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Simon Foster

This is a course all about creating beautiful pastel drawings in Procreate. Modern pastel drawing is noted for its loose, expressive style of work and I teach you how to do this inside Procreate . I've used real life pastels for many years so I can explain how they work, plus I have developed multiple new digital techniques especially for this course.

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This is a course all about creating beautiful pastel drawings in Procreate. Modern pastel drawing is noted for its loose, expressive style of work and I teach you how to do this inside Procreate . I've used real life pastels for many years so I can explain how they work, plus I have developed multiple new digital techniques especially for this course.

But I've brought something to you that I've not seen before in Procreate, and I call it a 'complete environment'. What's new is that the brushes are especially designed to work with papers supplied on this course. The brushes match the paper you use perfectly, giving you the perfect pastel effect. I've even supplied hundreds of colors that are sourced from real world pastels. It's like having a complete shop full of the best pastels and papers, right inside your iPad.

I'll take you right from initial brush strokes using the dozens of different brushes you get with the course. Then I take you through two follow along tutorials which give you increasingly advanced techniques. Some of these techniques and resources you won't have seen before. That's because I've used my 35+ years experience as a professional designer/illustrator to create brand new directions using the tools Procreate gives us.

On this course you will:

  • Learn to create natural looking pastel drawings using Procreate

  • Learn effective digital pastel technique

  • Learn new techniques developed especially for this course

  • Learn how to control digital pastels but also how to use themt expressively

  • Get experience with Layer Masks, Clipping Masks & Layer Blend Modes

If you can scribble with an Apple pencil on an iPad, you can do this. But even though I have plenty of tuition for you to work with the end result is determined by the choices you make along the way, so there's plenty of room for you to create beautiful artwork your way.

Sometimes it's not about the countless hours you spend practicing a skill. It's about know-how. Enroll today, and I'll show you how.

See you on the course.

Enroll now

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction
Hello and welcome to your complete pastel environment!
Start simple - let's draw an orange using the digital grid method
Sketching things out
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Provides brushes and papers designed to work together, which may streamline the workflow for artists seeking a cohesive digital pastel experience
Includes tutorials that progress from basic to advanced techniques, which may help learners gradually build their skills in digital pastel drawing
Offers hundreds of colors sourced from real-world pastels, which may appeal to artists looking for authentic and nuanced color palettes
Requires an iPad and Apple Pencil, which may limit accessibility for learners without these specific tools
Includes a Procreate primer, which may be helpful for learners who are new to the software and its interface

