#063: 3 Ways To Get Creative with Procreate

May 21, 2024

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🤗 This week's edition of Creator Royalties invites you to get creative with one of digital art’s most popular tools for experts and novices alike, Procreate.

Scroll down for our usual rundown of weekly artist grants and opportunities, as well as art drops.

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3 Ways to Get Creative with Procreate

At HUG, we believe that diversifying revenue streams is key to every creator’s success. For many digital artists, that journey starts with iPad’s favorite art app, Procreate.

As we introduce another Artist Storefront this week, this time by award-winning illustrator Leah Ibrahim Sams, we wanted to share her advice on how to get more professional with your Procreate creativity.

🏪 What are HUG Artist Storefronts?

HUG Artist Storefronts are an add-on to take your Artist Profile from a virtual showcase of your work to a powerful tool to grow and diversify your creative revenue.

In her HUG Artist Storefront, Leah Ibrahim Sams debuts her sustainable fashion line, The Paradise Collection, alongside a Procreate tutorial and custom-designed art merchandise and apparel.

Whether you’re an artist ready to make your first sale or you’re an expert entrepreneur, follow Leah’s lead and sign up to sell with HUG today:

“Art is for everyone.”

In the world of digital art, few tools have garnered as much acclaim and enthusiasm as Procreate. Designed exclusively for iPads, this versatile app offers a powerful platform for both digital painting and illustration, catering to novices just starting out or experienced artists alike. Its portability and ease of use enables artists to create stunning art anywhere and everywhere— in the studio, in the home, and even on the go.

Since its introduction in 2011, Procreate has revolutionized digital art creation in a way comparable to the transformative impact of word processors on writing. Unlike non-digital mediums, Procreate's features mitigate frustrations and enhance the creative process by providing flexibility and adaptability. It introduces novel possibilities in digital art, streamlining exploration and creation for a more seamless and enjoyable experience.

In this article, you will be introduced to 3 compelling reasons why you need to integrate Procreate into your creative process. Whether you're an illustrator, a painter, or new to digital art entirely, Procreate can elevate your work and your imagination.

Here’s how to get there.

#1: Get Inspired with Reference Images

Starting an artwork can be daunting, but that process is a little easier when you have access to a series of great reference images to kickstart your creativity. In her earliest stages with creating new work on Procreate, Leah leans directly on references to inspire her next illustration or animation.

❝

There is no such thing as a new idea.
I love this phrase because it takes away the pressure of creating something brand new that no one has ever seen before, but rather champions the idea that we should be getting inspired by other people, other artists, and other art.

Leah Ibrahim Sams, Artist & Fashion Designer

One can leverage reference works for every facet of their artwork: color theory, light, shadow, poses, composition, cultural artifacts, underlying symbolism, and more. You can even reference your old work to accurately play on your own recurring themes or intentionally add something new to the conversation.

However, it’s important to remember that there’s a fine line between inspiration and imitation. Throughout the process, challenge yourself to incorporate existing elements you admire from your references into your art in a way that is unique to you.

Anybody can copy something, but creativity is what sets you apart.

Leah mood boarding inspo for her next Procreate piece

💡 Procreate Tip: Challenge yourself to source 10 or more reference images per artwork. Strive to be specific in your search - instead of using generic terms like “fashion”, try “floral print fashion”, “floral aesthetic photography”, or “floral art clothing”. Repeat this process for other elements in your artwork.

Take the exercise to the next level and actively brainstorm by incorporating something different from each reference into a practice piece.

#2: Master Fundamentals through Frequent Practice

While Procreate can empower you with accessible tools to develop new skills, mastering your craft still requires a solid understanding of art fundamentals, for which there are no shortcuts. The path to proficiency remains the same, whether on a screen, on paper, or otherwise: consistent practice.

Though an iPad isn’t necessary for learning to draw, having Procreate’s fully equipped digital art studio of painting, editing, and animation can take you from entry-level to expert even faster. Having this technology at your fingertips allows the frequent practice needed to not only learn the rules of art to also bolster confidence in your abilities to push boundaries and create something new.

