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10 Best Procreate Courses to Take in 2023

Take the best Procreate online courses and become a master at digital art.

Digital art is evolving everyday. With so much technology at our fingertips, it’s easier than ever for anyone to make illustrations on their computers and even on their mobile devices. Procreate is one such tool that makes it possible to make stunning art on your iPad.

In this guide, I’ve selected the 10 best free and paid Procreate online courses for you from the 550+ Procreate courses on our catalog by following a well-defined methodology that you can find below.

But if you want to jump straight to the results, here are my top 10 picks. You can click on a course to jump to the corresponding section:

Course Workload In Brief
1. Procreate: Solid Foundations (Udemy) 18 hours Best course for beginners and experienced users alike to learn the fundamentals of Procreate
2. You Can Draw This! (Art with Flo) 75 hours Comprehensive free course for intermediate learners to master drawing and painting in Procreate
3. Mixed Media Animation in Procreate (Domestika) 8 hours Great course for beginners to learn frame-by-frame animation in Procreate
4. Procreate for Beginners: Digital Illustration 101 (Domestika) 4 hours 7-part course for beginners to learn digital art in Procreate from illustration to animation
5. Animals (Genevieve’s Design Studio) 22-23 hours Elaborate free intermediate-level course for experienced users to learn to paint animals in Procreate
6. Procreate Academy. Ultimate Course, Digital Drawing on Ipad. (Udemy) 11 hours Beginner-friendly course for anyone to learn digital art in Procreate from basics to advanced topics
7. Atmospheric Scenes in Procreate: Paint with Color and Light (Domestika) 2-3 hours Concise course for beginners to learn to paint atmospheric scenes with light and color in Procreate
8. Realistic Paper Cut Illustrations in Procreate (Skillshare) 2-3 hours Short intermediate-level course for experienced users to make realistic paper cut illustrations in Procreate
9. Fantastical Illustrations with Procreate (Domestika) 2-3 hours Great short course for beginners to learn to make illustrations in Procreate for storytelling
10. Blooms & Shrooms: Draw Fun & Funky Art in Procreate (Skillshare) 2-3 hours Short beginner-friendly course to learn to draw retro-inspired flowers and mushrooms in Procreate

What is Procreate?

Procreate is a digital painting app developed by Savage Interactive for iOS and iPadOS. It was first launched in 2011, and has been on the Apple App Store’s Top 10 Paid iPad Apps List since 2016.

Currently, there are two versions of the app: Procreate and Procreate Pocket. While Procreate is meant for iPad and contains all the features of the app, Procreate Pocket is for iPhone and includes most tools found in the original Procreate.

Why are Procreate Skills Important?

After 10+ years in the market, Procreate is undoubtedly one of the most popular drawing apps for the Ipad. Loved by thousands of artists worldwide, it’s the first choice when it comes to drawing/creating on the go.

Digital art is also backed up by a ton of media outlets for artists on the web, from opportunities to develop content for social media and digital marketing, to animation and game development. This is certainly the perfect moment to start learning and improve your skills, even more considering the global art market was valued at 65.1 billion dollars in 2021, rapidly recovering to pre-pandemic levels.

There are over 5,000 jobs available for digital artists on Glassdoor, nearly 400 jobs on LinkedIn, and nearly a hundred freelance jobs on Upwork. Also, the average salary for a digital artist is $67,020 a year in the United States (as of November 2022).

All you need to get started in this field is an iPad Pro and Procreate (and a few hours a week to learn from the best courses in this guide)!

What is My Experience with Procreate?

I love drawing, especially on my iPad. I’ve used some apps for digital art such as Autodesk Sketchbook and Tayasui Sketches. I’ve also drawn in Photoshop on graphic tablets. But I’m fascinated by videos of professional artists drawing in Procreate. So Procreate is definitely on my bucket list.

Besides that, I am a Guided Project Instructor and a Beta Tester at Coursera, having tested many courses before they’re officially launched. I have taken over 50 online courses in various subjects.

My experience as an online learner and teacher has given me some perspective on what to look for in an online course. I used my experience to evaluate each course in this list.

