As a first project, I thought I’d show you something you can do in an afternoon.
I’m assuming you have a basic knowledge of Procreate, but if not, just go to YouTube and search PROCREATE BEGINNERS SERIES. This is a 4 part series on the Procreate channel that contains lots of great information. Each video is between 15 and 18 minutes, so not too long at all. I’d say the first one will get you up and running with the basics.
Many of us trace our references in order to give ourselves a starting point when drawing or painting. Another benefit of tracing though is it gives us a chance to study our subjects and break them down into understandable parts. This can be developed into line art illustration.
Firstly I created a new canvas using the A4 format available in Procreate [210mm x 297mm @ 300dpi, or 8.3” x 11.7” @ 300dpi). This resolution will allow us to print our artwork if we choose to.
Using 2 fingers on the screen, I turned it 90 degrees to get a landscape format.
Then clicking on the wrench icon at top left, I inserted a photo which I found on Pixabay to use as my reference. I chose to erase the background, but this is optional. I reduced the opacity, created a layer above, and identified major areas to outline. I used one of Procreate’s default brushes, the Technical Pen in the Inking category, set at 6% and full opacity. I used red as my colour just to help me see a little better.
Eagle Illustration
Moderator: Laurene
Eagle Illustration
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Artists for Conservation: https://www.artistsforconservation.org/artists/5148
Re: Eagle Illustration
At this stage, I like to turn off the reference and use a little artistic license to change my illustration to suit my taste, remembering that this is meant to be line art that can stand on its own, and not just a straight tracing.
You can now change your outline colour to anything you like. One way is to select the outline layer, click on it, and choose “Select” from the pop-up menu. Select black on the colour selector at top right. Click on the outline layer again and choose “Fill Layer” from the pop-up menu.
Just for fun, I created an oval on a new layer below the outline layer.
This can stand on its own in my opinion, but I’ll show you how to colour it in the next step.
You can now change your outline colour to anything you like. One way is to select the outline layer, click on it, and choose “Select” from the pop-up menu. Select black on the colour selector at top right. Click on the outline layer again and choose “Fill Layer” from the pop-up menu.
Just for fun, I created an oval on a new layer below the outline layer.
This can stand on its own in my opinion, but I’ll show you how to colour it in the next step.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Artists for Conservation: https://www.artistsforconservation.org/artists/5148
Re: Eagle Illustration
As I said I think that the line art can stand on its own and could be used as a logo, or printed on a t-shirt or mug, but it can also be taken to the next level and coloured.
The beauty of digital art is that we can save this illustration as is, make a copy, and continue working on the copy so we can get several illustrations out of one image.
I’m Canadian and right now I’m influenced by the cold weather. I could colour the illustration using realistic colours, but I’m choosing a winter green theme. Being digital art, I can always change it later, or create several versions if I want to.
The easiest way is to select colours in the colour selector at the top right and drag and drop them into each section of our illustration to flood fill the space. This will only work if the outline of each space that you are flooding is properly closed, otherwise the colour will spill over the whole canvas.
Remember that we still have our black outline saved before we made our copy, so we can make as many copies as we want and try new colour combinations. We can also work on different layers for each colour combination, and turn the other layers on and off using the little checkbox at the right of the layer, but I’ll talk more about how to use layers in the next couple of posts.
A trick I like to use is to look at my coloured illustration in greyscale to see if my values make sense. For those of us like me who are used to graphite drawing, this can help. I create a layer above all others, and I fill it with either pure white or pure black (both work), then I click on the letter N at the right hand side of the layer and select Color from the drop-down menu. It’s the one before last. This shows your drawing in greyscale without destroying the original drawing on the layer below.
I could stop here, but I think I’ll keep going just because I can. That’s the fun of digital art!
The beauty of digital art is that we can save this illustration as is, make a copy, and continue working on the copy so we can get several illustrations out of one image.
I’m Canadian and right now I’m influenced by the cold weather. I could colour the illustration using realistic colours, but I’m choosing a winter green theme. Being digital art, I can always change it later, or create several versions if I want to.