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Reviews summary

Procreate pastel art with authentic resources

According to learners, "The Procreate Pastel Masterclass" is an exceptional course for anyone interested in digital pastel art. Students overwhelmingly praise the unique custom resources, including brushes, papers, and colors, describing them as amazing, authentic, and incredibly realistic, often stating they replicate the feel of real pastels perfectly and are worth the course price alone. The instructor, John, is frequently called a brilliant teacher who explains everything so well and simply, making the instruction easy to follow and broken into bite-sized chunks. Learners are thrilled with the results they achieve and find the techniques taught to be a game changer.
Learn techniques that improve your art.
"The techniques are explained well and are easy to follow."
"The techniques he teaches are a game changer."
"The techniques are so clever and the brushes are just like the real thing."
"I've learned so much and had so much fun."
"I especially appreciated the tips and tricks for blending and layering."
Achieves authentic, realistic pastel look.
"John has made the brushes, papers and colours so authentic."
"The course resources are so authentic, they are just as good as painting with real pastels."
"It's incredible how realistic the resources are, they truly capture the essence of working with real pastels."
"makes the digital pastel look like the real thing."
"recreating pastel art in Procreate a breeze."
Instruction is clear, simple, and bite-sized.
"The tutorials are easy to follow and are broken down into small bite size chunks."
"John explains everything in an easy to understand way."
"The course is very informative, interesting and easy to follow."
"So easy to follow and John explains things so well and simply."
"The step by step instruction is clear and concise."
John is a clear, engaging, and talented teacher.
"John is a very talented teacher and his course is set out very well."
"John is an amazing teacher, breaking down complex techniques into simple steps."
"John is a brilliant teacher, calm and clear."
"John is a born teacher and makes everything easy to understand."
"John is a great teacher. This is an amazing course..."
Custom brushes, papers, colors are amazing.
"The resources provided are worth so much more than the cost of the course."
"The resources you receive with this course are exceptional."
"The resources are incredibly realistic and John explains everything so clearly..."
"The resources are phenomenal and make recreating pastel art in Procreate a breeze."
"The resources are absolutely amazing, they truly replicate the feel of real pastels."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in The Procreate Pastel Masterclass with these activities:
Practice Basic Procreate Techniques
Reviewing fundamental Procreate techniques will ensure a smoother learning experience when tackling the pastel-specific brushes and methods taught in the course.
Browse courses on Digital Art
Show steps
  • Familiarize yourself with the Procreate interface.
  • Practice using different brush types and sizes.
  • Experiment with layers and blend modes.
Read 'Mastering Procreate' by Molly McLeod
Reading a comprehensive Procreate guide will help you better understand the software's capabilities and how to apply them to pastel drawing.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Mastering Procreate'.
  • Read through the chapters relevant to brush customization and layer management.
  • Experiment with the techniques described in the book within Procreate.
Color Palette Exercises
Practicing color palette selection and application will improve your ability to create harmonious and visually appealing pastel drawings in Procreate.
Show steps
  • Choose a reference photo with a distinct color palette.
  • Create a color swatch in Procreate based on the photo.
  • Use the swatch to create a simple drawing, focusing on color relationships.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Digital Pastel Still Life
Creating a still life drawing using the course's pastel brushes will allow you to apply the learned techniques and develop your own artistic style.
Show steps
  • Set up a simple still life arrangement with interesting objects.
  • Sketch the arrangement in Procreate.
  • Apply the pastel brushes and techniques learned in the course to create a finished drawing.
Experiment with Layer Blend Modes
Experimenting with layer blend modes will help you understand how they can be used to create different effects and enhance your digital pastel drawings.
Show steps
  • Create a simple pastel drawing in Procreate.
  • Duplicate the layer and experiment with different blend modes on the duplicated layer.
  • Observe how each blend mode affects the colors and textures of the drawing.
Explore 'Color and Light' by James Gurney
Studying color and light principles will enhance your understanding of how to create realistic and visually appealing pastel drawings.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Color and Light'.
  • Read the chapters on color temperature, light direction, and atmospheric perspective.
  • Apply the concepts learned in the book to your digital pastel drawings.
Create a Series of Digital Pastel Landscapes
Working on a series of landscape drawings will allow you to further refine your digital pastel skills and develop a consistent artistic style.
Show steps
  • Gather reference photos of landscapes that inspire you.
  • Create a series of digital pastel drawings based on the reference photos, experimenting with different compositions and color palettes.
  • Reflect on your progress and identify areas for improvement.

