Visual Metaphors: Illustrate Abstract Concepts
A course by Fernando Cobelo , Illustrator
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.
What will you learn in this online course?
17 lessons & 14 downloads
- 97% positive reviews (128)
- 3,290 students
- 17 lessons (3h 39m)
- 14 additional resources (1 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: Italian
- Spanish · English · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
Recommended software & tools for this course
ProcreateWhat 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
Fernando Cobelo
A course by Fernando Cobelo
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
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U1
Introduction
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About Me
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Influences
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U2
Communicate through Illustration
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The Image in the Different Sectors of the Illustration
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Creative Voices and Illustrated Styles
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Enrich the Aesthetic Baggage
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Tools
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U3
Exercises on Visual Metaphors
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How a Visual Metaphor Is Created
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The Composition of the Image in the Sketch
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Experiment with Collage and Textures
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Compose the Illustration with Different Techniques 1
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Compose the Illustration with Different Techniques 2
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Compose the Illustration with Different Techniques 3
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U4
Turn an Idea into an Illustration
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From Content to Idea: The Research Process
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The Association of Ideas
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Create the Sketch
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Composition of the Illustration on Procreate 1
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Composition of the Illustration on Procreate 2
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FP
Final project
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Visual Metaphors: Illustrate Abstract Concepts
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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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.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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Certificates
PlusIf 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
What are Domestika's online courses?
Domestika courses are online classes that allow you to learn new skills and create incredible projects. All our courses include the opportunity to share your work with other students and/or teachers, creating an active learning community. We offer different formats:
Original Courses: Complete classes that combine videos, texts, and educational materials to complete a specific project from start to finish.
Basics Courses: Specialized training where you master specific software tools step by step.
Specialization Courses: Learning paths with various expert teachers on the same topic, perfect for becoming a specialist by learning from different approaches.
Guided Courses: Practical experiences ideal for directly acquiring specific skills.
Intensive Courses (Deep Dives): New creative processes based on artificial intelligence tools in an accessible format for in-depth and dynamic understanding.
When do the courses start and when do they finish?
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.
What do Domestika's courses include?
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.
Have you been given a course?
You can redeem the course you received by accessing the redeeming page and entering your gift code.
Procreate
bello! lo consiglio vivamente, anche per chi come me non ha ancora iniziato la sua esperienza digitale!
O curso é muito bom. Nos dá várias ideias para o desenvolvimento de nossa criatividade. Fernando tem muita calma em suas explicações. Recomendo!
I enjoyed the course. The use of both analogue and digital materials to create illustrations helped me making my own work better, as it gives it a handmade feeling. It is well explained and easy to follow along. Thank you !
Es excelente, quiero otro curso de el! los ejercicios son muy buenos y el explicando y compartiendo sus conocimientos y experiencia es genial.
No he terminado el curso, pero estoy aprendiendo unas nuevas técnicas para mi collage