Digital Illustration

Lead Like a Pirate

By: Ryder E

Process: Creating a digital art piece based on a pirate theme can be an exciting and rewarding project, especially using Procreate on an iPad. The process begins with researching my theme. Since pirates are my favorite subject, I started by gathering reference images and information about pirate ships, clothing, and other elements that define pirate culture. After researching, I found a picture to use as a reference, which serves as a guide throughout the creative process. Consulting with Mrs. McMillian, a high school art teacher, was also an important part of the process. Her advice and feedback help refine my approach, offering insight into techniques that could enhance my work, such as how to effectively use light and shadow or how to add textures that bring artwork to life.

Steps:
Once I had all my references and ideas in place, I opened Procreate on my iPad and begin by creating a new canvas with the appropriate dimensions for my desired output. I imported a reference image into Procreate to trace and use it as a visual guide while I worked on my design. Starting with a rough sketch, I outlined the basic elements of my pirate scene, focusing on the composition and overall structure. I used Procreate’s various sketching brushes and layers to separate different elements of the drawing, which helps maintain flexibility as I refined my artwork.

After completing the basic sketch, the next step is to block in the colors. Using Procreate’s color palette, I began filling in the base colors for the background and main subjects, such as the pirate character, the ship, and treasures. Once the colors were established, I added shading and highlights to create depth, ensuring to follow the light source for more realistic effects. Procreate’s blending tools and brushes allowed me to smoothly transition between light and shadow, giving my piece volume and dimension. As I continued to develop the artwork, I refined finer details, such as facial features, textures on clothing, and intricate woodwork on the pirate ship.

The final steps involved adding those extra touches that made the artwork stand out. These included highlights, additional textures, and background elements like the stormy skies. After fine-tuning my artwork, I exported it in the desired format—whether it’s a high-resolution PNG for printing or a JPEG for sharing online. 

Throughout the process, taking breaks to review my work and seek feedback from others, like my art teacher, Mrs. McMillian, ensured that the final piece is polished and reflected reflected my creative vision. 

By following these steps, I created a detailed and engaging pirate-themed digital art piece, all using the powerful tools and features of Procreate on your iPad.