10 Best Paid & Free Procreate Brushes for Portraits
The only difference in using free Procreate brushes for portraits versus their paid counterparts is the payment.
I have used free brushes and those that I bought in making portraits.
You will not notice any difference.
Obviously, it’s the artist’s skill that would really matter.
Some artists are born with talent.
But, fret not.
You can still be an acclaimed artist.
Some artists honed their talent with the help of technology.
Nowadays, digital tools are continuously being improved for all types of users, novice and experienced.
Drawing apps, such as Procreate, have outstanding features that can help anyone make stunning art.
Moreover, it helps guide aspiring creatives on using digital tools or even provide enjoyment for hobby-ists.
The Procreate app is known for digital illustration, including making portrait art.
With spectacular digital brushes that you can download, you can sketch someone as unique as you want.
Below are suggestions for the best premium and free procreate brushes for portraits that you will find amazing.
Let’s find out why you should add these to your art arsenal.
Table of Contents
1. Procreate Portrait Brushes By Digital Art By Chao
A self-taught Russian digital artist named Anastacia created this set of brushes.
Anastacia is the owner of “Digital Art By Chao, ” known for several creative portrait illustrations.
The owner is an enthusiast for turning people into fun caricatures.
If you want to see more of her art, check out her Instagram account @art.by.chao.
When you purchase this brush set, you also get perks of personal training or notes from her if you reach out.
Now, who would say no to tips and guidance from the approachable artist herself?
Besides the friendly creator, when you get these brushes, they come with stamps for the face, eyes, lips, nose, brows, and lashes.
Moreover, the skin brushes are included for the realistic texture making your portrait alive.
This complete set will be worth every cent you spend since it already has various brushes and stamps to choose from.
You can purchase this awesome set of 22 brushes with stamps at Etsy.com.
Pros & Benefits:
- The responsive owner can give tips and tutorials on how to use your brushes
- This brush set contains skin brushes for natural texture
- Set of 22 brushes includes a variety of stamps
2. Realistic Portrait Brush Set By Digital Art By Chao
Here’s another product from Digital Art By Chao.
And, yes, FREE tips for your artwork are still offered.
Unlike the first set we discussed above, if you wish to purchase only her amazing brushes with no other add-ons, then this brush set is for you.
This delightful set consists of 16 brushes.
The set will ensure a realistic effect for your portraits.
Effects such as sketching, hair, lashes, skin texture, glitter effects, and more detailed brushes are available.
Each of her brushes may seem simple, but if you add them all together, then you’ll get a great portrait that shows the brilliant artist inside you!
Every small detail is significant.
You can watch the creator’s sample eye drawing on her Etsy account, where you can purchase this brush set.
This sample guide for eye illustration starts with a dull opaque sketch.
Then after around six steps more, you already have this gorgeous eye with all the fabulous features.
So, start practicing with this brush set and see your artistic potential!
Pros & Benefits:
- The responsive owner can give tips and tutorials on how to use your brushes
- This set of 16 brushes promises detailed effects for art texture
- A simple guide for eye illustration is shown with this brush set
3. 10 Blending Brushes for Portraits By Karina Yordanova
Karina Yordanova created this set of blending brushes.
She is a Bulgarian freelance illustrator and character designer based in the United Kingdom.
As seen in her portfolio website www.karinayordanova.com, she is a professional illustrator.
Luckily for us, she is sharing her techniques through Procreate brushes.
These 10 simple and easy-to-use blending brushes can help you get the right skin tone, contour, or depth that you need for your portrait.
It can be useful for any image you need blending with, ideally for your portrait’s complexion, but illustrations with a more cartoon appearance can benefit from this as well.
You can blend the colors for your character’s hair, clothes, room, environment, and a whole lot more!
However, for realistic portraits, you can also think of blending like putting on makeup.
If you don’t know how to put makeup on, then these brushes may help you make sharp or rough areas smoother.
Moreover, it softens the contrast of different colors, thus creating a polished authentic image.
You can purchase these wonderful blending brushes at Etsy.com
Also, you’ll see more digital brushes made by the owner that could enhance the features of your digital portrait.
