Bring the elegance of nature into your digital sketchbook with this ash leaf botanical illustration tutorial—designed especially for Procreate and created using my Realistic Watercolour Minimalist Brush Set. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist exploring digital watercolour, this guided lesson will help you develop a clean, minimalistic style with botanical charm.
The ash leaf is a beautiful subject for botanical illustration thanks to its elegant structure and distinctive details. Composed of multiple slender leaflets arranged in pairs along a central stem (or rachis), the ash leaf has a graceful, feather-like form that naturally lends itself to minimalist design. Each leaflet tapers to a fine point and often features gently serrated edges and a delicate central vein, providing just the right amount of detail for watercolour texture to shine through. This combination of symmetry, variation, and organic flow makes the ash leaf both visually striking and meditative to paint—perfect for practicing layering, brush control, and subtle colour blending in digital watercolour.
The PDF Tutorial, available for purchase and download (available in my Etsy shop)
What’s Included In The Purchase?
Here’s a preview of what you’ll receive:
x1 Step-by-Step PDF Tutorial
x1 Full Extracted Timelapse Video from Procreate
x1 Colour Palette
x1 PNG Sketch Outline
About the Brush Set
This tutorial was created using my Realistic Watercolour Minimalist Brush Set—designed to mimic the unpredictable charm of real watercolour paint, with built-in texture, flow, and soft pigment edges.
See an exported timelapse of the illustration here:
Ready to Get Started?
The step-by-step tutorial is available for purchase here:
Bring the elegance of nature into your digital sketchbook with this ash leaf botanical illustration tutorial—designed especially for Procreate and created using my Realistic Watercolour Minimalist Brush Set. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist exploring digital watercolour, this guided lesson will help you develop a clean, minimalistic style with botanical charm. This step-by-step tutorial … Read more
For artists who love the organic feel of watercolour but crave the flexibility of digital tools, my latest brush set for Procreate delivers an exceptional experience—with just four brushes and one canvas. Whether you’re a beginner exploring the basics of watercolour or a seasoned illustrator looking for efficiency and realism, this set is designed to offer … Read more
I have put together a collection of floral Procreate colour palettes that can be used with the Procreate colour picker tool. To use them in Procreate, click on any palette from below to open a new tab with the image. Then save it on to your iPad, and add it as an image to your … Read more
For artists who love the organic feel of watercolour but crave the flexibility of digital tools, my latest brush set for Procreate delivers an exceptional experience—with just four brushes and one canvas.
Whether you’re a beginner exploring the basics of watercolour or a seasoned illustrator looking for efficiency and realism, this set is designed to offer a seamless and inspiring workflow.
A Minimalist Set with Maximum Impact
Rather than overwhelming you with dozens of brush options, I have honed it down to four versatile tools—each crafted to emulate the natural flow, texture, and transparency of traditional watercolour paint.
1. Outline Brush
Start your artwork with clean, expressive lines. This brush mimics the feel of a fine watercolour/drawing brush on textured paper, giving structure to your compositions while preserving a hand-drawn feel.
2. Main Brush
The hero of your watercolour toolkit, this brush offers fluid strokes, rich pigment, and subtle texture. Perfect for layering colours, creating gradients, or filling larger areas with lush, painterly washes. This brush works with pressure, so the more pressure you apply to your pencil the more concentrated the watercolour effect will be, and if you ease off on the pressure then the more diluted watercolour effects will be achieved.
3. Blend/Wash Brush
Mimic the soft diffusion of wet-on-wet watercolour with this brush. It allows colours to bleed and blend naturally, helping you achieve those beautifully unpredictable transitions that define the medium.
4. Subtle Bleed Effects Brush
Add realism and depth with gentle feathering and edge bleeds. This brush is perfect for finishing touches that make your artwork look like it was painted with real water on paper.
One Canvas, Endless Possibilities
Included with the brush set is a high-quality watercolour canvas designed to respond beautifully to each brush. This custom Procreate canvas recreates the texture and absorbency of real watercolour paper, making every stroke feel authentic and dynamic.
