Mastering Botanical Illustration in Procreate: A Beginner’s Guide

Botanical illustration is an art form that allows the beauty of nature to shine through in intricate and detailed artwork. It’s a popular style for artists of all levels, and with digital tools like Procreate, it’s easier than ever to bring your botanical visions to life. If you’re new to both botanical illustration and Procreate, don’t worry — this guide is designed to help you get started on your artistic journey. Whether you want to create detailed plant studies, florals, or lush greenery art, this beginner’s guide will equip you with the tools, techniques, and tips you need to master botanical illustration in Procreate.

The Procreate App can be downloaded from Procreate’s site here: https://procreate.com

What is Botanical Illustration?

Botanical illustration is a genre of art that focuses on the accurate and detailed depiction of plants and flowers. It combines art with scientific observation, often requiring a deep understanding of plant anatomy. While botanical illustration traditionally relied on traditional media like watercolour and pen, the advent of digital tools has made it easier for artists to create detailed botanical artwork with the precision of a pencil or paintbrush.

In the context of Procreate, botanical illustration allows you to capture the delicate textures of leaves, flowers, and stems, while experimenting with colours, shadows, and layering techniques that might not be as easily achieved with traditional media.

botanical illustration art leaf drawing

Why Should I Use Procreate for Botanical Illustration?

Procreate is a fantastic tool for botanical illustration for several reasons. Here are a few key points:

1. Brush Customisation

Procreate allows you to create and modify brushes, making it possible to simulate various textures, from fine lines to the soft, organic strokes that are so essential in botanical art.

procreate brushes

You can use custom brushes that mimic watercolour, pencil, or even ink, which is perfect for replicating the delicate details of leaves, petals, and stems.


2. Layering and Flexibility

With Procreate, you can work with multiple layers, which makes it easier to isolate different parts of the illustration (such as the background, leaves, or flowers) and adjust them independently. This is great for tweaking the composition, adjusting colours, or adding details without affecting the entire piece.

procreate layers


3. Realistic Colour Blending

Procreate has powerful blending modes that allow for smooth transitions of colour, which is especially useful for creating depth and realism in botanical illustrations. You can also take advantage of the available colour palettes to experiment with a wide range of hues all inside one tablet that you might not have in traditional media.

4. Precision and Detail

The app supports high-resolution canvases, so you can create highly detailed artwork. This is especially important in botanical illustration, where fine details like veins in leaves, textures in petals, and subtle colour shifts are key.

5. Ease of Editing

One of the major advantages of digital tools is the ability to easily undo, refine, and adjust. If you make a mistake or want to try something different, you can simply erase or adjust a layer, making it less daunting compared to traditional mediums.


procreate erase tool


6. Time Efficiency

While the details can still take time, Procreate can speed up the process by allowing for quick corrections and easy layering, compared to the traditional method of drawing and painting. Additionally, it has a time-lapse recording feature that shows your entire creative process, which could be fun or helpful for sharing your work.

procreate Timelapse feature


7. Portability

Since Procreate is on the iPad, you can work from anywhere, whether you’re in a garden or at home. You don’t need to carry around sketchbooks, brushes, or paints, making it a convenient option for on-the-go botanical artists.

8. Inspiration & Reference Tools

You can import reference images directly into Procreate and use them as guides while you work. You can also annotate, scale, or adjust references to help with accuracy, ensuring that your botanical illustrations are as detailed and true to life as possible.


Getting Started: Setting Up Your Procreate Canvas

Before you begin drawing, it’s essential to set up your workspace in Procreate:

1. Canvas Size: Botanical illustrations tend to involve intricate details, so it’s better to use a large enough canvas to allow for precision. For beginners, a good starting point is a 3000x4000px canvas with a resolution of 300 DPI. This provides plenty of room for detail and allows you to zoom in without losing quality.

If you are using my Realistic Watercolour Minimalist Brush Set, then there are two canvas size options to choose from included within the set (a larger and a smaller) – simply select the one suitable for your device and project.

2. Brush Selection: Procreate offers a variety of brushes, but for botanical illustration, some brushes are more suitable than others. Start by selecting a pencil or fine-line brush for sketching. Procreate’s “6B Pencil” or “Technical Pen” are great options for adding fine details and lines.

If you are using my Realistic Watercolour Minimalist Brush Set, the Outline Brush is great for this as it acts as a pencil outline (set at half transparency) and also a watercolour outline.

3. Layers: Layers are crucial when it comes to digital art. They allow you to separate different elements of your illustration, such as leaves, flowers, or stems, making it easier to adjust each part individually without affecting the rest of the piece. Keep your background on one layer, and your plants and elements on separate layers (as shown above).

Step 1: Research and Choose Your Subject

Before you start sketching, it’s important to choose your botanical subject. You can draw inspiration from real-life plants, flowers, or trees. Spend some time researching the plant you want to illustrate. Study its shape, texture, and unique features. Look at photographs or botanical guides for reference, paying attention to details like leaf veins, petal shapes, and how light interacts with the plant.

If you’re new to botanical illustration, start with something simple, like a single flower or leaf, and gradually work your way up to more complex compositions. You might want to choose a plant that has distinct features that are easy to replicate, such as a succulent, daisy, or fern.

