Abstract Pattern Play with Watercolor

This is a fun, beginner friendly project that's perfect for getting to know the Pattern Reveal brush set. We'll start with a simple watercolor background using Procreate's built in brushes, then layer patterns on top to create an abstract composition that's full of personality. The whole point is to experiment and see what you like, so there are no rules here.

This tutorial uses the Pattern Reveal brush set and the color palette of the same name, which comes included with the brush set. The watercolor background is made with Procreate's default brushes, so you don't need anything else to follow along.

Canvas Setup

Size: Screen size (or any canvas you like)
Background: White
Brush Sets Used:
Pattern Reveal — for all the patterns
Procreate default watercolors — for the background blobs
Color Palette: Pattern Reveal (included with the brush set)

Make Your Watercolor Blobs

Keep everything on one layer to start. You're just building a loose, colorful background that the patterns will sit on top of, so there is no need for it to be elaborate.

Brushes Used (Procreate defaults):

Penguin (from the Watercolor category)

Choose a few colors from the Pattern Reveal palette and paint a handful of blobs across the canvas. Aim for a mix of bigger shapes and smaller ones tucked in between. A rough color progression across the page keeps things feeling cohesive without being too planned. Once you're happy, rename this layer "watercolor blobs."

Set Up Your Patterns Layer

Make a new layer above your blobs and name it "patterns." Working on a separate layer means you can adjust or erase patterns without disturbing the watercolor underneath.

Add Patterns

Now the fun starts. Switch to the Pattern Reveal brush set and start exploring. You don't need to plan this out, just pick a blob and try a pattern brush on it.

Some General Tips:

Vary your pressure as you work. Light pressure gives you a sparse, delicate mark; more pressure builds up more detail in the pattern.
Try patterns in either the same color as a nearby blob, or switch to white for a softer contrast on the larger shapes.
The pattern size corresponds with the brush size, so try varying the size between blobs so it doesn't feel too uniform.

Try the Layering Feature:

Once you've applied the pattern, don't change the brush size, then lightly swipe across the same spot in a second color to get that layered effect. You can repeat with a third color and even lighter pressure if desired. This works great in white if you want to make the pattern look like it's fading the blob into the page.

Brushes Used in the Video

Organic section:

Rainy Day
Hatchy Stripes

Circular section:

Overlapping Circles
Frilly Pinwheels

Geometric section:

Squares and Dots
Geo Grid
Lattice

Celestial section:

Starlet

Floral section:

Dotty Flowers
Floral Network

Ornamental section:

Kaleidoscope

Optional Adjustments

This composition works well as is, but it's just a starting point. You could try this same approach on a colored or textured background rather than white, which would change the whole feel. You could also try using clipping masks to keep patterns contained within each blob for a cleaner look, or leave them overlapping for a looser, more expressive result. Abstract art journaling, collage, and even illustration are all natural fits for this kind of pattern layering. This is really just an experiment in getting to know your brushes, and there's no wrong way to do it.

Over 80 pressure reactive pattern brushes for Procreate that build and reveal detail the harder you press. Designed for layering, experimentation, and the kind of artwork that surprises you while you're making it.

Every brush in Pattern Reveal responds to pressure from your Apple Pencil in a way that makes the pattern itself transform. Press lightly and you get the bones of it: sparse, open, delicate. Press a little harder and new details start to emerge. Keep going and the whole thing fills in, builds out, gets more detailed. It's not opacity changing. It's not the brush getting bigger. It's the actual pattern revealing itself as you draw.

Because the patterns build with pressure, you can paint the same brush in different colors at different pressures and watch something extraordinary happen: a complex, multicolored composition coming together from a single pattern. Light pressure in coral, heavier pressure in teal, a layer underneath in mustard, and suddenly you have rich, complex, multicolored artwork from a single brush.

These brushes are made for collage artists, mixed media lovers, digital art journalers, and anyone who finds more joy in experimentation than following a formula. Each of the 81 Procreate brushes in this set is essentially multiple patterns in one, all controlled by pressure, across six categories: Ornamental, Floral, Celestial, Geometric, Circular, and Organic. They're all abstract, decorative, and endlessly layerable.

WHAT'S INCLUDED:

1 Brush folder (.brushset file), 4 color palettes (.swatches files), and a PDF download guide. Files are installable in the Procreate iPad app with Apple Pencil (any version EXCEPT USB-C) and will not work in any other application.

81 Procreate brushes (in one .brushset file) across six categories:

Ornamental (18 brushes): The statement patterns. Damask, ikat, tile work, and decorative motifs that bring instant richness and visual weight.
Floral (11 brushes): Garden motifs and botanical patterns with a bold, graphic feel.
Celestial (12 brushes): Stars, moons, suns, and cosmic patterns for adding sparkle and energy.
Geometric (18 brushes): Grids, lattices, diamonds, and structured patterns that build visual rhythm and order.
Circular (12 brushes): Round and dot-based patterns that add flow and movement.
Organic (10 brushes): Loose, sketchy, hand-drawn marks for texture and spontaneity.

Also Including:

4 Color palettes: Pattern Reveal, Pure Dopamine, Art Nouveau, and Kawaii Pastels.
A written cheat sheet explaining each brush category with tips for best results.
Full video walkthrough and demo (see above).
Free support: I am always happy to help with any questions or issues! For support, please send me an email at hello@alainajensen.com.
Community: Join other artists using these brushes to exchange tips and share your work using our Free Facebook Group or on Instagram #alainajensenbrushes.

Digital artist, brush maker, online educator and texture whisperer, prone to creative hyperfixations. I live in rural Hertfordshire, U.K. and have been creating art and design resources for fellow creatives since 2014.