Why I Love Using Procreate for My Art

When people ask me what digital drawing app I recommend, my answer is always Procreate.  It is THEE creative hub where almost all of my illustrations, lettering pieces, coloring pages, and product designs are illustrated.  Many of you know that I like to sketch on paper most of the time (when I actually choose to sketch first 😳), but once those sketches are done, Procreate gives me the tools I need to create freely and intuitively.  Below, I'm telling you the most important reasons that Procreate is my favorite digital illustration app.  Just FYI, I am not affiliated with Procreate at all.  I just wanted to share something I love with you all.

Procreate’s One-Time Purchase Advantage

One of my favorite things about Procreate is that it’s a one-time purchase.  There’s no subscription model, no hidden fees—just a single, affordable payment and you’re set.  For artists, designers, or small business owners on a budget, that’s a game changer.  You get all the future updates and features included.  It’s a small investment that opens up a huge world of creative potential.

Using the Liquify Tool in Procreate

The Liquify tool is a quiet superhero in my creative process. It’s especially helpful when I want to reshape something slightly without redrawing it from scratch—it saves time while still giving me total control over the result.  I use it most often to nudge small sections into alignment instead of having keep drawing the same part over and over again.  This is great for facial features on a character illustration, tweaking the shape of a word, or just changing the shape of a flower that I have drawn already to give some variation.

Why Layers Matter in Procreate

As someone who juggles illustration, hand lettering, and product design, layers are essential. They let me build up a drawing in stages.  I can ink, color, add shadow, and add texture on different layers, and that lets me make adjustments without affecting the entire piece.  I often create the background as a separate layer as well.  I can duplicate, hide, rearrange, and blend layers to try new things while still having all of my old ideas to go back to easily.  Layers also allow me to isolate parts for new designs.  So, I can create sticker elements that I can isolate and transfer to notebook cover designs, pouches, and more without having to redraw every single element. 

It's best practice to name your layers too, and while I don't do this most of the time, I have seen other artists do it to stay organized when working on more detailed designs.

How to Use Drawing Guides in Procreate

I use a grid to keep my lettering straight almost every single time.  I also use a grid to keep visual perspective in my floral drawings to make sure the illustration isn't too full or thin on one side.  This is equivalent to how I use dot grid paper when I'm drawing traditionally too.  Procreate’s Drawing Guide makes that super easy.  I love being able to toggle on a grid, isometric layout, symmetry, or perspective lines depending on what I need. It feels like the app is helping me stay aligned without being overly rigid.   When creating characters and flower vases, I often use the symmetry tool to make sure that facial features aligned and the vases are even on both sides.  Then I can turn it off when I create the rest of the design.

Procreate Brushes That Mimic Real Media

One of the most amazing features of Procreate is how real the brushes feel. From watercolor textures to inky calligraphy strokes, the app does an incredible job of allowing you to create and customize brushes that mimic traditional media.  Plus, there are tons of brushes available for purchase or for free.  Hopefully, you don't get addicted to trying new brushes like I did at first.  I honestly only use about the same 8 brushes every time I draw. 😆  I especially enjoy playing around with the real-life version of a medium before using it digitally.

Testing Real Brushes for Digital Accuracy

If I’m drawing with a watercolor-style brush, I’ll sometimes break out my actual watercolor paints to get a sense of how the brush flows and blends in real life.  That way, I can recreate that same energy digitally—and it gives my digital work a tactile, handmade feel that I love.  Sometimes that means, thatI even use a brush in Procreate that wasn't designed for watercolor but gives me the same effect. 😉

Personal Customization for Procreate Brushes 

While Procreate has an incredible set of default brushes, one of the most empowering features is the ability to modify brush settings.  You can even create your own brushes and stamps too.  If a brush isn’t flowing quite the way I want it to, I can open up the settings and adjust things like pressure sensitivity, taper, motion filtering, or streamline. It lets me personalize the tool until it feels just right in my hand.  Whether you're a beginner looking for more control or an experienced artist seeking a specific texture, customizing your brushes helps the tools work for your way of using them.

Why I Recommend Procreate + What’s Next

Procreate is such a big part of my creative process because it gives me freedom, flexibility, and fun.  It’s professional enough for detailed client work, playful enough for experimenting, and accessible enough for anyone who wants to create.  Whether you’re just starting out or building your own product line, it’s a tool I wholeheartedly recommend.

Have questions about how I use Procreate in my art?  Drop them in the comments—I’d love to share more!

And if you’re curious about vector art, stay tuned—my next post will be all about why Affinity Designer is my favorite app for creating crisp, scalable designs.