Procreate Watercolor Brush Techniques Guide

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 11 July 2023 6 min read

Unleashing your inner artist has never been easier with the Procreate app and its watercolor brush capabilities. Whether you're an experienced painter transitioning to digital art, or a budding artist exploring new creative outlets, this Procreate Watercolor Brush Techniques Guide will help you navigate the app, understand the different brushes, master watercolor techniques, and confidently create beautiful art.

1. Get to Know Procreate

Procreate is an incredibly versatile app, filled with a range of tools and features that can elevate your digital artwork. Before diving into the world of watercolor brush procreate, let's familiarize ourselves with the basics of the app.

Download and Install Procreate

Procreate is exclusively available for iPad in the App Store. Ensure that your device is running on iOS 13.2 or newer. After purchasing the app, simply tap the 'Get' button to download and install it on your iPad. Remember, Procreate is a one-time purchase, meaning no pesky subscription fees to worry about.

Navigate the App

Once installed, open Procreate. The Gallery View is the first thing you'll see, where you can organize, delete, or create new projects. The Canvas Interface is where the magic happens. It contains various buttons and sliders that control your brushes, layers, colors, and more. Familiarize yourself with the Toolbar, a vertical bar on the right side that houses essential tools like Smudge, Eraser, Layers, and Actions.

Set Up Your Canvas

Tap the plus sign in the Gallery View to create a new canvas. Procreate provides pre-set canvas sizes, or you can create your own custom size. Keep in mind the resolution - a higher DPI (dots per inch) will result in better print quality. Once done, you'll be ready to start exploring the world of watercolor brush Procreate.

Remember, practice makes perfect. Don't be afraid to play around with settings, experiment with different brushes, and make as many masterpieces (or mistakes) as you need to become comfortable with Procreate. In the next section, we'll delve deeper into the variety of brushes available in Procreate, and how to use them to create stunning watercolor effects.

2. Understanding Brushes

Every artist knows the importance of choosing the right brush, and in Procreate, you'll find an impressive array of choices. Understanding what each brush does and how to use it effectively is key to mastering the watercolor brush Procreate techniques.

Different Types of Brushes

In Procreate, you'll find a multitude of brush types, each with its own unique effect. For watercolor effects, brushes like 'Wet Acrylic' or 'Soft Brush' can be great starting points. These offer a variety of textures and can mimic the unpredictable, flowing nature of watercolor on a digital canvas. Spend some time exploring each brush and noting how they interact with the digital canvas and each other.

How to Select Brushes

Once you're in your canvas, tap the brush icon in the top right to open the Brushes Panel. Here, you'll find all the brushes that Procreate offers, grouped by style. Tap any brush to select it. You can also adjust the size and opacity of the brush using the sliders on the left side of the screen. Don't be afraid to mix and match brushes to create unique textures and effects.

Creating Custom Brushes

One of the best things about Procreate is the ability to create custom brushes. This can be a game-changer, especially for the watercolor brush Procreate artist who wants to create a specific effect. To do this, open the Brushes Panel and tap the '+' button. You can adjust all sorts of properties like Shape, Grain, Dynamics, and more to create your own unique brush. Remember, creating a custom brush may take some trial and error, but the result can be incredibly rewarding.

Brushes are the heart and soul of your watercolor Procreate toolkit. By understanding the variety of brushes and how to use them, you're well on your way to creating stunning watercolor art. But what about the actual painting techniques? Let's dive into that next.

3. Watercolor Brush Techniques

The beauty of watercolor lies in its versatility and unpredictability, both of which can be replicated in Procreate with the right techniques. Here, we will discuss some of the most popular watercolor brush Procreate techniques that you can add to your artistic toolbox.

Wet-on-Wet Technique

The wet-on-wet technique involves applying wet paint onto a wet surface, allowing the colors to blend and flow into each other naturally. In Procreate, you can mimic this effect by adjusting the 'wetness' property of your brush. Start by laying down a watercolor wash, and while it's still 'wet' (in Procreate terms, this means while the layer is still active), add more color. Watch as the colors fuse, creating beautiful, soft transitions just like in traditional watercolor.