Career center

Learners who complete The Procreate Pastel Masterclass will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Digital Artist
A digital artist creates artwork using digital tools and software. This course, centered around creating pastel drawings in Procreate, is quite helpful for a digital artist. The course provides brushes especially designed to work with included papers, giving the perfect pastel effect. It even supplies hundreds of colors sourced from real world pastels. This simulates having a complete shop full of the best pastels and papers inside an iPad. A digital artist benefits by learning how to create natural looking pastel drawings using Procreate, and this course teaches effective digital pastel techniques. One should take this course to learn new techniques developed especially for Procreate, including how to control digital pastels expressively. The course helps build experience with Layer Masks, Clipping Masks, and Layer Blend Modes.
Digital Painter
A digital painter creates artwork using digital tools with a focus on mimicking traditional painting styles. The best route to becoming a digital painter starts with understanding how to create natural looking pastel drawings using Procreate. It teaches effective digital pastel techniques and helps learn how to control digital pastels expressively. The course also helps build experience with Layer Masks, Clipping Masks, and Layer Blend Modes. A digital painter will find this course helpful because it teaches you new techniques developed especially for the Procreate platform. The course simulates a complete shop full of pastels and papers inside an iPad.
Freelance Artist
A freelance artist works independently, taking on art projects for various clients. If you wish to become a freelance artist, then this is a great course to take. Centered around creating pastel drawings in Procreate, the course simulates a complete shop full of pastels and papers inside an iPad. It teaches effective digital pastel techniques and helps learn how to control digital pastels expressively. The course also helps build experience with Layer Masks, Clipping Masks, and Layer Blend Modes. A freelance artist will find this course helpful because it teaches you to create natural looking pastel drawings using Procreate, using new techniques developed especially for this course.
Illustrator
An illustrator creates images for books, magazines, and other media. This course may be useful for an illustrator, especially one interested in digital art. The course focuses on creating pastel drawings in Procreate, using brushes designed to work with supplied papers to achieve a perfect pastel effect. It also provides hundreds of colors sourced from real world pastels, creating a comprehensive digital pastel environment. An illustrator can benefit from learning to create natural looking pastel drawings using Procreate and understanding effective digital pastel techniques. Someone seeking to refine their skills in Procreate and expand their artistic toolkit should take this course, as it teaches new techniques developed specifically for this platform.
Fine Artist
A fine artist creates original works of art for exhibition and sale. This course helps those hoping to become a fine artist. Centered around creating pastel drawings in Procreate, the course simulates a complete shop full of pastels and papers inside an iPad. This course teaches effective digital pastel techniques and helps learn how to control digital pastels expressively. The course also helps build experience with Layer Masks, Clipping Masks, and Layer Blend Modes. A fine artist will find this course helpful because it teaches you to create natural looking pastel drawings using Procreate, using new techniques developed especially for this platform.
Concept Artist
A concept artist creates visual representations of ideas for various projects, often in the entertainment industry. If you wish to become a concept artist, then this is a great course to take. Centered around creating pastel drawings in Procreate, the course simulates a complete shop full of pastels and papers inside an iPad. This course teaches effective digital pastel techniques and helps learn how to control digital pastels expressively. The course also helps build experience with Layer Masks, Clipping Masks, and Layer Blend Modes. A concept artist will find this course helpful because it teaches you to create natural looking pastel drawings using Procreate, using new techniques developed especially for this course.
Character Designer
A character designer develops the visual appearance of characters for animation, games, and other media. If you wish to become a character designer, then this is a great course to take. Centered around creating pastel drawings in Procreate, the course simulates a complete shop full of pastels and papers inside an iPad. This course teaches effective digital pastel techniques and helps learn how to control digital pastels expressively. The course also helps build experience with Layer Masks, Clipping Masks, and Layer Blend Modes. A character designer will find this course helpful because it teaches you to create natural looking pastel drawings using Procreate, using new techniques developed especially for this course.
Multimedia Artist
A multimedia artist creates animation, visual effects, and other imagery for a variety of media. This course helps a multimedia artist to create natural looking pastel drawings using Procreate. It teaches effective digital pastel techniques and helps learn how to control digital pastels expressively. The course also helps build experience with Layer Masks, Clipping Masks, and Layer Blend Modes. A multimedia artist will find this course helpful because it teaches you new techniques developed especially for this course. If you wish to become a multimedia artist, then this is a great course to take, since it gives a 'complete environment' to work in, with brushes designed to work with specific papers.
Graphic designer
