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11 Best Online Digital Illustration Courses

Ryan
Mar 03, 2023
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Looking to take your digital illustration and drawing skills to the next level? The world of digital art is thriving, making digital illustration a popular and growing field. Luckily, improving your abilities has never been more accessible. All you need is an internet connection and a passion for learning.

At 21 Draw, we offer a range of digital illustration courses tailored to help you develop your drawing techniques. Whether you’re a beginner or an intermediate artist, our online courses can help you improve your skills and achieve your goals.

We’ve compiled a list of the 11 best digital illustration courses available online on 21 Draw, so you can choose the one that best suits your needs.

Our courses include video tutorials, instructional guides from industry professionals, and online classes with experienced instructors. Each course is interactive and designed to help boost your digital illustration skills.

#1 Digital Illustration for Beginners (Laia López)

Digital Illustration for Beginners - Online Course
Digital Illustration for Beginners – Online Course

Digital Illustration for Beginners” is an excellent course for those looking to learn the basics of digital illustration. This course is taught by renowned digital artist Laia López, who has a vast following of over 1.2 million on Instagram.  

Laia is known for her unique art style and illustrated novels, ‘Strawberry Moon’ and ‘Royalty Witches,’ as well as her book, ‘Gleaming—The art of Laia López.’ 

Digital Illustration for beginners provides an in-depth look into composition, storytelling, and digital coloring. It also covers topics such as drawing body proportions and dynamic poses with the line-of-action method. 

The lessons will also provide tips on creating incredible digital illustrations, including eyes, expressions, and hairstyles.

The course also provides an overview of digital inking, composition, lighting & shading, and color palette testing. Laia’s best tips for digital illustration will help beginners create stunning digital art. 

In addition, in this course, Laia will demonstrate her step-by-step process of creating digital illustrations from start to finish. This course is ideal for anyone looking to kickstart their digital illustration career or hone their digital illustration skills.

This course is available in four languages: English, Spanish, German and French. The instructor uses Wacom Cintiq and Clip Studio Paint, but any digital drawing software can be used while learning.

The course comprises over two hours of on-demand video lessons covering the basics of digital illustration. You’ll also get access to professionally-designed reference images, layered Photoshop files, cheat sheets/guides, and recommended books and brushes. 

By the end of this digital art course, you’ll have acquired a basic understanding and skills that will help you create beautiful digital illustrations.

#2 Digital Illustration with Procreate (Simone Grünewald)

Digital Illustration With Procreate - Online Course
Digital Illustration With Procreate – Online Course

Digital Illustration with Procreate” is perfect for digital artists who have some experience and want to become experts in digital illustration.

This intermediate-level course is taught by Simone Grünewald, an experienced Visual Development artist with over ten years of experience in the gaming industry. She is known for creating humorous characters and incorporating everyday themes into her art.

This course covers the essentials of digital drawing with Procreate. It will help you create beautiful, semi-realistic digital illustrations from start to finish.

This course will give you a walk-through of Simone’s illustration process and advice on planning and finding inspiration for digital illustrations. You will also discover how to create realistic environments, including tips for drawing natural-looking plants.

Additionally, this course will explain the concepts like a horizon line, perspective, and different lighting effects, and digital tools like perspective grids, clipping masks, and drawing assist.

This course will also teach you how to give their digital illustrations a traditional look. It covers how to use blend modes to add lighting, warmth, and shadows.

This digital illustration course is taught in English, Spanish, German and French.

The instructor uses iPad Pro and Procreate for instruction.

However, if you don’t have access to Procreate, alternatives like Artweaver and Clip Studio Paint can also be used. Other materials necessary for this course include a sketchbook and a pen.

This course includes more than five hours of on-demand digital videos, reference images, cheat sheets/guides, and layered files in both Procreate and Photoshop.

By the end of this course, you will have increased your knowledge of digital illustration techniques and will be able to create digital illustrations with an impressive level of realism.

#3 Introduction to Digital Drawing (Frank Calicó)

Introduction to Digital Drawing - Online Course
Introduction to Digital Coloring – Online Course

The course “Introduction to Digital Drawing” is designed for beginners looking to learn the basics of digital drawing in Clip Studio Paint. 

This course is taught by Frank Calicó, an experienced character designer, illustrator, and comic artist. He has garnered international recognition for his work from Norma Comics, Wacom, Webtoon, and SMAC.

The course provides an in-depth exploration of digital drawing tools, techniques, and principles with step-by-step instructions. It covers basic techniques that are effective in digital art. These techniques can help you save time and improve your workflow. 

