Mixed Media Valentine Project

January 07, 2025

Watch a quick video: Valentine Project 2025 - Mixed Media Heart

Start by downloading the assets here.

Use the code Heart-Sampler-2025 to get the Valentine Sampler Set for FREE!

Procreate Instructions:

Open a document in Procreate. (Affinity Designer instructions are below).

Think about what you might want to make with the art. If a greeting card is your ultimate goal, create the document in proportion to 5x7. I like to create Procreate card illustrations 10 x 14 initially so that if I need to resize it, the quality will be excellent.

Import the hearts graphic into Procreate or Affinity Designer.

If using Procreate, use the RASTER file and import into your document using the “Insert” under the wrench. You will create a layer above it and designate it as a clipping mask. See Affinity Designer instructions below for how to set it up properly in that program.

If using Affinity Designer, you can open the VECTOR file which will act as a clipping mask. You will be able to paint directly onto a pixel layer within the svg which will constrain any painting within it (see the instructions below). You can either open the .afd file or import the vector using the “place” command.

In Procreate you can use any brush to add color to the heart on a clipping mask layer you create:

Note how the layer gets a tiny arrow on it linking it to the layer below. Now you can apply any paint colors with any brushes you have. You will alter it next, so it can be as rough as this:

Experiment with the Stain Edge Blend brush to get the watercolor look.

Alternately, you can draw circles of color and blend using Gaussian Blur to get a smooth blend:

At this point you can add the wood background by importing the one I have supplied or by using the textured brush is the Procreate brush set.

The last step, for a watercolour textured finish, is to add the watercolour texture I have supplied. Again, you can import it as explained in the first step. Place it in a layer above all other layers and use the Linear Burn blending mode to apply the texture to all layers beneath it. This works the same in either procreate or Affinity Designer.

Note: You can also use the Watercolour Scraggly Wet Mixer 2 Color Brush for a delicate background like this:

For Affinity Designer users:

Open the .afd file included. Add a pixel layer and drag into the vector. You can change the color of the heart to something light; I used a pale pink.

Switch to the Pixel Persona and Paint at least one stroke. Check and see if the pixel layer was automatically created within the vector. If not, drag it into the vector by dragging onto the word "curves", not the thumbnail.