A graphic designer creates visual concepts for various media. This course may be useful for a graphic designer who wants to incorporate digital pastel techniques into their work. The course centers on creating pastel drawings in Procreate, offering a complete environment with brushes designed to mimic real pastels. The course helps learn how to create natural looking pastel drawings using Procreate and master effective digital pastel techniques. One should take this course to learn how to control digital pastels expressively and gain experience with Layer Masks, Clipping Masks, and Layer Blend Modes. The course teaches new techniques developed especially for Procreate.
Art Director
An art director is responsible for the visual style and images in magazines, newspapers, product packaging, and film and television productions. This course may be helpful for an art director wishing to stay on top of digital art styles and tools. The course focuses on creating pastel drawings in Procreate, by providing brushes that match the included papers for perfect pastel effects. It also supplies hundreds of colors sourced from real world pastels, creating a complete digital pastel environment. The course will help the aspiring art director learn effective digital pastel techniques. Aspiring art directors may take this course as it teaches new techniques developed especially for Procreate, including how to control digital pastels expressively. The course helps build experience with Layer Masks, Clipping Masks, and Layer Blend Modes.
Animator
An animator creates moving images for films, television, and other media. This course may be useful for animators, especially those looking to expand their skills in digital pastel art. The course focuses on creating pastel drawings in Procreate, providing a complete pastel environment with custom-designed brushes and a wide range of colors. Someone interested in animation will find this course useful for learning how to create natural-looking pastel drawings using Procreate and understanding effective digital pastel techniques. It teaches new techniques developed especially for Procreate and helps build experience with Layer Masks, Clipping Masks, and Layer Blend Modes. Such techniques will be useful for animators looking to add a unique stylistic element to their work.
Production Designer
A production designer is responsible for the overall look of a film or television production, including sets, costumes, and props. This course may be useful for a production designer who wants to understand how digital pastel art can be incorporated into their productions. The course teaches effective digital pastel techniques and helps learn how to control digital pastels expressively. The course also helps build experience with Layer Masks, Clipping Masks, and Layer Blend Modes. A production designer will find this course helpful because it teaches you to create natural looking pastel drawings using Procreate, using new techniques developed especially for this course. The course simulates a complete shop full of pastels and papers inside an iPad.
Texture Artist
A texture artist creates the surface details of 3D models for video games, films, and other media. This course may be useful for a texture artist looking to add digital pastel techniques to their skillset. The course focuses on creating pastel drawings in Procreate, offering a complete pastel environment with custom-designed brushes and a comprehensive color palette. A student who wishes to be a texture artist will benefit from learning how to create natural looking pastel drawings using Procreate and mastering effective digital pastel techniques. The course teaches new techniques developed especially for Procreate and helps build experience with Layer Masks, Clipping Masks, and Layer Blend Modes, which are valuable skills in texture creation.
Art teacher
An art teacher instructs students in various art forms and techniques. This course may be useful for an art teacher who wishes to learn digital pastel techniques to incorporate into their curriculum. The course focuses on creating pastel drawings in Procreate, offering a complete pastel environment with custom-designed brushes and a wide range of colors. Art teachers may take this course to learn how to create natural looking pastel drawings using Procreate and understand effective digital pastel techniques. It teaches new techniques developed especially for Procreate and experience with Layer Masks, Clipping Masks, and Layer Blend Modes, providing valuable skills to share with students.
Publication Designer
A publication designer creates the layout and design of books, magazines, and other printed or digital materials. This course may be useful for a publication designer who wants to incorporate digital pastel art into their designs. The course focuses on creating pastel drawings in Procreate, offering a complete pastel environment. The designer will benefit from learning to create natural looking pastel drawings using Procreate and mastering effective digital pastel techniques. The course teaches new techniques developed especially for Procreate, including how to control digital pastels expressively. The course will also help the designer build experience with Layer Masks, Clipping Masks, and Layer Blend Modes, enhancing their design capabilities.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in The Procreate Pastel Masterclass.
Comprehensive guide to understanding color and light in art. It covers topics such as color theory, light sources, and atmospheric perspective. While not specific to Procreate or pastels, the principles discussed in this book are essential for creating realistic and visually appealing artwork. It provides a strong foundation for understanding how light and color interact, which is crucial for mastering digital pastel techniques.
Provides a comprehensive overview of Procreate's features and tools. It covers everything from basic brush settings to advanced animation techniques. While the course focuses on pastels, a solid understanding of Procreate itself is crucial. This book serves as a valuable reference for all Procreate users.

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