Digital Painting Master Class : Beginner to Advanced

Master depth of field with gaussian blur and precise selection, then amplify motion with motion blur and the blur brush for controlled, dynamic effects.

Create a 1000 by 1000 document at resolution 200, use rulers and guides, draw concentric ellipses, apply color and gradient overlays, and apply inner shadows multiple times for 3d compass.

Apply inner shadows and blue highlights to create a three-dimensional, metallic ring, blending duplicated layers with marquee selections, stroke, and gaussian blur for glossy lighting.

Learn to create simple frame-by-frame animations in Photoshop using the timeline and tween transitions, then export as web-friendly gifs with save for web.

Master frame by frame animation in Photoshop by building, tweening, and looping color transitions between red, blue, and green frames. Export as GIFs for blogs or websites.

Learn how to download Illustrator from the Adobe site and access all Creative Cloud tools via a monthly subscription, with trials available.

Access the brush tool to create, edit, and delete strokes, adjust stroke size and style, and switch brushes from the brush library, then modify multiple strokes collectively or individually.

Create type on an open path in Illustrator by drawing a squiggle, switching to the type tool, and adjusting text along the curve with handles.

Learn how to create custom paths in Illustrator with the pen tool by placing and editing anchor points and handles to form open or closed shapes.

Use the polygon tool to draw shapes, reposition with the spacebar, adjust sides with arrows, and apply the pucker and bloat effect to create flower petals or explosion-like patterns.

Explore pucker and bloat on text in Illustrator to create unique letter and symbol shapes. Learn non-destructive techniques, apply effects to letters, numbers, and logos, and experiment with design possibilities.

Apply a drop shadow to stars using the effects panel and preview results. Adjust opacity, offset (x and y), blur, and color to refine the shadow before finalizing.

Explore the scribble effect in Illustrator to transform crisp vector shapes into marker-like, hand-drawn textures. Learn to adjust angle, spacing, and variation to create dynamic scribbled fills.

Learn to create graphics tablet–quality digital painting with a mouse by blending colors with opacity, layering, and the smudge tool, color picking with Alt, and erasing to finesse line work.

Explore how lines drive construction, flow, and design to build depth, weight, and detail, then apply shading and imagination to create dynamic digital paintings.

Apply the thumbnail idea to a larger robot composition by establishing the background value, a light source, and form through layered values.

Use value to shape the robot with a light triangular background and strong contrast. Manage layers, opacity, and blur to refine edges and add glow for depth.

Explore color theory fundamentals by examining hue, saturation, temperature, and value, and apply color schemes like complementary, analogous, split complimentary, and triadic for harmonious designs.

Apply color theory with complementary, split complementary, and analogous palettes to craft a simple character, using base colors, multiply layers, and shading for depth.

Explore the constructive approach to drawing figures using line of action and basic volumetric shapes, building the torso, limbs, and head into solid poses with balance, then introduce perspective later.

Master thumbnails as small sketches to explore multiple robot and vehicle ideas. Use grids and constructive principles for quick iteration, ensuring volume and scalable shapes from thumbnail to final artwork.

Discover how to create clean lines with an iterative process. Use rough base sketches, erasing and redrawing, and zooming in for precise, large to small detail.

Engage deeply in art studies to accelerate improvement in digital painting through repetition. Study from life, photos, movie stills, and tutorials, then apply through transference to your art.

Study landscapes with photo references to improve painting: block in big shapes, set a red underpainting to contrast greens, explore value, textures, composition, and atmospheric perspective.

Focus on the focal point and big shapes in landscape painting, using studies to refine technique, stay relaxed, and return refreshed to improve composition, lighting, and values.

Explore hard versus soft surfaces by examining planes, edges, and light transitions, and learn to paint hard surface objects with sharp edges and soft transitions while exploring materials and contour.

practice painting a soft-surfaced dress using large paint blobs to explore soft transitions, edge control, and the relationship of shapes for fashion or game design.

Master core texture methods by underpainting first, layering materials from dark to warm tones, and using transparency locks, curves, and selective occlusions to create realistic grass and rock textures.

Create a loose thumbnail with a figure on a grassy mound, then develop materials, rock, grass, cloth, stone, using layered under painting and color washes for texture.

Explore building believability with soft cloth, metallic highlights, and leather textures by mixing materials, refining values, and adding flow to cape and armor elements.

Sketch and label the skull’s understructure to place eyes, nose, and mouth accurately, then overlay skin and muscles to study facial expressions and key landmarks.

learn a construction workflow for heads using sphere-based large-mass methods, roughing in jaw, ears, neck, and facial features, then switch to more naturalistic forms to create dynamic heads.

Master quick sketching of heads from three-fourths, straight-on, and profile angles using light guide points to place features, ears, hair, and jaw with accurate proportions.

Learn nose anatomy using keystone and planes, bridge, nostrils, and negative space; then master mouth and lip shapes, shadows, and jaw in head sketches.

Polish the head drawing in the final video of the intro to faces series by applying facial anatomy principles, from hair origin to four-fifths perspective and eye construction.

Explore how to begin drawing the human figure with anatomy, gesture, line of action, and construction. Use life drawing, photos, or anatomy books to study proportion, balance, and perspective.

Explore the figure's anatomy, from rib cage and pelvis to hands and feet, detailing bones, muscles (deltoid, biceps, quadriceps), joints, and range of motion for believable form.

Master a gesture-based figure drawing workflow using line of action, hip and shoulder placement, and block-in with curves and straights, then refine proportions and facial landmarks through iterative fixes.

Learn to render drapery and clothing by treating fabric as a disturbed plane, tracing folds from tension points on a mannequin in shirts, pants, and hoodies.

Learn to render convincing clothing and folds in digital painting by mastering value contrasts, apex highlights, and layer-based edits to refine drapery.

Explore cloth and drapery fundamentals by draping fabric over forms, analyzing points of tension and triangles, shaping edges, and practicing from life to master convincing cloth.

Block in mechanical robot part 3 by painting planes and values, marking negative space with blocks. Use a push-pull method, occlusions, and rim light to refine forms and add contrast.

Master digital painting by starting with basic shapes, drawing from life to produce believable creature concepts, then iterating body mass and features like exoskeletal shells, wings, and six legs.

Sketch avian, amphibian, and insect creatures by exploring large masses and refining shapes through iterative drafts and nature observation to build a cohesive design.

Start with large masses to shape the creature, then refine secondary and tertiary details through iterative drawing. Use references to adjust beak, head, and avian-inspired features for a cohesive design.

Design a new quadruped creature using tone and value to build masses and a clear silhouette. Plan the head, horns, limbs, and tail while exploring lighting and color for iterations.

Apply mark making and hatching to enhance form and detail, refine the silhouette, and use layers, masking, and color overlays to push blue tones and textures on a draconic creature.