What you need to start
- An iPad (any model that runs Procreate).
- Apple Pencil — recommended; you can start with a finger, but pressure and precision make a big difference.
- A drawing app — Procreate is the popular choice; this guide uses it.
That's it. No scanner, no PC, no extra hardware to begin.
1. Set up your first canvas
Open Procreate and tap + to create a canvas. For practice, a Screen-size or A4 canvas at 300 DPI is plenty. Bigger canvases allow more layers but use more memory.
2. Choose a few starter brushes
Don't drown in brush packs. A beginner only needs a handful: a pencil to sketch, an inker for clean lines, a painting brush, a blender, and one texture. We break down exactly which to use in Procreate brushes for beginners, and you can pick up free sets on our free brushsets page (see the install guide if you're new to importing).
3. Learn layers early
Layers are the habit that makes digital art feel forgiving — sketch on one, ink on another, color underneath, all editable separately. If the panel looks confusing, start with Procreate layers explained.
4. Draw your first sketch
- Make a Sketch layer and rough out shapes with light pressure.
- Add a Line layer on top and trace clean outlines with an inker.
- Hide or fade the sketch layer when the lines look right.
Keep it loose. The fastest way to improve is to finish small drawings often, not to chase one perfect piece.
5. Add color and simple shading
Put color on a layer below your lines so it never covers them. For shadows, add a layer set to Multiply; for highlights, use Add or Screen. Two values (one shadow, one light) already make art look finished.
6. Export and share
Tap the wrench → Share. Use PNG for crisp art with transparency, or JPEG for smaller files. Procreate also exports a time-lapse of your drawing — great for social media.
Common beginner mistakes
- Drawing everything on one layer (you can't fix anything later).
- Hoarding hundreds of brushes instead of learning a few.
- Zooming in too early and losing the overall shapes.
- Never naming layers — "Layer 12" helps no one.
Where to go next
Build your foundation with these beginner guides: choosing brushes and using layers. Then just keep drawing — consistency beats talent every time.