Surrealist Illustration with Ballpoint Pen
A course by Virginia MoriIllustrator
A course by Virginia Mori, Illustrator
Learn to create dreamlike illustrations while developing your own style, from drawing the pencil sketch to inking the final artwork
Grab a pen and paper and get...writing? No, start drawing! Among the many objects used to create illustrations, the ballpoint pen is often overlooked, but it's a versatile tool that can produce strikingly unexpected results. In this online course, illustrator Virginia Mori teaches you how to wield this simple yet mighty instrument to shape your ideas into images and convey an emotion through minimalist elements.
Under her guidance, learn to make different strokes and produce a range of visual effects by playing with hand pressure and the angle of the pen. Begin with a series of exercises to unblock your creativity and define a concept before making some pencil sketches. Once you have the definitive design, move on to inking your piece and adding the final details. Ready to explore the possibilities of ballpoint pen illustrations?
What will you learn in this online course?
12 lessons & 22 downloads
Exercises to Unlock Creativity
9 minutes, 19 seconds
The Importance of Ideas
9 minutes, 19 seconds
Analysis of the Idea and Sketch Phase
14 minutes, 0 seconds
Evaluate the Drawing before Inking
7 minutes, 49 seconds
Inking
16 minutes, 15 seconds
Study for the Texture
11 minutes, 23 seconds
What's included in this course?
Meet Virginia Mori, professional illustrator and your teacher for the course. She tells you a bit about herself and her career path, along with the artists that inspire her work.
Next, Virginia walks you through some creative-exploration exercises to help you find and develop your own artistic technique and style, as well as the idea for your project.
Once you've defined the concept, figure out the best way to express it by approaching it from different angles. Draw a series of sketches in pencil and choose your favorite to polish into the final illustration.
Move on to the first step of the inking phase: go over the outline, fill in the dark areas, and add shading where needed. Then experiment with your pen to create textures before applying color to your finished drawing and touching it up using digital tools.
Recommended software & tools for this course
What is this course's project?
Create a surreal illustration about a topic of your choice using both black and colored ballpoint pens. You can also incorporate other mediums if you'd like.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Anyone who wants to learn about illustration and create their own surreal art with ballpoint pens or other mediums they enjoy working with.
Requirements and materials
No prior knowledge is necessary for this course.
As for materials, you need paper and pencils, as well as a black and colored ballpoint pen. If you'd like to touch up your work digitally, you also need a device with Photoshop.
Reviews
- 1 year ago
Muy interesante y práctico, explicaciones muy útiles y sencillas para conectar con las ideas. Lo recomiendo.
- 1 year ago
top
- 1 year ago
Eine fantasievolle Ermutigung zum Gebrauch einfacher, wenig beachteter Zeichenwerkzeuge, die wohl jedem zur Verfügung stehen. Und womit stille aber dennoch überzeugende Grafiken gelingen.
- 1 year ago
ottimo corso forse più volto al metodo di disegno che all'esercizio in se - spunti interessanti
- 2 years ago
Very inspirational! Instruction is clear and the pace is adequate. Highly recommended!
Virginia also found success by sharing her art on social media, which has attracted a large following and has led to commission work, invitations to exhibitions, and collaborations with other artists. She has illustrated numerous books and album covers, and has worked with brands like Gucci, Fendi, and Mini, as well as publishing houses including Feltrinelli, Bollati Boringhieri, and Penguin Random House.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- U2
The Search for a Unique Path
- Personal Research
- Exercises to Unlock Creativity
- The Importance of Ideas
- U3
From Abstract Idea to Sketch
- Analysis of the Idea and Sketch Phase
- Choosing the Best Sketch
- Evaluate the Drawing before Inking
- U4
Bring the Illustration to Life with Shadows and Color
- Inking
- Study for the Texture
- Color on Final
- Digitization and Retouching
- FP
Final project
- Surrealist Illustration with Ballpoint Pen
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
The course is designed for those with some drawing background but is also perfect for self-taught artists eager to deepen their techniques and develop a personal style.
To follow the course, you’ll need basic tools like pencils (including 4B), a Bic pen, colored pencils, paper, and a smartphone or scanner to digitize your work. Some lessons also suggest materials for woodcut and engraving.
You’ll learn to develop a personal style, build a portfolio, prepare exhibitions, publish online, experiment with techniques like Bic pen, woodcut, collage, and analyze symbolism and dreamlike atmospheres in illustrations.
Yes, the course includes strategies for publishing, digitizing, optimizing, and sharing your work online, including adapting it for social media formats.
Yes, it covers both traditional techniques (freehand drawing, woodcut, engraving) and digital tools like photo editing and drawing apps for smartphones.
Absolutely, the course guides you step-by-step in preparing your first solo or group exhibition, with no prior experience in shows required.
The course offers practical exercises to stimulate the right brain, overcome creative blocks, and build confidence in intuition through sketches, moodboards, and observation techniques.