Naturalist Animal Illustration with Procreate
A course by Román García MoraIllustrator and 3D Modeler
A course by Román García Mora, Illustrator and 3D Modeler
Learn how to illustrate the animal world in detail from your iPad and divulge it visually
Naturalist illustration emerged in times of grand explorations to register new species that were found in the new world; in contrast to scientific illustration, these drawings do not have to be realist representations but express a more personal vision. Biologist and illustrator Román García Mora specializes in these two types of illustration –scientific and naturalist– and actively shares his knowledge of both for the Botanical Gardens of Madrid and has worked with editorials such as National Geographic and White Star for over 10 years.
In this course, you will study and portray the characteristics of an animal through visually meticulous and compelling depictions with the use of Procreate software and its tools, straight from your iPad. If you wish to further your knowledge in Procreate, Román previously created a course to teach you the basics in his Introduction to Procreate course.
What will you learn in this online course?
20 lessons & 16 downloads
Sketches. Meet the animal through drawing 1
15 minutes, 43 seconds
Sketches. Meet the animal through drawing 2
10 minutes, 2 seconds
Photocomposition of several references
6 minutes, 26 seconds
Animal anatomy
16 minutes, 33 seconds
Composition of the image
10 minutes, 16 seconds
Hair
12 minutes, 26 seconds
What's included in this course?
Román begins his course by sharing his passion for nature and art. He explains how he started in scientific illustration and will show you some of his most valued influences and references.
Discover how to create a mural of references with insightful tips on drawing your chosen animal with utmost precision. Get the most out of your sketches as you learn to create a composition using various photographic references in one image. See how organizing all the information you need in a single base document serves as a guide throughout the entire creation process.
Create a preliminary outline of your illustration with a series of sketches to help you convey your animal’s shape and structure. Understand the importance of anatomy in your drawings by studying both scientific and artistic technique, and learn to apply these in your drawings to obtain realistic results in your animal’s stance.
Learn how to create different texture techniques with Procreate such as hair, feathers and scales. Analyze how these textures move and use two techniques to make them: personalized paint brushes and layering of textures.
Explore different styles that you can apply to your final illustration. Learn 2 ways of working to finalize your illustration: illuminated drawing and realist illustration (Tradigital).
Lastly, Román teaches you how to get the most out of all your visual material to create an infographic of your chosen animal. Learn to create a visual hierarchy with Procreate, as well as how to place elements and add text to your creations.
Recommended software & tools for this course
What is this course's project?
Create an infographic that explains the characteristics of an animal of your choice, with a main naturalist illustration, along with a series of sketches that will lead up to your final project.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
For all wildlife and illustration enthusiasts who want to share the beauty of animals through their drawings.
Requirements and materials
To complete this course, you’ll need basic drawing and Procreate knowledge. If you have knowledge of wildlife, researching about the animal you choose will come easily, and if you don’t: prepare to unravel fascinating discoveries.
An iPad that is compatible with Apple Pencil and the Procreate app are required for this course. Optional tools include a PC or laptop, a digital camera, a drawing pad and basic drawing pad.
Reviews
- 1 month ago
Pretty good course!! In depth lessons.
- 2 months ago
Very professional course. Excellent teacher. I am learning very much!!
- gorgoPLUS5 months ago
La organización y los recursos usados para el trabajo es lo mejor
- frankis0028PLUS8 months ago
Great course! Everything was well explained and was very well organized. The instructor is highly qualified as made evident by his amazing artwork.
- 8 months ago
Je trouve que ce cours n'est pas facile à suivre... La traduction n'est pas top. Je trouve que cela va trop vite. On voit beaucoup technique ce qui est intéressant mais j'ai beaucoup de mal à mettre en application ce qu'il fait.
His work consists of creating images of things that we cannot see because they belong to a past time, the world of imagination, or simply because they are not perceptible to the human eye. To achieve this, he uses digital illustration as the foundation for his work and combines it with traditional techniques, 3D modeling, and illustrative retouching.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- Presentation (Who am I)
- Influences
- What will we do in the course
- U2
Animal study
- Creation of a reference mural
- Sketches. Meet the animal through drawing 1
- Sketches. Meet the animal through drawing 2
- Photocomposition of several references
- U3
Preliminary drawing development
- Animal anatomy
- Composition of the image
- Preliminary drawing
- U4
Resources for representing animal textures
- Hair
- Feathers
- Scaly skin
- Tips for scales
- U5
Development of the final image
- Styles gallery
- Illuminated drawing 1
- Illuminated drawing 2
- Realistic illustration (tradigital) 1
- Realistic Illustration (Tradigital) 2
- Composition of a descriptive infographic
- FP
Final project
- Naturalistic Illustration of Animals with Procreate
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
You’ll learn techniques for drawing animals, paleoillustrations, and plants; creating scientific sketches; using custom brushes; composing plates and infographics; and applying realistic textures in Procreate—blending scientific accuracy with digital and artistic tools.
This is an intermediate-level course; basic drawing skills and familiarity with digital tools are recommended, but you don’t need to be an expert in Procreate or scientific illustration to start.
Yes, Procreate is the main tool used for the exercises and techniques taught. Having an iPad and Apple Pencil is recommended to follow along and get the most from the content.
You’ll need an iPad compatible with Procreate, an Apple Pencil, the Procreate app installed, and internet access. Having photographic references of animals and plants will also be helpful for practical activities.
You’ll learn quick sketching, animal morphology analysis, scientific plate composition, thumbnail use, lighting schemes, and visual organization to communicate information clearly and accurately.
The course teaches how to create and customize brushes, layer textures, and use digital techniques to simulate fur, feathers, and scales—achieving realistic or stylized finishes depending on the illustration’s goal.
Yes, the course includes creating descriptive infographics and scientific plates that combine images, text, and relevant data to communicate discoveries or morphological features of animals and plants.