Designed for Every Artist
Whether you’re just starting out or you’re a professional illustrator, this set allows you to focus on creativity without being bogged down by complexity. The intuitive brushes and responsive canvas work together to simulate traditional watercolour techniques—without the mess or setup.
Why Artists Love This Set:
Authentic textures and flow
Beginner-friendly and professional-grade
Efficient and uncluttered
Natural blending and layering effects
Perfect for detailed botanicals and more
Where to Buy
This watercolour brush set is available for purchase exclusively through our Etsy store, making it easy to download and start creating right away. With instant digital delivery, you can add these carefully crafted brushes and canvas to your Procreate toolkit in just a few clicks.
Bring the elegance of nature into your digital sketchbook with this ash leaf botanical illustration tutorial—designed especially for Procreate and created using my Realistic Watercolour Minimalist Brush Set. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist exploring digital watercolour, this guided lesson will help you develop a clean, minimalistic style with botanical charm. This step-by-step tutorial … Read more
For artists who love the organic feel of watercolour but crave the flexibility of digital tools, my latest brush set for Procreate delivers an exceptional experience—with just four brushes and one canvas. Whether you’re a beginner exploring the basics of watercolour or a seasoned illustrator looking for efficiency and realism, this set is designed to offer … Read more
I have put together a collection of floral Procreate colour palettes that can be used with the Procreate colour picker tool. To use them in Procreate, click on any palette from below to open a new tab with the image. Then save it on to your iPad, and add it as an image to your … Read more
Want to learn how to draw a tree without feeling overwhelmed? Whether you’re just starting out or looking for a simple creative break, this beginner-friendly guide will walk you through an easy step-by-step method to draw a classic tree — no fancy tools or skills needed — it’s just one I made digitally on my phone whilst waiting for an appointment!
Step 1: Draw the Tree Trunk
Start with two slightly curved vertical lines. These lines form the base of your tree trunk.
Tip: Curved lines give a more natural, organic look than perfectly straight lines.
Step 2: Add Branches
From the top of the trunk, extend a few lines outward and upward — these will be your tree’s main branches. Keep the lines thinner as they go out, and don’t worry about symmetry; nature is beautifully irregular!
Step 3: Add Texture to the Trunk
Add some quick, light vertical lines inside the trunk to give it a bit of wood-like texture. You can even add a small oval or spiral shape to suggest a knot in the wood.
Step 4: Sketch the Tree Canopy (Leaves)
Now, draw a large fluffy, cloud-like shape around the top of the trunk and branches. You can do this using soft, bumpy lines that form a rounded canopy. Think of drawing a large cotton ball or broccoli top.
Step 5: Optional – Add Ground or Colour
Draw a simple patch of grass or ground under the tree to ground it in space. Then, grab your coloured pencils or markers to add greens for the leaves and browns for the trunk.
Final Touches
Erase any extra or sketchy lines and darken the outlines.
Why This Method Works for Beginners
This approach keeps things simple by breaking the tree into three main parts: trunk, branches, and leaves. No complicated shading or anatomy — just basic shapes and a bit of creativity.
Drawing trees is a great way to relax and practice your sketching skills. Once you’ve mastered this basic tree, you can experiment with different styles — from tall pines to sprawling oaks.
Drawing The Tree Branches
To draw the branches, start by sketching a long, slightly curved line to represent the main structure. Then, add smaller lines branching off from it at various angles to mimic the natural, uneven growth of real branches. These offshoots should gradually taper and become thinner as they extend outward. Avoid making them too symmetrical or straight—branches often twist and turn slightly. You can add texture by drawing small, jagged lines along the surface to suggest bark, and include tiny offshoots or buds at the ends to give it a more realistic touch. Using light pencil strokes at first can help with shaping before committing to darker, final lines.