Pros & Benefits:
- Focused on a specific skill (blending) that you could develop
- Simple and easy to use brushes
- Created by a professional illustrator
4. Procreate Realistic Portrait Small Brush Set By Digital Art By Chao
If you are easily overwhelmed with so many choices, then this small quality set is perfect for you.
You don’t have to own all the digital tools to become an expert in illustrations, portraits, or any other graphics.
There are small sets available containing fewer items for you to focus on.
So, you can quickly grab your favorite tool while you progress in your drawing techniques.
This small brush set includes seven stamps, which you can see in the cover photo above.
Compared to other small sets available through the web, this was created by a Russian digital artist well-known for her work.
She aims to share her expertise worldwide through her digital brushes.
As mentioned in the previous sets, the artist is very accommodating.
She is willing to correct your art and give pointers on the alterations she makes.
Learning personally from the best would be a huge bonus to every product you purchase from her shop!
Check out this small brush set at Etsy.com and try to get in touch with the creator for a tutorial.
Pros & Benefits:
- The responsive owner can give tips and tutorials on how to use your brushes
- Suitable for those who want to focus on their techniques
- A small yet complete brush set for digital portraits
5. Perfect Portrait Procreate Brushes By Riveros Illustration
This Procreate brush bundle by Riveros Illustration, owned by Claudia Riveros, an illustrator and graphic designer based in Aalborg, Denmark.
With the creator’s belief that illustration can make or break your project, it shows that quality and content are her focus on astonishing art.
One of the reasons for this brush bundle is to help you draw at a faster pace.
It contains 25 Graphite and Charcoal Brushes: 9 Sketch Brushes, 7 Charcoal Brushes, 5 Texture Brushes, and 4 Filling Brushes.
These Graphite Brushes are pressure-sensitive that could create authentic textures for your illustrations.
Plus, 25 Hair Brushes allowing you to create every hairstyle you could imagine.
There’s more!
You’ll get two free eBook tutorials.
One for each brush set for a detailed step-by-step guide on how to use these digital brushes productively.
Moreover, you will be provided free practice sheets on making straight, wavy, and curly hair.
You can easily install and use all of these features as soon as you purchase this bundle at Creative Market.
Both personal and commercial licenses are available officially for Procreate.
Pros & Benefits:
- You get high-quality 25 texture brushes and 25 hair brushes
- This package contains free ebook tutorials and free practice sheets
- It’s easy to install and use at Procreate
6. 18 Procreate Brushes for Style Portraits By Kseniya Kaftaylova
Fashion enthusiasts also have an eye for design, and they shouldn’t be left out in the digital art industry.
The fashion industry has also adapted to the progression of technology.
This brush set is perfect for style portraits made by a Russian fashion illustrator named Kseniya Kaftaylova.
She also teaches digital art through her website ftartschool.ru.
The brush set contains 18 digital brushes exclusively for Procreate:
- Outline 1 & 2
- Lips
- Lipstick (Lights)
- Smudge & Shadow
- Smudge
- Shadow 1 & Shadow 2
- Shadow & Lights 1 to 3
- Watercolor Shadow
- Spray Lights
- Lights & Freckles
- Hexagon Lights
- Spray Stars
- Water Background,
- Smear Background
Moreover, this set is a collection of the creator’s favorite brushes, which she uses daily.
If these fashionable brushes are used by a professional illustrator every day, then it’s expected that there shouldn’t be any more questions asked regarding performance.
But don’t be intimidated by its theme that it’s labeled for style portraits.
You can still use these tools for any genre.
So, purchase this digital brush set at Creative Market with its personal or commercial license.
Pros & Benefits:
- Ideal for Fashion Portraits
- Consists of 18 stylish digital brushes
- It is a collection of the creator’s favorite daily-used brushes
7. Drawing Box Procreate Brushes By Sadie Lew
The Drawing Box is another brush set officially made for Procreate by Sadie Lew.
Sadie is an artist and graphic designer based in Denver, Colorado.
Alongside her original art and other circuit designs, she is also dedicated to creating magnificent Procreate brushes.
Like this Drawing Box, it features 30 custom brushes in a variety of dry media styles, for instance:
- charcoals
- colored pencils
- crayons
- markers
- ballpoint pens
If you are using actual dry media instead of digital, then this huge brush set ensures detailed brushstroke.
The versatile brushes could help you with any illustration.
