My Procreate Experiment: Art, Frustration, and Unexpected Wins

Diving Headfirst into Digital Art: Why Procreate?

Okay, so, here’s the thing. I’ve *always* been jealous of people who can just, like, *draw*. You know? Effortlessly create these amazing images out of thin air. I’m more of a stick-figure kinda person myself. But something about digital art, especially Procreate on the iPad, seemed… less intimidating? Maybe it was the undo button, the infinite canvas, or just the allure of the Apple Pencil. Honestly, I’m not sure. What I *was* sure about was wanting to try something new, something creative. So, I bit the bullet, downloaded Procreate, and grabbed my iPad. And then… stared blankly at the screen. Anyone else get instant art-block the second they open a drawing program?

The learning curve, let’s just say, was steeper than I anticipated. I spent hours watching tutorials, trying to figure out layers (still not entirely convinced I understand them completely), and experimenting with different brushes. It felt less like creating art and more like learning a complicated new software. I even briefly considered giving up. Was this just a waste of money? Was I kidding myself thinking I could actually learn to draw something beyond a vaguely humanoid shape? But something kept me going. Maybe it was the stubbornness, maybe it was the faint glimmer of potential I saw in some of my (mostly accidental) creations. I just knew I had to give it a proper shot.

The Accidental Masterpiece (and the Many, Many Failures Before It)

Funny thing is, my first “success” was completely accidental. I was messing around with some brush settings, trying to create a watercolor effect (which, by the way, is way harder than it looks), and ended up with this abstract swirl of colors that actually looked… kinda cool? I added a few details, tweaked the composition, and boom – my first Procreate piece that I didn’t immediately want to delete. It wasn’t a masterpiece, by any means, but it was *mine*. And it gave me a much-needed boost of confidence to keep experimenting.

But let’s be real, there were a *lot* of failures along the way. I tried drawing portraits (epic fail), landscapes (looked like a five-year-old did them), and even a still life of a banana (somehow, even the banana looked terrifying). I think the biggest challenge was overcoming the perfectionism. With traditional art, you’re kind of forced to embrace the imperfections. But with digital art, it’s so easy to obsess over every little detail, to endlessly tweak and refine until the piece is completely devoid of any personality. I had to learn to let go, to embrace the happy accidents, and to accept that not everything I created was going to be a work of art. And honestly, that was a pretty valuable lesson, not just for art, but for life in general.

My Dumbest Procreate Mistake: The Great Color Disaster of 2024

Okay, so I have to tell you about this. Total disaster. I was working on this really ambitious piece – a digital painting of my dog, a very fluffy Samoyed, in a field of sunflowers. I was putting in the hours, feeling like I was actually *getting* somewhere. It was looking good! Really good! Then… I accidentally changed the color profile of the entire canvas. Without realizing it, I’d switched something that made all the colors look…wrong. VIBRANTLY WRONG. Like, neon sunflower yellow skin tones kind of wrong.

I panicked. I tried everything to undo it, but it was too late. The damage was done. The colors were permanently skewed, and my beautiful dog painting looked like something out of a psychedelic nightmare. Ugh, what a mess! I almost threw my iPad across the room. It was a classic case of not paying attention to the technical details, something I’m definitely going to be doing from now on. Talk about a lesson learned the hard way. I did salvage some of it, but the original vibrancy was just…gone. It still haunts me, to be honest. So, yeah, Procreate is great, but pay attention to those color profiles, people! Learn from my mistakes. If you’re as curious as I was about avoiding total digital art meltdowns, you might want to dig into more about Procreate colour management.

Is Procreate Worth the Hype? My Final (Slightly Hesitant) Verdict

So, the big question: is Procreate worth it? Honestly, it’s a complicated question. It’s not a magic bullet. It won’t turn you into a professional artist overnight. It takes time, effort, and a willingness to embrace failure. But… it’s also incredibly powerful and versatile. The sheer number of brushes, tools, and options available is mind-blowing. And the ability to create art anywhere, anytime, is a huge plus.

For me, Procreate has been more than just a drawing app. It’s been a creative outlet, a way to relax and de-stress, and a reminder that it’s okay to be bad at something. It’s about the process, not just the end result. I’m still a long way from being a “real” artist, but I’m enjoying the journey. And that’s what really matters, right? Plus, it’s pretty cool to be able to create custom birthday cards for my friends and family. So, yeah, I think Procreate is worth the hype. Just be prepared for a bit of a learning curve (and the occasional color disaster). Was I the only one confused by this at the start? I doubt it. But stick with it, and you might just surprise yourself.