You’ll also learn to use essential digital drawing tools in Clip Studio Paint for raster and vector drawing. Plus, you’ll receive recommendations about the best digital drawing tablets and comparisons of different digital illustration software, including their pros and cons. 

This course goes further into techniques like tracing references, using tools such as auto-select and stabilization, adjusting line widths, and more. 

You’ll gain valuable advice on tracing references and improving your digital art skills correctly. You’ll also learn time-saving tips and shortcuts to fix, adjust, or edit your digital artwork quickly without going through the hassle of re-drawing. 

This course is available in three languages: English, Spanish, and French. 

In the course, Frank uses Clip Studio Paint and Huion tablet. However, you can use any digital drawing software, such as Procreate, Photoshop, Artweaver, Adobe Illustrator, etc. 

The course offers more than two hours of on-demand videos, digital assignments, and cheat sheets/guides to help you get the most out of digital illustration. Additional materials, such as layered Photoshop files, are available for support. 

This online class will make you comfortable using digital drawing tools. You’ll be able to produce digital illustrations quickly and easily with confidence and create digital art that stands out.

#4 Digital Drawing in Procreate for Beginners (Erika Wiseman)

Online Illustration Course - Digital Drawing in Procreate for Beginners
Digital Drawing in Procreate for Beginners – Online Course

The course “Digital Drawing in Procreate for Beginners” will give you the skills and confidence to start your digital illustration journey with a solid foundation.

This course is taught by Erika Wiseman, an experienced digital artist, and freelancer with a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts from the University of Louisville who has been creating digital art for over 13 years. She’ll share techniques she wishes she had known when starting out.

This course will familiarize you with the Procreate interface, tools, & shortcuts and provide good inspiration and references for your artwork. You will learn to set up layers, create character sketches from scratch and refine line art. 

Additionally, the course covers color theory and how to choose and adjust colors. You will understand clipping masks and how they simplify the coloring process. 

This course also teaches you Procreate blending modes and how to use them to create shadows and highlights. It also provides an overview of digital illustration workflow optimization so that you can develop a digital illustration process that works for you. 

The course is offered in four languages: English, Spanish, French and Italian. The instructor uses Procreate app on an iPad Pro, but you can use other similar digital drawing software like Photoshop, Artweaver, etc. 

The course includes more than two hours of on-demand video tutorials, assignments, work-in-progress images, reference images, cheat sheets/guides, and recommended brushes to work with digital illustration. It also provides layered digital drawing files in Procreate and Photoshop to help you understand digital illustration techniques.

By the end of this online digital illustration course, you will be well-equipped to use digital drawing tools and have a solid foundation in digital illustration.

#5 Character-Driven Illustrations (Kenneth Anderson)

Character Driven Illustration - Online Course
Character-Driven Illustrations – Online Course

Character-Driven Illustrations” is an intermediate-level digital illustration course that provides detailed instructions for creating engaging story illustrations from start to finish. 

This course is led by Kenneth Anderson, a professional freelance illustrator who has worked with companies like  BBC, Disney, and more. He specializes in character-based illustrations for children’s television. 

Through this course, you will learn how to develop an illustration out of key story moments with reference aids. You’ll also learn to use lighting and colors to set the mood and create drama. 

Additionally, you’ll gain insight into creating unique characters, good character interactions, and effective focal points to lead the eye. You’ll also learn about the different light sources and how to use them in the illustrations.  

This digital illustration course is taught in English with subtitles in English, French, and Spanish. 

The instructor uses Photoshop and Wacom Cintiq. If you don’t have access to Photoshop, use digital drawing software like Procreate, Artweaver, Clip Studio Paint, Krita, etc. 

The course includes more than three hours of videos for learning, some assignments, and a list of brushes recommended by the instructor.

By the end of this digital illustration course, you will have the tools and knowledge necessary to create beautiful and compelling digital illustrations with characters at their center.

#6 Digital Drawing in Photoshop for Beginners (Erika Wiseman)

Digital Drawing in Photoshop for Beginners - Beginner level course
Digital Drawing in Photoshop for Beginners – Beginner Level Online Digital Illustration Course

The course “Digital Drawing in Photoshop for Beginners” is perfect for beginners looking to grasp the basics of digital drawing in Photoshop. 

Professional digital artist Erika Wiseman teaches this course. Her easy-to-follow lessons will help you make the most of Photoshop’s features and tools to create digital artwork like a pro. 

This comprehensive course starts with a detailed overview of the Photoshop interface. It introduces all the essential tools & shortcuts for digital art. 

You will learn how to take sketches on paper and transform them into fully-colored digital paintings. You’ll also get familiarized with graphics tablets and their settings.

