Pictorial Portraits Using Digital Techniques

Alex de Marcos starts by talking about his professional career in the world of illustration in its different fields: advertising graphics, art, and publishing. He shares the milestones of his career, the importance of his technique, and the artists who have influenced his work.

Then, go deeper into Adobe Photoshop learning all the techniques and secrets of Alex: his brushes, layer effects, textures, and other resources so you can make a portrait with a pictorial finish.

Get introduced to color theory, seeing what it takes to illuminate and highlight your illustration. Learn how to find reference images for your composition by organizing a mood board.

In the next step, get down to work and start making your composition. First, make a sketch, in the form of a collage, with the chosen references, then go on to make a shadow map, and then see how to create an interesting scene, painting elements that will give a unique touch to your image.

Create a color palette and make your first brushstrokes, taking into account their direction and energy. Alex teaches you tricks for painting hair and clothes, applying different textures.

In the last unit, give the final touches to your portrait, making your digital work look like it was done by hand. Finally, see how to print or export your file, as Alex gives you some tips to succeed on Instagram and become a professional illustrator.