The Tools Behind My Art
Creating art is a deeply personal and immersive process, and the tools I use play a significant role in bringing my visions to life. Over the years, I’ve found a combination of digital tools that works seamlessly for my style and workflow. In this post, I’ll be sharing the tools and equipment I use to create my digital art, and how they help me every step of the way.
1. iPad Pro: The Heart of My Workflow
When I first switched to digital art, I was searching for a tool that offered a balance of power, portability, and precision. The iPad Pro ended up being a great fit for my needs. Its design and performance quickly became central to my creative process.
The screen is a standout feature — with its large True Tone display and ProMotion technology, I can see every detail of my work in vibrant colours and smooth motion. Whether I’m sketching at home or working in a café, the portability of the iPad Pro lets me create wherever I am without any limitations.
Its performance is also impressive. The A12Z Bionic chip handles demanding apps like Procreate effortlessly, allowing me to work on high-resolution canvases and large files without worrying about slowdowns or crashes.
2. Apple Pencil: Precision and Control
The Apple Pencil has made a big difference in my digital drawing experience. It offers great precision and control, making it feel more like using traditional tools, but with all the advantages of digital art. The pressure sensitivity and tilt functionality help replicate the feel of real brushes, pencils, or markers, giving me full control over every line and stroke.
I’m attaching this video so you can see my hand movements while using the Apple Pencil.
What stands out most is how smoothly the Apple Pencil works with the iPad Pro. Together, they make drawing feel natural and intuitive. I can quickly sketch out ideas, refine details, or layer textures effortlessly, all with a tool that feels comfortable in my hand.
3. Procreate: My Go-To Digital Art App
When it comes to digital art, I’ve found Procreate to be the most intuitive and versatile app for my workflow. I’ve experimented with a few other apps, but this one feels the most natural to use. The interface is straightforward, allowing me to focus on creating rather than navigating complicated menus.
It has all the essential tools I rely on—brushes, layers, and even advanced features like animation, time-lapse recording, and color management. The brush engine is especially responsive, making it easy to achieve a range of textures, from soft gradients to bold, textured strokes.
I also appreciate the flexibility that layers provide, making it easier to experiment with effects or make adjustments without disrupting the entire piece.
4. Clip Studio Paint
I started using CSP only recently, and my only regret is not trying it sooner—especially for landscapes. The brushes give me exactly the effects I’ve been looking for, which I feel Procreate lacks for my specific needs. That said, I’ve seen incredible landscapes created in Procreate by other artists, so this is purely based on my own experience. I don’t have custom brushes specifically for landscapes in Procreate since I don’t usually paint them, but ever since I started using CSP for landscapes, I haven't felt the need to switch back to Procreate for that type of work.
Created this as an example piece for my course “Foundations of Digital Art.”
5. Custom Procreate Brushes: Personalising My Style
One of the most fun aspects of using Procreate is the ability to create and use custom brushes. While Procreate offers an impressive selection of built-in brushes, customising my own set of brushes has given me the freedom to experiment and refine my style further. Custom brushes allow me to replicate the feel of traditional media like ink or pencil, or even create entirely new textures and effects that match my creative vision.
Whether I’m working on a detailed portrait or a textured background, these brushes make all the difference in achieving the exact look I want. Procreate’s brush editor is incredibly intuitive, allowing me to tweak settings like grain, flow, and shape, so I can customise my tools to fit any project.
Some of my favourite custom brushes which I use regularly include the sketch set that give a rough, sketchy texture, perfect for initial sketching and refining. For smooth line art, I use the pressure sensitive Details Brush, which helps create clean and precise lines. For blending, I usually rely on the Smooth Blending Brush from my Painting Set—it makes the blending process effortless and incredibly satisfying. The versatility of these brushes allows me to effortlessly combine digital and traditional techniques, giving my artwork a polished and natural finish.
If you’re a Procreate user interested in trying my brushes, I highly recommend the All-Inclusive Set — it gives you access to all my brushes and stamp sets at a much better value.
Conclusion
The iPad Pro, Apple Pencil, Procreate, and my custom brushes have become an important part of my creative process. They help me bring my ideas to life with ease and precision while giving me the freedom to experiment and refine my style. Every artist has their own preferred tools, so what works for me might not work for everyone. I encourage you to explore different options and find the tools that make creating feel natural and enjoyable for you.
I’d love to hear from you! What tools do you use in your creative process? Feel free to share your favourites in the comments below or ask any questions you might have about the tools I use.
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