The course also covers how to take good photos of your digital art and edit them in Photoshop. You will explore the different settings within ‘Saturation,’ ‘Color Balance,’ and Blend Modes, which you can use to adjust colors and create shadows and highlights.

Finally, Erika will also teach you how to set up and work with layers for a faster digital art workflow. 

This digital drawing course is taught in English with subtitles in English, French, and Spanish. 

The instructor uses Photoshop, Mac, and Wacom Cintiq to teach, but you can also use similar digital drawing software like Procreate, Adobe Illustrator, Clip Studio Paint, or Krita. 

You will get more than two hours of video lessons, assignments, digital files to work with, and a list of special brushes. When you join the course, you can access Erika’s exclusive art community on Discord. 

This course is the perfect way to learn digital illustration from scratch without overwhelming yourself with too many concepts at once.

#7 Digital Drawing in Photoshop – Intermediate (Erika Wiseman)

Online Illustration Course - Digital Drawing in Photoshop - Intermediate Level Course
Intermediate Level Course – Digital Drawing in Photoshop

Digital Drawing in Photoshop – Intermediate” by Erika Wiseman is ideal for digital illustrators who want to learn advanced digital illustration techniques. 

In this course, Erika will create a digital mermaid from start to finish using Photoshop. She will also demonstrate her professional digital illustration techniques and share valuable tips and insights.

The class will begin with the basics of digital drawing, including setting up a digital canvas and adjusting brush tools for natural and smooth drawings. It also explains advanced techniques, such as adding effects like blur, texture, and contrast to digital illustrations. 

Additionally, you will learn how to unify characters and backgrounds and some tips and tricks that can help speed up your digital drawing workflow. 

This digital illustration course is in English with French, English, and Spanish subtitles.

The instructor uses Photoshop and Wacom Cintiq to illustrate digital artwork. 

If you don’t have Photoshop, you can use Procreate or Artweaver (Check out our list of best digital art software to use in 2023 for options). A digital drawing tablet is recommended to get the most out of this course. 

This digital illustration course includes more than three hours of on-demand video lessons, assignments, a Photoshop guide, a layered file of the completed illustration, and detailed process images. 

You will also gain access to Erika’s exclusive Discord art community upon enrollment. In this community, you can find further support, ask questions, and engage with other digital illustrators. 

By the end of this course, you will be equipped with the drawing skills necessary to create high-quality digital illustrations with Photoshop.

#8 Painting Portraits in Procreate (Ginevra Grigolo)

Online Digital Illustration Course - Painting Portraits in Procreate
Digital Illustration Course – Painting Portraits in Procreate

Painting Portraits in Procreate” is an online digital illustration course perfect for improving digital painting skills and learning how to paint portraits digitally. 

This course is taught by Ginevra Grigolo, a freelance digital artist who has been working professionally since 2017. She is currently studying 2D and 3D animation at the University of the Arts London (UAL). 

This course explains digital illustration techniques for creating beautiful digital portraits in Procreate. It teaches you to break down and understand your reference image to create a good initial sketch.

You will also learn how to make your subject look 3D with shadows and highlights. You will become confident in using the color wheel and selecting colors for digital painting. 

This course has detailed instructions for painting realistic skin and facial features for digital portraits in Procreate. It’ll also provide tips for painting hair and eyebrows that look natural and adding vibrancy to your painting to avoid a dull look. 

You will discover how to create a polished digital painting with no visible line art. A timelapse of the digital painting will be provided to give you a better idea of the entire process. 

The course is offered in three languages: English, French, and Spanish.

The instructor uses Procreate and iPad to explain digital illustration basics. If you don’t have Procreate, you can use a similar digital drawing software like Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Clip Studio Paint, Krita, etc. 

In addition to digital drawing software, a drawing tablet is recommended since it will help you learn digital drawing techniques. 

This course will provide more than two hours of on-demand videos, assignments, downloadable brushes, line art images, layered photoshop and procreate files, and process images.

By the end of this course, you will have all the technical skills and knowledge needed to paint digital portraits in Procreate.

#9 Introduction to Digital Coloring (Linnea Kikuchi)

Introduction to Digital Coloring - Online Course
Introduction to Digital Coloring – Online Course

The course “Introduction to Digital Coloring” is a comprehensive digital illustration course designed for anyone interested in creating digital art and those transitioning to digital art. 

This course is led by digital artist Linnea Kikuchi, known for her unique, anthropomorphized figures and spooky characters. She has over one million followers on Instagram. 

