Super simple Procreate landscape ✨🫶

Hey fellow digital artists! I've been diving deep into Procreate for landscape painting lately, and wanted to share some insights from my journey. If you're looking to create stunning natural scenes, especially with a plein air feel, you're in the right place. It can seem daunting at first, but with a few tips and tricks, you’ll be painting beautiful vistas in no time! Getting Started: Your Procreate Landscape Toolkit First things first, let's talk brushes. The Procreate Brush Library is a treasure trove, and finding your favorites is part of the fun. For landscapes, I often reach for brushes that mimic natural textures. Think about what you're trying to achieve: Sketches & Foundations: Simple round or square brushes work great. You might even find custom brushes like 'Solt Round' or 'Soft Square' in specialized sets useful for initial drawing. Trees & Foliage: Look for brushes with varied textures. Some 'Environment' brush packs are fantastic for foliage. I've even experimented with 'Mushrooms' themed brushes for unique organic shapes when painting woods! Water & Sky: Brushes like 'Wet Streaks' can be amazing for adding movement to water or subtle cloud effects. Don't be afraid to try different 'streaky' brushes to see what works for you. Details & Textures: Sometimes, a fine liner like those found in 'Taty's Ink & Stipp' sets can add intricate details to rocks or distant elements. Embracing Plein Air Digitally Plein air painting is all about capturing the moment and atmosphere outdoors. Digitally, we can adapt this! Reference Photos: While not strictly 'plein air' in the traditional sense, using high-quality reference photos you've taken yourself can evoke that same feeling. Focus on capturing light, shadow, and color quickly. Quick Studies: Practice quick sketches of landscapes. Set a timer for 10-15 minutes and try to capture the essence of a scene. This improves your observational skills dramatically. Limited Palettes: Just like traditional plein air, working with a limited color palette can help create harmony and speed up your process. My Simple Steps for a Digital Landscape Here's a basic workflow I’ve found super effective for creating a landscape from scratch: Sketching the Composition (Layer 1): Start with a rough sketch of your main elements – horizon line, large landmasses, trees. Don't worry about perfection, just get the basic shapes down. Blocking in Colors (Layers 2, 3, etc.): Create separate layers for your sky, background, midground, and foreground. Block in your main, flat colors. Think about the general color temperature of each area. Adding Light & Shadow (New Layers): On new layers (often set to 'multiply' or 'overlay' blend modes), begin to define light sources and cast shadows. This is where your landscape starts to gain depth. Refining Details & Textures (More Layers!): Now, using your texture brushes (like those 'Environment' or even 'Gummy Bear' if you want a whimsical effect!), add details like foliage on trees, rocks, distant mountains, or ripples in water. This is where I experiment with different textures to make my scene feel alive. I often use brushes from my Brush Library for this stage. Atmospheric Effects: Consider adding fog, mist, or sun rays. This often involves soft airbrushes or subtle texture brushes on new layers with reduced opacity. Final Touches: Adjust colors, contrast, and add any final highlights or small elements to bring your painting to life. Remember to save regularly! Pro-Tips for Beginners: Use Layers Wisely: Layers are your best friend in Procreate. They allow non-destructive editing and make adjustments much easier. Don't Fear the Eraser: It's okay to make mistakes. Digital art allows you to undo and refine endlessly. Study References: Look at real landscapes and photos. Pay attention to how light hits objects and how colors change with distance. Experiment: Try out different brushes, blend modes, and techniques. That's how you'll discover your unique style. I hope this guide encourages you to pick up your Apple Pencil and start creating some incredible digital landscapes in Procreate! Happy painting!