How to use Procreate like a Pro

Procreate is transforming the way many illustrators work.  For me, I use it to sketch my roughs for most of my projects.  I also create a lot of my final artwork in Procreate before completed it with some advanced editing in Photoshop.  

In this article, I’m going to introduce you to a few of my favourite classes to help you on your own journey using Procreate so you too, can create artwork like a pro.

Image by Jarom Vogel

Jarom Vogel is an illustrator, designer and Skillshare teacher based in Portland. His Procreate class “Digital Illustration: Learn to Use Procreate” was my first introduction to Procreate and essentially gave me the building blocks of how I use Procreate.  I highly recommend this class for anyone wanting to learn Procreate.

Jarom covers the following areas in his class:

• Setting up your first canvas
• Using the select tool, brushes, and erasers
• Creating and organizing your layers
• Adding colour, texture, and effects

He also shares his favourite shortcuts as well as tips and tricks throughout the class.  You’ll gain all the skills you need to get started in Procreate and create work like never before.

I’ve been following the work of Steph Fizer Coleman for years. Her use of textures and custom brushes make her work really stand out. Her series of birds is really magical. Steph is also a Skillshare teacher and shares her knowledge of both Procreate and Photoshop. In her class “Procreate Practice: Creating and Illustrating With Texture Overlays” Steph with show you how to create texture overlays in Procreate as well as how to import hand painted textures into Procreate.

Image by Steph Fizer Coleman

In Steph’s class you will learn:

• how to make texture overlays,
• how to import them into Procreate,
• how to use them on individual bits of illustrations,
• how to layer them,
• how to use them on your backgrounds,
• and how to unify an illustration with a texture overlay. 

By the end of the class, you’ll know how to create and apply your own texture overlays and with that knowledge, you’ll be on your way to creating wonderfully unique illustrations. 

Steph has also just recently launched a “Learn with Steph” website where she shares tips and tricks for working as an illustrator.  I highly recommend signing up to her Friday Five to get a weekly dose of inspiration and tips.

Do you want to create quirky, colourful GIFs that make people stop and think? Learn how to easily animate your illustrations with Procreate and After Effects!

If you’re an illustrator learning to animate your designs, will take your work up to another level. My agent is hounding me for animations, and this class by Heather really helped me to introduce it to my work.

In Heather’s class “Animation for Illustration: Creating GIFs with Procreate & After Effects“, you’ll learn how to grow an idea and turn it into a ready-to-share gif. I love the way Heather guides you through every step of her process, especially in regards to using After Effects, which can be a little scary at first.