👩🏻‍💻 Digital Sketchbook Tour in Procreate #3

Iva Mikles

Hey everyone, it’s Iva here, back with another exciting episode of the Digital Sketchbook Tour series.

In this post, we’re diving deep into my recent explorations and creations in Procreate. Let’s get started!

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1. Norwegian Charm and Colorful Kyoto

I revisited my Norway illustration, adding a character to overlook quaint houses, keeping the familiar color palette from my previous pieces. This sketch was inspired by the picturesque Lofoten Islands.

Moving to Japan, I crafted an illustration influenced by Kyoto. I experimented with integrating Mount Fuji in the background, despite its ambiguous visibility from the city. The architecture and natural textures in this piece were particularly enjoyable to draw.

2. Playful Experimentations

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  • Color Palette Exploration: I adjusted the sky colors in one of my previous illustrations. It’s always fun to tweak and see the changes.
  • Ocean and Sunrise: This piece is an unfinished ocean illustration, where I focused on textures and colors resembling sunrise and sunset.
  • Vineyards and Mountains: Recalling a piece from a previous video inspired by Azorean vineyards, I explored springtime in the mountains. The painterly style and color transitions, reminiscent of Ghibli movies, were key elements in this sketch.

3. Creative Variations and Challenges

  • Geometric Shapes: I experimented with more geometric landscapes, but realized that creating precise shapes was time-consuming and less enjoyable for me.
  • Candyland Trees: In a whimsical twist, I drew trees in unique, almost Candyland-like shapes. It was a fun challenge, although some designs were more appealing than others.

4. Embracing the Process

For Professionals
Nano-texture
Best Value
Budget Pick
Portable Pick
Who is it for?:
Professional, commercial and studio artists working long hours on complex artworks and illustrations.
Who is it for?:
Professional, commercial and studio artists working outdoors or under unreliable lighting conditions.
Who is it for?:
I think iPad Air M3 is the best value iPad for beginner artists, art students, art hobbyists and professional digital artists who want similar specs to iPad Pro, but their budgets are limited.
Who is it for?:
I think iPad 11″ is the best budget iPad for beginner artists, art students and hobby digital artists who want to draw in Procreate.
Who is it for?:
I think iPad Mini 7th gen is the best for beginners, students and hobby digital artists who want to start drawing in Procreate and they are on a budget. I also think it's a great secondary iPad for drawing in Procreate on the go.
Display:
★★★★★
13″ or 11″
ProMotion True Tone Ultra Retina Tandem OLED Display with P3 wide color profile
Display:
★★★★★
13″ or 11″
ProMotion True Tone Ultra Retina Tandem OLED Display with nanotexture coating and P3 wide color profile
Display:
★★★★☆
13″ or 11″
True Tone Liquid Retina IPS Display with P3 wide color profile
Display:
★★★☆☆
True Tone Liquid Retina IPS Display with sRGB color profile
Display:
★★★★☆
True Tone Liquid Retina IPS Display with P3 wide color profile
Processor:
★★★★★
M5
Processor:
★★★★★
M5
Processor:
★★★★★
M3
Processor:
★★★☆☆
A16
Processor:
★★★★☆
A17 Pro
RAM:
★★★★★
8GB or 16GB
★★★★★
Procreate Layers
RAM:
★★★★★
8GB or 16GB
★★★★★
Procreate Layers
RAM:
★★★★☆
8GB
★★★★☆
Procreate Layers
RAM:
★★★★☆
6GB
★★★☆☆
Procreate Layers
RAM:
★★★★☆
8GB
★★★★☆
Procreate Layers
Storage:
★★★★★
From 256GB up to 2TB
Storage:
★★★★★
1TB or 2TB
Storage:
★★★★★
From 128GB up to 1TB
Storage:
★★★★☆
From 128GB up to 512GB
Storage:
★★★★☆
From 128GB up to 512GB
Apple Pencil compatibility:
Apple Pencil Pro
Apple Pencil compatibility:
Apple Pencil Pro
Apple Pencil compatibility:
Apple Pencil Pro
Apple Pencil compatibility:
1st generation
Apple Pencil compatibility:
Apple Pencil Pro
Description:

Also available in 11-inch version

Get Apple Pencil Pro here

Supports Apple Pencil squeeze, barrel roll, hover and haptic feedback

Description:

Also available in 11-inch version

Get Apple Pencil Pro here

Supports Apple Pencil squeeze, barrel roll, hover and haptic feedback

Description:

Also available in 11-inch version

Get Apple Pencil Pro here

Supports Apple Pencil squeeze, barrel roll, hover and haptic feedback

Description:
Description:

Get Apple Pencil Pro here

Supports Apple Pencil squeeze, barrel roll, hover and haptic feedback

For Professionals
Who is it for?:
Professional, commercial and studio artists working long hours on complex artworks and illustrations.
Display:
★★★★★
13″ or 11″
ProMotion True Tone Ultra Retina Tandem OLED Display with P3 wide color profile
Processor:
★★★★★
M5
RAM:
★★★★★
8GB or 16GB
★★★★★
Procreate Layers
Storage:
★★★★★
From 256GB up to 2TB
Apple Pencil compatibility:
Apple Pencil Pro
Description:

