Drawing faces on Procreate can be so much fun, but it can also be a bit daunting. With the wide range of tools and techniques at your disposal, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. But don’t worry, because I’m here to help you out. Read on for my top tips about how to draw a face on Procreate.
1. Get Familiar with the Tools
Before you do anything else, take the time to explore Procreate’s collection of brushes and their capabilities. Use the Airbrush, Pencil, and Ink tools to practice drawing faces and experimenting with various effects. Develop an understanding of each brush’s capabilities and how they affect the outcome of your artwork. Don’t be afraid to use multiple tools in one drawing – that’s the beauty of Procreate.
Delve into the concept of overlays. Blend, Burn, Dodge, and other effects allow you to layer and manipulate your line work until you get the desired results. Experiment with the different brushes, effects and settings to get a feel of how each of them can transform the drawing.
The colours in Procreate are perfect for skin tones and allowing each character to have their own unique look. Don’t be afraid to play around and combine the colours to create something gorgeous. Procreate even offers a colour mixer brush to help you create the exact shade you’re looking for.
2. Study Real Faces
Once you are comfortable with the tools, start studying the features of real faces. Take the time to observe the anatomy of eyes, lips, noses and other facial features. Take heed of distances between them, and notice little nuances such as the curve of lips and the structure of the brows.
Taking some time to observe real faces will give you the insight to capture their beauty on the iPad. Remember – observation is the first step in creating realist art. You don’t need to recreate a portrait of someone else. Simply taking note of the way light reflects on the face, helps you develop a style of your own.
3. Sketch and Refine
Once you have studied real faces, it’s time to start sketching. Don’t worry about perfection, experiment a bit and draw different facial features over and over. Use the blends to simulate the soft lines of skin, and the Ink tools to draw sharp, defined features. Differentiate between shadows and highlights to build more depth and realism.
Once you are happy with the result, it’s time to start refining. Refining involves paying attention to the way colours interact with each other, the same applies to light. Pay attention to highlights and shadows, tweak the opacity and colour mix to your liking. Turn the Soft Brush on and enjoy the subtlety of the blending tools.
4. Don’t Ignore the Little Details
Finally, don’t forget about the little details. Even the most subtle effects can elevate your drawings. Shadow the face with subtle gradients, draw in strands of hair, give the eyes a little extra definition. Tweak the brushes until you’ve captured the personality of the character and achieved the result are aiming for.
Adding little details to the drawing gives it life and personality and sets it apart from the rest. Experiment with the various brushes, textures, and light effects until you’ve crafted the perfect look.
5. Utilize Reference Images
Procreate prides itself on its ability to draw realistically, and one way to ensure that your artwork looks realistic is to use reference images. Whether you’re drawing a portrait of a celebrity or a family member, referencing some real-life photos of eyes, noses, lips, and other features can help guide your hand and capture the likeness of the subject.
Don’t be afraid to take some creative license with your drawing either, though. Reference images are there to help you get the details right, but it’s ultimately up to you to create a unique artwork that truly reflects the beauty of your subject.
6. Learn and Practice Ancillary Techniques
Finally, it’s important to recognize that Procreate offers more than just the ability to draw faces. There are a variety of techniques and tools that can help you make the most of your digital artwork. Take the time to learn and practice color matching, special effects, lighting, and more. These techniques can help bring your artwork to life and add a unique and professional touch.
Although Procreate is an incredibly powerful tool, it’s important to remember that practice makes perfect. Don’t be afraid to take the time to experiment and get comfortable with the app before diving into more complex projects. Practice drawing faces from different angles, and don’t forget to have fun in the process!
7. Step Out of Your Comfort Zone
Once you’ve mastered the basics of how to draw a face on Procreate, it’s time to start experimenting. Try some more advanced tools and features, work with materials and textures, and push yourself beyond your comfort zone. Doing this will help you become more familiar with Procreate’s capabilities and will help you create more dynamic, creative artwork.
Also, don’t be afraid to practice on photos of yourself or your friends and family. Not only will this help you experiment with your drawing skills, but it will also give you the chance to surprise your loved ones with a one-of-a-kind portrait.
8. Add Your Final Touches
Once you have the bones of the face down, you can start to add your finishing touches. This is the fun part! Start by adding subtle color variations and smoothing any awkward curves. Then, use the Airbrush and Pencil tools to draw details like eyebrows, eyelashes, and imperfections. These small touches make the portrait look more realistic and help capture the essence of the person.
Finally, make a few adjustments here and there until it looks just right. You’re sure to make a masterpiece that you can be proud of!
