Step 01Choose the photo that still has a spark.
Monthly membership
Design stronger paintings before the brush ever touches canvas.
Turn the photos you have already taken into confident, intentional designs right on your iPad, with Procreate as your low-pressure digital sketchpad.
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$49Per month
<1 hrA week to keep moving
AnyPainting medium
PauseOr cancel anytime
The problem
The photo had the spark. Then the painting got complicated.
You saw something beautiful, took the picture, and felt ready to paint. But once you sit down, the reference feels flatter than the moment that caught you.
The composition is not working.You start fixing design problems after paint is already on the canvas.
The reference loses its feeling.The photo records the scene, but not always the reason it mattered to you.
You second-guess the whole way.Time, paint, and confidence get spent on decisions that could have been tested earlier.
Protect the spark that made you stop and take the photo.
The real work begins before the painting begins. In this membership, Procreate becomes a simple place to crop, compare, combine, simplify, and test your design while the stakes are still low.
You are not learning digital illustration. You are learning to make better painting decisions: clearer values, stronger shapes, more intentional composition, and a plan you can carry to oils, acrylics, pastels, or watercolor.
Made for artists, not tech pros. If you can tap, swipe, and use an Apple Pencil, you can begin.
Step 02Test crops, values, and design choices.
Step 03Walk to the easel with a confident plan.
What's inside
What you'll learn inside.
Use the tools to capture the moment that made your heart skip, and make it the foundation of your composition. This is not about mastering every button in the app. This is about knowing exactly what to use, and why, so your painting gets better from the start.
Achieve the right value
Let's be honest, getting the right values on your paintings is not easy. Sometimes it can feel like a guessing game. With the right tools and a simple process, you can start seeing values more clearly and make smarter value-design choices from the start.
Achieve the right color
Color is often considered the final frontier in art. It can be challenging, not just in accurately perceiving colors, but also in knowing how to arrange them together to create the desired effect. I will show you how to clarify that process and use color in a way that reflects your artistic vision.
Move it, shrink it, stretch it
See how to move and scale objects in Procreate like a pro. Whether you want to nudge a tree over, resize a figure, or extend a path, you can easily fine-tune your composition before the painting begins, making the whole process smoother and a lot more fun.
Utilize layers to see the before and after
This feature is a total breakthrough. The moment you tweak your design, you can instantly compare different versions right in the app. It is fast, it is visual, and it puts the creative power in your hands, so you can choose the design that truly brings your painting to life.
Measure drawing accuracy
Nothing is more frustrating than being knee-deep in a figure or animal painting and suddenly realizing the proportions are off. Now you can double-check your drawing before any paint touches the canvas. It is like catching a mistake before it becomes a masterpiece-in-progress gone sideways.
Clone objects
Unlock the full potential of your designs with Procreate's cloning tool. Easily replicate elements like rocks, trees, or textures and adjust their size and shape to create balanced compositions. This tool helps fine artists maintain consistency and experiment with their layouts effortlessly, saving time and enhancing creativity.
Member stories
Artists are finding clearer decisions and better starts.
The goal is simple: make the painting feel like you, before you spend hours trying to rescue the design.
"I have truly enjoyed this course and your interaction with our progress, it has helped me a great deal. I don't feel like I am painting in a vacuum."
Laslie
"Excellent teaching skills! No fluff. Inspiring!"
Susan
"This Procreate course will fill a big gap. I like flipping back and forth between before-and-after layers! And I can't say enough about AI Gabor. This course offers me a whole new world."
Susan
"I have been studying how to use Procreate by listening to one lecture at a time and then trying it out with my image. Your instruction is awesome."
Candy
"It has already helped me make decisions when considering changes in my paintings, and I am only halfway through. The short, to-the-point lessons are just right for my artist attention span."
Vic
"I love your honest feedback! And I love that these are basics and apply to any medium since I am a pastelist."
Anne
"I'm loving your honesty and expertise. Composition makes all the difference, and your suggestions are invaluable. I appreciate that you teach the painter to make decisions, not just depend on you. You really know how to help us learn!"
Erica
How it works
Three simple steps, all on one device.
Snap or choose a reference.
Start with the photos you already have: landscapes, figures, still lifes, street scenes, anything that made you pause.
Test the design in Procreate.
Crop, combine, compare values, simplify shapes, and try ideas without risking your painting.
Paint with a plan.
Bring a clearer design to the easel and spend your painting time on expression, not second-guessing.
This is for you if...
- You paint in oils, acrylics, pastels, watercolor, or another traditional medium.
- You want more confidence before beginning a painting.
- You have an iPad, Procreate, and a library of photos waiting to become paintings.
This is not for you if...
- You are looking for brushstroke demonstrations or painting-technique lessons.
- You want a digital illustration course full of software jargon.
- You do not want to practice design decisions before beginning the painting.
Meet Gabor
A fellow painter first. A tech instructor second.
Gabor Svagrik is a professional fine artist who has used Procreate for years as part of his own painting process. His teaching stays close to the decisions painters actually make: values, shapes, composition, mood, and clarity.
Inside the membership, he guides you warmly and directly, with personal feedback that helps you learn how to make stronger decisions for yourself.
Gabor Svagrik
The membership
Join The Painter's Guide to Procreate.
Less than the cost of a single workshop, with lessons, feedback, meetups, community, and a course library you can revisit anytime.
$49 / month
- You will need an iPad with Procreate installed.
- Cancel or pause anytime.
- Go at your own pace.
- Setup guidance included.
Questions
For artists, not tech pros.
Do I need an iPad for this course?
Yes. This course is built around using Procreate on an iPad. You will need an iPad, the Procreate app, and ideally an Apple Pencil so you can work directly with your own photo references. Check Procreate's official system requirements to confirm your iPad can run the current version.
I'm not techy. Is this still for me?
Yes. The lessons are made for painters. If you can tap, swipe, and use an Apple Pencil, you are ready. Setup help is included.
Uploading photos feels hard. Will you show me?
Yes. The page starts at the beginning with clear, step-by-step guidance so your own photos can become your design material.
I don't have much time. Can I keep up?
The membership is designed for less than an hour a week. You can revisit lessons anytime and move at your own pace.
Are there instructional videos on how to paint in this course?
There are videos showing you how to use Procreate for design: working from your photo references, testing crops, values, shapes, and compositions before you paint. But there are no demonstrations on how to paint finished pictures. This course helps you create a clearer and more interesting design before you are ready to begin painting.
Will it work for my medium?
Yes. Design translates across oils, acrylics, pastels, watercolor, and other traditional painting media.
What if it's not for me?
You can cancel or pause anytime. There is no lock-in, and support is there while you are inside.
From spark to canvas
Keep the feeling that made you take the photo, and build a design you are excited to paint.
Bring your photos, your iPad, and your painter's eye. Gabor will help you turn the beginning into the strongest part of the painting.
Join for $49/month
Cancel or pause anytime. Support is always there.