How to Learn Procreate: The Complete Guide for iPad Artists (2026)

Why Procreate Is Perfect for Beginners

Procreate has become the go-to digital art app for a reason. At just $12.99 (one-time purchase), it offers professional-grade tools without the subscription fees of Photoshop or the complexity of desktop software.

"Procreate changed everything for me. I went from never drawing digitally to creating commission work in about 6 months."
— Artist on r/ProCreate

Here's why it's ideal for learning:

Intuitive interface — Designed specifically for touch, not adapted from mouse-based software
No subscription — Buy once, own forever, including all updates
Portable — Draw anywhere with your iPad
Massive community — Millions of tutorials, brushes, and resources available
Forgiving — Infinite undo, non-destructive editing, and easy experimentation

What You Need to Get Started

Hardware

iPad (Required)

Any iPad that supports Apple Pencil works
iPad Air or iPad Pro recommended for best experience
Minimum 64GB storage (art files get large)

Apple Pencil (Highly Recommended)

Apple Pencil 1st or 2nd gen depending on your iPad
Pressure sensitivity transforms your experience
You can use fingers, but you'll hit limitations fast

Optional but Helpful

Matte screen protector (paper-like feel)
iPad stand for comfortable angles
External keyboard for shortcuts

Software

Procreate app — $12.99 on the App Store
That's it. No subscriptions. No additional purchases required.

The Best Way to Learn Procreate (Step-by-Step)

Based on thousands of community discussions and professional artists' advice, here's the proven path:

Step 1: Learn the Interface (Day 1-2)

Don't start drawing immediately. Spend your first sessions exploring:

Gallery view — How to organize, stack, and manage projects
Canvas gestures — Two-finger tap (undo), three-finger tap (redo), pinch to zoom
Tool locations — Brush, smudge, eraser, layers, color picker
Settings panel — Canvas size, pressure curves, gesture controls

The Procreate Handbook (built into the app) covers all of this. Read it.

Step 2: Master Basic Gestures (Day 2-3)

Procreate's gesture system is what makes it feel magical. Drill these until they're automatic:

Two-finger tap — Undo
Three-finger tap — Redo
Pinch — Zoom in/out
Two-finger rotate — Rotate canvas
Three-finger swipe down — Copy/paste menu
Hold with one finger — Straight line
Touch and hold color — Eyedropper

Step 3: Understand Layers (Week 1)

Layers are the foundation of non-destructive digital art. Learn:

Creating and organizing layers
Layer opacity and blend modes
Clipping masks (game-changer for coloring)
Alpha lock for painting within shapes
Grouping layers for organization

"Once layers clicked for me, everything else fell into place. It's the most important concept in digital art."
— Professional illustrator

Step 4: Start with Simple Projects (Week 1-2)

Don't attempt complex illustrations yet. Build skills with:

Basic shapes — Circles, squares, organic forms
Simple objects — Fruit, coffee cups, plants
Flat illustrations — Icons, simple characters
Color studies — Practice filling and shading

Step 5: Follow Structured Tutorials (Week 2-4)

Now that you understand the basics, tutorials become valuable:

Follow along actively (don't just watch)
Pause and practice each technique
After completing a tutorial, redo it without guidance
Then modify it to make it your own

Step 6: Develop Your Own Projects (Week 4+)

Tutorial hell is real. Break free by:

Setting personal projects with deadlines
Recreating art you admire (for practice, not posting)
Participating in community challenges
Building a portfolio of original work

Essential Features to Master First

Brush Engine

Procreate comes with hundreds of brushes, and thousands more are available free or for purchase. But here's the secret:

Start with just 5 brushes:

6B Pencil (Sketching) — Natural feel for rough work
Studio Pen (Inking) — Clean lines for outlines
Soft Brush (Airbrushing) — Smooth gradients and shading
Round Brush (Painting) — Versatile for most painting
Eraser (same as your brush) — Consistency in cleanup

Master these before exploring the library. Too many options leads to paralysis.

Quick Shape

Hold your stroke at the end to create perfect geometric shapes:

Lines become straight
Circles become perfect
Squares snap to shape

This feature alone saves hours.

