Hey everyone, Enrique here!
In today’s post, I’m breaking down my full illustration process for creating a fantasy painting in Procreate, using our Canvas X Brush Pack. This is the same workflow featured in our latest YouTube video, and I wanted to give it a proper write-up here on the blog in case you prefer reading over watching.
Let’s dive right in.
Every time I start a new fantasy painting in Procreate, I begin by roughing out big shapes using a chunky, blocky brush. The goal isn’t to be precise—just to lay down a solid composition foundation. Think of it like sketching with a lump of charcoal: bold marks, loose energy.
At this stage, I’m mostly focused on the relationship between shapes and how they fill the space on the canvas. It’s a bit like arranging furniture before decorating—you want a layout that feels balanced before committing to any details.
Quick Color Pass: Once the shapes are locked in, I block in some rough color to separate the foreground, background, and mid-ground. This helps establish depth in the scene.
Quick Shading Pass: Then I throw in basic shadows and highlights to get a sense of where the light’s coming from. I’m not concerned with detail here—it’s more about setting the emotional tone of the piece. The goal is to feel the fantasy atmosphere taking shape.
Now comes the fun part: actually creating the fantasy painting in Procreate!
For this piece, I used the Canvas X Brush Pack, which is my go-to when I want an oily, painterly texture. These brushes let you smudge, mix, and layer color in a way that feels a lot like real paint. That tactile feel is perfect for this kind of rich, dreamy illustration style.
I’m still not chasing perfection at this point. I’m just picking up colors from the base and blending them until something interesting happens.
Sometimes I have a clear vision… but honestly, a lot of the time I don’t. And that’s okay.
Instead of sticking to a rigid plan, I let the illustration tell me where it wants to go. I experiment with smudges, soft gradients, and muted tones—whatever helps shape the mood.
When the lighting, forms, and composition are working, you’ve already got most of the piece figured out. That’s the real secret to creating a strong fantasy painting in Procreate—give yourself enough structure early on so you can play freely later.
Pro tip: Stay zoomed out during this phase. If you zoom in too early, you risk getting lost in details and missing the overall picture.
Once the color harmony is in place and the scene feels like it’s breathing, I start locking in details. This might be a face, a key focal point, or an element that needs extra clarity to tell the story.
Here’s something I always tell fellow artists: you don’t need to use every brush in the set. Seriously. Choose two or three brushes you really vibe with and get to know them well. You’ll work faster, feel more confident, and actually discover unique ways to use them.
People often ask me, “How many layers do you use in your Procreate paintings?” And the answer is: not many.
I try to keep layers to a minimum—one or two for colors, maybe one for linework, and the occasional adjustment. That’s it. I like working as if I’m painting on a single canvas.
Think of it like this: worrying about layer count in a digital painting is like asking how many pans a chef used to cook dinner. Sure, it’s interesting—but it’s not what makes the meal taste great.
Using fewer layers keeps me present. It forces me to commit, and that helps me stay focused on the painting itself instead of the software.
One of the most important skills in any painting process—especially when you’re creating fantasy artwork in Procreate—is knowing when to stop.
It’s so easy to get caught up in tweaking shadows, textures, or edge details forever. But at some point, you’ve gotta ask yourself: is the story clear? Is the mood working?
In this piece, I chose to focus on the characters’ faces—their joy, their connection. That’s where I pushed the detail. Everything else supports that moment without fighting for attention.
If you’d like to buy the same tools I used for this piece, you can grab the brush pack here: Canvas X Procreate Brush Pack
Looking for more tools? Check out our full library of Procreate and Affinity tools.
Whether you’re new to Procreate or deep into your illustration journey, I hope this breakdown gave you some useful insights into creating a fantasy painting in Procreate—especially when it comes to process, mindset, and brushwork.
If you found this post helpful, check out the full video on YouTube—and don’t forget to like and comment to help us reach more artists like you.
Thanks for reading, and as always—stay curious and keep painting!
—Enrique
