Messy Watercolor Brush Pack for Procreate: is this $18 stack worth it for Drawing & Painting?

If your iPad illustrations feel a little too clean, or if you find yourself fighting the “vector” look even when you’re trying to paint loose, you are not alone. Many digital artists love the convenience of Procreate but miss the unpredictable, organic textures that come with physical paper and real water. You don’t have to switch back to a wet palette to get that visual interest. You just need brushes that actually behave like water. The Messy Watercolor Brush Pack for Procreate from Color with Kendi is built specifically to bridge that gap, offering a curated set of tools that mimic the bleed, dry-brush, and pigment drop effects of traditional media without the mess.

Quick answer

What you’re actually buying

At $18, you aren’t just getting a handful of generic soft brushes. You are getting a complete workflow for simulating watercolor on a digital canvas. The core of the pack is a robust collection of brushes designed to handle specific watercolor behaviors. You get dedicated tools for the initial sketch, including a Rough Sketch Brush and Dual Color Damp Pencil, which helps you lay down your composition with a sense of permanence. Then, you move into the actual painting phase with a Basic Watercolor Brush, a Dark Edge Watercolor Brush, and specific Rough and Dry Edge variants. This variety is crucial because traditional watercolor isn’t just one stroke; it’s about controlling how the pigment sits at the edge of a shape. (Messy Watercolor Brush Pack for Procreate)

The pack goes deeper into texture with Dry Watercolor Brushes that create that toothy, broken line effect, and a Pigment Drop Brush for when you want to add weight and density to a stroke. For those who love the “happy accidents” of traditional art, there are three Paint Splatter Brushes and a Brushy Dots Brush for adding textured details to subjects like animals or foliage. But the real value is in the finishing touches. You receive ten Overlay Brushes designed to be used as clipping masks, allowing you to add subtle grain or light effects over your wet layers. There are also Wet-on-Wet Detail Brushes and a Wet Ink Detail Brush for adding crisp lines while the underlying layer is still “wet” digitally. (Messy Watercolor Brush Pack for Procreate)

Beyond the brushes, the seller includes the environment you need to use them. You get two ready-to-use Procreate canvases: an 8x10 inch size and a larger 4800 px x 6000 px size, both pre-loaded with a watercolor paper texture in sRGB color mode at 300 dpi. This means you don’t have to hunt for a paper background or worry about resolution issues; you open the file, and you are ready to paint. The pack also includes a “Messy Extras Set” with 12 additional fun brushes, an Edge Eraser with a rough profile, a Huge Eraser for quick corrections, and two Smudgers for blending. To help you navigate the library, there is a Reference PDF showing all the brush textures, so you know exactly what each tool does before you start. (Messy Watercolor Brush Pack for Procreate)

Why it’s on our radar

This pack stands out because it solves the “uncanny valley” of digital painting. Many brush sets give you soft edges, but few replicate the specific visual language of watercolor: the darkened edges, the dry-brush gaps, and the way pigment pools. By including specific brushes for “Dark Edge” and “Dry Edge,” this kit acknowledges that watercolor is defined by its boundaries, not just its fill. The inclusion of pre-textured canvases is a significant quality-of-life feature; it removes the friction of setting up your workspace, allowing you to jump straight into the creative flow. (Messy Watercolor Brush Pack for Procreate)

The fact that the seller, Color with Kendi, provides a demo video and a reference guide shows a commitment to usability. It’s not just a file dump; it’s a curated experience. One Gumroad review highlights the support aspect, noting: “Amazing brush set. And really good instructions from YouTube videos!” This suggests that if you get stuck on how to import the files or how to use a specific brush, there is a clear path to help, which is rare for digital assets in this price bracket.

What actually matters

Before you buy, consider how you currently work in Procreate. If you are a beginner, the pre-set canvases are a huge advantage because they handle the technical setup (DPI, color mode) for you. If you are an intermediate artist, look at the “Overlay Brushes” section. Using clipping masks to add texture is a technique that elevates digital art from looking “flat” to looking “layered.” Check if you are comfortable with the concept of clipping masks; if not, the reference PDF and the included tutorials will be your best friends. (Messy Watercolor Brush Pack for Procreate)

Also, verify that you are using Procreate 5 or later, as the brush sets are designed for this version. The pack is optimized for the iPad’s touch sensitivity and pressure capabilities. If you are on an older version of Procreate, some of the more complex brush behaviors (like the dual-color effects) might not function as intended. Finally, think about your color palette. Watercolor relies on transparency and layering. If you are used to opaque, flat colors, you may need to adjust your workflow to take advantage of the “Wet-on-Wet” brushes. The Messy Watercolor Brush Pack for Procreate is a tool for a specific aesthetic; it will shine brightest if you are willing to embrace the transparency and blending that come with it.

Mid-check

If you’ve been looking for a way to add traditional texture to your digital workflow without learning a new software, this is a low-risk, high-reward addition to your library. (Messy Watercolor Brush Pack for Procreate)

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FAQ

Do I need to know how to paint in watercolor to use these brushes? No, but understanding the basics of how water behaves (wet-on-wet vs. wet-on-dry) will help you get the most out of the specific brushes included. The pack is designed to be intuitive, and the reference PDF helps you identify which brush to use for which effect. (Messy Watercolor Brush Pack for Procreate)

Will these brushes work on my iPad? Yes, provided you are using Procreate 5 or later. The brushes are optimized for the iPad’s pressure sensitivity and tilt features. If you are using a different tablet or software, these .brushset files will not be compatible. (Messy Watercolor Brush Pack for Procreate)

Is there a refund policy if I don’t like the brushes? Gumroad’s standard policy applies. Since this is a digital product, refunds are typically at the seller’s discretion. It is always a good idea to check the seller’s specific return policy on the product page before purchasing, especially if you are unsure about your Procreate version.

Can I use these brushes for commercial work? Yes, the brushes are generally licensed for use in both personal and commercial projects. However, you cannot resell the brush files themselves as part of a bundle. Always double-check the specific license agreement provided in the download folder to ensure it meets your project requirements. (Messy Watercolor Brush Pack for Procreate)

Bottom line

If your digital art feels a bit sterile and you want to inject some organic, unpredictable texture without leaving your iPad, the Messy Watercolor Brush Pack for Procreate is a fantastic investment. For $18, you get a complete toolkit that includes not just the brushes, but the paper, the erasers, and the guidance you need to start painting with a traditional feel. It’s a specific, well-thought-out solution for a common frustration in digital art.