Procreate is a versatile digital art tool that offers a wide range of creative possibilities for digital artists. Its intuitive interface and set of features make it an excellent choice for exploring various artistic techniques.
In this guide, we’ll explore diverse art styles you can create in Procreate, whether you’re just starting out or looking to push your digital art further. From classic techniques to trending styles, you’ll discover practical approaches that work well within Procreate’s unique environment. Each style comes with examples and key techniques to help you expand your creative toolkit and find new ways to express yourself through this powerful app.
Traditional Art Styles to Try in Procreate
Procreate allows you to mimic the look and feel of various mediums. For example, you can create intricate sketch pieces reminiscent of a traditional sketchbook by experimenting with different brushes to achieve varying line weights and textures. Also, you can capture the fluidity of watercolor or the vibrant texture of gouache by using specific brushes and layering techniques, which helps you achieve the desired texture and visual effect.
Simulating the rich, layered look of oil painting is also possible by building up layers of color and blending them to create depth. Furthermore, you can replicate the expressive marks of charcoal or the precise lines of graphite by selecting brushes that mimic these traditional tools. Each particular art medium can be emulated based on techniques and brush choices, allowing you to try in Procreate.
Pop Art and Comic Style
Pop art and comic styles are all about bold visuals and dynamic storytelling. To bring these styles to life in Procreate, use a vibrant color palette to create bold, eye-catching illustrations, which is a hallmark of pop art. Adding a retro feel with halftone patterns, characteristic of comic book art, can be achieved by using specific brushes or effects.
Organizing your artwork into comic panel layouts helps tell a story by arranging frames and text in a way that guides the viewer through the narrative. Integrating text and speech bubbles into your illustrations enhances the storytelling aspect, which is essential for creating engaging illustration and painting pieces in the comic style.
Pixel Art Techniques
Pixel art is a unique digital art form that can also be mastered in Procreate. To get started, set up a canvas with a pixel-perfect grid, ensuring that your artwork is precise and aligned with the pixel grid. Use Procreate’s zoom and grid features to create detailed, pixel-perfect illustrations by carefully placing each pixel to form larger images.
Experiment with limited color palettes and dithering techniques to achieve a retro aesthetic; dithering helps create the illusion of more colors by arranging pixels in specific patterns. Once you’ve mastered static pixel art, explore animation possibilities by creating frame-by-frame animations using Procreate’s animation features or by exporting frames to an animation software.
Abstract Art Approaches
Abstract art offers endless possibilities for creative expression in Procreate. You can explore geometric abstraction by using geometric shapes and patterns to create visually striking abstract pieces, which involves layering and blending shapes to achieve dynamic compositions. Expressive mark-making is another technique, where you experiment with different brushes and gestures to create marks that add emotion to your artwork.
Applying principles of color theory helps select harmonious or contrasting color palettes that enhance the visual impact of your abstract art. Additionally, adding depth and interest by layering different textures can be achieved by using various brushes or importing textures from other sources. This process allows you to develop a unique artistic and visual style through blend techniques and texture manipulation.
Art Nouveau Techniques
Art Nouveau is characterized by flowing organic lines and decorative motifs. To incorporate these elements into your Procreate artwork, create intricate patterns using natural motifs like flowers or leaves, which can be repeated to form beautiful, cohesive designs. Use symmetry and natural motifs to create appealing compositions by balancing elements around a central axis or using radial symmetry.
Select color schemes that reflect the historical and contemporary influences of Art Nouveau, often featuring earthy tones and pastels. This style encourages you to draw influence from historical and contemporary art movements and blend them seamlessly into your digital art.
Cubism and Geometric Styles
Cubism and geometric styles involve breaking down forms into geometric shapes and reassembling them in innovative ways. To explore these styles in Procreate, break down objects into geometric shapes to create fragmented, cubist compositions by analyzing the subject and dividing it into simpler forms.
Experiment with multiple perspectives, depict objects from several angles simultaneously. Use bold color blocking to define and separate geometric shapes, which helps create a visually striking and dynamic composition. Build up layers of geometric shapes to create complex, visually interesting artworks using Procreate’s layering and selection tool to manage and manipulate shapes effectively. This process allows you to develop a distinct artistic and visual style.
Pointillism and Stippling
Pointillism and stippling are techniques that rely on the strategic placement of dots to create detailed images. In Procreate, you can achieve this by experimenting with dot density techniques and color blending through proximity. This involves carefully arranging dots so that they blend together to form a cohesive color palette, adding depth and texture to your artwork. Customizing stippling brushes allows you to control the size and spacing of dots, which is crucial for achieving the desired effect.
Using pointillism, you can also create nuanced light and shadow effects by varying the density and color of dots. This technique requires patience but can result in stunning, detailed pieces that showcase the versatility of Procreate in replicating traditional pointillism techniques.
Image by PeterLovelock
Surrealism and Fantasy Art
Surrealism and fantasy art often involve combining disparate elements to create dreamlike effects. In Procreate, you can achieve this by manipulating perspectives and blending different textures to create surreal scenes. These combinations and manipulation of perspective challenges the viewer’s perception. By blending textures, you can create a captivating and thought-provoking style.
To enhance your surreal artworks, explore texture blending strategies that allow you to merge different elements seamlessly. This can help you create a cohesive and immersive experience, inviting viewers to explore related boards and delve deeper into your surreal world.
Photorealism in Procreate
Achieving photorealism in Procreate involves building up layers to create realistic textures and capturing precise light and shadow techniques. This process requires attention to detail and the use of specialized brushes to mimic the subtleties of real-world textures. By building up layers, you can create a depth and dimensionality that is characteristic of photorealism.