Also available in 11-inch version

Get Apple Pencil Pro here

Supports Apple Pencil squeeze, barrel roll, hover and haptic feedback

Nano-texture
Who is it for?:
Professional, commercial and studio artists working outdoors or under unreliable lighting conditions.
Display:
★★★★★
13″ or 11″
ProMotion True Tone Ultra Retina Tandem OLED Display with nanotexture coating and P3 wide color profile
Processor:
★★★★★
M5
RAM:
★★★★★
8GB or 16GB
★★★★★
Procreate Layers
Storage:
★★★★★
1TB or 2TB
Apple Pencil compatibility:
Apple Pencil Pro
Description:

Also available in 11-inch version

Get Apple Pencil Pro here

Supports Apple Pencil squeeze, barrel roll, hover and haptic feedback

Best Value
Who is it for?:
I think iPad Air M3 is the best value iPad for beginner artists, art students, art hobbyists and professional digital artists who want similar specs to iPad Pro, but their budgets are limited.
Display:
★★★★☆
13″ or 11″
True Tone Liquid Retina IPS Display with P3 wide color profile
Processor:
★★★★★
M3
RAM:
★★★★☆
8GB
★★★★☆
Procreate Layers
Storage:
★★★★★
From 128GB up to 1TB
Apple Pencil compatibility:
Apple Pencil Pro
Description:

Also available in 11-inch version

Get Apple Pencil Pro here

Supports Apple Pencil squeeze, barrel roll, hover and haptic feedback

Budget Pick
Who is it for?:
I think iPad 11″ is the best budget iPad for beginner artists, art students and hobby digital artists who want to draw in Procreate.
Display:
★★★☆☆
True Tone Liquid Retina IPS Display with sRGB color profile
Processor:
★★★☆☆
A16
RAM:
★★★★☆
6GB
★★★☆☆
Procreate Layers
Storage:
★★★★☆
From 128GB up to 512GB
Apple Pencil compatibility:
1st generation
Description:
Portable Pick
Who is it for?:
I think iPad Mini 7th gen is the best for beginners, students and hobby digital artists who want to start drawing in Procreate and they are on a budget. I also think it's a great secondary iPad for drawing in Procreate on the go.
Display:
★★★★☆
True Tone Liquid Retina IPS Display with P3 wide color profile
Processor:
★★★★☆
A17 Pro
RAM:
★★★★☆
8GB
★★★★☆
Procreate Layers
Storage:
★★★★☆
From 128GB up to 512GB
Apple Pencil compatibility:
Apple Pencil Pro
Description:

Get Apple Pencil Pro here

Supports Apple Pencil squeeze, barrel roll, hover and haptic feedback

Sketching offers endless possibilities, but sometimes, you need to know when to pause. Especially in professional settings with deadlines, it’s crucial to manage time efficiently. However, in personal projects, it’s tempting to keep adding details indefinitely.

5. Diverse Inspirations

  • Italian Scenes: An illustration inspired by Italy, rendered in a more painterly style, was a highlight. I experimented with different colors, opting not to include characters this time.
  • Landscape Layouts: A landscape-oriented piece offered a fresh composition. It’s still a work in progress, and I’m eager to add more details.
  • Fantasy Trees: The colors in this sketch veered towards a fantasy setting. It was a departure from my usual palette, proving to be an exciting experiment.

6. Sketchbooking and Outdoor Adventures

  • Wintery Hues: Exploring non-traditional winter colors like pinks and oranges was a refreshing change. This piece was more about experimenting with brushes than creating a finished product.
  • Outdoor Challenges: Painting outdoors brings its own set of challenges, as I discovered while working on a landscape with high contrast and darker colors. Bright sunlight altered my perception of colors, but it was still an enjoyable experience.

7. Reflection and Community Engagement

Finally, I’d love to hear from you all.

What styles resonate with you? Do you prefer a painterly approach or geometric simplicity? Share your current art explorations, be it digital or traditional. Your input is invaluable!

Thanks for joining me on this artistic journey. Keep sketching, exploring, and sharing your creations. Can’t wait to see what you all are working on. Until next time, happy drawing! 🎨✨

Iva

Hi, I am Iva (rhymes with “viva”). I am a full-time self-taught artist behind Art Side of Life® and a Top Teacher on Skillshare. I have 15 years of experience in the creative field as a concept designer, illustrator, art director, and now freelance artist, content creator, and art instructor. My goal is to help you get your creative groove on with Procreate and make awesome art through practical classes, tutorials, Procreate brushes, and guides on art tools, supplies and resources. About me »

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Iva

Hey there!

I am Iva (rhymes with viva), and I'm the artist behind Art Side of Life. I'm all about helping you get your creative groove on with Procreate and make awesome art! So on my website, I share Procreate classes, tutorials, brushes, and guides on art tools, supplies, and resources. Ready to create and make amazing art? Then explore, join and have fun ♡

Grab your gear:

iPad Pro, Air, Mini or iPad

Apple Pencil

Procreate Brushes

Paperlike

Drawing Stand

Open Procreate and enjoy!

More about me »