Learn to create surreal oil paintings inspired by everyday culture, from the initial concept to the final glaze
Creating artwork with pop culture in mind gives you the opportunity to weave narratives into the work you create. Painter Bob Dobbie (also known as Bob Dob) is recognized for his portrayal of everyday culture in a surrealist style, which has seen him work for clients including Epitaph Records, Intel, American Airlines, Random House Publishing, and Disney.
In this online course, Bob teaches you to create narrative oil paintings of your own. Learn how to come up with powerful concepts and transform them into unique works of art inspired by everyday culture. Create personal paintings of subjects that interest you.
What will you learn in this online course?
12 lessons & 7 downloads
Materials
6 minutes, 31 seconds
The Sketchbook
11 minutes, 49 seconds
Preparing the Painting Surface
4 minutes, 10 seconds
Transferring the Drawing
8 minutes, 43 seconds
The Underpainting
11 minutes, 22 seconds
The Background
13 minutes, 37 seconds
What's included in this course?
Begin the course by getting to know painter, Bob Dobbie. Discover how he went from playing in a band for over a decade to becoming a professional artist, along with the influences that inspire him and the work he creates.
Dive into the materials needed for the course and discover how to use a sketchbook to come up with concepts for your artwork inspired by pop culture. Then prepare your painting surface depending on the texture you want to achieve, and develop thumbnail sketches.
Transfer your drawing onto your painting surface. Then learn the importance of underpainting. Begin painting your background before moving onto the foreground, rendering your character with your light source in mind. Use highlights and fine linework to add the finishing details to your painting.
Glaze or varnish your work once it’s dry to add vibrancy to your colors. To finish the course, Bob talks you through how to save your prints for digital reproduction, and archive them.
What is this course's project?
Create an original oil painting inspired by pop culture in your own style.
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone with an interest in creating narrative works of art using oil paints.
Requirements and materials
Previous experience with drawing and painting is recommended.
In terms of materials, you will need oil pigments, brushes, a canvas, and a few other materials specified by the teacher in the course.
Reviews
- 1 year ago
Its a great course :)but not for beginner !
- 2 years ago
Ive been taking all kinds of workshops classes & courses since 2007. This is the first time I was like ohmigosh I cant believe Im learning this. Besides fangirling out Im just so happy with the quality of this course. This course is the reason I signed up for domestika and I have no regrets. These are exactly the things I wanted to know that noone was saying. Thank you so much!
- 2 years ago
Erg leuk, veel geleerd ook!
- 2 years ago
Il corso è ben strutturato e ben spiegato. Le lezioni sono dettagliate ma, allo stesso tempo, sono coinvolgenti e scorrevoli.
- 3 years ago
Great course, great teacher and artist! Informative and fun.
He currently exhibits his work in galleries throughout the US and parts of Europe. He is known for his sardonic humor and is often commissioned to paint iconic pop culture characters, which he shares with over 35K followers on Instagram.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- U2
Preparation for the Project
- Materials
- The Sketchbook
- Preparing the Painting Surface
- U3
From Sketching to Painting
- Transferring the Drawing
- The Underpainting
- The Background
- Scumbling the Main Character
- Details and Line Work
- U4
Finishing and Photographing the Painting
- Glazing or Varnishing
- Reproducing and Archiving
- FP
Final project
- Pop Culture Oil Painting with a Surreal Twist
What to expect from a Domestika course
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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 valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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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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FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for intermediate artists who already have some basic drawing and painting experience and want to refine their oil painting and narrative illustration skills.
You will need oil paints, gesso, synthetic brushes, birch plywood panels, Gamsol, Galkyd, grey tone palette paper, graphite transfer paper, Turpenoid Natural, and a sketchbook. Detailed supply lists are provided in the course.
You’ll learn foundational oil painting techniques like underpainting, scumbling, and glazing, as well as storytelling, character sketching, transferring drawings, and collaborating on commercial projects.
Yes, the course teaches step-by-step gesso application, including sanding, priming both sides of panels, drying, and smoothing for optimal painting surfaces.
You’ll learn traditional drawing transfer techniques using graphite transfer paper, refining linework, and correcting flaws before painting begins.
Yes, the course covers both scumbling and glazing techniques to build depth, tonal variation, and vibrant color harmony in your paintings.
Absolutely. You'll explore narrative-driven illustration, using character development, props, and scene composition to evoke emotion and convey stories visually.