Conclusion
Drawing a tree may seem challenging at first, but with this quick and easy step-by-step guide, even beginners can create a natural-looking tree with confidence. By starting with simple shapes and gradually adding details like branches, leaves, and texture, you’ve learned how to draw a simple tree. Remember, every tree is unique—so feel free to experiment with different styles, shapes, and shading techniques as you continue to practice. With time and creativity, your tree drawings will only grow stronger. Happy sketching!
Want to learn how to draw a tree without feeling overwhelmed? Whether you’re just starting out or looking for a simple creative break, this beginner-friendly guide will walk you through an easy step-by-step method to draw a classic tree — no fancy tools or skills needed — it’s just one I made digitally on my … Read more
There’s something quietly poetic about the silhouette of a bare tree. Without its cloak of leaves, the tree stands—honest in form, revealing every branch and limb like veins under translucent skin. For nature diary keepers, sketching these skeletal trees can be a gentle way to connect more deeply with the landscape and sharpen one’s eye … Read more
There’s a quiet magic in sketching the small, often overlooked elements of nature. Twigs—those unassuming branches underfoot—can become beautiful, meditative studies when you slow down and capture their form with care. In this tutorial, we’ll explore how to draw a simple twig using 0.5mm and 0.1mm brown and gray fineliners, tools that bring precision and … Read more
Materials You’ll Need: Step 1: Light Sketch with Coloured Pencil Begin by lightly sketching the basic outline of the tree with a brown or light grey coloured pencil. Focus on: Keep your lines loose and organic—trees are naturally asymmetrical. Something to keep in mind is the shape and structure of tree branches are typically hierarchical … Read more
Your birding journal isn’t just a place for checklists and sightings—it’s a space to celebrate the beauty of the wild, feathered world around you. Adding simple doodles can be such a calming experience, whether you’re sketching beside a trail or reminiscing at your desk. In this post, we’ll explore three quick and charming pattern doodles—featuring … Read more
When I set out to create my hydrangea anatomy illustration and diagram, I wanted to achieve a natural, soft watercolour look—something that felt organic and painterly. To achieve this, I used my own handcrafted Procreate realistic watercolour brush set. In this article, I’ll walk you through my creative process, from illustration to final detailing. I … Read more
Drawing flowers can be a rewarding and therapeutic experience, and with the right techniques, you can elevate your flower sketches to a professional level. Here are some tips to help you draw flowers like a pro: 1. Study Real Flowers 2. Start with Basic Shapes 3. Focus on Petal Structure 4. Use Light and Shadow … Read more
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, … Read more
Botanical illustration is a unique art form that has captivated artists, scientists, and nature enthusiasts for centuries. It is more than just drawing flowers, leaves, or trees; it is an intricate blend of art, science, and observation. With a long history rooted in the exploration of plant life, botanical illustrations continue to play a vital … Read more
Flowers have been a symbol of beauty, inspiration, and life throughout human history. Their intricate shapes, colours, and delicate forms offer endless opportunities for artistic exploration. Whether you are a beginner just picking up a pencil or a seasoned artist looking to refine your skills, learning how to draw flowers can be both rewarding and … Read more
Bring the elegance of nature into your digital sketchbook with this ash leaf botanical illustration tutorial—designed especially for Procreate and created using my Realistic Watercolour Minimalist Brush Set. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist exploring digital watercolour, this guided lesson will help you develop a clean, minimalistic style with botanical charm. This step-by-step tutorial … Read more
For artists who love the organic feel of watercolour but crave the flexibility of digital tools, my latest brush set for Procreate delivers an exceptional experience—with just four brushes and one canvas. Whether you’re a beginner exploring the basics of watercolour or a seasoned illustrator looking for efficiency and realism, this set is designed to offer … Read more
I have put together a collection of floral Procreate colour palettes that can be used with the Procreate colour picker tool. To use them in Procreate, click on any palette from below to open a new tab with the image. Then save it on to your iPad, and add it as an image to your … Read more
