Imaginary Places: Draw, Paint, and Digitize on Photoshop
A course by Francisco FonsecaIllustrator and Artist
A course by Francisco Fonseca, Illustrator and Artist
Learn to draw an imaginary place by combing analog tools like watercolors, pencils, and a sketchbook with Photoshop to add vibrant texture
There’s a certain magic in being able to recreate the places we see in our dreams or in our fading memories. For illustrator Francisco Fonseca, it’s an opportunity for him to build a bridge between the past and the present. With clients like Bloomsbury and with murals across Europe, he’s here to show you how to paint vibrant imaginary places of your own.
In this online course, unleash your creativity on the blank page. Learn illustration techniques with pencils and watercolors while exploring color and texture. Then bring your sketch to life with the digital tools of Photoshop.
What will you learn in this online course?
13 lessons & 16 downloads
Drawing Techniques
11 minutes, 27 seconds
The Sketchbook as an Experimental Tool
13 minutes, 21 seconds
Making a Folder of Textures
8 minutes, 2 seconds
How to Refine a Sketch
18 minutes, 10 seconds
Combining Textures and Sketches
9 minutes, 31 seconds
The Key Layering Concepts
8 minutes, 39 seconds
What's included in this course?
Meet Francisco Fonseca, a Portuguese artist, illustrator, and your teacher for this course. He shares his creative journey, which led to a blossoming career in the illustration world. Hear about the artists who have inspired him and the work he creates.
Gather references for inspiration to help you understand yourself as an artist. Francisco shows you some drawing techniques using a sketchbook, pencils, and watercolors, before experimenting with various textures. Then, refine your drawing and transform it into a base for the final artwork.
Time to go digital! **Explore the fundamental tools of Photoshop ** and combine them to improve your illustration. Learn about the concepts of layering, color correction, and shading, up to the final finishing touches.
To wrap up the course, Francisco takes you through different adaptations of your illustration. Learn how to format your work for printing, and discover the best practices for sharing on social media
Recommended software & tools for this course
What is this course's project?
illustrate an imaginary place from scratch, starting with analog tools and finishing on Photoshop.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone interested in learning a variety of illustration techniques.
Requirements and materials
Basic knowledge of Photoshop is helpful, but not necessary.
To take this course, you need art supplies like a sketchbook, pencils, an eraser, a pen, watercolors, and anything else you’d like to use. You will also need access to Photoshop, or a similar software.
Reviews
- 2 months ago
Excellent course, thank you!
- 3 months ago
Es un curso lindo, solamente no esperes que aborden photoshop a profundidad. lo recomiendo si te hacen falta ideas para crear ilustraciones.
- 5 months ago
Vale a pena!!
- 7 months ago
É um bom curso.vale a pena
- 7 months ago
Beautiful course!!!
In addition to several solo and group exhibitions like À mão (2019) and Lugares, he founded Porta 98, and is co-founder of Garden Skate Co. Francisco also dedicates himself to the investigation of myths and legends, and he tries to give a voice to the inhabitants of his city. Through his illustrations, he aims to build a bridge between different generations to rescue a cultural heritage from oblivion, which he considers to be brimming with richness.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- U2
Preparation: References and Basic Skills
- Finding Inspiration
- Drawing Techniques
- The Sketchbook as an Experimental Tool
- U3
Experimenting and Creating the Base Sketch
- Making a Folder of Textures
- How to Refine a Sketch
- U4
Digitizing the Illustration
- Combining Textures and Sketches
- The Key Layering Concepts
- Shading and Color Correction
- Finishing the Illustration
- U5
Adapting, Printing, and Posting on Social Media
- Different Adaptations
- Printing and Sharing the Image Online
- FP
Final project
- Imaginary Places: Draw, Paint, and Digitize on Photoshop
What to expect from a Domestika course
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.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 intermediate artists who want to deepen their skills in illustration, printmaking, and mural art while building a professional portfolio.
You’ll need a sketchbook, pencils, pens (like Pilot or Posca), watercolors, acrylic paints, colored pencils, and access to digital tools such as Photoshop for editing and compositing.
You’ll learn techniques for urban sketching, creating textures, building ambience, planning compositions, organizing references, digital editing, and strategies for sharing and selling your artwork online.
Yes, the course includes modules on opening an online art shop, selling art prints, and leveraging social media to grow your audience and sales.
The course guides you through creating a diverse portfolio, including murals, printmaking, book illustrations, and unique sketchbook work, suitable for both online and print presentation.
Yes, you’ll learn how to scan, clean up, and digitally enhance sketches, combine textures, and use tools like lasso, crop, and layer adjustments in Photoshop.
Basic drawing skills are recommended, but you don’t need prior experience in mural art or printmaking. The course provides step-by-step guidance for these techniques.