How to Draw Cartoon Characters In Procreate Course

Editorial Take

This Procreate course stands out as a vibrant gateway for beginners eager to dive into the world of cartoon character creation with digital tools. It masterfully blends foundational drawing concepts with intuitive iPad-based techniques using the Procreate app, making it highly accessible for newcomers. The course emphasizes personality-driven design, guiding learners through expressive features and dynamic poses that bring characters to life. With a strong focus on practical, step-by-step exercises, it transforms uncertainty into confidence for aspiring digital illustrators.

Standout Strengths

• Beginner-Friendly Structure: The course opens with a clear 30-minute introduction to Procreate’s interface, ensuring even total novices can navigate brushes and canvas settings without confusion. This grounding allows students to focus on creativity rather than technical overwhelm in later lessons.
• Focus on Expressive Facial Features: A full 45-minute module is dedicated to drawing eyes, mouths, noses, and ears in cartoon styles, giving learners deep practice in conveying emotion. This attention to detail helps students create characters that feel alive and emotionally resonant.
• Strong Emphasis on Personality: The curriculum consistently ties technical skills back to character identity, teaching how proportions and exaggeration reflect unique traits. Learners don’t just draw bodies—they invent personalities with visual cues rooted in cartooning tradition.
• Effective Use of Procreate Tools: Students learn to leverage inking brushes for clean line art and apply flat colors, gradients, and simple shadows using native Procreate features. These hands-on techniques build digital fluency while keeping workflows efficient and beginner-appropriate.
• Dynamic Posing and Body Language: Through action lines and silhouette studies, the course teaches how to sketch believable gestures and energetic stances in 45 focused minutes. This builds confidence in movement and storytelling through posture—an essential skill for cartoonists.
• Project-Based Learning: The final project module guides students through designing original characters with full illustrations, including backgrounds and color. This capstone experience synthesizes all prior skills into a portfolio-ready piece that demonstrates growth and creativity.
• Clear Path to Portfolio Development: The concluding section offers actionable advice on organizing digital artwork and sharing it online, tailored specifically for emerging artists. This practical guidance bridges the gap between learning and real-world presentation.
• Well-Timed Lesson Blocks: Each module is structured in digestible 30–45 minute segments, aligning with attention spans and busy schedules. This pacing supports consistent progress without burnout, ideal for self-paced learners.

Honest Limitations

• Narrow Artistic Scope: The course exclusively covers cartoon styles and does not explore realism or anime, limiting its appeal for artists interested in broader genres. Those seeking diverse stylistic training may need to look elsewhere.
• No Animation Coverage: Despite being a digital art course, there is no instruction on frame-by-frame animation or looping techniques within Procreate. This omission leaves a gap for learners hoping to create animated shorts or GIFs.
• Basic Coloring Approach: While students learn flat colors and gradients, advanced coloring methods like texture mapping or complex shading are not addressed. This keeps the course accessible but restricts depth for those aiming for professional polish.
• Limited Tool Exploration: Although Procreate’s inking brushes are used, the course doesn’t delve into custom brush creation or advanced layer effects. Learners may need supplemental resources to expand beyond preset tools.
• Minimal Focus on Anatomy: The course simplifies body structure using basic shapes but avoids detailed anatomical study, which could hinder realism in future work. This is appropriate for cartoons but may leave gaps for hybrid artists.
• No Industry Software Comparison: There is no discussion of how Procreate fits within larger pipelines involving programs like Photoshop or Clip Studio Paint. This limits context for students considering professional workflows.
• Static Project Examples: All projects result in still images, with no guidance on character turnarounds or expression sheets used in production environments. These are standard in the industry but absent here.
• Single Instructor Perspective: With only Brand Colbow teaching, the course lacks diverse artistic viewpoints or guest insights that could broaden stylistic exposure. This creates a cohesive style but less variety in approach.

How to Get the Most Out of It

• Study cadence: Commit to one 45-minute lesson per day, allowing time to practice exercises before moving forward. This rhythm reinforces retention and builds momentum without rushing.
• Parallel project: Create a personal character journal alongside the course, designing one new cartoon each week using learned techniques. This builds a habit of creation beyond the curriculum.
• Note-taking: Use Procreate’s layers to save rough sketches, color palettes, and expression studies in labeled folders. Organizing your process visually enhances review and iteration.
• Community: Join the official Udemy discussion board for this course to share work and get feedback from peers. Engaging with others fosters accountability and inspiration.
• Practice: Redraw facial expressions daily using different emotion prompts like 'surprise' or 'scheming' to internalize range. Repetition strengthens muscle memory and creative fluency.
• Feedback Loop: Post your final illustrations in online art communities such as DeviantArt or Reddit’s r/learnart for constructive critique. External input accelerates improvement and reveals blind spots.
• Tool Mastery: Experiment with every brush introduced, adjusting opacity and flow to understand their full potential. Deep familiarity prevents underutilization in future projects.
• Time Blocking: Schedule fixed 60-minute blocks combining lesson viewing and hands-on drawing to minimize distractions. Consistent timing improves focus and output quality.

