10 Inspiring Things to Draw on Procreate
Procreate is a beloved app enjoyed by artists and creative enthusiasts alike and, from one fellow Procreate user to another, I am cheering you on for pursuing your artistic journey! Drawing digital art can be a great way to express yourself and explore your creativity. Whether you are a professional illustrator, a hobbyist, or just starting out, Procreate offers endless possibilities for enhancing your artistic potential.
As creatives, we sometimes hit a mental block and have no ideas on what to draw next. It is a common reality for many creatives, including myself who has been drawing digitally for three years and have been in the professional design industry for over 8 years. It can be frustrating to finally sit, have time to draw, and yet nothing comes.
If this happens, I encourage you to take a break, do something that isn’t art related, or do something that is creative but not digital art. This will help you refresh your mind and when you come back, you will be ready to go. I also encourage you to regularly consume things that interests, inspires, and motivates you. These are things that will keep you going and enhance your imagination because art, deep down, is an expression of self, our experiences, and things we enjoy.
Lastly, try to draw just to draw, not to post on social media or be influenced by keeping up with the algorithm of a social media platform. While I think consistency is good for art, I also believe this often hinders our creativity. We feel too stressed and get overwhelmed by what to post and the frequency, that we actually don’t make time to make art.
Now, after a much needed break and time of reflection, here are ten inspiring things you can draw in Procreate! Below is a video of the first five I’ll be sharing.
1. Favorite Objects
Sometimes, even for those after drawing for quite awhile, going back to the basics can be just as enlightening. Try drawing simple objects like a fruit basket or a chair. This is a start to get your creative juices rolling, not to make a masterpiece. You can also try drawing your favorite objects, including food you love. Use this as a starting point for exploration and ideas.
2. Landscapes or Scenes
Is there a favorite landscape scene you enjoy looking at? Scenic views can be inspiring in itself, such as a beach sunset or a desert landscape. Drawing natural, scenic view can also be therapeutic and calming. You can also try to draw imaginary, abstract scenes and use interesting brushes to capture the view. Here are examples of landscape scenes I have drawn:
3. Fan art of Your Favorite Anime or Character
Try switching it up and draw fan art of your favorite anime or character. It’s the root of a lot of creatives and how I actually got started drawing. I used to draw a lot of sailor moon fan art and this propelled me into pursuing my artistic journey. While I don’t draw sailor moon fan art anymore, the sailor moon anime has inspired a lot of my future creations and continues to be a source of inspiration for me. Old anime can really be more influential than you think!
Fan art is a fun way to express your creativity and an easy way to start drawing because you aren’t necessarily drawing from scratch. I encourage you not directly copy what’s already been made, but to consider a different angle or idea. Here is my fan art from Disney’s Turned Red below.
4. Cute, Happy Art
Another idea is to make cute, happy art. Maybe it is just me, but I enjoy looking at cute, kawaii stuff and also drawing them. Inherently, it is just fun to draw something positive, light-hearted, and cute. Using bright or pastel colors can really make the artwork pop. It could be considered as a creative outlet versus drawing something more serious and detailed. It is why I enjoy drawing this type of artwork so much - it works for me and I like making art that is inspiring and cute at the same time.
5. Typography and Lettering
Procreate is a great tool for typographic explorations. It is a great way to combine your personality, style, and drawing skills with lettering techniques to create visually stunning compositions. You can experiment with different fonts, styles, and embellishments to convey a particular mood or message. To align with my brand and style, I create lettering that uses a certain color palette and elements that go with the quote.
6. Abstract Art
You can also try exploring abstract art which will allow you to freely express your creativity. Procreate’s wide range of brushes and effects can give you the opportunity with shapes, colors, and textures. You can create unique, vibrant art that challenge traditional perceptions.
7. Perspective Sketching
Perspective sketching can be done using a pencil or a pen brush. This can be a way to freely sketch a quick environment without the pressure of drawing a fully colored and complete background scene. You can experiment with architectural details, shadows, shading techniques, and different line thicknesses.
8. Seamless Patterns
A type of art you can experiment with are patterns. This is a fun way to create specific design elements that can be either complex or simple. With patterns, you can explore different angles, colors, and designs. Use different brushes such as a watercolor brush to create different effects and interpretations. The video below shows how you can create a seamless pattern in Procreate.
9. Floral and Plant Art
Similar to the second idea of drawing landscapes, you can also try exploring floral and plant art. Challenge yourself by realistically drawing a specific plant or flower and add in details, shade, and colors. This is meant to get you drawing something more natural and using natural colors as a start. Though, you can also keep it as abstract or in a style you want.
10. Portrait Art
You can create portraits with a unique twist. Experiment with unconventional angles, exaggerated features, or incorporate elements from different eras or cultures. Let your imagination run wild and bring out the essence of your subjects in a fresh and captivating way. While this artist does not strictly draw in Procreate, I find her still life portraits captivating. She is @sarafaber_ on instagram and her style is absolutely inspiring!
Good luck with drawing! Let me know what you are drawing next, I would love to know.
Happy creating,
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