Step 2: Sketching the Outline

Once you’ve selected your subject, it’s time to start sketching! With your reference image in mind, use a pencil brush in Procreate to lightly sketch the basic shape of your plant.

If you are using my Realistic Watercolour Minimalist Brush Set, this can be achieved using the Outline Brush (set at half transparency).

  • Proportions: Pay attention to the proportions of the plant. Don’t worry about details at this stage — focus on getting the shape and structure right. Use light, gentle strokes to define the basic forms of your plant’s leaves, stems, and flowers.
flower drawing
  • Guidelines: Draw guidelines to help you with symmetry and proportions. For example, if you’re drawing a flower, you can use a circle to guide the shape of the petals. If drawing a leaf, create a central line to ensure it’s symmetrical.
procreate drawing guide


  • Simplicity: At this point, keep the lines simple. You can always refine them later.

Step 3: Adding Detail to Your Sketch

With your basic outline in place, it’s time to add more details. Start refining your sketch by adding more intricate lines and shapes. Pay special attention to the smaller details that make each plant unique — such as the veins in the leaves, the shape of the petals, or the textures of stems.

Leaf veins: A common challenge in botanical illustration is drawing realistic leaf veins. Study your reference images carefully and draw these veins lightly at first, using short, curved strokes. These veins can also help give the leaf a sense of depth and structure.

procreate art
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Petal details: When illustrating flowers, focus on the curvature of the petals. Petals often have subtle folds and curves that can add dimension to your illustration. Make sure you observe how light hits different areas of the flower to create realistic shading.

Refining shapes: You can use Procreate’s eraser tool to clean up unwanted lines and create more defined shapes. Don’t be afraid to go over your lines several times until you’re satisfied with the details.

Step 4: Adding Colour

Now that you have a detailed sketch, it’s time to add colour. Procreate offers a range of brushes that mimic natural media, such as watercolour and gouache. Or you can use one of our carefully crafted Procreate brushes HERE.

For botanical illustration, the key is to use subtle gradients and layer your colours to mimic the natural variations in light and shadow that plants have.

Base colours: Start with flat, solid colours for the different parts of the plant (e.g., the leaves, petals, or stems). Use the brush that best suits your chosen medium (e.g., the “Watercolour” brush for a soft, translucent look or “Gouache” for a more opaque, textured effect).

Layering: Build up layers of colour gradually. Start with lighter tones and add darker shades on top to create depth. Use the “Alpha Lock” feature on your colour layers to prevent colouring outside the lines.

Shading and Highlights: To create a realistic 3D effect, add shading where light doesn’t hit the plant directly. Conversely, use lighter tones or white for highlights to represent the areas of the plant that catch the most light. Use the “Airbrush” or “Soft Brush” tools for smooth, gradual transitions between light and shadow.

Texture: Botanicals are rich in textures, so be sure to experiment with brushes that simulate realistic textures. The “Subtle Bleed Effects” brush from my Realistic Watercolour Minimalist Brush Set is perfect for adding subtle texturing to the veins of leaves or the edges of petals.

Step 5: Fine-Tuning and Final Touches

Once your botanical illustration is coloured, you can add finishing touches to elevate your artwork.

Details: Use smaller, finer brushes to add final details, such as tiny dots or specks on the leaves, delicate veins, or highlights to give your plant more dimension.

Background: Consider adding a simple, subtle background to make your illustration stand out. A soft wash of colour or a light gradient can complement your botanical artwork. Alternatively, you can leave the background transparent for a clean, minimalist look.

Blending: Procreate’s blending tools can be helpful in smoothing out harsh transitions between light and shadow. Or use one of my soft blending brushes to soften areas where colours meet, giving your artwork a more polished and cohesive look.

Final Check: Take a step back and assess your illustration as a whole. Zoom out to ensure the overall proportions and details are balanced. Add any final refinements you feel are necessary.

Tips for Improving Your Botanical Illustrations in Procreate

1. Practice observation: One of the most important aspects of botanical illustration is observing the subject closely. Spend time studying real plants to understand their structure and features.

2. Experiment with Brushes: Procreate offers lots of brushes — experiment with different ones to find the textures that best suit your style. Download additional brushes from third-party creators for even more options. Or download my own personal brush set that I use for most of my botanical illustrations HERE.

3. Master Layering: Layers are essential for organising your illustration. Group related elements (e.g., leaves, petals, stems) into separate layers to make editing and adjustments easier.

5. Be patient: Botanical illustration requires patience. Take your time, especially when adding details and shading, to ensure you achieve a realistic and polished look.

Conclusion

Botanical illustration in Procreate is a rewarding and enjoyable artistic endeavour that combines the beauty of nature with the flexibility of digital tools. By following this beginner’s guide, you’ve learned the fundamental steps and techniques to create stunning botanical illustrations in Procreate. As you continue to practice and experiment, your skills will improve, and you’ll be able to tackle more complex and detailed plants. Most importantly, enjoy the process — there’s no right or wrong way to capture the beauty of plants. Let your creativity and observation guide you!

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