Create Your Own Procreate Plaid and Patterned Brushes Course

Editorial Take

Delores Orridge Naskrent's course offers a focused entry point into custom brush creation using Procreate, a popular digital illustration app. Aimed at beginners, it demystifies the process of designing seamless plaid and patterned brushes while integrating practical techniques applicable to digital artists and illustrators. With lifetime access and included brush assets, the course provides tangible value for those looking to expand their creative toolkit.

Standout Strengths

• Beginner-Friendly Structure: The course breaks down complex brush-making processes into manageable steps, making it accessible even to those with minimal prior experience. Each lesson builds confidence through clear demonstrations and logical progression.
• Included Brush Library: Students receive ready-to-use brushes, allowing immediate experimentation and application. This resource enhances learning by enabling side-by-side comparison between custom and original designs.
• Focus on Seamless Patterns: The course emphasizes creating repeatable, tileable patterns—a crucial skill for surface pattern designers. Techniques taught ensure professional-quality output suitable for textiles, wallpapers, or digital art.
• Layer and Snapping Workflow: Delores shares her personal workflow using Procreate’s layer system and snapping features, improving efficiency and precision. These pro tips help students work smarter, not harder, within the app.
• Pattern Customization Guidance: Beyond basic creation, the course teaches how to adjust patterns for visual harmony and integrate background elements. This elevates the artistic quality and versatility of final brushes.
• Practical Skill Transfer: Skills learned are directly applicable to freelance design, merchandising, or personal branding projects. Students gain tools to create unique assets that stand out in competitive creative markets.

Honest Limitations

• Limited Module Depth: With only one listed section spanning 1 hour, the course may feel brief for learners seeking comprehensive training. The lack of advanced modules restricts growth beyond foundational techniques.
• Minimal Project-Based Learning: Absence of structured assignments or challenges may reduce hands-on retention. Learners might benefit more from guided projects to reinforce concepts and build portfolios.
• Narrow Scope Focus: Concentration on plaid and patterned brushes excludes other brush types like textures or inking tools. Artists looking for broader brush design mastery may need supplementary resources.

How to Get the Most Out of It

• Study cadence: Complete one segment per day with active recreation of each step. This spaced repetition strengthens muscle memory and ensures deeper understanding of pattern alignment mechanics.
• Parallel project: Design a themed collection (e.g., holiday plaids) while taking the course. Applying lessons to real-world concepts boosts creativity and results in a shareable portfolio piece.
• Note-taking: Screenshot key workflow moments and annotate them with personal observations. These visual notes serve as quick-reference guides for future brush development sessions.
• Community: Share your brushes in Procreate forums or social media groups. Feedback from peers can highlight improvements and inspire new design directions you hadn’t considered.
• Practice: Rebuild each demonstrated pattern from scratch without pausing the video. This reinforces technique and helps identify gaps in understanding or execution.
• Consistency: Dedicate 20 minutes daily to brush experimentation after course completion. Regular iteration leads to mastery and the development of a distinctive artistic style.

Supplementary Resources

• Book: 'Pattern Design: Art and Inspiration' by Alison Curtis offers historical context and visual inspiration to complement technical skills learned. It broadens aesthetic understanding for pattern creators.
• Tool: Use Patternodes or Adobe Illustrator to prototype patterns before importing to Procreate. These tools allow precise control and symmetry adjustments for complex repeats.
• Follow-up: Enroll in advanced Procreate illustration courses to apply custom brushes in full compositions. This bridges the gap between tool creation and professional artwork production.
• Reference: Explore Spoonflower’s design guidelines for real-world constraints in print-on-demand services. Understanding scale and repeat boundaries improves practical usability of your patterns.

Common Pitfalls

• Pitfall: Skipping snapping setup leads to misaligned patterns. Always enable grid and snapping before designing to ensure clean, seamless tiling and avoid frustrating manual corrections.
• Pitfall: Overcomplicating early designs results in cluttered brushes. Start simple—focus on symmetry and balance—then gradually layer complexity as confidence grows.
• Pitfall: Ignoring canvas resolution affects brush quality. Work at high DPI settings to ensure brushes remain crisp when scaled, especially for commercial use or print applications.

Time & Money ROI

• Time: At under two hours total, the course is concise and focused. Learners gain actionable skills quickly, ideal for busy creatives seeking efficient upskilling without time overload.
• Cost-to-value: Despite being paid, the inclusion of downloadable brushes and lifetime access increases perceived value. Cost is justified for artists needing proprietary tools for branding or product design.
• Certificate: The Certificate of Completion adds modest credentialing value, best used as supplemental proof of skill in creative portfolios rather than formal job applications.
• Alternative: Free YouTube tutorials may cover similar topics but lack structured progression and curated feedback. This course’s organized approach saves time and reduces learning frustration.

Editorial Verdict

This course excels as an entry-level gateway into custom Procreate brush creation, particularly for artists interested in textile design, digital illustration, or branding. Delores Orridge Naskrent delivers a well-structured, visually driven curriculum that prioritizes hands-on learning and immediate application. The inclusion of downloadable brushes and emphasis on seamless pattern techniques sets it apart from generic tutorials. While brief in duration, its focused scope ensures no time is wasted—every segment serves a clear purpose in building foundational skills.

However, the course’s narrow breadth and lack of advanced content mean it won’t replace comprehensive design programs. It’s best suited as a specialized skill booster rather than a full certification path. For beginners eager to enhance their Procreate fluency and create unique design assets, this course delivers strong value. We recommend it for illustrators, surface designers, and hobbyists looking to elevate their digital art with personalized tools. Pair it with independent practice and community engagement to maximize long-term impact.