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Illustrate a Children's Book Scene in Procreate

Art Supplies Close-Up

In this class, you’ll learn how to illustrate a complete children’s book scene from start to finish using Procreate. We’ll walk through the entire process together - from brainstorming your idea and sketching thumbnails to building your final illustration with color, texture, and detail.

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This class is designed to feel approachable and practical, whether you’re new to digital illustration or looking to strengthen your storytelling skills. You’ll learn how to plan a scene, create a strong composition, develop a clean sketch, and bring your artwork to life with simple rendering techniques that keep a soft, storybook feel.

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By the end of the class, you’ll have a finished illustration you can be proud of, along with a clear, repeatable process you can use for future projects.

Get the Class Guide!

Paper And Pencil

Grab your free class guide! Enjoy! 🥰

Course Table of Contents

Illustrating a Children’s Book Scene in Procreate

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1. Welcome & Overview

  • What we’re creating together

  • Final project preview

  • Tools + brushes you’ll need

 

2. Brainstorming Your Scene

  • Generating story ideas

  • Choosing a moment to illustrate

  • Defining mood, setting, and characters

 

3. Thumbnail Sketching

  • What thumbnails are and why they matter

  • Creating quick composition options

  • Choosing the strongest layout

 

4. Planning the Scene

  • Composition basics (foreground, middle ground, background)

  • Focal point and visual flow

  • Simple value planning

 

5. Rough Sketch

  • Building your scene structure

  • Placing characters and props

  • Keeping things loose and flexible

 

6. Refining the Sketch

  • Cleaning up lines

  • Adjusting proportions and readability

  • Preparing for color

 

7. Color Planning

  • Choosing a color palette

  • Establishing mood with color

  • Quick color roughs

 

8. Base Coloring

  • Blocking in flat colors

  • Separating elements into layers

  • Staying organized in Procreate

 

9. Rendering & Shading

  • Adding light and shadow

  • Creating depth and dimension

  • Keeping a soft, storybook feel

 

10. Adding Texture & Details

  • Using texture brushes effectively

  • Enhancing surfaces (fabric, foliage, etc.)

  • Small details that bring the scene to life

 

11. Final Touches

  • Adjustments (color balance, contrast)

  • Adding subtle effects (glow, atmosphere)

  • Knowing when to stop

 

12. Exporting & Next Steps

  • Export settings for print vs digital

  • Tips for building a portfolio

  • Encouragement + wrap-up

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