Every once in a while, a major technological breakthrough transforms the way we go about our personal or professional lives. Right now, those who draw, sketch, paint, or create visual art probably are searching for the finest Procreate classes online. This article contains relevant links to Amazon products which allows us to earn a small commission to fund our blog at no extra cost to you.
Art production on the iPad was once a bit of a gimmick. Making art on the iPad used to be like what painting in VR is now: Entertaining if you are a renowned artist like David Hockney, great for a lark as a hobbyist, but not so practical if you have a project to complete or a client who is in rush. The iPad just wasn’t the best tool for, ugh, creating quality digital assets.
That was until Procreate arrived and immediately transformed this entire dynamic. Some amazing artists, such as Kyle Lambert or Eric Merced, have created incredible pieces of work with this app, turning it into a powerhouse. If you haven’t yet taken the plunge, we’ve pulled together all the information you need to begin with this app. From the essential hardware you need to get started to the best Procreate classes out there, this post got you covered!
Table of Contents
What Is Procreate?
A quick Google search tells us that Procreate is an award-winning illustration, sketching, and painting app developed exclusively for iPad. The app was developed by Savage Interactive, a Tasmania-based technology start-up company, in 2011. Perhaps the remote location allowed the company’s designers to think outside the box as they discovered a way to put much of the power of desktop creative tools into the hands of visual artists — literally — via a stylus and an iPad.
That’s right, Procreate aims to mimic the natural experience of physical sketching while taking advantage of digital form. That’s what sets it apart from other digital art programs, such as Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop. The app’s responsiveness and intuitiveness, especially when you use it with an Apple Pencil, make it feel very similar to creating art on paper. That natural feeling comes with a wide range of digital utilities, such as:
- Quick shape: Allowing you to draw the perfect shapes.
- Brushes: The app offers more than 100 pre-installed brushes, but if you want to get more creative, you can always download other brushes created by other artists.
- Erase tool: This feature lets you undo mistakes and remove pigments easily. You can also use it to blend.
- Layers: The tool lets you manipulate and apply effects to different parts of your artwork. Artists often create a primary layer, then add as many secondary layers. You can move, group, adjust, merge, blend, or otherwise manipulate the layers to create a complete drawing.
- Color: Digital artists are all familiar with the coloring feature. You can save colors to create your own custom color palette here as well.
- Undo and Redo.
Why Should You Choose Procreate?
All that convenience comes at a price of only $9.99 for lifetime access, which means you can use the entire app to its full capabilities with this one purchase. If that seems expensive, you will soon realize that Procreate is as powerful as any digital art program and they could easily charge $20.99 per month like how Adobe Illustrator does. Given all the potential Procreate has, paying less than $10 for lifetime access is a steal.
Essential Hardware For Using Procreate
While the app comes at such a reasonable price, you might have to spend your money on something else: The device.
If you are serious about learning Procreate, make sure you don’t skimp on the technology. With a slow iPad and a cheap stylus that draws lines that are way off the mark, you will grow tired after just a few days. Imagine filling a Tesla with cheap gas: You can never get the best out of it.
Keep in mind that Procreate is only available on iOS devices, precisely iPhone and iPad. Of course, the 2021 12.9-inch iPad Pro is always the top choice. It has the largest display of any tablet out there so you get the biggest blank canvas. Additionally, the M1 chip possesses the power that outclasses all other tablets and most laptops.
Still, if you opt for a more economical choice, you can get away with an older model iPad as long as the screen is in good shape. What matters, though, is the storage. 32GB iPads will have enough storage for the typical Procreate artist who does not store a lot of additional files on their device. Those who plan to store a large number of photos and videos on their iPads in addition to a large gallery of Procreate art may want to consider higher capacity options.
When it comes to a stylus, of course, the best one you can get for an iPad is an Apple Pencil. Offering the most sophisticated and intuitive drawing experience possible on an iPad, these pressure-sensitive pens are the best your money can buy.
But that’s just it – money. Any Apple Pencil, even the earlier version, comes with a significant price tag, and there are lots more reasonable options if you don’t need the cutting edge in terms of functionality.
For example, top-shelf British art and design magazine Creative Blog highly recommends the Zagg Pro stylus. Coming at only $47.65, this alternative offers palm rejection and tilt sensitivity, making it comfortable and easy to sketch on the iPad. Meanwhile, Redditors suggest the Meko Universal Stylus, which is entitled to “the best cheap stylus for those on a budget”.
Zagg Pro Stylus For iPad Pro
Is Procreate Good For Beginners?
We can see Procreate’s real-world capabilities through the experiences of professional artists who have been using the app. An article on the VMA Design Conference blog introduces 3 professionals who take advantage of Procreate in various ways. You can pick up a few other names who create breath-taking artworks with this app, like Jorge Colombo – The New Yorker illustrator, or Jaime Sanjuan Occabo – the “most gifted finger painters” in digital art.
Jaime Sanjuan Occabo Creates His Artwork Using Procreate
Because of this, the app might scare away aspiring artists who feel like they are “not at that level yet”, which is a shame. In fact, Procreate is wonderful for beginners and even those who don’t know how to draw for a few reasons:
Firstly, the user interface is extremely intuitive. You will be able to jump there and figure out how to create something after a few minutes. The fact that it mimics the feeling of analog drawing makes it a lot easier for those who wanna try out the digital world.
