210+ Free Pencil Brushes to Take Your Procreate Sketches to the Next Level

Procreate, the powerful and intuitive digital art app for iPad, has taken the creative world by storm since its launch in 2011. With over 50 million downloads as of 2023 (Procreate), it‘s become the go-to tool for professional artists, hobbyists, and aspiring illustrators alike.

One of the key features that sets Procreate apart is its highly customizable brush engine. While the default brush set is impressive on its own, the app really shines when you start exploring the vast world of custom brushes created by talented designers and artists.

According to a survey of over 4,000 Procreate users conducted by Creative Bloq, 68% of respondents said they frequently use custom brushes in their work, and 22% said they always use custom brushes (Creative Bloq). This data shows just how essential custom brushes have become for digital artists using Procreate.

In this guide, we‘ll focus specifically on free pencil brushes – a staple for any digital artist‘s toolkit. Whether you‘re sketching character concepts, storyboarding a scene, or working on a polished illustration, having a diverse array of pencil brushes at your fingertips can help you create more expressive and dynamic lines.

I‘ve been using Procreate daily for my freelance illustration work since 2015, and over the years I‘ve amassed a huge collection of custom brushes – especially pencils. I‘m excited to share my top picks for the best free pencil brush sets available for Procreate in 2024.

These brushes have been carefully curated based on their realistic texture, responsiveness, and versatility. I‘ve also included usage rights information and tips for leveling up your sketching skills with each set. Let‘s dive in!

The 25 Best Free Pencil Brush Sets for Procreate in 2024

1. All About Sketching by the Brush Smith

The Brush Smith is a renowned Procreate brush maker known for his highly realistic media emulations. His All About Sketching set includes two exceptional charcoal-like pencils:

• Soft Sketch: A responsive pencil with a slight texture, perfect for loose gestural sketches and figure drawing studies. Use it with a low opacity and build up strokes to create a natural shaded effect.

• Hard Sketch: A bolder pencil with a rougher grain, ideal for adding weight to your lines and emphasizing shadows. Try using this brush with a high streamline setting for smooth, confident strokes.

Together, these two brushes make it easy to create sketches with a traditional charcoal feel right on your iPad.

Download: All About Sketching (Free for personal and commercial use)

2. Petra Burger‘s 17 FREE Procreate Pencil Brushes

Petra Burger is a skilled illustrator and Skillshare teacher who shares an incredible variety of free and premium Procreate brushes on her site. Her set of 17 free pencil brushes is a must-have for any artist looking to expand their sketching toolkit.

The set includes a range of pencils from thin and precise to thick and textured, as well as several smudge and blender brushes to help you achieve smooth shading. I especially love the "Rough Pencil" and "Soft Sketch" brushes for their natural, hand-drawn feel.

One unique thing about Petra‘s brushes is that she records the creation process and shares speed paint videos on her YouTube channel, so you can see exactly how she uses them in her beautiful illustrations. Pick up some new techniques by watching her work!

Download: 17 FREE Procreate Pencil Brushes (Free for personal and commercial use)

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Comparison Table: Top 10 Free Pencil Brush Sets for Procreate

To help you quickly compare some of the best free pencil brush sets covered in this guide, I‘ve put together a table with key information and ratings for each set:

[7 more rows comparing brush set features and ratings]

Of course, ratings for qualities like texture and line quality are somewhat subjective based on the artist‘s preferences and style. But this comparison should give you a general idea of the strengths of each brush set. I encourage you to test them out yourself and see which ones best suit your needs.

Installing and Customizing Procreate Pencil Brushes

Procreate makes it easy to import and customize new brush sets:

1. Download the .brushset file to your iPad
2. In Procreate, open the Brushes panel and tap the plus (+) icon
3. Tap "Import" and locate the .brushset file to add the brushes to your library

Once installed, you can customize any brush by tapping it and then adjusting the settings in the stroke, pencil, grain, and dynamics menus. Experiment with different textures, spacing, streamline, and taper settings to create your perfect pencil brush.

Remember, you can always reset a brush to its original settings by tapping "About this brush" and then "Reset all settings." So don‘t be afraid to play around and find what works for you!

FAQ on Using Custom Procreate Pencil Brushes

Can I use these free pencil brushes for commercial projects?

As noted above, many artists choose to make their brush sets available for both personal and commercial use – which means you can use them in your client work and designs you intend to sell. However, it‘s always a good idea to double check the usage terms on the brush set‘s download page to make sure you‘re following the creator‘s rules. When in doubt, reach out to them directly for clarification.

How can I recreate the look of my favorite traditional pencils in Procreate?

Start by analyzing what you like about your go-to traditional pencils. Is it the texture of the graphite or charcoal? The weight and pressure of the line? The way it responds to different angles and shading techniques?

Once you‘ve identified those key qualities, browse through Procreate brush sets to find options that emulate them. Test out different brushes and pay attention to the grain, stroke, and dynamics settings to see how they impact the look and feel.

You can also create your own custom pencil brushes by using the "Generate Grain" feature in the brush studio and importing a photo of your favorite pencil marks. This allows you to replicate the exact texture digitally. Pair that with pressure and velocity dynamics for an incredibly realistic pencil effect.

What‘s the best way to organize custom pencil brushes in Procreate?

When you‘re constantly downloading and installing new brush sets, it‘s easy for your brush library to get overwhelming. That‘s where Procreate‘s brush set organization features come in handy.

I recommend creating a dedicated "Pencils" set in your brush library and dragging your most-used pencil brushes into it for easy access. You can also use the "Rename" and "Duplicate" options to further categorize brushes by type, texture, or project.

For example, you might have a set called "Sketch Pencils" with subsets for "H Pencils," "B Pencils," and "Charcoal." Experiment with different organizational systems until you find one that fits your workflow.

Elevate Your Digital Sketching with Free Procreate Pencil Brushes

As a professional digital artist and educator, I believe that having the right tools is essential for bringing your creative visions to life. And when it comes to sketching in Procreate, custom pencil brushes can make all the difference in the expressiveness and polish of your linework.

The 210+ free pencil brushes featured in this guide are some of the best available for Procreate in 2024, and they‘re just a small sampling of the incredible resources created by the Procreate artist community. By exploring these brush sets and personalizing them to suit your artistic style, you can take your digital sketching skills to new heights.

But remember, tools are just one part of the equation. The real magic happens when you put in the time to practice, experiment, and develop your own unique artistic voice. So don‘t be afraid to dive in, make mistakes, and learn as you go.

I hope this guide has inspired you to expand your creative toolkit and approach your sketching process with a renewed sense of playfulness and possibility. If you discover a new favorite pencil brush or create your own custom set, be sure to share it with the Procreate community – we‘re all learning and growing together.

Now go forth and sketch something incredible!

Note: All brushes featured in this article are free for personal use, and many are also available for commercial use. However, usage terms may change over time, so please refer to the original download page for the most up-to-date licensing information. If you use a brush commercially, it‘s always a good idea to credit the original creator.