of the interface, brushes, layers, and blending modes, you'll be on your way to creating stunning floral designs with your flower brush Procreate.

Exploring the Interface

The interface of Procreate is quite user-friendly. The main toolbar is at the top, where you can find options for brushes, erasers, and smudging. The slider on the side controls the brush size and opacity.
Your canvas is in the center, and you can pinch to zoom in or out. You can also rotate it by twisting two fingers on the screen. It's like having a real piece of paper that you can manipulate at will.
The layers panel is on the upper right, and this is where you can add, delete, or rearrange layers. Plus, it's where you can adjust blending modes to create cool effects with your flower brush procreate.

Understanding Brushes

Procreate offers a plethora of brushes, and understanding how to use them can elevate your art. The flower brush procreate, for example, can be used to create realistic, intricate flowers with just a few strokes.

The brush library has categories like Sketching, Painting, and Textures. You can experiment with different brushes to see which ones work best for your style.
You can adjust the settings of each brush to suit your needs. You can change the size, opacity, and even the shape and grain of the brush.
Procreate also allows you to create your own custom brushes, so you can have a flower brush procreate that's uniquely yours.

Mastering Layers and Blending Modes

Layers and blending modes are powerful tools that can help you create depth and realism in your floral designs. When used with your flower brush procreate, you can create stunning effects that will make your designs pop.

Layers allow you to work on different parts of your design separately. For example, you can draw the petals of a flower on one layer and the stem on another. This way, you can edit one without affecting the other.
Blending modes change how the colors of your layers interact. For example, the Multiply mode makes the colors darker, while the Screen mode makes them lighter. Experiment with different modes to see what looks best for your design.

2. Basic Floral Designs

Now that we've got the basics down, it's time to start creating. We'll start with simple floral designs, using the flower brush procreate to draw simple flowers, design leaves and stems, and create basic floral patterns. Remember, practice makes perfect, so don't worry if your first few attempts don't turn out exactly as you hope.

Drawing Simple Flowers

When starting out, simplicity is key. You can create a wide variety of flowers with just a few basic shapes.

Start by selecting a flower brush procreate for your petals. Circle, oval, or teardrop shapes can work well for this.
Draw a small circle for the center of your flower. Then, draw your petals around this center, making sure they're evenly spaced. Remember, flowers in nature aren't perfect, so don't worry if your petals aren't exactly the same size.
You can add depth to your flower by varying the pressure you apply with your stylus. Pressing harder will make your petals look darker and denser, while lighter strokes will make them look softer and more delicate.

Designing Leaves and Stems

Leaves and stems are just as important as the flowers themselves. They add balance to your design and make it look more realistic.

You can draw leaves with a simple teardrop shape. Try to vary the size and angle of your leaves to make your design more dynamic.
For the stem, use a smaller, harder brush to draw a thin line. You can add thorns or tiny leaves along the stem for added detail.
Add shading to your leaves and stems to give them depth. You can do this by lightly brushing along one side with a darker color.

Creating Floral Patterns

Once you're comfortable drawing individual flowers, you can start creating floral patterns. Patterns are a great way to fill space and add interest to your design.

Start by sketching out your pattern with a light color. This will serve as your guide, and you can erase it later.
Fill in your sketch with your flowers, leaves, and stems. Try to balance the elements in your pattern. If you have a large flower on one side, balance it with a smaller flower or a group of leaves on the other side.
Once you're happy with your pattern, go over it with your final colors. You can add details and shading at this stage to make your pattern pop.

3. Advanced Floral Designs

Once you've mastered the basics, you can start exploring more complex floral designs. This is where the flower brush procreate really shines, allowing you to create intricate flowers, detailed leaves and stems, and sophisticated floral patterns. Let's dig in.

Drawing Intricate Flowers

Create high-detail flowers by adding layers of petals, integrating different colors, and introducing textures. Here are some ways to get started:

Select an intricate flower brush procreate. This will give your petals a more detailed and realistic look.
Add multiple layers of petals. Start with a small circle for the center and draw the innermost layer of petals around it. Then, add more layers of petals, making each layer slightly larger than the last.
Play with color. Use different shades for each layer of petals to make your flower more vibrant and lifelike.
Add texture. Use the texture brushes in Procreate to add detail to your petals. A little texture can go a long way in making your flowers look real.

