Last Updated on March 16, 2026 by Dee
Want to create a watercolor brush in Procreate that actually looks and behaves like real paint? The default brushes don’t always give that soft, blended effect, so today, I’ll show you how to make your own custom watercolor brush from scratch – a perfect Procreate tutorial for beginners!
And the best part? You can download this exact brush along with my Procreate watercolor paper texture for FREE! Just grab them at the end of this post.
Table of Contents
🎥 Watch the Procreate Tutorial
To follow along visually, check out my step-by-step video tutorial on How to Make a Watercolor Brush in Procreate:
🛠️ Tools & Supplies for This Tutorial
For the best experience, here are the tools I recommend using in Procreate (These are the tools I use in this video!)
- iPad Pro (2024) – Optimized for smooth Procreate performance.
- Apple Pencil Pro – Allows precise control and pressure sensitivity.
- Procreate App – Available on the App Store.
- Free Watercolor Brush & Texture Pack – Download below!
**This page may contain affiliate links to products I have used or recommend. If you purchase something from this page, I may receive a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you.**
✨ Step-by-Step: How to Make a Watercolor Brush in Procreate
Follow these easy steps to create your own realistic watercolor brush in Procreate.
Step 1: Setting Up the Base Brush
- Open Procreate and go to the Brush Library.
- Scroll down to the Painting set and find the Wash brush.
- Duplicate the Wash brush by swiping left and tapping Duplicate.
- Rename it something fun like “D’s Watercolor Brush”.
✅ Why? The Wash brush already has a soft texture, making it a great base for customization.
Step 2: Adjusting Taper for a Softer Stroke
- Tap your newly duplicated brush to open Brush Studio.
- Select Taper and move both points toward the center.
- Set Size to 99-100% for smoother stroke control.
✅ Why? This setting mimics the way real watercolor fades at the start and end of a stroke.
Step 3: Changing Shape for a Natural Edge
- Tap Shape > Edit > Import > Source Library.
- Scroll down and select “Bleed” for a more organic brush tip.
- Enable Azimuth & Barrel Roll for dynamic brush rotation.
✅ Why? This setting works great with the Apple Pencil Pro, allowing natural rotation for a more traditional painting feel.
Step 4: Adding Watercolor Paper Texture
- Tap Grain, then Edit Grain Source.
- Select “Clouds 2” from the Source Library.
- Set Grain Behavior to Texturized instead of “Moving”.
- Adjust Depth to 75% for a realistic paper effect.
✅ Why? This step gives the brush the texture of pigment settling into paper rather than looking too digital.
Step 5: Adjusting Rendering for a More Transparent Look
- Tap Rendering and select Uniform Blending.
- Adjust these settings:
- Wet Edges: 100% → Creates dark pigment outlines.
- Burnt Edges: 25% → Adds a natural drying effect.
- Burnt Edges Mode: Linear Burn → Enhances watercolor-like depth.
✅ Why? This makes color pooling at the edges while the center remains soft—just like real watercolor.
Step 6: Adjusting Wet Mix for Realistic Paint Flow
- Tap Wet Mix and adjust:
- Charge: 6-7% → Controls how much paint is on the brush.
- Pull: 100% → Defines how far the paint spreads.
- Grade: 22% → Adjusts pigment intensity.
✅ Why? These settings replicate watercolor flow by allowing colors to mix smoothly and spread naturally.
Step 7: Saving & Testing the Brush
- Tap Done to save your brush.
- Test it on a watercolor-textured canvas.
- Experiment with light and heavy pressure to see the transparency and texture in action.
- Layer multiple strokes to demonstrate depth and blending.
✅ Why? A good watercolor brush should have soft transparency and natural pigment pooling at the edges.
🎨 Bonus: How to Blend with the Brush
If you want to create seamless watercolor washes, follow these blending tips:
- Tap the Smudge Tool.
- Select the same watercolor brush.
- Adjust its size and opacity for softer blending.
- Lightly blend two colors together to mimic wet-on-wet watercolor.
✅ Why? This method creates smooth, natural color transitions—just like traditional watercolor!
More Procreate Watercolor Tutorials…
Check out my other Procreate Watercolor Tutorial Videos below.
Procreate Watercolor: How To Paint A Watercolor Watermelon
Procreate Watercolor Blueberries
🚀 Want More Free Procreate Brushes & Tutorials?
Join my Patreon to get exclusive brushes, color palettes, templates, and tutorials every month!
📌 Pin This Tutorial for Later!
Save this guide to Pinterest so you can come back anytime:
Grab the Free Watercolor Brush & Paper Texture for Procreate HERE (below)!
To access the free in-post resources for this post, you’ll just need to create a free account or login with the Grow.me tool. Then, confirm by email and refresh the page and ALL my free printables will automatically unlock in every post!
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Join today and unlock premium resources to take your creativity to the next level!
✅ Final Thoughts
By following this tutorial, you’ve now created a realistic watercolor brush in Procreate that mimics real paint beautifully! 🎨
If you found this guide helpful: ✅ Hit LIKE & SUBSCRIBE on YouTube for more tutorials!
✅ Comment below with your thoughts or questions!
✅ Check out my next video on Procreate Blending Techniques—perfect for this brush!
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Frequently Asked Questions About Watercolor Brush Procreate
What are watercolor brush procreate and why are they useful?
Want to create a watercolor brush in Procreate that actually looks and behaves like real paint ? The default brushes don’t always give that soft, blended effect, so today, I’ll show you how to make your own custom watercolor brush from scratch – a perfect Procreate tutorial for beginners! And the best part? You can download this exact brush along with my Procreate watercolor paper texture for FREE! Just grab them at the end of this post. Table of Contents 🎥 Watch this Easy Procreate Tutorial For Beginners 🛠️ Tools & Supplies for This Tutorial ✨ Step-by-Step: How to Make a Watercolor Brush in P.
Can you explain 🎥 watch the procreate tutorial?
This is covered in detail in the post above, with step-by-step guidance and free printable resources to help you get started with watercolor brush procreate.
What watercolor supplies work best for watercolor brush procreate?
For watercolor brush procreate, I recommend starting with a basic watercolor set (student grade is perfect), cold press watercolor paper (140lb/300gsm), and round brushes in sizes 6 and 10. The templates and printables in this post are designed to work with any skill level and supply set.
How do I download the free watercolor brush procreate printables?
Just use the Grow.me download box in this post — create a free account (takes 30 seconds), confirm your email, and refresh the page. Once unlocked, you will have access to ALL free watercolor brush procreate and every other free printable across artsydee.com!