Sketching is an incredibly valuable tool for any artist who wants to explore and develop their creative skills. Whether you're an artist, designer, or simply someone who enjoys doodling, sketching allows you to capture your ideas and bring them to life in a way that words alone cannot. By putting pen or pencil to paper, you're able to work through your thoughts, refine your concepts, and experiment with different approaches until you find the perfect solution!
In a traditional setting, one would use a variety of pencil or charcoal (or pens if you’re feeling brave!) to sketch concepts-typically, different tools will have different strengths but most of them has the same texture which is absolutely fine but what if we had more options? Lucky for us, we have digital art! Using a digital brush in sketching can be a fun and rewarding experience. With a wide variety of brush types and settings available, you can create anything from fine lines to bold strokes with ease. Plus, digital brushes allow you to experiment and make changes to your work without fear of making permanent mistakes. In Procreate, we’re given limitless brushes to choose from to enhance our sketches.
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When you first open up Procreate, you’re provided with multiple default brush sets to get you started. One of these brush sets is named “Sketching” and here you will find 10 recommended brushes for sketching. These brushes emulate real life tools very well from various types of pencils to pastels and crayons!
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While these brushes do the job, we are very limited with textures. All of these brushes give us a grainy texture but sketching doesn’t have to grainy all the time! You might find that your specific style doesn’t do well with this texture and that’s okay! We shouldn’t limit ourselves with just these few options. Let’s go beyond the box and explore other brushes we can use to sketch!
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The proper brush can have a major effect on the end result of your digital sketches. Procreate offers a variety of sketch brushes, each with its own special qualities and textures. Some offer more unusual effects like stippling or watercolor washes, while some are made to look like classic pencil or pen strokes. Sometimes, you need to think about the texture you want to make and the level of detail you want to find which brush works best for your sketching needs!
It's time to start dabbling with various brushes if you want to take your digital drawing to the next level. While default brushes can be useful for a variety of tasks, experimenting with other brushes can give your work an unique style and feel. There is a brush out there that can help you get your desired effect, whether you're going for a more natural feel or a specific style. The options are limitless! Here are free sampler brushes for you to try out!
Before anything else, if you’re new to using third-party brushes for Procreate, you might want to check out our blog on How to Import Brushes To Procreate! If you’ve got it, perfect! Let’s get started!
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The first on our list is one of the default brush sets included in Procreate. The Organic brush set provides fantastic brushes with very unique textures and effects designed to mimic textures you would normally find in Nature. This makes this set such a great option if you're looking to step out of your comfort zone and introduce a certain je ne sais quoi to your sketches. I highly recommed using the Twig and Bamboo brushes to start with!
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The second brush set may be too on the nose but you'd be surprised to know how many would look over this particular set and just go straight to the Sketching brush set. (because of course, sketching!) However, this set offers a great variety of options that are definitely up for the challenge! With diverse range of textures and flow, these brushes can definitely hold their ground! I recommend using the Little Pine for a more rough look or the Copperhead for a thicker, broader stroke.
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Last but certainly not least are these Gouache Brushes! Who says Gouache is only for painting? Not us!
For artists who are more into bold, heavy, and textured strokes- this is the brush set for you! With this free set, you’ll get 7 unique gouache brushes, 1 paper texture, and 2 stamps for you to play with! I recommend using the Thick 16 and the Tip 8 AND if you’re feeling adventurous, use the Thin 10 Multicolored brush for a unique surprise with every stroke.
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The fun doesn’t end here! You’ll want to check out our Realistic Gouache Brush Set where you’ll get 130 brushes of absolute goodness. These brushes were prepared for months to deliver the best possible quality you won’t find anywhere else. You’ll get lifetime access and a bunch of demos and lessons to get you started!
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And there you have it! In conclusion, choosing the right sketch brush is essential for creating high-quality digital sketches. Whether you're a seasoned artist or just starting out, experimenting with different brushes and settings can help you discover new techniques and enhance your artistic style. So, if you're using Procreate, I encourage you to try out new brushes in your next sketch.
With its vast library of brushes and customization options, Procreate offers endless possibilities for creativity. Don't be afraid to mix and match different brush types, adjust the opacity and flow, and experiment with layering techniques to achieve the desired effect. By stepping outside of your comfort zone and exploring new brushes, you may be surprised at what you can create. So, take action today and unleash your artistic potential with Procreate!
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Courses and brushes by Freya Kotchakorn helped mored than 10.000 students excel in Procreate drawings.