The easiest way is to select colours in the colour selector at the top right and drag and drop them into each section of our illustration to flood fill the space. This will only work if the outline of each space that you are flooding is properly closed, otherwise the colour will spill over the whole canvas.
Remember that we still have our black outline saved before we made our copy, so we can make as many copies as we want and try new colour combinations. We can also work on different layers for each colour combination, and turn the other layers on and off using the little checkbox at the right of the layer, but I’ll talk more about how to use layers in the next couple of posts.
A trick I like to use is to look at my coloured illustration in greyscale to see if my values make sense. For those of us like me who are used to graphite drawing, this can help. I create a layer above all others, and I fill it with either pure white or pure black (both work), then I click on the letter N at the right hand side of the layer and select Color from the drop-down menu. It’s the one before last. This shows your drawing in greyscale without destroying the original drawing on the layer below.
I could stop here, but I think I’ll keep going just because I can. That’s the fun of digital art!
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Artists for Conservation: https://www.artistsforconservation.org/artists/5148
Re: Eagle Illustration
For the second eagle pose, I wanted to challenge myself to understand flight a little better. Luckily, we live in a time when so much information is available online for free.
I found a wonderful video on YouTube titled “ Detailed SloMo of Eagle in Flight (1000 fps)” by SassePhoto, from Vancouver, BC, Canada. If you copy/paste the title in YouTube, it will pop up for you. He has a YouTube channel, a Facebook page as well as a website that are a wealth of information on the subject.
By combining several screenshots, I put together a pose using artistic license. The most difficult part for me, was forcing myself to avoid detail, so as to keep the look of an illustration. You can also certainly find a public domain photo of a pose that you like and work with that just as we did for the first pose.
I primarily used the poses below for inspiration, but I looked at things like head and tail position changes during the video. The final illustration sacrifices accuracy for a design that appealed to me as an artist.
I used the same colour palette as I did for the first eagle.
I found a wonderful video on YouTube titled “ Detailed SloMo of Eagle in Flight (1000 fps)” by SassePhoto, from Vancouver, BC, Canada. If you copy/paste the title in YouTube, it will pop up for you. He has a YouTube channel, a Facebook page as well as a website that are a wealth of information on the subject.
By combining several screenshots, I put together a pose using artistic license. The most difficult part for me, was forcing myself to avoid detail, so as to keep the look of an illustration. You can also certainly find a public domain photo of a pose that you like and work with that just as we did for the first pose.
I primarily used the poses below for inspiration, but I looked at things like head and tail position changes during the video. The final illustration sacrifices accuracy for a design that appealed to me as an artist.
I used the same colour palette as I did for the first eagle.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Artists for Conservation: https://www.artistsforconservation.org/artists/5148
Re: Eagle Illustration
Now we can combine all of our work to create a composition we like. By keeping each drawing on a separate layer, we can resize, flip, or recolour to arrive at something we’re happy with. We can even add text
Firstly, I created a green circle to use as a background, but this is strictly optional. Then I found the layer containing the first eagle illustration.
By swiping that layer to the left with our finger, we get an option to duplicate the layer.
By holding a finger down over the duplicated layer, we can drag it above the green circle.
Now, by clicking on the selector tool (4th from the top left that looks like an arrow), we get a menu that allows us to flip horizontal.
While the eagle is still selected we can move it wherever we want, and we can use any of the 4 corner nodes to resize it.
Firstly, I created a green circle to use as a background, but this is strictly optional. Then I found the layer containing the first eagle illustration.
By swiping that layer to the left with our finger, we get an option to duplicate the layer.
By holding a finger down over the duplicated layer, we can drag it above the green circle.
Now, by clicking on the selector tool (4th from the top left that looks like an arrow), we get a menu that allows us to flip horizontal.
While the eagle is still selected we can move it wherever we want, and we can use any of the 4 corner nodes to resize it.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Artists for Conservation: https://www.artistsforconservation.org/artists/5148
Re: Eagle Illustration
Following the same procedure, I placed my second eagle illustration over the circle.
As a last step, I added text by clicking in the wrench icon and then selecting Add.
Here is the final composition. I hope it wasn’t too long to follow along, but if you have any questions or comments, please let me know. And I’d love to see your Procreate artwork too!