Supplementary Resources

• Book: 'Cartooning: The Ultimate Character Design Book' by Steve Huston complements this course by expanding on form and gesture. It provides theoretical depth that enhances the course’s practical approach.
• Tool: Download the free version of Linearity Curve to practice vector-based drawing on desktop. This builds complementary skills useful for merchandising and scaling artwork.
• Follow-up: Enroll in 'Procreate: Solid Foundations Course' to deepen understanding of illustration workflows and layer management. This next step strengthens technical proficiency.
• Reference: Keep the official Procreate Handbook open while working to explore undocumented gestures and shortcuts. This resource unlocks hidden features not covered in class.
• Podcast: Listen to 'The Drawing Podcast' for interviews with illustrators who discuss creative blocks and workflow tips. Real-world stories add motivation and context.
• Website: Visit Drawabox.com for free structured exercises in line control and perspective. These drills improve precision and hand stability critical for clean inking.
• App: Try Sketch Club on Android or iPad as a backup drawing platform with similar tools. Cross-platform experience increases adaptability and accessibility.
• Workbook: Use 'The Artist's Guide to Drawing Cartoons' by Gary Field as a physical companion for offline sketching. It reinforces concepts with printable templates and prompts.

Common Pitfalls

• Pitfall: Skipping foundational shape exercises can lead to inconsistent proportions in final characters. To avoid this, complete all construction drills even if they seem too simple at first.
• Pitfall: Over-relying on default brushes without adjusting settings results in generic-looking line work. Customize brush size and pressure sensitivity to develop a unique visual voice.
• Pitfall: Failing to save multiple layers separately makes editing difficult later. Always keep line art, color, and background on distinct layers for maximum flexibility.
• Pitfall: Copying instructor examples too closely stifles originality. Use demos as inspiration but change clothing, expressions, or poses to build authentic designs.
• Pitfall: Rushing through expression modules leads to repetitive or flat emotions. Spend extra time varying eyebrow angles and mouth shapes to capture nuanced feelings.
• Pitfall: Ignoring background integration causes characters to float unnaturally. Practice placing figures in simple scenes to strengthen compositional awareness.
• Pitfall: Waiting until the end to organize files leads to cluttered galleries. Label and export each project immediately after completion to maintain order.
• Pitfall: Comparing early work to professionals creates discouragement. Track progress weekly to appreciate growth and avoid premature self-judgment.

Time & Money ROI

• Time: Completing all modules takes approximately 4.5 hours, but adding practice brings total investment to 15–20 hours. This realistic timeline allows for mastery without burnout.
• Cost-to-value: At typical Udemy pricing, the course offers exceptional value for beginners building a digital art foundation. The skills gained far exceed the modest financial outlay.
• Certificate: While the certificate of completion isn't industry-recognized, it validates effort and can support freelance profiles or learning portfolios. It holds symbolic rather than formal weight.
• Alternative: Free YouTube tutorials lack structured progression and feedback loops, making them less effective despite zero cost. The course’s cohesion justifies its price.
• Freelance Potential: Skills learned can be applied to custom portrait gigs on platforms like Fiverr or Etsy within weeks. This fast turnaround enables early monetization of new abilities.
• Skill Transfer: Techniques in inking and coloring directly apply to merchandise design, boosting income potential. Learners can create stickers, prints, or apparel using their characters.
• Device Requirement: An iPad and Apple Pencil are necessary, adding to initial cost. Budget-conscious learners should factor in hardware when assessing overall investment.
• Resale Value: Lifetime access means the course remains usable across years, increasing per-use value over time. This durability enhances long-term return on investment.

Editorial Verdict

This Procreate course delivers an exceptionally well-structured, joyful introduction to cartoon character design tailored perfectly for absolute beginners. By focusing on personality, expression, and digital tool fluency, it empowers learners to create vibrant, engaging characters with confidence. The instructor's clear pacing and thoughtful module design ensure that each skill builds naturally on the last, resulting in tangible progress by the final project. With lifetime access and a certificate of completion, the course offers lasting value for anyone wanting to explore digital illustration in a fun, low-pressure environment. Its strengths in foundational training and creative encouragement make it a standout choice among beginner art courses on Udemy.

While the course has limitations—such as its narrow focus on cartooning and absence of animation—it wisely stays within its scope to avoid overwhelming new artists. These omissions are not flaws but intentional design choices that keep the learning curve gentle and focused. For those specifically interested in cartoon characters and digital drawing on iPad, there are few better starting points. When paired with supplementary practice and community engagement, the skills gained here can launch a fulfilling creative journey. Whether you're aiming for freelance work, personal expression, or social media content, this course provides the right tools and inspiration to begin with purpose and joy.