Is Buying Procreate Brushes Worth It? An In-Depth Look

If you‘re a digital artist using Procreate, you‘ve probably seen the many brush sets available for purchase and wondered – are they really worth buying? Can‘t you just use the default brushes that come with the app? As someone who has purchased many Procreate brush packs over the years, I‘m here to give you an in-depth look at whether buying Procreate brushes is worth it for you.

Procreate‘s Default Brushes: An Excellent Starting Point

First, let‘s talk about the brushes that come with Procreate by default. The app includes over 200 brushes in a variety of styles, from basic sketching pencils to more advanced paint and texture brushes. These default brushes are high-quality, cover all the essentials, and can absolutely be used to create professional-level art.

In fact, many professional artists primarily use the default brushes. Procreate‘s brushes are meticulously designed and are more than enough for most artistic purposes. If you‘re just starting out with digital art, I highly recommend sticking with the default brushes at first and really getting to know them before purchasing any additional brushes.

The default brushes allow you to get a feel for what you like and dislike in a brush. Experiment with the different brush settings and try to recreate your favorite traditional art tools digitally. This will give you a good foundation and help you understand your needs as an artist before investing in additional brushes.

Why People Buy Procreate Brushes

So if the default brushes are so great, why do people buy additional brush sets? There are a few key reasons:

1. Unique brushes to develop your style – While the default brushes cover all the basics, they are also used by every other Procreate artist out there. Buying brushes can help you find unique tools to develop your signature art style and stand out from the crowd.
2. Supporting brush makers and the Procreate community – Many Procreate brush sets are made by independent artists as a way to share their tools and generate some income. By buying their brushes, you can support these creators and the larger Procreate community.
3. Expanding your artistic capabilities – Buying new brushes is a great way to experiment, have fun, and expand your artistic toolkit. Sometimes a new brush can inspire you and lead your art in an exciting new direction.

Ultimately, buying Procreate brushes is about expanding your creative options and supporting the artists who make them. But it‘s important to evaluate each brush set carefully to make sure it‘s the right fit for you and worth the cost.

Where to Find Quality Free Procreate Brushes

If you‘re on a tight budget or just don‘t want to spend the money on brushes at the moment, there are plenty of high-quality free Procreate brushes available. Here are some of the best places to look:

• Procreate Discussions forums – The official Procreate forums have a section where artists share free brush sets they‘ve created. You can find some real gems here from talented creators.
• YouTube – Many Procreate YouTubers share free brush sets to go along with their tutorials. They often link the brushes in the video description.
• Instagram – Some Procreate artists share free brush sets on their Instagram pages or in their Stories. Follow your favorite artists and keep an eye out for any freebies.
• DeviantArt – DeviantArt has a large collection of free Procreate brushes uploaded by the community. Use the search function to find what you‘re looking for.
• Creative Market Free Goods – Creative Market releases a selection of free goods every week, and Procreate brushes are often included. Check back each Monday for the latest free offerings.

There are so many talented artists generously sharing their Procreate brushes for free. With a little searching, you can find high-quality free brushes to fit any art style. So if paid brush sets are out of your budget, don‘t worry – there are plenty of free options to choose from.

How to Know if a Procreate Brush Set is Worth Buying

So let‘s say you have the budget to buy some Procreate brushes and you‘ve found a set that looks promising. How do you know if it‘s actually worth purchasing? Here are some things to consider:

1. Brush previews and demos – Any good Procreate brush set will include previews of each brush and/or a demo video showing how the brushes look in action. Thoroughly examine these to get a sense of the brushes‘ quality, versatility, and if they match your art style.
2. Artist reviews – See what other artists are saying about the brush set. Look for reviews on the product page, social media, or art forums. Do people recommend the set? Do the brushes live up to the hype? Checking reviews is a good way to gauge the quality and usefulness of the brushes.
3. Price – Procreate brush sets can range in price from a few dollars to over $50. While more expensive sets aren‘t necessarily better, a very cheap price can be a red flag for low quality. Most high-quality brush sets I‘ve seen are in the $10-30 range. Consider how the price fits into your art budget and if it‘s reasonable for the number of brushes you‘re getting.
4. Compatibility with your art – Think about what kind of art you like to create and if the brushes fit that style. If you mostly do digital painting, a set of textured pencil brushes might not get much use. If you have a very cartoonish style, a set of realistic oil paint brushes might not be the best fit. Choose brush sets that match the kind of art you want to make.

Ultimately, a Procreate brush set is "worth it" if you will use the brushes regularly, they fit your art style and budget, and they expand your artistic capabilities in a meaningful way. Don‘t just buy brushes because they‘re trendy or you feel like you "should" have them. Be intentional about your purchases and only buy brush sets you‘re truly excited about.

Your Art Skills Matter More Than Your Tools

In closing, I want to emphasize that buying Procreate brushes is completely optional. You can create incredible art with just the default brushes. Fancy, expensive brushes are not a magic shortcut to improving your art skills.

Practice, study, and developing your creativity are far more important than having the latest trendy brush set. Don‘t fall into the trap of thinking you need to spend a ton of money on brushes to be a "real" artist.

That being said, if you do have the budget and want to support brush makers or experiment with new tools, buying brushes can be a fun addition to your artistic journey. Just be sure to use them regularly and push your skills with them, rather than letting them gather digital dust in your brush library.

At the end of the day, the brushes you use matter far less than your art skills, creativity, and dedication to improving your craft. Focus on growing as an artist first, and think of bought brushes as fun extras to expand your tool set, not necessities.

I hope this in-depth look at whether buying Procreate brushes is worth it has been helpful to you! Let me know your thoughts in the comments – do you think buying brushes is worth it? What are your favorite free or paid Procreate brush sets? Happy art-making!