Fill a Map with Patterns

Today we are exploring a fun, vibrant way to use patterns to create a "map" of color and texture. This project turned into a bit of a sunshiny, Easter inspired piece, and I just went with it!

We are using a simple technique of laying down a map pattern, and filling each section with different textures. It is chaotic, colorful, and a great way to give yourself permission to create without overthinking the end result.

Canvas Setup

Canvas Size: Screen Size
Brushes: Pattern Reveal Brush Set
Color Palette: Pure Dopamine (comes with the brush set)

Build Your Map Composition

To start, we need to create a template for our patterns. We will use a brush to create "sections" across the page that we can fill in later.

Select a light yellow color.
Use the brush Map Lines from the Organic section.
Cover the entire page with lines at about 40% size.
Rename this layer "Map Patterns."

Select and Mask Your Sections

Using layer masks is a safe way to stay within your lines. It allows you to experiment with different colors without worrying about making a mess outside the selection.

Go to the Ribbon Tool and set it to Automatic.
Tap a white area on your "Map Patterns" layer to select it.
Add a new layer, tap it, and tap Mask in the popup menu to the left of the layer.
Ensure you are drawing on the layer itself, not the mask.

Layer Your Patterns and Colors

Now comes the fun part! We will fill each section with a unique pattern. I like to start with a darker color and then layer lighter colors on top with lighter pressure to add interest.

Examples of Brushes I Used (Pattern Reveal):
Layered Flower: I used dark pink with heavy pressure, then added orange and blue with lighter pressure for contrast.
Pinched Stripe: Try a purple base with turquoise and green layered on top.
Dottie Geo Grid: Use bright orange with heavy pressure, then add light blue dots for a "pop" of contrast.

Fill Solid Accent Areas

Sometimes a busy pattern needs a solid color to help the eye rest. This helps "enclose" certain areas of your composition.

Select a section using the Automatic Selection tool as detailed above.
With the selection still active, create a new layer.
Choose a solid color like teal or light purple, tap the new layer, and select Fill Layer.
Tap the ribbon tool to turn the selection off (it is blue while the selection is active).

Manage Your Layers

As you work, you might find your layer count growing quite high. If your iPad starts to feel a bit slow or you run out of layers, you can simplify your workspace.

Once you are happy with a section, tap the layer under the mask.
Select Merge Mask.
This keeps your file size down while keeping your art looking great.

You can alternatively just pinch the layer mask and layer together to merge them. Optionally, you can also group layers into different sections of the "map" for more organization.

Optional Adjustments

If some areas feel too dark, you can always go back to that specific layer and lower the Opacity. This allows the white background to shine through, giving your colors a softer, more pastel feel. Don't be afraid to change your mind as you go!

Art doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful. This project might feel a little "weird" or chaotic while you are doing it, but that is the beauty of the process. Whether you followed my steps exactly or used this as inspiration to doodle your own patterns, I hope you found a moment of joy and freedom in your creation today.

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.