This comprehensive course covers digital illustration techniques and tools, and emphasizes digital coloring. You will learn to combine traditional and digital art and use digital illustration tools and brush sets. 

Linnea will also cover digital coloring basics, such as creating a beautiful color palette and adding shadows, details, highlights, and glows. You will also learn the best digital techniques for drawing clean line art.

The course is taught in five languages: English, French, Spanish, German, and Italian.

The instructor will guide you through the class using Procreate on an iPad Pro and pencil and paper. 

You need a sketchbook, a pencil, and a digital illustration software for the course. Having a drawing tablet will help you to get the most out of this digital illustration course. 

The course consists of more than one hour of on-demand videos, assignments, line art images, and a list of recommended digital brushes. You will learn digital coloring techniques such as color blending, shading, highlights, and shadows.

This course is a fantastic way to jumpstart your digital illustration career and add a professional touch to your digital artwork. 

#10 Mastering Lighting and Shading (Aveline Stokart)

Digital Illustration - Mastering Lighting and Shading
Digital Illustration – Mastering Lighting and Shading

The course “Mastering Lighting and Shading” is designed for intermediate and beginner artists. With this course, intermediate artists can deepen their understanding of light and digital illustration techniques. At the same time, beginners can learn the fundamentals of digital lighting and shading. 

This digital illustration course is taught by Aveline Stokart, a visual development and comic book artist living in Belgium. She has worked with many professional clients, including Simon and Schuster and Skydance Media. 

She will share her expertise and knowledge in this class to help you create impactful digital illustrations.

The course covers various topics, from studying light and shadow to using blend modes in Procreate. You will understand how reflection works on different materials and surfaces.

The course also covers color attributes and how to use colors to create certain moods or feelings. You will learn digital shading techniques and master the Procreate tools used for digital illustration.

Additionally, this course will help you create digital art in various lighting conditions such as daylight, sunset, overcast, and a magical atmosphere. This will give you the skillset needed to produce incredibly realistic digital art. 

This digital illustration course is taught in five languages: English, French, Spanish, German, and Italian.   

The instructor, Aveline Stokart, uses the digital drawing software Procreate and the iPad Pro during this course. However, if you don’t have Procreate installed on your device, digital drawing software alternatives like Photoshop, Artweaver, Clip Studio Paint, and Adobe Illustrator can also be used to complete the tasks. 

The course includes more than an hour of video content, assignments, layered digital files, and images for reference.

This course will help you understand digital lighting and shading to create stunning digital illustrations with more control.

#11 Introduction to Landscapes (Philip Sue)

Introduction to Landscapes - Digital Illustration Course
Introduction to Landscapes – Digital Illustration Course

Introduction to landscapes” is a course for beginner and advanced digital illustrators. In this course, you learn techniques for creating digital landscapes from scratch with skilled tutor Philip Sue. 

Philip is an illustrator and environment designer from New Zealand who specializes in digitally painting environments. 

This course teaches you how to create awesome environments with improved composition and perspective skills. You’ll also understand lighting background scenarios and using simple shapes and values for beautiful designs. 

The course also covers topics such as “atmospheric perspectives” and ways to populate scenes with grass, trees, rocks, and other vital features. Advanced effects like dust are explored to add movement and details that will make your landscapes come alive. 

This digital illustration course is offered in four languages: English, French, Spanish, and Italian. 

The instructor uses Mac, Photoshop software, and a Wacom Cintiq. If you do not have Photoshop on your computer, you can use other digital drawing programs like Procreate, Clip Studio Paint, Krita, Adobe Illustrator, Affinity Designer, etc. 

The course will provide more than two hours of on-demand videos, assignments, and downloadable digital brushes. You will also get a layered Photoshop file, color palette reference sheet, and cheat sheets that help you learn digital illustration quickly and effectively. 

This digital illustration course gives you the tools and knowledge needed to create stunning digital landscapes.

Conclusion

Learning to draw digitally can open up a world of creativity and fun, allowing you to create unique artworks that attract clients. Whether you’re interested in comics, character design, character illustration, or concept art, these 11 best digital illustration classes offer something for every budding artist.

From basic drawing fundamentals to color theory and vectorial illustration, you’ll find many online illustration courses that allow you to express yourself in a new way. With the right course and dedication, you’ll soon be creating your beautiful original artwork.

You can also check the list of our online courses. We have many online courses for different drawing and illustration styles.

If you want to learn to draw caricatures, our course “Drawing Caricatures” is perfect for you. For learning drawing Cartoons, check out the course “How to Draw a Cartoon Character.”

So regardless of your skill level or preference, there is a perfect digital illustration course for you.

Ryan
Ryan

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