Leah utilizes Procreate to explore the beauty of body image

Released earlier this Spring, “My Body" is a collection where Leah explores the beauty of body image. By using Procreate to illustrate an inclusive array of women radiating comfort, confidence, and power, Leah showcases both her expertise in the age-old practice of figure drawing and her experimental approach to showcasing diversity within her art.

💡 Procreate Tip: Use Procreate’s Time-lapse Replay function to replay your creative process. Not only will you be able to appreciate exactly how much time and energy you’ve invested into your work, but you’ll also be able to identifyboth your “aha moments” and pain points to optimize your approach in the future.

Bonus? Export your Time-lapse Replays on Procreate to repurpose them as video content on social media.

#3: Use Software to Collaborate with Artists You Admire

One of Procreate’s notable features which promotes both independent development and community engagement is its capacity for creating and sharing custom brushes and tools.

This functionality empowers artists to tailor their digital toolkit according to their unique styles and preferences, while also facilitating the exchange of creations with others.

What distinguishes Procreate is its effortless integration of custom tools into its interface, enabling users to easily share their creations. With just a few taps, users can import their custom brushes directly into Procreate, ensuring a seamless transition from idea to realization. This emphasis on personalization not only encourages artists to express themselves authentically but also nurtures creativity and collaboration within the Procreate community.

Recently, HUG Artist Jackson Alves distilled his lifelong career in calligraphy to create his own Procreate Brush. This brush and the subsequent artwork he created with it was then used to promote the launch of the new Apple iPads and Apple Pencil Pro!

Jackson Alves is selling that very same Procreate Calligraphy Brush Pack on HUG, so that other artists can make use of his beautifully-designed lettering art to enhance their own creations.

🏪 Learn Procreate from a Pro

Through harnessing her abilities as an illustrator with Procreate, Leah has landed brand partnerships with Adidas, Manchester United, and even designed her own fashion line.

Find out from her firsthand how you too can get professional with Procreate. Download her digital course, Further Your Craft with Procreate, to instantly get actionable advice and technical guidance on one of the art world’s favorite tools.

Closing thoughts

Procreate has revolutionized the digital art landscape, offering a versatile platform for artists of all levels to explore their creativity and enhance their artistic endeavors. By making these tools more accessible, Procreate empowers artists to experiment with novel techniques, expand the horizons of traditional art forms, and discover avenues for expression and entrepreneurship alike.

From leveraging reference images to mastering fundamentals and collaborating with fellow artists, Procreate possesses the potential to positively impact the lives of countless artists— including yours.

Ready to follow Leah’s lead? Sign up for your own HUG Artist Storefront to be the next to sell your art on-chain, online, and maybe even clothing rack.

Shop The Paradise Collection from Leah Ibrahim Sams

Bold colors, loud prints, quality textiles, digital experiences.

Leah goes from digital artist to fashion designer as she invites you to make a statement this summer with the debut of The Paradise Collection.

Inspired by her tropical childhood in Malaysia, this striking and sustainably designed collection features dresses, unisex shirts, and silk scarves. In addition to being art you can wear, each shirt and dress from the collection also comes with digital twin utility powered by IYK, unlocking exclusive content and future art releases.

P.S. If you’re in London, be sure to save the date and celebrate at the official Launch Party on May 30, 2024. RSVP for free.🇬🇧

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Artist Grants and Opportunities

📣 Open Calls have arrived on HUG! Visit thehug.xyz to discover your next Open Call opportunity, from grants to gallery showcases, and more.

Want to host your very own Open Call? Submit your interest here.

This Week’s Art Drops

🤗 Have an upcoming art drop you’d like to share? Or an upcoming exhibition or opportunity for your fellow artists? Make use of our Artist Updates feature on HUG, or email [email protected], so we can share it with our 14K+ readers.

Did you know that these are just 8 of hundreds of art drops on HUG? Get a full list of this week’s art drops from HUG here.