Realistic Oil Brushes for Procreate: is this $14 stack worth it for Drawing & Painting?
If you’ve spent an hour trying to get the default Procreate brushes to behave like actual oil paint, you know the frustration. The strokes either look too flat, the blending feels digital and sterile, or you end up spending more time tweaking settings than actually painting. That gap between the fluid, textured depth of traditional oils and the screen in front of you is exactly what Realistic Oil Brushes for Procreate aims to close.
For $14, Julia Dreams offers a focused kit that isn’t just a random collection of tips. It’s a structured environment for digital oil painting, complete with a pre-set canvas and color palettes so you can start painting immediately without the setup headache. If you are looking to move away from “digital looking” digital art and want that rich, impasto feel on your iPad, this is a low-risk way to test the waters. (Realistic Oil Brushes for Procreate)
Quick answer
| Best for | Procreate users who want to mimic traditional oil texture and depth without spending hours customizing brush settings. |
| Skip if | You prefer watercolor or pencil workflows, or you already have a highly customized brush set that you are happy with. |
| Price | $14 |
| Format | 23 brushes, 1 Magic Canvas, 5 palettes, PDF guide, and video tutorial |
| One-line take | A complete “oil painting studio” in a box that lets you start painting realistic oils on Procreate in minutes. |
What you’re actually buying
At first glance, a brush pack is just a pack of brushes. But the value in Realistic Oil Brushes for Procreate comes from the fact that it’s a complete workflow, not just a tool. You get 23 distinct oil brushes in a .brushset file, which covers the range from broad, fluid strokes for backgrounds to finer details for texture and impasto. This variety means you aren’t stuck with one “oil” brush that tries to do everything and does nothing well.
The inclusion of a “Magic Canvas” is a smart touch for beginners. This is a .procreate file sized at 6364 x 4500 px (300 dpi), which is a high-resolution, print-ready setup. You don’t have to worry about pixel dimensions or resolution settings; you just open it and start painting. It’s the difference between buying ingredients and buying a prepped kitchen. (Realistic Oil Brushes for Procreate)
To round out the package, you get five color palettes in .swatches format. Oil painting is all about color mixing and harmony, and having curated palettes helps you avoid the “muddy colors” trap that often happens when mixing too many digital hues. Finally, the pack includes a PDF guide and a video tutorial. This is crucial because oil painting, even digitally, has specific techniques for layering and blending that aren’t obvious if you’re coming from a watercolor or digital illustration background. (Realistic Oil Brushes for Procreate)
Why it’s on our radar
This pack stands out because it solves the “setup fatigue” problem. Many digital artists have a library of brushes but struggle to create a cohesive look. By bundling the brushes with a specific canvas size and color palettes, Julia Dreams creates a consistent aesthetic environment. It’s not just about the brushes; it’s about the system of painting oils digitally. (Realistic Oil Brushes for Procreate)
The price point is also compelling. At $14, it’s less than the cost of a single traditional oil paint tube, yet it gives you a full digital studio that you can use for commercial work. The fact that it includes commercial use rights makes it a viable investment for illustrators or concept artists who need to deliver oil-style work for clients without the time cost of learning to build their own brushes from scratch. (Realistic Oil Brushes for Procreate)
What actually matters
When evaluating a brush pack, the file format and compatibility are non-negotiable. This pack is specifically for Procreate on iPad, so if you are on a different tablet or desktop, it won’t work. The .brushset file is the standard for Procreate, meaning it will import cleanly without third-party converters. (Realistic Oil Brushes for Procreate)
The “Magic Canvas” is a specific .procreate file. This is a plus because it saves you time, but be aware that it is a single canvas. If you have a specific workflow that requires different aspect ratios (like 16:9 for video thumbnails or 4:5 for Instagram), you may need to create your own canvases. However, for standard print or social media art, the provided size is a solid default. (Realistic Oil Brushes for Procreate)
Check the video tutorial and PDF guide before you buy if you are a complete beginner to oil painting. While the brushes do the heavy lifting, the techniques for blending and layering are taught in these resources. If you are already an experienced oil painter, you might find the guide basic, but the brushes themselves will still be a significant upgrade to your digital toolkit. (Realistic Oil Brushes for Procreate)
Mid-check
If you are ready to start painting with realistic oil textures in Procreate, you can See current options.
FAQ
Can I use these brushes for commercial work? Yes, the listing explicitly states that commercial use is allowed. This makes Realistic Oil Brushes for Procreate a safe bet for freelancers and artists selling their work.
Do I need to be an expert in Procreate to use this? No. The inclusion of the Magic Canvas and the video tutorial means you can get up and running quickly. The brushes are designed to simulate oil painting, so if you understand the basics of layering and blending, you will be able to use them effectively. (Realistic Oil Brushes for Procreate)
Is this just a set of brushes? It is more than just brushes. You also get a pre-set canvas, color palettes, a PDF guide, and a video tutorial. This makes it a complete starter kit for digital oil painting. (Realistic Oil Brushes for Procreate)
What is the file size? The total download size is 431 MB. This is a reasonable size for a pack that includes a high-resolution canvas and multiple brush files. (Realistic Oil Brushes for Procreate)
Bottom line
If you have been struggling to get that rich, textured oil look in Procreate, Realistic Oil Brushes for Procreate is a straightforward solution. For $14, you get a complete setup that removes the guesswork from canvas sizing and color palettes, letting you focus on the art. It’s a practical, well-rounded pack for anyone looking to elevate their digital painting with realistic oil techniques.