Find your next course on Class Central

Course Ranking Methodology

I built this ranking following the now tried-and-tested methodology I used in previous rankings (you can find them all here). It involves a three-step process:

  1. Research: I started by leveraging Class Central’s database with 100K online courses and 200K+ reviews. Then, I made a preliminary selection of 550+ Procreate courses by rating, reviews, and bookmarks.
  2. Evaluate: I read through reviews on Class Central, Reddit, and course providers to understand what other learners thought about each course and combined it with my own experience as a learner.
  3. Select: Well-made courses were picked if they presented valuable and engaging content and they have to fit in a set of criteria and be ranked accordingly: comprehensive curriculum, release date, affordability, ratings and enrollments.

The end result is a unique selection of courses that combines a decade of Class Central data and my own experience as an online learner to try to get the best of both worlds. So far, I’ve spent more than 10 hours building this list, and I’ll continue to update it.

Course Ranking Statistics

Here are some statistics regarding this course ranking:

  • Combined, these courses have accrued over 78K enrollments.
  • 2 courses are free or free-to-audit and 8 courses are paid.
  • The most-represented course provider in the ranking is Skillshare, with 4 courses.
  • All 10 courses are in English.
  • The Procreate subject is followed by over 1.3K learners on Class Central, and accounts for over 550 courses in Class Central catalog.

So without further ado, let’s get to my picks for the best Procreate online courses.

1. Procreate: Solid Foundations (Udemy)

Simon Foster, instructor

My first pick for the best Procreate online course is the Procreate: Solid Foundations on Udemy.

Whether you are a beginner or an existing Procreate user, this course will give you a thorough understanding of the fundamentals of Procreate. It will introduce you to many of the techniques used in Procreate and explain everything in great detail. In all, you’ll learn the same tools and techniques that are used in professional studios.

What You’ll Learn

In this course, you’ll learn about the color theory behind the color selection tools, the brush engine so you can modify and create new brushes, more advanced topics like layer blend modes and layer masks, and selections and symmetry.

You’ll also explore all of the adjustments Procreate has to offer, animate, import PDF files and paint on 3D objects, and learn when and why to use the various features of Procreate.

How You’ll Learn

The course is broken down into 6 sections. Each section involves about 2.5 to 4 hours of work. Concepts are taught through a combination of videos and additional resources.

Provider Udemy
Instructor Simon Foster
Level Beginner
Workload 18 hours
Enrollments 9.2K
Rating 4.8/5.0 (1.7K)
Certificate Paid

Fun Facts

  • Foster holds a degree in Educational Design from Manchester Metropolitan University.
  • He has been a designer for over 30 years and has run a successful design business for over 25 years.
  • He has designed the graphics for Rollercoaster Tycoon 1 and 2, and illustrated science books for a range of clients.

If you’re interested in this course, you can find more information about the course and how to enroll here.

2. You Can Draw This! (Art with Flo)

Drawing a face in Procreate

My second pick for the best Procreate online course is the free course You Can Draw This!, offered by Art with Flo on YouTube.

In order to be able to take this course, it’s better that you have some experience in using Procreate. These tutorials are easy to follow and will take you through all the steps of the drawing and painting process. Each video covers one type of drawing from start to finish such as landscape, graffiti. mandala, 3D text, animals and many more.

What You’ll Learn

In this course, the instructor will guide you through the basic setup and step-by-step process to achieve professional results for each tutorial.

You will learn hundreds of styles of digital painting and drawing in this course: from outer space landscapes to cute animals, hamburgers, phone wallpapers, mandalas, and much more.

This course will also provide you with some more abstract concepts to help you create 3D typography, work with geometric shapes, neon signs, condensation art, etc.

You can take the tutorials in any order as they teach the concepts independently from start to finish.

How You’ll Learn

The course is broken down into 147 videos. Each video involves about 15 to 30 minutes of work. Concepts are taught through video lectures only. You can also sign up to her treasure chest and receive a free bundle of 70+ brushes for Procreate and other freebies.

Channel Art with Flo
Provider YouTube
Level Intermediate
Workload 75 hours
Certificate Not available

Fun Facts

  • Art with Flo’s YouTube channel teaches drawing and painting on iPad, mostly in Procreate.
  • Their website also contains a collection of Procreate tutorials, articles and resources like special Procreate brushes, color palettes and ebooks.

If you’re interested in this course, you can find more information about the course and how to enroll here.

3. Mixed Media Animation in Procreate (Domestika)

Caroline Kjellberg, instructor

My third pick for the best Procreate online course is Mixed Media Animation in Procreate on Domestika.

