Turning Personal Artwork into Commercial Illustrations
A course by Sophie Mo , Tattoo Artist, Illustrator, and Graphic Designer
Joined July 2020
Build a professional illustration portfolio by learning to give your artwork a commercial use by applying it to a variety of products
Want to learn how to apply your illustrations to products and other commercial uses? There’s no one better to show you how than illustrator, designer, and tattoo artist Sophie Mo. Her work has been commissioned both privately and by brands like Airbnb, Microsoft, BBC Radio 6 Music, MUBI, Squarespace, Fireball, and more.
In this online course, Sophie teaches you how to turn your artwork into successful commercial illustrations, both in physical and digital format. Learn how to read a brief and extract key information to create designs that adhere to the client’s vision. Sophie also shares tips on how to professionally present your work, promote it on social media, and build a strong portfolio.
If you’re interested in making designs intended for ink, check out Sophie’s first course on Blackwork Tattoo Design.
What will you learn in this online course?
16 lessons & 20 downloads
- 94% positive reviews (18)
- 859 students
- 16 lessons (1h 48m)
- 20 additional resources (7 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: English
- English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish · Romanian · Indonesian
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
Recommended software & tools for this course
Adobe PhotoshopWhat is this course's project?
Create an illustration from a brief to apply to different products, in this case a beverage can, a t-shirt, and a poster.
Who is this online course for?
This course is for both beginner and experienced illustrators who want to learn how to adapt their artwork for commercial uses.
Requirements and materials
Basic drawing skills and working knowledge of Photoshop and InDesign are required for this course.
As for materials, you need pens, pencils, both regular and tracing paper, a scanner, and access to a computer with Photoshop and InDesign.
Reviews
Sophie Mo
A course by Sophie Mo
Sophie Mo is a London-based illustrator, designer, and tattoo artist. She specializes in blackwork tattoo design, taking inspiration from the worlds of cinematography, music, Japanese culture, and botanical-style Victorian illustration.
She is a tattoo artist at Parliament Tattoo in Finsbury Park, London. Her custom designs have been privately and commercially commissioned by brands like Airbnb, Microsoft, Squarespace, BBC Radio 6 Music, Major League Baseball, Andaz London/Hyatt, Bulleit Whiskey, REVLON, and more. In 2020, she won a D&AD wood pencil for best illustration across all magazines and newspapers.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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About Me
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Influences
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U2
The Subject
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The Materials
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The Brief
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Researching the Subject
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U3
The Main Design
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The Main Illustration: The Sketch
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Developing the Image
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Finalising the Image
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The Main Illustration: Various Graphic Techniques
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U4
Going Digital
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Understanding the Space You Will Be Working
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Transferring the Artwork into a Digital Space
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Using Mock-ups
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The Poster Design
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The T-Shirt Design
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U5
Sharing Your Work
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Artwork into Digital Assets
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Sharing and Creating
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FP
Final project
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Turning Personal Artwork into Commercial Illustrations
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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 intermediate artists looking to expand their skills in illustration, branding, and adapting artwork for commercial use.
You’ll need basic analogue materials like tracing paper, fine liners, and a light box, plus access to Photoshop and InDesign for digital workflows.
You will learn to adapt artwork across media, create assets for brands, manage client briefs, and combine analogue and digital illustration techniques for commercial projects.
Basic familiarity with Photoshop and InDesign is recommended, but the course will guide you through essential workflows for illustration adaptation and mockups.
The course teaches you to prepare, adapt, and mock up your illustrations for use on products like labels, t-shirts, and posters, using professional templates and workflows.
Yes, you’ll gain practical skills in researching visual references, building Pinterest mood boards, and synthesizing inspiration to guide your creative direction.
Absolutely. The course emphasizes balancing your personal style with client requirements, allowing you to maintain creative integrity in commercial projects.
Adobe Photoshop
Davvero bello e interessante. Un'ottima ispirazione!
Hi, thank you for the course! I had been stuck in the mindset that I couldn't merge dark art and branding, but now I see the possibilities. Thank you for this simple yet powerful insight.
Great course
The title was misleading. I hardly learned anything. It doesn't show you much on how to achieve the artwork.
I enjoyed the curse, and the teacher is great.