Domestika - Drawing 101 Introduction to Digital Illustration

Explore the foundations of illustration by learning the techniques to draw from observation and from your own imagination​

Drawing is a skill anyone can pick up. Apart from understanding the theoretical aspect, it is all a matter of practice. Illustrator Jean Fraisse, a firm believer that talent can be learned, is here to teach you the principles of drawing in digital illustration.
Discover the narrative power of drawing by creating illustrations from observation and imagination. Explore lines, angles, and shapes to create striking drawings in your own style.
This is Jean Fraisse’s fifth course at Domestika. If you are interested in learning about color theory in digital illustration, see Color Theory: How to Apply It to Your Images. If you’d like to learn how to design characters for animation, take a look at Introduction to Design of Characters for Animation and Video Games. You can find all his courses here.

As a veteran Domestika teacher, Jean begins the course sharing a different side of his artistic journey. He explains that his abilities didn’t come naturally, but rather through consistent practice. With time and dedication, he developed the skill set that led him to become a concept artist of a leading animation studio in Mexico.
Go through the fundamentals of drawing and learn about Jean’s approach to drawing. Jean breaks down the complexity of drawing by demonstrating how everything is composed of various simple shapes. Begin your digital illustration as you practice drawing different shapes while keeping angles and proportions in mind.
Next, learn about perspective and how to convert a two-dimensional drawing into 3D by adding another axis. Explore the concept of a horizon in your illustration before learning about vanishing points and converging lines. Apply the previous concepts into drawing architecture and the human body from observation. Then, learn how to apply light and shadow to your sketches.
Take your illustrations to the next level by adding your own design. Jean explains three principles of design to apply to your drawings: layering, the rule of 3, and counterbalancing. Discover Jean’s creative process when drawing from imagination based on a theme or concept. Wrap up the course by learning other illustration techniques like duplicating, reshaping, exaggeration, and deforming that you can apply to your artwork.

What is this course's project?​

Create two digital illustrations, one from observation, and the other of your own design.

Who is this online course for?​

Anyone interested in learning digital illustration or improving their drawing abilities.

Requirements and materials​

No previous experience is necessary.
All you need is a computer with Adobe Photoshop or a similar software.