Guided Course: Create fantastic portraits in Photoshop
A course by Fernanda MayaDesigner
A course by Fernanda Maya, Designer
Create digital fantasy portraits in Photoshop, explore paint techniques, dominate light and color, develop unique style
Learn to create female portraits full of strength, mystery, and symbolism inspired by the world of fantasy. You'll discover how to work with light, color, textures, and composition to create profound and expressive digital illustrations. Combine natural, mythological, and magical elements to bring to life women who convey emotion and identity. Explore different digital painting techniques, master the use of custom brushes, and develop your own style as you progress through your work.
Ideal for those with basic drawing and Photoshop skills, this course offers a step-by-step approach that will guide you from creating a mood board to the finishing touches. Learn to create sketches, establish bases, apply color, and detail characters to achieve portraits ready for publication or print. Immerse yourself in fantastical universes and transform your ideas into digital art that captivates and surprises.
What will you learn in this online course?
11 lessons & 28 downloads
Make the baselines
21 minutes, 2 seconds
Start with color
15 minutes, 58 seconds
Give character detail 1
19 minutes, 27 seconds
Give character detail 2
18 minutes, 19 seconds
Funds 1
18 minutes, 28 seconds
Funds 2
16 minutes, 25 seconds
What's included in this course?
You'll learn to create fantasy female portraits, full of symbolism and mystery. Through a step-by-step approach, you'll master the use of light, color, and textures, achieving expressive and profound digital illustrations. You'll discover how to merge natural, mythological, and magical elements to create female characters that convey emotion and identity. This experience will allow you to explore various digital painting techniques while developing your own unique style.
Additionally, you'll become familiar with using custom brushes, learn how to compose detailed backgrounds, and put the finishing touches on your portraits. The course will guide you through creating a mood board and an inspiring collage, laying a solid foundation for your work. You'll be able to adjust settings and apply filters to enhance your illustrations, taking them to a professional level. Upon completion, you'll have a portrait ready to share or print, reflecting your growth as a digital artist.
What is this course's project?
The project involves creating digital portraits of fantasy-inspired female characters, exploring techniques of light, color, and texture. Students will develop a unique style, combining natural and mythological elements to convey emotion, culminating in an illustration ready for publication or print.
Who is this online course for?
Ideal for drawing and Photoshop enthusiasts with basic knowledge, interested in portraits, digital illustration, and fantasy worlds. Perfect for those who want to explore digital painting techniques, develop their own style, and create feminine portraits full of symbolism.
Requirements and materials
No extensive prior knowledge is required, but basic drawing and Photoshop skills are necessary. A computer with internet access, Photoshop installed, a graphics tablet (optional), and a desire to explore the world of digital illustration are required.
Reviews
- carobodayPLUS2 months ago
Muy bien explicado. Gran profesora
She loves experimenting with different techniques and is currently producing her pieces exclusively using digital programs and her Cintiq. She has collaborated with brands such as Bacánika, Editorial Planeta, and the Luis Ángel Arango Library, among others. She also hugely enjoys selling her portraits and prints, as well as bringing the ideas of others to life.
Content
Guided Course: Create fantastic portraits in Photoshop
- Podcast: Symbolism and Power in Female Fantasy Figures
- References, mood board and collage creation
- The skit
- Make the baselines
- Start with color
- Give character detail 1
- Give character detail 2
- Funds 1
- Funds 2
- Corrections and finishes
- Settings and filters
- Final project
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
You’ll learn how to create digital collages and illustrations by combining composition techniques, layer organization, color adjustments, brush usage, and visual references, plus how to apply textures, shadows, and effects to craft fantasy portraits with a professional finish.
Yes, this course is designed for those with basic to intermediate digital illustration skills who want to enhance their composition, Photoshop handling, and advanced creative techniques.
Basic Photoshop knowledge—like using main tools and layers—is recommended, though the course explains specific functions used throughout the creative process.
You’ll need a computer with Photoshop installed (preferably CC version), a graphics tablet or mouse, internet access, and visual references such as Pinterest.
A mood board gathers images, colors, and references that inspire and guide the project’s aesthetic direction, helping maintain coherence and develop visual ideas for digital illustration.
You’ll learn to apply principles like triangular composition, the rule of thirds, symmetry, and visual hierarchy to arrange elements and create attractive, balanced images.
The course teaches you how to create, group, name, and lock layers, use subgroups and blending modes to keep your file organized and enable non-destructive editing.