To refine your digital paintings, integrate reference photos to ensure accuracy and authenticity. This helps you capture the nuances of light and shadow, making your artwork more convincing and lifelike.
Engraving Style and Scratchboard Art
Engraving style and scratchboard art are characterized by intricate line art and textured effects. In Procreate, you can replicate these styles by creating cross-hatching patterns and varying line weight, achieving depth and dimension. This involves using specific brushes to build up texture and create an engraved look.
When working with engraving styles, consider the light on dark vs. dark on light approaches to create contrast and visual interest. The directness of line work and the manipulation of texture can help you achieve a convincing engraving style that feels tactile and expressive.
Collage Art in Procreate
Collage art in Procreate involves combining and manipulating digital images to create unique compositions. You can import and manipulate images, blending them together to achieve a cohesive look. This process involves texture blending strategies to merge different elements seamlessly, ensuring that your collage feels integrated and visually appealing.
To create effective collage art in Procreate, focus on developing a strategy for importing and arranging images. This includes selecting images that complement each other and using Procreate’s tools to blend textures and colors, resulting in a harmonious and eye catching collage.
Paper Cut and Layered Art
Creating paper cut and layered art in Procreate is all about setting up layers to achieve depth and dimension. This process starts with organizing your artwork into multiple layers, each contributing to the overall dimension of the piece. By using shadow techniques, you can enhance the illusion of depth, making your artwork feel more tactile and layered.
To refine your paper cut style, consider color strategies that enhance the visual impact of your artwork. This includes selecting a palette that compliments the layered effect and using texture to add depth and interest. By mastering these techniques, you can create stunning digital art pieces that mimic the look of traditional paper cutouts.
Minimalism in Digital Art
Minimalism in digital art focuses on simplicity and efficiency of expression. Utilizing negative space is crucial in minimalist designs, allowing the few elements present to have maximum impact. Artists often work with limited color palettes, sometimes using just two or three hues to create striking contrasts.
Exploring simple forms is at the heart of minimalist digital art. This involves reducing complex subjects to their most basic shapes and lines. Balanced composition techniques are essential, as every element in a minimalist piece must be carefully placed for optimal visual effect. The goal is to create artwork that communicates clearly and powerfully, with each component contributing to the overall message of the final art.
Flowers and Botanical Illustration in Procreate
Creating flowers in Procreate requires a mix of botanical accuracy and artistic interpretation. For realistic depictions, focus on studying plant structures and translating them accurately into your digital medium. Alternatively, explore stylized flora approaches that capture the essence of plants while allowing for creative expression.
Color and texture play vital roles in bringing botanical illustrations to life. Experiment with layering techniques and custom brushes to replicate the delicate textures of petals and leaves. When composing botanical art, consider the natural growth patterns of plants and how they can guide your layout.
Lettering and Typography Art
Hand lettering in Procreate allows for unique, personalized text designs. Start by practicing basic strokes and letter forms, then experiment with different styles and embellishments. Integrating typography with illustrations can create visually compelling compositions, where text and image work together.
Explore various text effects and styles, such as 3D lettering or vintage-inspired designs, to add depth to your work. When creating text-based art, pay attention to layout principles to ensure readability and visual appeal. Procreate offers numerous tools for refining your lettering, from customizable brushes to precise alignment guides.
Sketchbook and Journal Style Art
Creating authentic sketchbook pages in Procreate involves mimicking the spontaneity and imperfection of traditional media. Experiment with textured brushes that replicate pencils, pens, and watercolors to achieve a natural look. Journal layout techniques can help organize your digital pages, combining sketches, text, and decorative elements.
Mixed media digital journaling allows for creative combinations of various artistic styles within a single composition. Adding handwritten elements brings a personal touch to your digital art, enhancing the authentic sketchbook feel. This approach to digital drawing blends the convenience of digital tools with the charm of traditional journaling, resulting in unique and expressive artwork.
Graphic Design Junction with Illustration
Combining graphic design principles with illustration creates versatile and impactful visual content. This approach is particularly effective for logo design and brand-style illustrations, where clean, memorable visuals are essential. Procreate’s tools can be used to achieve vector-like precision, allowing for scalable designs suitable for various applications.
For commercial applications, focus on creating illustrations that align with brand guidelines while maintaining artistic integrity. This junction of graphic design and illustration is particularly valuable for pro designers looking to expand their skill set. By mastering this blend, artists can create digital art that is both visually striking and functionally effective for business purposes.
Graffiti and Street Art Style
Translating urban art techniques to the digital canvas allows for exciting creative possibilities. In Procreate, you can replicate spray paint effects using custom brushes and layering techniques. Experiment with creating digital stencils to achieve sharp edges and repeatable patterns characteristic of street art.
Adding texture and dimension to your digital graffiti enhances its realism and impact. Play with light and shadow effects to give your work a sense of depth and presence within a virtual urban environment. This style art approach in the digital realm offers the freedom to explore bold, expressive designs without the limitations of physical spaces.
Conclusion: Developing Your Own Art Style
Developing your own art style involves combining techniques from various styles to find what resonates with you. As a digital artist, experimenting with different methods helps you discover your unique voice.
Building a cohesive portfolio showcases your growth and versatility. As you continue on your art-making journey, use Procreate to explore and refine your skills. With each new piece of artwork, you’ll refine your style and move closer to your artistic vision. Keep creating and pushing boundaries with Procreate, and you’ll see your artistic identity flourish.
