Procreate Tutorial: “I Wish Sam Fit on My Couch” by Yifat Fishman

Sometimes the best ideas come when we’re least expecting them.

That’s exactly what happened to Yifat Fishman when she created her piece, “I Wish Sam Fit on My Couch.” With her iPad in hand and no clear idea in mind, Yifat started sketching spontaneously, embracing the natural flow of creativity. The result is a vibrant and playful artwork that captures the essence of letting your imagination lead the way.

"I was on the couch with the iPad in my lap, feeling stuck without a clear idea. So, I started sketching whatever came to mind. It reminded me that creativity often flows when we just start creating.

When working on this piece, I focused on letting the creative process unfold naturally. I started with loose sketch, allowing my hand to move freely without overthinking the details. This approach helps keep the energy of the artwork lively and spontaneous. I then chose a vibrant color palette, as colors are central to my work and can really set the mood.

For someone trying to recreate this artwork, my tip is to trust the process. Start with basic shapes and build upon them, layer by layer. Don’t be afraid to experiment with colors—bold choices often lead to the most striking results.

Finally, consider the story or emotion you want to convey and let that guide your composition. It’s all about letting your creativity flow without worrying too much about perfection." - Yifat Fishman

This tutorial guides you through Yifat’s artistic process, providing tips and techniques that you can use to create your own version of her playful and spontaneous art style.

Recommended Procreate Brushes

• 6B Pencil (native brush)
• Oberon (native brush)
• Thylacine (native rake)
• Yifat's Pastel brush (optional)
• Yifat's Brick Pastel (optional)
• Yifat's Smooth Rake (optional)
• Yifat's Gritty Rake (optional)

Step-by-Step Tutorial from Yifat

Ready to have your own attempt at this piece? Follow Yifat's own instructions on how to make this inspiring artwork below.

Step 1: Sketching

Start with a loose sketch. Embrace the imperfections. Your sketch will have more character if you exaggerate details like the hands or experiment with perspective.

Step 2: Color Blocking

Identify the main shapes in your sketch and build a hierarchy of colors and shapes. Choose colors that speak to you for each element.

Tip: Keep each element on a separate layer for flexibility. I often create separate layers for each leg and hand, as well as grouped layers for the iPad and the hand holding the pencil. This allows you to easily tweak individual elements as the piece evolves.

Step 3: Balanced Palette

For this piece, I used true skin tones for the hands and contrasted them with bright, bold colors for the rest of the scene. I find that realistic skin tones can make the artwork feel more relatable.

Tip: In a flat lay style, you can simulate lighting effects by thoughtfully choosing colors. For example, I used light, bright green for the top leg and a darker palette for the leg underneath. Shading fingers with darker hues creates depth and dimension.

Step 4: Bring Your Art to Life

To add texture and richness, create a new layer above each base shape layer and set it as a clipping mask. This will be your playground for experimenting with textures and colors, adding more life to your work.

Tip: Using masks ensures that changes are non-destructive, allowing you freedom when refining your work.

Step 5: Stay Inspired with Your Sketch

Keep your sketch layer visible, setting it to "Multiply" blending mode and placing it on top of all other layers. This keeps the original inspiration in sight, helping guide your decisions when you’re unsure of the next step.

Step 6: Brushes and Textures

I’m a big fan of the 6B pencil brush in Procreate for its versatility. You can color an entire piece with it, playing with size and opacity to create different textures. I also enjoy using my own custom brushes, like pastel blocks and rakes, to add character to outlines and texture to highlights and shading.

Tip: Adjust brush opacity to craft unique texture blocks, as seen throughout the dog in this piece.

Step 7: Using Layer Masks

I applied a layer mask over the pencil in the drawing hand to hide the parts that should be under the fingers. Using a layer mask gives you flexibility while keeping your hard work intact.

Step 8: Finishing Touches

Add final details that tell a story and set the mood. I included the dog to evoke a sense of relaxation, with the character in the artwork drawing the dog. I wish my dog, Sam, could join me on the couch, but he’s just too big!

Remember, it’s these fun details that bring your work to life and make it truly yours.