Secondly, with its countless features, Procreate will make drawing a lot more fun. When I first downloaded the app, I was excited to try out all the different brushes, pick out some crazy colors, and just let my imagination run wild. Since there are many things for you to explore, Procreate turns drawing into a relaxing experience. And if you don’t know how to draw? Revolutionary features like Quick shape shall help big time!
Lastly, with the free tutorials and huge communities, you can learn from people all around the world.
Are those enough to make you feel like purchasing the app and experimenting with it right away? Hold on a few seconds! Procreate IS excellent for newbies, but it’s even greater with a strong foundation. If you don’t, you might give up on it after the initial excitement passes. Once you have learned the ropes and begin to see more tangible progress, you will be more inspired to improve your skills.
That said, the list of best online Procreate classes below shall help you master this app in no time. If you want to get serious with Procreate, don’t miss out!
Top 4 Online Procreate Classes For Newbies
Digital Painting In Procreate For Beginners
Course Details:
- Duration: 3 hours
- Experience level: Beginners and Intermediate
- Price: $59.99
Working as a scientific illustrator and 3D modeler, Maurizio De Angelis has years of experience creating digital content for the media and publishing sectors. He founded this course to help beginners master 6 painting techniques using the most basic brushes in Procreate. By applying these techniques, you will surely improve your drawing skill even when you have never drawn before.
The best thing about this course, according to users on Udemy, is that it helps each learner to develop a personal digital painting style. Additionally, the lessons are straight to the point and are easy to follow. That’s why it gained a rating of 4.4 out of 5. It’s not only one of the most useful Procreate classes, but also one of the best digital drawing courses for beginners, whether or not you plan to get serious with the app.
Procreate Classes For Newbies – Color Palette In Procreate
Course Details:
- Duration: 1 hour
- Experience level: Beginner
- Price: $59.99
“Color Palette In Procreate” is hosted by Ivah Mikles – a professional artist, illustrator, and founder of the “Art Side of Life” podcast. Using a step-by-step color creation process, Ivah shall guide you through color harmony and saturation using real-life sources, making a mood board, as well as working with thumbnails. The course caters to beginner and intermediate artists, teaches you the fundamental color concepts, explains color harmony, shares the techniques of how you can create your own color palettes, and encourages you to explore and have fun creating color palettes for your artworks.
Along the course, you will also be able to pick up useful coloring tips, techniques, and many tricks that can help you experiment and produce aesthetic solutions.
According to learners’ feedback, “Color Palette In Procreate” is truly inspiring with clear explanations, illustrative examples, and interesting exercises. It receives a rating of 4.4 out of 5 on Coursera.
Procreate Essential: The Ultimate Guide
Course Details:
- Duration: 5.5 hours
- Experience level: Intermediate
- Price: $84.99
Leo Mateus is the man behind Ghost Paper – a Youtube channel focused on art and digital illustration. He describes his course as “A special class to guide you through the process of mastering Procreate”.
In this course, Leo shall guide you through all the features Procreate has to offer. Since it might be challenging to grasp everything right away, each chapter is dedicated to a specific section of Procreate so you can comprehend and practice step-by-step. Whether you’re new to digital art or just intrigued with the app, you’ll walk away with a toolbox full of Procreate tips and tricks.
On Udemy, “Procreate Essential” receives a rating of 4.4 out of 5. According to user Charles P., the course’s biggest advantage is that it goes into great detail about each tool and explains how to use them. Nonetheless, it is more useful for users with a basic understanding of Procreate and would like to explore more, rather than those who have zero knowledge about the app.
Procreate Advanced: Activating Your Pro Mode
Course Details:
- Duration: 44 mins
- Experience Level: Intermediate
- Price: $79.99
Yes, it’s another course by the well-loved Youtuber, Leo Mateus. However, in “Procreate Advanced: Activating Your Pro Mode”, you will master innovative art methods, shortcuts, and strategies for creating great digital art using one of the most powerful digital illustration software. With minimal effort, you’ll be able to pick up your iPad and make stunning artwork. If you have enough fun with Procreate and would like to take your skill to the next level, this is the one for you!
You are going to learn how to save time while drawing and increase productivity, how to make the best out of Quick Menu, and the way to unleash the power of clipping masks and layer masks.
Of course, Leo Mateus never disappoints: On Udemy, the course receives a rating of 4.5 out of 5. “A very good instructions to work more effectively and faster”, just like user Karin B. noted.
It’s Time To Unleash Your Creativity!
Every artistic person that I have introduced to Procreate has been blown away by how powerful it is. Brushes respond to pressure; press harder and your line is bolder. Skim the stylus across the glass and it reacts just as a real brush would. Because you can control every aspect of your brushes and save favorites, your tools are unlimited, and so is your potential in creating artworks.
That said, after the first try, Procreate can turn out to be the only digital art platform you would ever need. Hence it’s crucial to commit time to learn it. With the list of amazing Procreate classes above, I hope you can get started on the right path with your Procreate journey. Have fun creating!
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