As a last step, I added text by clicking in the wrench icon and then selecting Add.
Here is the final composition. I hope it wasn’t too long to follow along, but if you have any questions or comments, please let me know. And I’d love to see your Procreate artwork too!
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Artists for Conservation: https://www.artistsforconservation.org/artists/5148
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LindasPencils
- Posts: 626
- Joined: Wed Jul 03, 2019 8:59 am
Re: Eagle Illustration
great stuff Laurene! Thank you for taking the time to show your process. Procreate seems to me to be a simplified version of Adobe Illustrator, very similar. I now longer use the Apple/Mac system so can not use Procreate but it seems to be a powerful artistic tool like AI or Photoshop. I will enjoy watching this forum. Thanks!
Re: Eagle Illustration
Hi Linda, and thanks! I don’t use Mac/Apple systems either, but I wanted to try digital art and I had read great things about Procreate. I actually bought an iPad just so I could use Procreate, and I’ve been a fan ever since.
Digital art can take so many forms, it’s impossible to keep up. I love to draw traditionally, just using a stylus and screen instead of pencil and paper.
The iPad allows me to zoom in as much as I want/need, which can be a real blessing for anyone with vision problems. The fact that the screen is illuminated combined with the ability to zoom in when necessary, means that I can draw much more comfortably. Plus, I can have fun playing with my artwork when it’s done!
Digital art can take so many forms, it’s impossible to keep up. I love to draw traditionally, just using a stylus and screen instead of pencil and paper.
The iPad allows me to zoom in as much as I want/need, which can be a real blessing for anyone with vision problems. The fact that the screen is illuminated combined with the ability to zoom in when necessary, means that I can draw much more comfortably. Plus, I can have fun playing with my artwork when it’s done!
Artists for Conservation: https://www.artistsforconservation.org/artists/5148
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PogArt-Ttoo
- Posts: 1366
- Joined: Fri Apr 10, 2020 9:33 pm
Re: Eagle Illustration
Thank you for sharing the process and progress dear Laurene.
I’ve find it very educational !
I’m using Procreate for long time, but I’m not too good at it.
I’m sure I need to keep practicing to improve though
I’m not making the arts as I suppose to, a bit overwhelmed with online lessons for tattooing.
So basically I’m using Procreate for making stencils for my tattoo projects.
So no exactly drawing an arts, but rather working with layers creating stencils with use of the reference photos, blending them, changing, or just making printable art work to place it on the skin for tattooing.
I’m so glad you have tidy corner on this forum where you can keep expressing yourself, and yet teaching other members
like me as well, because your lessons are accurate for what I’m doing 
Thank you for this Laurene
Best wishes!
I’ve find it very educational !
I’m using Procreate for long time, but I’m not too good at it.
I’m sure I need to keep practicing to improve though
I’m not making the arts as I suppose to, a bit overwhelmed with online lessons for tattooing.
So basically I’m using Procreate for making stencils for my tattoo projects.
So no exactly drawing an arts, but rather working with layers creating stencils with use of the reference photos, blending them, changing, or just making printable art work to place it on the skin for tattooing.
I’m so glad you have tidy corner on this forum where you can keep expressing yourself, and yet teaching other members
like me as well, because your lessons are accurate for what I’m doing 
Thank you for this Laurene
Best wishes!
*History isn't there for You to like or dislike. It's there for You to learn from it. And if it offends you, even better. Because then You are less likely to repeat it. It's not yours to erase - It belongs to all of us...*
Re: Eagle Illustration
Hi Artur. Thank you! Procreate really is handy for all kinds of things.
You could even take a photo of your client's arm (or other body part
) and place the tattoo design on it to give them an idea of how it would look. You can place the tattoo design on a layer above the photo, set it to multiply to, in effect, make the white background invisible, and then shape it to fit the arm.
You could even take a photo of your client's arm (or other body part
) and place the tattoo design on it to give them an idea of how it would look. You can place the tattoo design on a layer above the photo, set it to multiply to, in effect, make the white background invisible, and then shape it to fit the arm.Artists for Conservation: https://www.artistsforconservation.org/artists/5148