How I draw — my complete Procreate process

It is a question that comes up often, and I understand why it is a tricky one to answer: when you have been drawing for years, the habits become so automatic that you barely notice them any more. But that is exactly what makes it interesting to try to put into words.

What I am going to walk you through is my current process for an illustrated portrait in Procreate. This is the type of illustration I work on most often — for private commissions, portraits of people or characters.

The same approach applies in other software like Photoshop or Affinity.

The tools

I work on iPad with the Apple Pencil. Procreate remains the most enjoyable and intuitive app for this kind of work. All the brushes I use are native to Procreate — no paid brush packs needed to replicate what I do.

---

Step 1 — Sketch

I gather my reference photos nearby. This is usually the step where I spend the most time — I can easily get lost browsing references. I then start sketching, sometimes two or three attempts before finding the composition that works.

Brush used: Technical Pen (Inking category in Procreate). It is precise, responds well to pressure, and gives a clean stroke without feeling rigid.

Step 2 — Line art

Using the same brush, I draw a cleaner line over the sketch. This becomes the foundation on which I build the entire colouring stage. Depending on the project, this line art either stays visible through to the final render or gets masked out in favour of a more painterly finish.

Step 3 — Colour choices

I apply a first pass of flat colours to get a feel for the final render. This is also the client validation stage: we make sure we are aligned on the colour palette before going into detail.

Brush used: Round Brush (Painting category). I lay in the flats, then add a first layer of shadows on a layer set to Overlay blend mode.

Step 4 — Layer organisation

Before moving into the final colouring, I take time to name and group my layers. A Sketch group for the earlier steps, a Colouring group for what comes next. Time invested here saves far more time later in the process.

Step 5 — Colouring

Within the Colouring group, I work layer by layer: one layer per colour or area. The lower the layer in the stack, the broader and rougher the shape. The higher it sits, the more defined and precise it becomes. I start with strongly contrasting colours to differentiate the zones, then harmonise them at the end.

Step 6 — Inner contours

I draw the internal lines — hair and body/clothing on two separate layers — both set to Overlay blend mode so they integrate naturally into the colour work. Brush used: Technical Pen, at a finer weight for this more precise work.

Step 7 — Shadows

On two separate layers (hair / everything else), both set to Overlay, I place shadows using the Round Brush. I use clipping masks to keep the shadows contained within the colour shapes below.

Step 8 — Details

My favourite part. Individual hair strands, freckles, skin tone nuances, clothing texture. Brush used: Medium Spray (Spray Paints category), which gives a soft, natural texture on colour areas.

Step 9 — Light

On a layer above everything else, using white and the same Medium Spray, I place the highlights. Depending on the result I want, I set this layer to Overlay for a more subtle integration.

---

Et voilà! A process refined over years — not set in stone, and I adapt it constantly to each project and mood.

---

Brush summary — Procreate

• Sketch, line art, fine detail: Technical Pen — Inking

• Flat colours and shadows: Round Brush — Painting

• Texture detail and highlights: Medium Spray — Spray Paints

→ Interested in a commissioned portrait? I create illustrated portraits of people, characters and pets. All the details are on my Services page, and you can reach me directly via the Quote page.