Moreover, you could even explore your full potential for every design because you can have fun with it without worrying too much about mixing and matching.
Users of this brush set are satisfied by the craftsmanship and performance.
Besides the distinct description for each media, they are very responsive and smoothly follow through on screen.
This brush set is an excellent example of the advancement in technology at its best.
You can purchase the personal and commercial license of this set at Creative Market.
Pros & Benefits:
- A large brush set of 30 custom dry media styles
- Well-crafted with great performance
- Versatile sketching tools for any kind of illustration
8. Procreate Portrait Brushes By Gabrielle Brickey
Created by a freelance artist and online teacher, Gabrielle Brickey showcases her beautiful illustrations and other Procreate brushes on her website artworkbygabrielle.com.
This set contains 20 portrait brushes of different styles such as:
- freckles
- hair
- skin texture
- eyelashes
- charcoal
- pencil
- pastel
- soft brush perfect for blocking in and blending
The exquisite attention to detail for every tool reflects how one naturally sees each stroke.
This may be because of the personal touch of the creator.
As she grew up, her collection of art supplies grew along with her, from sketchbooks to probably canvasses and now digital art.
Being able to mirror your experience into the digital world is a great way to view what high-quality digital portraits should be with their authentic feature.
This brush set seems suitable for soft and demure portraits because of the less intense brushes created.
But of course, you can still edit these styles into what you want to create with your artistic skills.
Based on reviews, the creator is approachable and helpful if you ask for assistance with her products.
You can leave a message to the creator.
Moreover, you can purchase these lovely brushes at Creative Market for personal or commercial use.
Pros & Benefits:
- Contains 20 varieties of digital portrait brushes
- Ideal for soft and demure portrait styles
- Perfect for skill development on different techniques for portraits
9. Portrait Brushes By Paintable
Paintable is an online library for stellar brushes.
Co-founded by David Belliveau—author and lead instructor, and by Fabian—designer and illustrator, where they provide tutorials, tips, and sources for digital painting.
They didn’t miss out on portrait brushes that are crucial for digital portrait art.
Their portrait brushes consist of more than 28 brushes for you to create beautifully textured paintings or drawings of portraits.
You could make:
- flowy life-like hair
- blemishes
- freckles & other beauty spots
- stubbles and beards of all types
- even natural skin texture to bring life into your masterpiece
You could save you time making intense details from scratch, therefore giving you more time for productivity.
These fantastic brushes come with free video tutorials for the user’s stress-free satisfaction in using this product.
Besides Procreate, this set is also compatible with Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint, and possibly other software.
So, nothing should stop you from trying these free downloadable brushes right away!
Pros & Benefits:
- Best for creating detailed and realistic features for your illustrations
- This set contains more than 28 free brushes for painting and drawing portraits
- It includes free video tutorials on how to use them like an expert
10. Procreate Portrait Brushes by Haze Long
This collection is created by a Malaysian artist known as Haze Long.
With his diverse career from being a makeup artist into web design and development, then retail, fine arts, and currently focusing on digital resources and tutorials for artists’ community.
This brush set contains 22 brushes intended for Procreate portrait painting.
For video tutorials, personal tips, and guidance on maximizing your capability as a digital artist, you can visit his Youtube channel.
The creator’s digital products started with her goal of thanking all her supporters throughout her diverse artistic career.
Providing free resources and tutorials for the creative industry is her way of giving back to the community.
Fortunately, her digital art project is successful.
Based on her brushes and tutorials’ feedback, her variety of tools are easy to handle, together with her simple tutorials that provide direct tips on how to handle the brushes professionally.
You can try these free downloadable 22 brushes yourself, and indeed it meets your expectations for portrait brushes.
Pros & Benefits:
- Brush set of 22 brushes and other effects for portrait painting
- These free brushes come with a free full-video tutorial
- Easy to use and install for Procreate
Final Thoughts
After having a glimpse of some of the best paid and free procreate brushes for portraits, do you already have a favorite collection in mind?
Although, don’t forget that these brushes should just help you enhance your artistic capability or inspire you to create more mind-blowing artwork.
So, even if you collect so much or so little of high-quality digital art tools, your potential expertise on details would be a waste if you don’t use them properly.
It’s still best to focus on your raw talent, next to getting other necessary media or software to develop that talent to its highest level.
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