Atmospheric Scenes in Procreate: Paint with Color and Light

Digital artwork, just like traditional paintings and photographs, has the ability to make viewers lose themselves in an image and forget the world around them. Illustrator Ramona Wultschner is inspired by creating images influenced by nature and how the glow and dancing patterns of light can make you feel. She has illustrated numerous children’s books, and has written and illustrated one of her own. She also sells her artwork online and is a visualization trainer at the Bikablo Academy in Cologne.

In this course, Ramona teaches you how to take something that inspires you and translate the feeling it evokes into a digital painting. Explore the possibilities and tools of Procreate, and discover the power of color, light, and composition. Create an atmospheric scene that allows viewers to step into a different world.

Meet your teacher for the course, Ramona Wultschner, as she discusses the path she took to becoming a freelance illustrator. She also shares what sparks her imagination from the world around her, and talks about the people who have influenced her work.

Explore the essentials for digital painting, starting with Ramona’s advice on the features of Procreate, with a focus on brushes, and painting concepts like layering. Delve into the principles of color and light using photographs as a guide. Then, Ramona explains how to break down the complex details and shapes found in nature and represent them in your own style. Continue to further understand color, focusing on the nuances such as hue and detecting hidden colors, before learning how to lead a viewers’ eye to the areas of your image you want them to focus on.

Ramona shows you, step by step, how to turn your idea into an image, beginning with finding inspiration. After, explore thumbnailing as a way to map out your piece, then refine your thumbnail sketch on a new canvas, concentrating on things such as balance, mood, and ratios to create a value sketch. Take what you’ve learned to add color, before starting the final painting process, with Ramona taking you through each detail. Then, learn to render your image.

Discover how to take a critical look at your work and analyze weaknesses in your image as you make any final adjustments, and add the finishing touches. End the course with Ramona’s advice on sharing your art and creative journey on social media.

Create a digital painting in Procreate of something that inspires you, with a focus on light and color.

This course is for anyone who is interested in creating atmosphere in a digital image.

A basic understanding of drawing and painting is useful but not essential.

To take the course you will need an iPad with access to Procreate, and an Apple Pencil.