Best Procreate Brushes for New Artists
Why Choose Procreate?
Procreate has become a staple for digital artists due to its intuitive interface, versatile tools, and compatibility with the Apple Pencil. For new artists diving into this vibrant platform, choosing the right brushes can significantly enhance their creative journey. Selecting brushes tailored to different styles and techniques will lead to improved skills and more enjoyable artwork. Here’s a curated list of the best Procreate brushes perfect for newcomers.
Essential Procreate Brushes for Beginners
1. Basic Sketching Brushes
- 6B Pencil: Mimicking traditional graphite, this brush is ideal for sketching. It offers a natural texture that helps new artists feel comfortable when laying out their ideas.
- Procreate Pencil: A classic choice, the Procreate Pencil is designed for note-taking and rough sketches. Its pressure sensitivity allows for variations in line weight, making it perfect for preliminary designs.
2. Inking Brushes
- Syrup Brush: This smooth ink brush allows for fluid line work, making it ideal for inking over sketches. The brush provides excellent control and can produce a varied thickness of lines based on pressure.
- Studio Pen: The Studio Pen offers a clean edge and is perfect for comic styles or making crisp, defined lines. It’s forgiving for beginners while providing enough precision for experienced artists.
3. Coloring Brushes
- Round Brush: A staple for coloring, the Round Brush is versatile enough for flat colors and shading. Its rounded tip promotes natural brush strokes, perfect for filling in areas smoothly.
- Brush Pen: This brush combines inking and coloring, allowing for quick color fills with added texture. It’s great for comic-style artwork or playful illustrations.
Specialty Brushes for Greater Creativity
4. Watercolor Brushes
- Watercolor Wet Brush: This brush creates natural watercolor effects. It blends beautifully with existing colors, which allows beginners to experiment with washes and gradients.
- Rough Watercolor Brush: Ideal for achieving a textured watercolor look, this brush gives a more organic feel to work and is perfect for background elements.
5. Texture Brushes
- Grunge Brush: Introduce depth to the art piece with this brush, which adds rough textures. It’s suitable for backgrounds or creating a vintage feel in illustrations.
- Noise Brush: This brush adds subtle noise to flat colors, creating a more dynamic appearance. It can enhance digital paintings by breaking the flatness found in some digital artworks.
Brushes for Illustration and Animation
6. Character Design Brushes
- Fluffy Brush: Perfect for creating hair or fur, this brush has several textures, allowing for detailed character designs. It excels in creating realistic or cartoonish characters easily.
- Soft Brush: A must-have for shading and highlights, the Soft Brush has a feathered edge that allows for gentle transitions, making it a favorite for beginners exploring light and shadow.
7. Animation Brushes
- Animation Pencil: Specifically designed for frame-by-frame animations, this brush is perfect for sketching out character movements and quick drafts. It accommodates a range of styles while keeping clean line work.
- Tweening Brush: This brush helps in creating in-between frames with a smooth transition effect, perfect for novices exploring animation.
Unique Brushes for Style and Personal Touch
8. Chalk and Crayon Brushes
- Chalk Brush: Ideal for a playful vibe, this brush emulates chalk textures, making it ideal for illustrations that require a more casual or tactile effect.
- Crayon Brush: This brush mimics the texture of crayons, allowing for vibrant and thick strokes. It’s perfect for illustrations aimed at children or for adding playful elements to adult art.
9. Pattern and Stamps Brushes
- Stamp Brushes: These brushes allow artists to create repetitive patterns easily. They’re perfect for backgrounds, creating textures, or adding interest to designs without intricate detailing.
- Doodle Brush: Great for adding whimsical elements, the Doodle Brush can create various fun designs that bring character to any illustration.
Organizational Brushes
10. Grid and Guide Brushes
- Grid Brush: This brush helps new artists maintain proportion and perspective in their drawings, making it an invaluable tool for practice and improvement.
- Ruler Brush: Assisting with clean lines, this brush easily aligns elements in your artwork. It’s perfect for architectural and precision-themed illustrations.
Where to Find Procreate Brushes
While many quality brushes come built-in with Procreate, the brush community is thriving. Artists can discover brushes on platforms like Creative Market, Gumroad, or Procreate’s official community. Online forums and social media groups also share links to free brush packs for experimentation without any cost.
Tips for Using Procreate Brushes
- Mix and Match: Don’t limit yourself to a single brush. Experiment with different brushes for varying textures and effects within one artwork.
- Customize Brushes: Procreate allows users to modify brush settings. New artists should practice adjusting the size, shape, and flow of brushes to suit their style.
- Save Favorites: As you explore various brushes, maintain a collection of favorites. Organize them into folders for easy access during projects.
Developing a Personal Style
Choosing the best brushes for your needs is crucial to developing your artistic style. New artists should allow themselves the freedom to experiment and evolve through using different tools. Over time, they will discover their signature techniques and preferences, leading to a more fulfilled and personalized artistic practice.
Additional Resources
- Online Courses: Platforms like Skillshare and Udemy offer courses specifically on Procreate techniques, including brush usage.
- YouTube Tutorials: Many artists share tutorials focusing on specific brushes and techniques, which can be invaluable for beginners.
- Social Media Inspiration: Following artists on platforms like Instagram or TikTok can provide ongoing inspiration and tips.
By exploring these brushes and tips, new artists can significantly enhance their Procreate experience, leading to confident brushwork and compelling artwork.
