Working with Traditional Materials to Procreate: How It Changed My Routine

Working with Traditional Materials to Procreate: How It Changed My Routine

I’ve always proudly dedicated myself to working with traditional materials for drawing and painting.

I love the authenticity—the feel of paper, the sensation of crayons and pastels under my fingers, and yes, I even love the smell of my tools (I know, it’s a bit strange). There’s something special about the precise, fluid, or gritty stroke, that resistance of the pencil gripping the paper.

And of course, the messy hands—undeniable proof of hard work!

Handling different types of paper and exploring their textures has always fascinated and excited me.

However, this approach comes with a cost—not just financial but also environmental, and it takes up space. Even though I often reuse the back of my sheets as watercolor palettes or for other sketches, I realized that my paper consumption no longer aligned with my ecological values.


The Arrival of the iPad and Procreate: A Revolution

After holding out for a long time, a few years ago I finally gave in and tried Procreate on the iPad. It completely transformed the way I work and rethought my approach to sketching and illustration. No more paper waste, an endless array of tools at my fingertips, and the ability to edit in a snap. My favorite feature is the time-lapse replay, which lets me watch the entire creative process in fast motion. It’s fascinating and incredibly useful.

The Practical Advantages of Procreate:

  • Less waste: No more piles of unused paper. For example, I was able to create nearly 200 dragon sketches for the game Wyrmspan without wasting a single sheet of paper—something that would have been impossible before!
 
  • A huge variety of tools: Brushes, pencils, inks—all available with just a tap.
  • Easy editing: The ability to adjust colors or lines without starting over is a real game-changer, especially when presenting work to clients.

The Downsides: The Digital Feel

However, it’s not all perfect, and I haven’t fully crossed over to the digital dark side. Digital art still feels a bit cold and smooth to me. I miss the texture of paper, the smell of my pastels, and the feel of my crayons. There’s a tactile, sensory aspect to traditional art that’s irreplaceable for me. Nothing can fully replicate those sensations, but hey, everything in life is a balance.

How I Use Procreate in My Work

Nowadays, I mainly use Procreate for the sketching phase. It’s a great tool for quickly drawing ideas, adjusting colors, refining lines, and then presenting an initial version to my clients. Sometimes, I even create finished illustrations on it, like with my Surfer Girls collection (which I’m thinking of expanding 😉).

But don’t worry, I stay loyal to traditional painting for my final illustrations. Its unpredictable and magical qualities are irreplaceable.

What about you? Have you ever used an iPad to create? How has it changed your workflow?



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