This course covers the animation part of Procreate. You’ll learn the fundamentals of frame-by-frame animation with Procreate, including the tools used for animating, and go through the whole process from creating a storyboard through to shooting your sequence. By the end of this course, you’ll be able to design a mixed media looping animation of your own.

What You’ll Learn

In this course, you’ll learn what animation is, receive a client brief, do brand research, start sketching, find a color palette, draw the storyboard, work with photography, get an overview and animation setup in Procreate.

You’ll also learn about rough animation, color animation, type animation and filters, leveling up with effects, adding simple sound effects and music, sharing the final product, and mixed media animation in Procreate.

How You’ll Learn

The course is broken down into 32 lessons. Concepts are taught through a combination of videos, downloadable resources and exercises. There’s also a final project at the end of the course.

Provider Domestika
Instructor Caroline Kjellberg
Level Beginner
Workload 8 hours
Enrollments 19.3K
Rating 99%
Certificate Paid

Fun Facts

  • Kjellberg is a Danish freelance motion designer and illustrator.
  • She has studied and worked in Denmark, California, Australia and Tokyo.
  • Since 2017, she has worked with international brands including Visit California, Beats by Dre, Carlsberg and UNIQLO.

If you’re interested in this course, you can find more information about the course and how to enroll here.

4. Procreate for Beginners: Digital Illustration 101 (Domestika)

Brad Woodard, instructor

My fourth pick for the best Procreate online course is Procreate for Beginners: Digital Illustration 101 on Domestika.

This course actually consists of 7 sub-courses covering different aspects or functionalities of Procreate. Aimed towards beginners, it will teach you how to use the app from scratch and create professional artwork using Procreate. By taking this course, you’ll be able to create art in Procreate right from illustrating to exporting and animating.

What You’ll Learn

First, you’ll learn about recommended tools, setup and installation, gallery walkthrough, starting your first project, practical phase, navigating your workspace, gestures, keyboard shortcuts, paint, smudge, erase, brush library, and brush studio.

Next, you’ll explore quick shapes, colors, drawing guides, inserting photos and text, practical phase, organization, blend modes, options, masking, selection modes, transform tool, warp and distort, opacity and blurs, and color adjustments.

Finally, you’ll take a look at liquify and clone, adjusting your canvas, export and share, recording a timelapse video, and animation.

How You’ll Learn

The course is broken down into 37 lessons. Concepts are taught through a combination of videos, downloadable resources and exercises.

Provider Domestika
Instructor Brad Woodard
Level Beginner
Workload 4 hours
Enrollments 46K
Rating 98%
Certificate Paid

Fun Facts

  • Woodard is an illustrator, graphic designer and co-founder of the creative agency Brave the Woods.
  • He graduated with a BFA in graphic design, and now owns an agency which specializes in branding and commercial illustration.
  • He has worked for clients including USPS, Ford, Penguin Random House, eBay and Microsoft.

If you’re interested in this course, you can find more information about the course and how to enroll here.

5. Animals (Genevieve’s Design Studio)

Drawing a cute corgi in Procreate

My fifth pick for the best Procreate online course is the free course Animals, offered by Genevieve’s Design Studio on YouTube.

The simple name of the course is enough to tell what this course is about. Need I say more? To all the animal lovers out there who have used Procreate before, this is your chance to learn how to draw cute cartoon animals in Procreate with these simple tutorials. Each video will teach you how to draw a different animal from start to finish.

What You’ll Learn

In this course, you’ll learn to sketch, digital paint, color and shade, add background, and animate cute animals such as cat, dog, otter, magical moth, bear, lion, hamster, koala, zen tiger, sloth, fox, witchy cat, spooky bat, squirrel, hedgehog, and winter bunny.

There’s also holiday moose, holiday polar bear, watercolor penguin, watercolor llama, raccoon, watercolor owl, panda, watercolor flamingo, new year tiger, love elephants, fennec, color-changing chameleon, watercolor duck, and watercolor flower bunny.

More animals include watercolor axolotl, watercolor sea turtle, corgi, Krypto from the league of super-pets, watercolor toucan, watercolor mouse, jellyfish, animals in a cup (cat, dog, bunny and more), along with tips and tricks.

How You’ll Learn

The course is broken down into 43 videos. Each video involves about 30 minutes to 1 hour of work. Concepts are taught through video lectures only.