Dry Brush Technique

The dry brush technique provides a stark contrast to the wet-on-wet technique. It involves applying 'dry' paint to a 'dry' surface, resulting in a more textured, rough look. In Procreate, you can achieve this by reducing the 'wetness' of your brush to zero. This gives the brush strokes a sharper edge and more defined texture, making it perfect for creating detailed elements in your artwork.

Wet-on-Dry Technique

The wet-on-dry technique is a balance between the first two techniques. It involves applying wet paint onto a dry surface, allowing for more control over the color's placement and spread. In Procreate, you can achieve this by letting one layer 'dry' (i.e., completing one layer and starting a new one) before applying more color. This technique allows for sharp, defined brush strokes, but with the soft color transitions that watercolors are known for.

By mastering these techniques, you can breathe life into your digital canvas and create watercolor brush Procreate art that is vibrant and dynamic. Now that we have mastered the basics, let's move on to the next step: layering and blending colors.

4. Layering and Blending Colors

Layering and blending colors is an integral part of creating depth and interest in your watercolor brush Procreate artwork. Let's dive into the nitty-gritty of it.

Layering Colors

Color layering is, quite literally, the process of adding one color on top of another. It's like making a sandwich, but with colors! In Procreate, this is done by creating a new layer for each color you want to add. The magic of layering lies in its ability to create a diverse range of color depths and hues. Here's a tip: start with lighter colors and work your way up to darker ones. This makes it easier to manage color intensity and transparency.

Blending Colors

The art of blending is akin to making a smoothie out of your colors. It's all about mixing colors together to create a smooth transition. In Procreate, the 'smudge tool' is your best friend for blending. Select this tool, pick your watercolor brush, and start smudging. A good blend can make the difference between colors that stand out awkwardly and a beautifully unified piece of art.

Using Color Dropper Tool

The Color Dropper tool in Procreate is like having a superpower for accurate color selection. Want to replicate a color you've already used in your artwork? The Color Dropper is your go-to tool. Just tap and hold on the color you want to replicate, and the Color Dropper tool does the rest—capturing the exact color for you to use again. It's a real game-changer for maintaining color consistency in your artwork.

With these techniques, you're well on your way to mastering the art of watercolor brush Procreate. Now let's put the icing on the cake by adding those final touches and exporting your masterpiece.

5. Finishing and Exporting Your Masterpiece

Now that you have layered and blended to your heart's content using watercolor brush Procreate, it's time to wrap things up and share your masterpiece with the world. Let's walk through the final steps.

Adding Finishing Touches

Like salt on a dish, finishing touches can bring out the best in your artwork. This could be anything from adding a bit of texture with the 'noise' brush, to adding highlights or shadows. It's your chance to make your piece truly shine. Remember, subtlety is key here. A gentle touch often goes a long way in making your art stand out.

Exporting Your Artwork

With your masterpiece complete, it's time to save it. In Procreate, simply hit the 'Actions' button (the one that looks like a wrench) and select 'Share'. Here, you can choose the format you want to export in—like JPEG, PNG, or even a Procreate file if you might want to come back and work on it later. Make sure to pick a format that suits your needs, whether you're printing your art or sharing it digitally.

Finally, the moment of truth—sharing your artwork. Whether you're posting it to an online gallery, sending it to a friend, or printing it out for a local art show, sharing your work is one of the most rewarding parts of the artistic process. After all, art is meant to be seen, right?

There you have it! You've journeyed from understanding Procreate, to mastering watercolor brush techniques, layering and blending colors, and finally finishing and exporting your masterpiece. With these skills, the world of digital watercolor is at your fingertips. Happy painting!

If you enjoyed learning about Procreate watercolor brush techniques, you'll definitely want to check out the workshop titled 'How to Draw A Fruit In ProCreate' by Vicky Catalan. This workshop will guide you through the process of drawing realistic fruits using Procreate, and help you apply the watercolor techniques you've learned in this guide to create stunning digital art.