In this tutorial, we’re going to learn how to draw a simple sand dune desert scene using Procreate. The only tools that you’ll need for this project are your iPad and an Apple Pencil or equivalent stylus. All of the brushes which we’ll use are pre-sets within Procreate, although feel free to add your own touches.
In the end, there’s an optional step to add a paper texture – so if you want to add this part, you can download the same files as me here.
I’ve also chosen my own colours, but if you would like a colour palette for inspiration – check out Desert Sunset, available to download here.
So, our first step is to create a new canvas. You can do this by tapping on the + icon in the top right-hand corner of Procreate’s gallery screen. In the menu, select the Screen Size option.
Now, you should see a blank canvas open. Tap on the layers icon in the top right-hand corner and press the + to create a new layer.
In the Brush Library, open the Calligraphy section and then select the Monoline brush. Monoline is a really great brush for drawing outlines and shapes.
Select a yellow shade (not too bright – think the colour of sand, we also don’t want it to be too orangey as we’ll use this type of colour later for the shadows). Using the Monoline brush on the smallest possible size, draw two hill-like shapes, as below.
Create a new layer, and using the same yellow shade, draw over the largest sand dune and then colour it in. It’s really important that this is done on a new layer – our initial shapes are just a guide.
Create another new layer. Choose an orange shade, and using the Monoline brush, draw a squiggly line from the highest point of the sand dune, down to the bottom. Don’t make the line too wiggly – maybe have one main curve coming over to the left.
Trace the shape of your original sand dune and then colour the entire right-hand side using the same orange shade.
Open the Brush Library, and under the Charcoals section, choose the Vine Charcoal brush. This entire selection of charcoal brushes is fantastic for an array of different textures.
Tap on your layer containing the orange section of the dune, and in the menu, select Alpha Lock. Using Alpha Lock will ensure that anything we add to the canvas from this point, will stay on areas that are already coloured.
Click here for a guide to Procreate’s different masking options.
Using the Vine Charcoal brush, with the opacity on around 20% and the size on around 70%, add some darker orange shading to the inside of the sand dune – around the bendy parts towards the front (note to self: research technical terms regarding sand dunes!).
It may take a little bit of trial and error to get this right – but take some time to experiment – and remember, in nature, anything can happen, so it doesn’t have to be exact.
Next, choose a lighter orange shade and add this – using the same technique – to the top area of the sand dune, still on the dark orange right-hand side. This will give the illusion of the sun shining on the top area.
Once you’re happy with the darker side of the dune, open the layer which contains the lighter left-hand side, and apply Alpha Lock.
Use the same technique to add shading and highlights to this section of the sand dune.
Repeat these steps on the baby sand dune to the left of the canvas.
Your sand dunes are complete! Feel free to spend a bit of time perfecting them and experimenting with shading.
Our next step is to add the sky; open the layers panel and add a new layer. Drag this layer to the bottom of the list, so that the only thing behind it is the background colour.
Choose a light blue colour and fill this entire layer.
Open the Brush Library, and under Airbrushing, select Soft Brush.
Choose a pastel peach shade, and colour the bottom section of the sky – just above the horizon.
Open the Adjustments menu (the tool on the left-hand top menu which looks like a magic wand) and select Gaussian Blur. Select Layer from the menu which opens.
Slide your stylus across the screen – the further right you swipe, the more the layer will blur. This is a really great technique for creating sunsets!
I’ve set my Gaussian Blur to 35.3% but feel free to blur the sky as little or much as you prefer.
Next, let’s add a toasty hot desert sun. Open the Brush Library and select Monoline again.
In a very light yellow shade, draw a circle in the centre of the canvas, above the sand dunes. Hold your stylus on the screen to snap the shape to an exact eclipse. If a menu appears along the top of the screen, select circle. You can then use the transform tool to amend the size if required.
Fill the sun using the same colour as the outline.
Go back to the Brush Library, and pick the Soft Brush once again (a really versatile brush!).
Lower the brush’s opacity down to around 50%, and lower the size so that it’s slightly smaller than the sun. Slowly draw circles on top of the solid yellow sun, to give the effect that it’s a little blurry, like when we see the real sun.
You can always leave the sun as a solid shape if you prefer a more geometric effect.
If you want to add a little glow around the sun, change the size of the Soft Brush so that it’s bigger than the sun, and lower the opacity even more. Use the brush as a stamp to create a halo effect.
You might want to leave your project here, but I’m going to add a little texture to give the effect of a painting. I’m going to use a paper texture from the pack noted at the start of the tutorial (click here to download).
If you do want to do this step, open the Actions menu (the tool which looks like a wrench, in the top left corner) and tap insert a photo.
Ensure your chosen paper texture is downloaded to your iPad, and then select this from your device’s photo gallery. You’ll then see it appear on the canvas, as it’s own new layer.
Use the transform controls to expand the paper image so that it’s bigger than the entire canvas.
Next, open the layers panel and tap on the small N – next to the check box – on the layer which contains the paper texture image.
You’ll see the layer styles menu appear, in this list select the option named Divide and lower the opacity using the slider, to around 45%.
You should see the paper image fade but the texture remains. covering the canvas. Feel free to adjust the opacity as you wish, you may prefer it lighter or darker. This is your project, so make it your own however you want 🙂
You’re all done! Below you can see my finished project with the paper texture. Keep scrolling for an alternate style with a more avant-garde sunset.
I hope that you enjoyed this tutorial, and please let us know how you got on in the comments.
Project without the paper texture added:
Project with an alternate colour sky and sun positioning:
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