Channel Genevieve’s Design Studio
Provider YouTube
Instructor Genevieve
Level Intermediate
Workload 22-23 hours
Certificate Not available

Fun Facts

  • Genevieve makes videos for everyone including designers, entrepreneurs and hobbyists on her YouTube channel.
  • She started working as a graphic designer at age 13 and is now a full-time children’s book illustrator and content creator.

If you’re interested in this course, you can find more information about the course and how to enroll here.

6. Procreate Academy. Ultimate Course, Digital Drawing on Ipad. (Udemy)

Andres Brachetta, instructor

My sixth pick for the best Procreate online course is Procreate Academy. Ultimate Course, Digital Drawing on Ipad. on Udemy.

Even though this course is made for beginners, it will teach you the basic tools all the way up to more advanced features of Procreate, hence making it useful for both beginners and experienced users. Not only that, this course will also give you the base for other editing software such as Photoshop, Affinity Photos, Corel and others.

What You’ll Learn

First, you’ll learn about the Procreate app. This includes the basic tools, advanced functions, layers, brushes, and blending modes.

Then, you’ll learn about digital drawing fundamentals. This includes raster image vs. vector image, color mode/color spaces, files formats (.JPEG, .PNG, .PSD, .PROCREATE, .TIFF, .PDF), and blending modes, and curves.

Finally, you’ll learn about essential drawing concepts. This includes shapes, shades, color, and textures.

How You’ll Learn

The course is broken down into 13 sections. Each section involves about 1 to 2 hours of work. Concepts are taught through a combination of videos, readings and downloadable resources.

Provider Udemy
Instructor Andres Brachetta
Level Beginner
Workload 11 hours
Enrollments 7.8K
Rating 4.6/5.0 (1.4K)
Certificate Paid

Fun Facts

  • This course was the winner of 2 Apple awards, Apple Design Award 2013 and iPhone App of the Year 2018 (pocket version).
  • In 2018 Brachetta founded BuBu Academy, a 100% online educational platform where you can learn digital editing, drawing, marketing and more, and in 2014, he founded his own clothing brand, Buxter.
  • He has many Google certificates including Adwords for Search, Google Ads Fundamentals, Digital Garage (Online Marketing), Waze Ads (advanced), and Trusted Photographer.

If you’re interested in this course, you can find more information about the course and how to enroll here.

7. Atmospheric Scenes in Procreate: Paint with Color and Light (Domestika)

Ramona Wultschner, instructor

My seventh pick for the best Procreate online course is Atmospheric Scenes in Procreate: Paint with Color and Light on Domestika.

Discover the power of color, light and composition with this short and beginner-friendly Procreate course. This course is not just about making illustrations in Procreate, it’s about transforming a feeling into digital painting. By the end of this course, you’ll be able to create an enchanting atmospheric scene of your own using Procreate.

What You’ll Learn

In this course, you’ll learn about Procreate and brushes, basics of light, simplifying complex shapes, color, leading the eye, finding purpose and inspiration, thumbnailing, and refining thumbnails.

You’ll also learn about adding color to the sketch, rendering, finishing touches, fixing weaknesses, and atmospheric scenes in Procreate (painting with color and light).

How You’ll Learn

The course is broken down into 16 lessons. Concepts are taught through a combination of videos, downloadable resources and exercises. There’s also a final project at the end of the course.

Provider Domestika
Instructor Ramona Wultschner
Level Beginner
Workload 2-3 hours
Enrollments 15.8K
Rating 100%
Certificate Paid

Fun Facts

  • Wultschner is a German illustrator who has worked as a freelance illustrator for animated film productions, children’s books and games.
  • She also teaches visualization at the Bikablo Academy, Cologne.
  • In 2016 she also wrote and illustrated an ironic and humorous book published by Lappan Verlag.

If you’re interested in this course, you can find more information about the course and how to enroll here.

8. Realistic Paper Cut Illustrations in Procreate (Skillshare)

Lisa Bardot, instructor

My eighth pick for the best Procreate online course is Realistic Paper Cut Illustrations in Procreate on Skillshare.

If you’re someone who loves drawing on an iPad but also likes the look and feel of crafting with scissors and paper, then this short course is for you. This course will teach you step by step how to make realistic paper cut illustrations in Procreate without actually having to lift a pair of scissors!

