Vector Illustration with a Surrealist Twist
A course by Tomas IvesArtist, Designer and Illustrator
A course by Tomas Ives, Artist, Designer and Illustrator
Unleash all your creativity to create illustrations full of symbolism
Experimentation is the only way to creative growth. Everything goes and there are no rules. This is how Tomás Ives, a Chilean artist with more than fifteen years of experience, specializes in the digital illustration of surrealist landscapes and mythological beings in his work.
In this course, learn a method to unravel all your creative potential through vector illustration using a song as inspiration. From the search for references to the use of graphic symbols, you will immerse yourself in the methodology that Tomás uses in the creation of fantastic scenes.
What will you learn in this online course?
16 lessons & 21 downloads
What will we do in this course?
1 minute, 47 seconds
Point
3 minutes, 43 seconds
Investigation
7 minutes, 47 seconds
Composition and Reticles
6 minutes, 9 seconds
Frankenstein
10 minutes, 15 seconds
To draw
11 minutes, 3 seconds
What's included in this course?
Begin by knowing the work of Tomás Ives, his influences, history, and arguments to start the work of creating an original illustration.
Choose a song that inspires you, work on the process of collecting images, concepts and ideas to develop an illustration with a surrealist twist.
Go through the steps to create a simple list of ideas to an illustrated final piece. Understand didactic processes to help you to detach the merely rational or logical to achieve a shocking result.
Tomás teaches you the use of symbolic graphic resources, textures, and ornaments to populate the space of your work and create a story around your composition.
Learn which tools to use for the final touches of your illustration, for either print in silkscreen, for a dazzling final finish.
By the end of the course, you will have experimented with various techniques and methods to unleash your creative potential to generate illustrations filled with impact and imagination.
Recommended software & tools for this course
What is this course's project?
Develop a vector illustration with a surreal twist based on a concept, using a song for inspiration.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
To illustrators, artists, artists, muralists and anyone interested in learning a new form of artistic communication.
Requirements and materials
You will need to be a music lover and have a pencil, paper, a computer ideally with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop installed, and a graphics tablet. It is important to have basic notions of drawing and basic skills in the mentioned programs.
Reviews
- smendesPLUS6 months ago
Ótimo curso
- 7 months ago
Fue genial aprender con estas herramientas, el proceso creativo, la creatividad del profesor y las referencias que nos brinda son muy buenas y claras. 100% Recomendado :)
- 2 years ago
un curso rapido y que se aprende con facilidad, el profesor un diez.
- 3 years ago
Buenisimo
- 3 years ago
Ottimo corso..consigliatissimo
He has worked as an animator, cartoonist of graphic humor, motion graphics , art director for a television channel and even as head of the design and communications team of the Government of Chile.
During his fifteen years of experience he has been developing a signature style that makes him recognizable in his role as illustrator.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- Presentation
- Influences
- What will we do in this course?
- U2
How an idea begins
- Point
- Investigation
- Composition and Reticles
- Frankenstein
- To draw
- Observe, verify and retouch
- U3
Manufacture our idea
- Chromatography
- Trace, trace, trace ...
- Space use
- Some more details
- U4
Export or Atmosphere
- Atmosphere
- Formats to share or print
- Screen Printing Export
- FP
Final project
- Vector illustration with surreal stamp
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 to create illustrations for music covers, band posters, children’s books, and murals, blending symbols, cultural references, and techniques like screen printing, pop surrealist composition, and digital collage.
This course is aimed at people with some prior knowledge of illustration or graphic design—intermediate level. You don’t need to be an expert, but basic drawing skills and familiarity with digital tools are required.
You’ll need basic illustration skills, access to Photoshop and digital or traditional drawing tools, plus an interest in music, visual culture, and developing your own graphic style.
The course guides you through finding references, integrating cultural symbols, and experimenting with techniques so you can discover and strengthen a unique visual identity in your work.
You’ll learn composition using grids, the golden ratio, focal points, digital collage, and how to organize visual elements to create balanced images with strong storytelling impact.
Yes, the course includes hands-on exercises for illustrating album covers, band posters, and conceptualizing artwork inspired by song lyrics, combining musical and visual references.
Yes, you’ll learn to use Photoshop for cutting out images, collage, color adjustments, layer management, and preparing files for both print and social media.