The Ultimate Guide to Starting Digital Art with Procreate (Even If You've Never Drawn Before!)

Digital art used to feel like a huge, expensive barrier only professionals could cross. But thanks to incredible, user-friendly apps like Procreate on the iPad, anyone can start creating stunning artwork with just a few taps.

If you’ve been watching those mesmerizing drawing timelapses and thinking, "I wish I could do that," this is your moment. Procreate is a powerhouse that makes the leap from traditional to digital art seamless and fun.

Ready to trade your pencils for a stylus? Here is your step-by-step guide to getting started with digital art and mastering the basics of Procreate.

1. The Essential Gear: What You Need

Before you even open the app, you need the right tools. Luckily, the barrier to entry is quite low for Procreate.

• An iPad: Procreate is an Apple-exclusive app, so you'll need an iPad that supports the application. Check the App Store description for the most up-to-date compatibility list.

• The Apple Pencil (Highly Recommended): This is your digital paintbrush. The Apple Pencil offers incredible pressure and tilt sensitivity, allowing you to create thin or thick lines and beautiful shading just like a real pencil. While you can use your finger or a cheap stylus, the Apple Pencil unlocks Procreate's full potential.

• The Procreate App: A one-time purchase from the App Store (it's often under $15 USD/CAD) and you're good to go—no subscriptions!

2. Navigating the Procreate Canvas: Your Digital Studio

Procreate is designed to be intuitive, keeping your focus on the art. Here are the first tools you need to find:

A. Starting a New Canvas

1. Open Procreate and tap the + symbol in the top-right corner of the Gallery.

2. Choose a pre-set size (like Screen Size or a standard paper dimension like 4K) or create your own custom canvas.

   • Pro Tip: Be aware that a larger canvas size (more pixels) means fewer available layers. Start with Screen Size or a square until you get comfortable.

B. The Core Tools (Top Right Bar)

• Brush Tool (Paintbrush Icon): Tap this to open the Brush Library. Procreate comes pre-loaded with hundreds of amazing brushes organized by category (Sketching, Inking, Painting, etc.). Start with the HB Pencil under Sketching!

• Smudge Tool (Finger Icon): This is for blending colors and softening edges. It uses the same Brush Library as the Brush Tool.

• Eraser Tool (Eraser Icon): Just like the Smudge Tool, the eraser can use any brush in the library, allowing for unique erasing textures.

• Layers Panel (Two Squares Icon): This is the most important concept in digital art. Layers allow you to separate elements (like your sketch, line art, and colors) so you can edit one without affecting the others. Always draw your sketch on a new layer!

• Color Panel (Filled Circle Icon): Tap here to select your color, using Discs, Palettes, Value sliders, and more.

C. Essential Gestures (Your Secret Weapon)

Procreate is famous for its simple gestures that speed up your workflow:

• Two-Finger Tap: Undo the last action. (A lifesaver!)

• Three-Finger Tap: Redo the last action.

• Four-Finger Tap: Toggle full-screen view.

• Pinch-to-Zoom: Zoom in and out of your canvas.

• Three-Finger Scrub: Swipe three fingers side-to-side to clear the current layer.

3. Your First Digital Art Project: Follow These Steps

Don't aim for a masterpiece right away. Focus on learning the tools with a simple subject, like a flower, a piece of fruit, or a simple cartoon character.

1. Sketch it Out (Layer 1): Create a new layer and use a pencil brush to make a rough sketch. Don't worry about clean lines. Reduce the opacity of this layer when you're done.

2. Line Art (Layer 2): Create a new layer above your sketch. Use a clean inking brush (like Studio Pen under Inking) to draw your final, clean outline. Once complete, you can hide or delete the sketch layer!

3. Base Color (Layer 3): Create a new layer below your line art layer. Use the ColorDrop feature (drag a color from the top-right circle and drop it onto an enclosed shape) to quickly fill in large areas. Keep each major color element separate for easier editing later.

4. Shading & Detail (Layers 4, 5, etc.): Create new layers above your base color layers. Use features like Alpha Lock or Clipping Masks (more advanced topics, but worth googling!) to easily add shadows and highlights only to the color beneath it.

5. Finishing Touches: Add textures, a simple background, or use the Adjustments tab (Wand icon) for Hue/Saturation tweaks.

4. Beyond the Basics: Where to Learn Next

The best way to get good is to draw consistently. When you're ready to learn more, the internet is packed with free tutorials:

• YouTube: Search for "Procreate beginner tutorial" or "Procreate for absolute beginners." Channels like Art with Flo or Brooke Glaser are excellent starting points.

• The Official Procreate Handbook: Downloadable online, this is the definitive guide to every single feature in the app.

• Practice, Practice, Practice: Join a daily art challenge (like Inktober, or just a themed weekly prompt) to keep your creativity flowing!

The biggest mistake beginners make is waiting until they are "good enough" to start. Jump in now! The beauty of digital art is the undo button—it costs nothing to experiment.

Happy creating!