Color Tools

Color wheel — Drag to adjust hue, saturation, brightness
Color history — Your recent colors are saved
Palettes — Create custom color sets for projects
Color drop — Drag color to fill enclosed areas

Selection Tools

Freehand, rectangle, ellipse selection
Automatic selection (magic wand)
Feathering for soft edges
Selection contents can be moved to new layers

Transform Tools

Moving, scaling, rotating, and warping selections or layers. Essential for:

Adjusting proportions
Fixing mistakes
Creating compositions
Distortion effects

Free vs Paid Learning Resources

Free Resources

Procreate Handbook
Built right into the app. Comprehensive, well-written, often ignored. Start here.

YouTube Channels

Art with Flo — Beginner-friendly tutorials
Bardot Brush — Procreate tips and workflows
Genevieve's Design Studio — Lettering and illustration
Ergo Josh — Technical deep-dives

Reddit Communities

r/ProCreate — Active community with critiques and advice
r/DigitalArt — Broader digital art discussions
r/learnart — Fundamentals that apply everywhere

Skillshare Free Trials
Many Procreate courses available with free trial period.

Paid Resources

When to invest:

You've exhausted free basics
You want structured curriculum
You're serious about professional work
You value time over money

What to look for:

Comprehensive curriculum (not just tricks)
Project-based learning
Instructor with professional portfolio
Community or feedback component

Common Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

1. Starting Too Complex

Attempting portrait realism on day one leads to frustration. Build skills progressively:

Week 1-2: Shapes and simple objects
Week 3-4: Simple characters or scenes
Month 2+: Complex illustrations

2. Ignoring Layers

Working on a single layer means mistakes are permanent. Always:

Sketch on one layer
Line art on another
Colors on separate layers
Effects and details on top

3. Brush Hoarding

Downloading hundreds of brushes won't make you better. It creates decision paralysis and inconsistent style. Master the defaults first.

4. Skipping Fundamentals

Procreate is a tool. Without understanding basic art principles, you're limited:

Light and shadow
Color theory
Composition
Perspective
Anatomy (for figure work)

These skills transfer to any medium.

5. Not Using References

Professional artists use references constantly. It's not cheating — it's how art works.

6. Comparing to Professionals

That artist with 500K followers has been drawing for 15 years. Compare yourself to yourself from last month, not to masters.

How Long Does It Take to Learn Procreate?

Honest timeline based on consistent practice:

Comfortable with interface — 1-2 weeks
Basic illustrations — 1-2 months
Consistent personal style — 3-6 months
Commission-ready work — 6-12 months
Professional level — 2+ years

Key factors that speed learning:

Daily practice — 20-30 minutes beats weekend marathons
Focused study — Work on specific skills, not random doodling
Feedback — Share work and accept critique
Traditional skills — Drawing fundamentals transfer directly
Structured learning — Courses beat random YouTube

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best way to learn Procreate as a complete beginner?

Start with the Procreate Handbook to understand the interface, then master gestures and layers. Begin with simple projects like shapes and basic objects. Follow structured tutorials, but always practice without guidance afterward. Draw daily, even if just for 15-20 minutes.

Do I need an Apple Pencil for Procreate?

While you can use your finger, the Apple Pencil is highly recommended. Pressure sensitivity, tilt detection, and precision make a massive difference in what you can create. Consider it essential for serious learning.

How many brushes do I need to start?

Start with 5 or fewer. The default 6B Pencil, Studio Pen, Soft Brush, and Round Brush cover most needs. Master these before exploring the thousands of available options. Too many brushes leads to decision paralysis.

Can I learn Procreate without knowing how to draw?

Yes, but you'll eventually need art fundamentals. Procreate is a tool — it makes drawing easier but doesn't replace skill. Many successful Procreate artists started as complete beginners. Consider learning basic drawing concepts alongside the app.

Is Procreate good for professional work?

Absolutely. Professional illustrators, concept artists, and designers use Procreate for client work. Its limitations are few, and its portability is a major advantage. Many artists use it as their primary tool.

What canvas size should I use?

For learning: 2000x2000 pixels at 300 DPI is versatile. For print work: minimum 3000 pixels on the shortest side at 300 DPI. Larger canvases mean fewer layers available, so balance size with your needs.

How do I develop my own style?

Style emerges from practice, not from trying to be unique. Draw consistently, study artists you admire (without copying), experiment with techniques, and your style will develop naturally over 6-12 months of regular work.

Your Next Step

Learning Procreate doesn't have to be overwhelming. With the right approach — mastering fundamentals, practicing consistently, and following a structured path — you can go from complete beginner to confident digital artist.

The question is: Will you piece together random tutorials and hope for the best? Or will you follow a proven system that takes you from basics to professional techniques?