What You’ll Learn

In this course, you’ll learn about making paper cut art from scratch, sketching and layer contents, making shapes, cutting the paper, colorizing the paper, manipulating shadows, and folds and details.

You’ll also understand converting an existing illustration to paper cut art, planning layers and making shapes, cutting and colorizing paper, highlights and shadows, and pencil details.

How You’ll Learn

The course is broken down into 22 lessons. Each lesson involves about 5 to 15 minutes of work. Concepts are taught through a combination of videos, projects and downloadable resources.

Provider Skillshare
Instructor Lisa Bardot
Level Intermediate
Workload 2-3 hours
Enrollments 5.1K
Rating 100%
Certificate Not available

Fun Facts

  • Bardot is an illustration artist and teacher who creates industry-leading digital brushes, tutorials and art-making resources for artists.
  • She owns Bardot Brush where I create Procreate brushes and tools, and runs Making Art Everyday, providing drawing prompts and challenges.
  • She also runs Art Maker’s Club, a creative community and learning hub for digital art-makers.

If you’re interested in this course, you can find more information about the course and how to enroll here.

9. Fantastical Illustrations with Procreate (Domestika)

Michael Relth, instructor

My ninth pick for the best Procreate online course is Fantastical Illustrations with Procreate on Domestika.

This short beginner-friendly course is all about storytelling through digital art. You’ll learn the essentials of storytelling, composition and color to connect with your viewers. After taking this course, you’ll be able to build magical imaginary worlds and tell stories through your very own fictional worlds.

What You’ll Learn

First, you’ll understand the overall idea and Procreate essentials, composition and value fundamentals, color theory, storytelling, writing and character ideas, finding inspiration, sketching ideas on paper, and final sketch, drawing with line and shape.

You’ll also learn about value composition and color thumbnails, painting process demo, creating layers and painting gradients, painting smaller shapes within layers, adding final details, last compositing touches, exporting your finished artwork, and fantastical illustrations with Procreate.

How You’ll Learn

The course is broken down into 16 lessons. Concepts are taught through a combination of videos, downloadable resources and exercises. There’s also a final project at the end of the course.

Provider Domestika
Instructor Michael Relth
Level Beginner
Workload 2-3 hours
Enrollments 11.8K
Rating 99%
Certificate Paid

Fun Facts

  • Relth is a freelance animator, illustrator and concept artist who graduated from ArtCenter College of Design with a BFA in Illustration.
  • He has worked in character animation, illustration and visual development for clients like Procreate and Warner Animation.
  • He also illustrated and published a book, Picture Book by Dog.

If you’re interested in this course, you can find more information about the course and how to enroll here.

10. Blooms & Shrooms: Draw Fun & Funky Art in Procreate (Skillshare)

Cat Coquillette, instructor

My ninth pick for the best Procreate online course is Blooms & Shrooms: Draw Fun & Funky Art in Procreate on Skillshare.

Learn how to draw retro-inspired flowers and mushrooms with this short beginner-friendly Procreate course for everyone. You’ll create fun and trendy illustrations in Procreate while learning the fundamentals of the app. For experienced users, the course also included useful tips and tricks for creating professional-level art.

What You’ll Learn

In this course, you’ll learn about supplies, choosing a motif, thumbnail sketch, color palettes, filling in shapes, infusing texture, finalizing the main motif, layering, final florals, crescent moon, embellishments, and color exploration.

How You’ll Learn

The course is broken down into 14 lessons. Each lesson involves about 10 to 20 minutes of work. Concepts are taught through a combination of videos, projects and downloadable resources.

Provider Skillshare
Instructor Cat Coquillette
Level Mixed
Workload 2-3 hours
Enrollments 3.9K
Rating 100%
Certificate Not available

Fun Facts

  • Coquillette is an artist, entrepreneur and educator who runs the creative brand, CatCoq.
  • CatCoq artwork and designs are licensed worldwide in stores including Urban Outfitters, Target, Barnes & Noble, Modcloth, Nordstrom, Bed Bath & Beyond, and others.
  • Her writing, interviews and design work have been featured by Forbes, CNN, US Weekly, Teen Vogue, Buzzfeed and The New York Post.

If you’re interested in this course, you can find more information about the course and how to enroll here.

Archisha Bhar Profile Image

Archisha Bhar

I am a Generalist at Class Central and a Civil Engineer from India. Other than engineering, I take interest in art, music, computer, psychology and creative writing.

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