Visual Metaphors: Illustrate Abstract Concepts

A course by Fernando Cobelo , Illustrator

Illustrator. Turin, Italy.
Joined January 2022

Learn to convey abstract concepts through images by experimenting with analog and digital techniques, collage, and textures

97% positive reviews (123)
3,014 students
Audio: Italian
Italian · Spanish · English · Portuguese · German · French · Polish · Dutch

Learn to convey abstract concepts through images by experimenting with analog and digital techniques, collage, and textures

In illustration we all have our own creative voice, shaped by our identity and perception. Without an efficient strategy or process, however, creativity can only go so far. In this online course, illustrator Fernando Cobelo teaches you how to compose an image based on your experiences and personality.

Following his method, learn to illustrate a visual metaphor and convey abstract concepts through simple yet powerful images. Combine both traditional and digital techniques and experiment with collage and textures to depict memories, emotions, and similar abstract notions, transforming them into a clear and compelling illustration.

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What will you learn in this online course?

17 lessons & 14 downloads

  • 97% positive reviews (123)
  • 3,014 students
  • 17 lessons (3h 39m)
  • 14 additional resources (1 files)
  • Online and at your own pace
  • Available on the app
  • Audio: Italian
  • Italian · Spanish · English · Portuguese · German · French · Polish · Dutch
  • Level: Beginner
  • Unlimited access forever

What is this course's project?

Create an illustration for a newspaper article by distilling its main concepts into a clear and compelling image.

Projects by course students

Who is this online course for?

Anyone who wants to learn the art of translating complex concepts into powerful images, whether for work or for fun.

Requirements and materials

No previous knowledge is necessary. As for materials, you need pencils, paper, an eraser, glue, acetate, tracing paper, India ink, tape, and other supplies easily found in a stationery store.

Fernando also uses an iPad with Procreate, but you can choose the tools you feel most comfortable with.


Reviews

3,014 Students
123 Reviews
97% Positive ratings
  • More reviews

Fernando Cobelo

A course by Fernando Cobelo

Teacher Plus
Illustrator

Fernando Cobelo is an illustrator from Venezuela who currently lives and works in Italy. He put his childhood passion for drawing aside to study architecture in college and didn't pick up a pencil again until many years later when he received his first commission from a US shoe manufacturer, rekindling his passion and transforming it into a full-time job.

Throughout his career, he's worked on a range of projects for clients such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, il Corriere della Sera, Penguin Random House, Zanichelli, multinational corporations including Google, Disney, Samsung, Montblanc, Lonely Planet, and WeTransfer, as well as prominent institutions like the UN and UNICEF. He has also taught and run workshops at schools and universities in Italy, Mexico, India, Russia, China, and a host of other countries.


Content

  • U1

    Introduction

    • About Me
    • Influences
  • U2

    Communicate through Illustration

    • The Image in the Different Sectors of the Illustration
    • Creative Voices and Illustrated Styles
    • Enrich the Aesthetic Baggage
    • Tools
  • U3

    Exercises on Visual Metaphors

    • How a Visual Metaphor Is Created
    • The Composition of the Image in the Sketch
    • Experiment with Collage and Textures
    • Compose the Illustration with Different Techniques 1
    • Compose the Illustration with Different Techniques 2
    • Compose the Illustration with Different Techniques 3
  • U4

    Turn an Idea into an Illustration

    • From Content to Idea: The Research Process
    • The Association of Ideas
    • Create the Sketch
    • Composition of the Illustration on Procreate 1
    • Composition of the Illustration on Procreate 2
  • FP

    Final project

    • Visual Metaphors: Illustrate Abstract Concepts

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
    Plus

    If 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

Domestika's courses are online classes that provide you with the tools and skills you need to complete a specific project. Every step of the project combines video lessons with complementary instructional material, so you can learn by doing. Domestika's courses also allow you to share your own projects with the teacher and with other students, creating a dynamic course community.

All courses are 100% online, so once they're published, courses start and finish whenever you want. You set the pace of the class. You can go back to review what interests you most and skip what you already know, ask questions, answer questions, share your projects, and more.

The courses are divided into different units. Each one includes lessons, informational text, tasks, and practice exercises to help you carry out your project step by step, with additional complementary resources and downloads. You'll also have access to an exclusive forum where you can interact with the teacher and with other students, as well as share your work and your course project, creating a community around the course.

You can redeem the course you received by accessing the redeeming page and entering your gift code.

If you're a Plus member, when you complete a course you've purchased, you'll instantly get your personalized certificate. You can see all your certificates in the Certificates section of your profile. You can download your certificates as PDFs and share the link online. Learn more about certificates.
Visual Metaphors: Illustrate Abstract Concepts. Illustration course by Fernando Cobelo

Visual Metaphors: Illustrate Abstract Concepts

A course by Fernando Cobelo
Illustrator. Turin, Italy.
Joined January 2022
  • 97% positive reviews (123)
  • 3,014 students