Illustrated Sketchbooking in Full Color
A course by James Chapman, Illustrator and Author
Explore your imagination and create vibrant illustrations with acrylic paint markers
The journey to discovering one’s passion is something everyone can relate to. For doctor-turned-artist James Chapman, that meant leaving behind a career as a physicist to follow his dream of becoming a professional illustrator. Now, five years after taking the plunge, James works full-time illustrating books, animating projects for television, and collaborating on viral content for brands like BuzzFeed.
As an illustrator, James relies on his sketchbook for experimenting and developing his unique creative aesthetic. Most recently, he has focused on using acrylic paint markers and pens to blend his passions for color and pop culture, happily sharing his work online with his +50k Instagram followers. If you’re ready to start playing with color and composition, join James (and his sketchbook) as he shows you new techniques for exploring your imagination and having fun with illustration.
What will you learn in this online course?
13 lessons & 15 downloads
What's included in this course?
Get started by meeting James and taking a look at some of his work as a professional illustrator. He explains what inspires him and explains the journey he’s taken to get where he is today. Once you see some of his major influences, get a quick overview of the topics James covers in this course, including details on your final project.
Cover everything you need to know about getting your sketchbook project off the ground. Begin by deciding on an initial concept before taking a look at the required materials for creating something bright, colorful, and simple. Then, explore the main techniques James uses for getting the most out of Posca pens.
Start working on the first few pieces for your sketchbook. Explore the basics of composition to make sure you get things off on the right foot. Then, explore how to apply three different kinds of color schemes so you can keep your illustrations looking fresh and interesting.
In the last unit, take a closer look at the best ways for sharing your work as you develop it. Get some final tips for photographing your sketchbook, how to edit your work digitally for print, and the best ways to share it on social media.
- 99% positive reviews (196)
- 4,579 students
- 13 lessons (2h 29m)
- 15 additional resources (5 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: English, Spanish (Latam), French, Italian, Portuguese, Turkish
- English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
Using acrylic markers, create the first three illustrations of a series that you can continue to develop even after the course has ended.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone who is curious about art, illustration, or sketchbooking, and would like to develop their coloring skills.
Requirements and materials
No prior knowledge is needed to take this course. Some basic notions of Adobe Photoshop (or another photo editing software) are nice to have for the final unit on digital retouching and preparing files for print.
Regarding materials, you will need a sketchbook, a full-color range of paint markers or pens, a mechanical pencil, an eraser, a compass, and a computer with Adobe Photoshop (or the photo editing software of your choice).
Reviews
James Chapman
A course by James Chapman
James Chapman is an illustrator and children's author based in the UK. Realizing that he needed a break from so much time staring at a screen, he began experimenting with Posca paint markers and creating brightly colored works of art in a sketchbook.
James’ professional work is mostly animation and digital art, but his +50k Instagram followers know him for his colorful sketchbooks filled with film and pop culture references. He has collaborated with BuzzFeed, Babbel, the BBC, and CBS Television, and has published several books that explore words and sounds from around the world.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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Presentation
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Influences
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What Will We Do in this Course?
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U2
Preparation
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Inspiration for a Sketchbook Project
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Materials
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Pen Techniques
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U3
Production
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Sketching
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Using a Palette to Replicate Reality 1
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Using a Palette to Replicate Reality 2
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Complementary Colours
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A Simplified Screenprint Palette
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U4
Post-production
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Photographing Your Work
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Printing
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FP
Final project
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Illustrated Sketchbooking in Full Color
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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Certificates
PlusIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
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Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
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Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
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Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for beginners and covers foundational techniques in both traditional and digital illustration, making it accessible even if you have no prior art experience.
You’ll need a sketchbook with marker-friendly paper, Posca acrylic paint pens in assorted nib sizes, a mechanical pencil, a ruler, a compass, and optional fineliners for details.
You’ll learn sketchbook illustration techniques, Posca paint pen methods, digital illustration in Photoshop, color palette strategies, perspective drawing, and how to prepare your art for sharing and printing.
Yes, the course includes lessons on documenting, editing, and presenting your artwork for an online portfolio, plus tips for sharing on social media.
To prevent ink bleed, use heavyweight, smooth paper designed for markers and allow each layer to fully dry before adding more color or detail.
Yes, the course teaches you how to choose, test, and implement limited color palettes for cohesive and expressive artwork, including screen print and comic-inspired styles.
Absolutely. The course covers portfolio building, sharing work online, and practical tips for starting freelance illustration and creative projects.
Un curso excelente, me encantó! Inspira a crear con Posca!
I really love this course. I'm having a hard time illustrating with my acrylic markers. This course has made it simple and easier for me to understand and starts drawing using acrylic markers. Thank you.
good course
Buen curso y buen profesor. Me dieron ganas de coger los Posca!
Very good course