Designing Complex Leaves and Stems

Moving beyond simple teardrop-shaped leaves and straight stems, you can create leaves with vein patterns and stems with intricate thorns or buds. Here's how:

Draw a basic leaf shape, then add a center vein and smaller veins branching off from it.
For the stem, try adding thorns or buds. This not only makes your stem look more realistic, but also adds interest to your design.
Shade your leaves and stems to give them depth. You can do this by selecting a darker color and lightly brushing along one side.

Creating Detailed Floral Patterns

For more sophisticated designs, consider creating detailed floral patterns. These involve a combination of flowers, leaves, and stems, and can be as simple or complex as you like. Here are some steps:

Start by sketching out your pattern with a light color. This will serve as your guide, and you can erase it later.
Fill in your sketch with detailed flowers, leaves, and stems. Try to balance the elements in your pattern. If you have a large, intricate flower on one side, balance it with a cluster of smaller, simpler flowers or leaves on the other side.
Once you're happy with your pattern, go over it with your final colors. Add details and shading to make your pattern pop.

4. Coloring Your Florals

Adding color to your floral designs is like bringing them to life. With the right color palette and blending modes, your flowers, leaves, and stems can bloom right off the screen. Let's dive into the world of coloring in Procreate.

Selecting the Right Color Palette

Choosing the right colors for your floral designs can be a game-changer. Here's a simple method to help you select a harmonious color palette:

Start with a base color. This could be the color of the main flowers in your design.
Add complementary colors. These are colors that sit opposite your base color on the color wheel. They'll make your base color stand out.
Don't forget neutrals. Colors like white, black, and gray can help balance out your palette and give your eyes a break from the more vibrant colors.
Experiment with different shades, tints, and tones. This will add variety to your color palette and make your design more interesting.

Applying Colors to Your Design

Now that you have your color palette, it's time to paint. Consider these pointers:

Start with a base color. Fill in the main parts of your design with this color.
Add highlights and shadows. Use lighter shades for highlights and darker shades for shadows. This will give your design a three-dimensional look.
Use the color drop tool in Procreate. This tool fills an area with color quickly and easily, saving you time.

Using Blending Modes for Coloring

Blending modes are a powerful tool in Procreate that can help you achieve more complex color effects. Here's how:

Try different blending modes. Each blending mode interacts with your colors in a different way. Some make your colors lighter, others darker. Some blend your colors together, while others make them stand out against each other.
Use blending modes for shading. Instead of picking a darker color for shading, try using a blending mode. This will give your shading a more natural look.
Experiment! The best way to understand blending modes is to try them out. Play around with different blending modes on different layers and see what works best for your design.

5. Finalizing and Exporting Your Design

Your floral design is almost ready. It's time to apply the finishing touches and prepare it for export. Let's see how you can finalize and share your design with the world.

Adding Final Touches to Your Design

Adding a few final details can transform your floral design from good to great. Here are some tips to consider:

Check for balance and harmony. Make sure no part of your design is too crowded or too empty. Balance your colors, shapes, and sizes so everything works together.
Use the eraser tool to clean up any rough edges or stray marks. You can also use the smudge tool to soften lines and blend colors.
Add some highlights or shadows where needed. This can help your design pop and give it a more three-dimensional look.

Exporting Your Design

Once you're happy with your design, it's time to export it. Here's how to do it in Procreate:

Go to the Actions menu (the wrench icon) and select "Share".
Select the file format you want. Procreate supports several file formats, including JPEG, PNG, and PSD. If you want to keep your layers intact, choose PSD.
Choose where you want to save or share your design. You can save it to your device, send it via email, or upload it to a cloud service.

Sharing your work is a great way to get feedback and improve your skills. Plus, it's always nice to see your designs out in the world. Here are some ideas for sharing your work:

Post your design on social media. Instagram and Pinterest are great platforms for sharing art and design work.
Enter your design in a contest. This can be a fun way to challenge yourself and get your work seen by a wider audience.
Print your design. Seeing your work in physical form can be very rewarding. You could print your design on a poster, a t-shirt, or even a mug.

Remember, the most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the process. The more you practice, the better you'll get. So go ahead, grab your flower brush procreate, and start creating!

If you enjoyed our blog post on "Floral Design in Procreate: Tips & Techniques," you'll definitely want to check out the workshop "How to Draw A Fruit In ProCreate" by Vicky Catalan. This workshop will not only complement your floral design skills but also teach you essential techniques to create stunning fruit illustrations in Procreate.