Messy Gouache Brush Pack for Procreate: is this $17 stack worth it for Drawing & Painting?
If you’ve ever stared at a flat, sterile digital painting and thought, “Why does this look like a vector file instead of art?” you aren’t alone. The gap between “digital” and “traditional” is usually just texture, unpredictability, and the way pigment sits on a surface. That’s exactly what the Messy Gouache Brush Pack for Procreate is built to fix. It’s not just a set of brushes; it’s a toolkit designed to make your iPad work like a canvas, giving you that raw, hand-painted aesthetic without the mess of actual paint. If you’re tired of your digital work looking too clean or too synthetic, this $17 pack from Color with Kendi is a low-risk way to inject real character into your workflow.
Quick answer
| Best for | Procreate artists who want their digital paintings to have a traditional, organic, or “messy” gouache feel. |
| Skip if | You only use Procreate for clean vector-style work, logos, or if you don’t own an iPad with Procreate 5+. |
| Price | $17 |
| Format | Procreate .brushset + paper texture canvases + reference file |
| One-line take | A focused $17 pack that prioritizes texture and “traditional” look over sheer brush quantity. |
What you’re actually buying
At $17, you’re not just grabbing a folder of .brush files. The core of the offer is a Procreate .brushset specifically engineered to mimic the behavior of gouache—a watercolor-like medium known for its opacity and matte finish. The word “Messy” in the title is doing heavy lifting here; it signals that these brushes aren’t about perfect, smooth lines. They are about texture, dry-brush effects, and the kind of organic imperfections that make a piece feel human. (Messy Gouache Brush Pack for Procreate)
But the seller, Color with Kendi, didn’t stop at the brushes. To truly sell the “traditional feel,” the pack includes complimentary paper texture canvases. This is a crucial detail. A brush can only do so much if the background is a sterile white void. By including these canvases, the pack ensures that your strokes interact with a surface that has grain and depth, which is half the battle in making digital art look physical. (Messy Gouache Brush Pack for Procreate)
You also get a reference file, which is a small but thoughtful addition. It likely serves as a visual guide or palette reference to help you understand how the brushes are meant to be used together. For $17, you’re getting a complete mini-environment: the tools (brushes), the surface (canvases), and the guide (reference). It’s a tight, cohesive bundle that doesn’t bloat with unnecessary extras, keeping the focus entirely on achieving that specific aesthetic. (Messy Gouache Brush Pack for Procreate)
Why it’s on our radar
This pack stands out because it solves a very specific visual problem: the “digital look.” Many brush packs focus on speed or line weight, but this one focuses on medium simulation. If you’ve ever tried to paint gouache in Procreate with standard watercolor brushes and felt the result was too transparent or too smooth, this is the targeted fix. (Messy Gouache Brush Pack for Procreate)
The inclusion of the paper texture canvases is what elevates this from a simple brush download to a more complete artistic resource. It acknowledges that the canvas is part of the tool. For artists who want to keep their digital workflow but crave the tactile, imperfect beauty of traditional media, the Messy Gouache Brush Pack for Procreate offers a direct path to that look. It’s a niche solution for a specific stylistic goal, and at $17, it’s an affordable experiment for anyone looking to shift their visual style.
What actually matters
Before you hit the buy button, keep these three factors in mind to ensure this pack fits your workflow: (Messy Gouache Brush Pack for Procreate)
- Procreate Version: The pack is designed for Procreate 5+. If you are on an older version, you might encounter compatibility issues or missing features. Make sure your app is up to date. (Messy Gouache Brush Pack for Procreate)
- The “Messy” Factor: The name is literal. If you are looking for clean, precise, or highly controlled brushes for technical illustration, these might feel frustrating. They are designed for expressive, textured painting. (Messy Gouache Brush Pack for Procreate)
- Canvas Integration: The included paper texture canvases are a key part of the experience. If you plan to use the brushes on your own blank white canvases, you might not get the full “traditional” effect the seller intends. Using the provided canvases is likely essential to the look. (Messy Gouache Brush Pack for Procreate)
Mid-check
If you’re ready to add some organic texture to your digital paintings, you can check the current availability and details on the seller’s page. (Messy Gouache Brush Pack for Procreate)
FAQ
Do I need to own Procreate to use this? Yes. The Messy Gouache Brush Pack for Procreate is a .brushset file, which is a format exclusive to the Procreate app. It will not work in other digital painting software like Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint, or Krita.
Is this a subscription or a one-time purchase? This is a one-time purchase. You pay the $17 price once and receive the files. There are no recurring fees or memberships associated with this digital download. (Messy Gouache Brush Pack for Procreate)
What is included in the “reference file”? While the specific contents aren’t detailed in the short description, reference files in brush packs typically include color palettes, example strokes, or a guide on how to layer the brushes. It’s meant to help you get the most out of the new tools. (Messy Gouache Brush Pack for Procreate)
Bottom line
If your digital art feels a bit too “clean” and you want to inject a sense of traditional, hand-painted character without leaving your iPad, this is a solid, low-cost experiment. The Messy Gouache Brush Pack for Procreate delivers exactly what the name promises: a way to make your digital work look less like a screen and more like a canvas. At $17, you get the brushes, the canvases, and the reference material to get started. If you’re looking for that specific organic, textured look, it’s worth a try.