Japanese-Inspired Illustration Specialization: Master Traditional and Digital Techniques

Taming the technique: brushes 1

Now that you are familiar with the different types of brushes, let's put the explanations we have seen into practice. I will show you first how to paint your leaves in wash. Don't panic, mistakes happen even to the best. So, finally, I'll show you how to catch up with some of them.

Taming the technique: brushes 2

Now I'm going to show you how to paint the leaf veins with fine strokes and then paint the solid background with an opaque color.

The technique: the colors

In this lesson, I'll teach you the basics of mixing your colors with gouache. I will also explain to you how they work so that you can feel free to use them in all their plurality.

Taming the technique: colors 1

In this lesson, I will do a demonstration exercise to teach you how to find a color against a reference image.

Taming the technique: 2 colors

Here we are continuing our search for colors. Once it is finished, we will take care to note the references of each color and the mixtures made.

10m

Be curious to stay inspired

Imagination is muscle. I will teach you in this lesson how to take good habits to cultivate your creativity and how to deepen them while remaining curious. Finally, we will see how to bring this creativity to life on paper by creating a mood board.

Formatting the illustration

In this lesson, we will see that the light table can be a very good tool to help us draw. I will show you how to use it to create and draw pictures that look like you.

The characters and their faces 1

Your illustration is ready to be painted. Here I start with the face. Indeed, I advise you to start with what seems the hardest to you. That way, if something goes wrong, you won't have to start all over again and, if it's successful, it will make you want to apply yourself for the rest.

The characters and their faces 2

Now, I tackle the painting of the animals, then the first flowers of the kimono.

The characters and their faces 3

I will finish this part of the illustration by painting the fabric of the kimono. Feel free to make bigger strokes when filling in.

Background colors 1

In this lesson, I'm going to paint the background colors, starting with the light colors first, then the darker ones. So you will see how to put the solid painting technique into practice. But, first of all, you will draw the criteria of the first benchmarks.

I continue to paint my background here, focusing on the darker colors.

Background colors 2

All the elements of our composition have been painted. Now I will show you how to add detail to your illustration, to give it some finesse and character. For that, I will start with the plant details.

Finishes and details 1

Now I will focus on the pleats and details of the kimono. For this, I will not hesitate to return to my reference photo, which will serve as a guide. You will also see how to catch smudge errors. Finally, I am going to erase the lines with the pencils that served as a reference.

Finishes and details 2

Sharing and posting on social networks

Instagram has very positive aspects, as well as very negative ones. The best thing, as always, is to find the right balance. I'll show you how I prefer to use the app and the tools I use to organize my posts.

Tips for opening your online store

Maybe you want to sell your work but don't know where to start. In this lesson, I will give you tips for opening your online store based on my own experience.

Illustrator agencies in France

I am often asked why I have an agent and how it helps me. So I will explain here my journey to find an illustrator agent and how this agency helps me in my work.

A few final tips

To end on a high note, I would like to give you three great tips that are useful to me every day in my life and which, I hope, will help you as much as I do!

Module 3

Let yourself slow down and enter the meditative world of ink with Mika Takahashi. Before any lines are drawn, you’ll explore the traditions, cultural influences, and artistic sensibilities that shape her approach to India ink. This opening moment is about connecting with the quiet beauty behind the technique—learning to observe, feel, and absorb what inspires expression beyond the brush.

11 lessons (55m)

Influences on the choice of a theme

Have you ever felt lost looking at the blank sheet of paper? Were you wondering about your skills and creativity, believing that you will never be an artist? This is completely normal. In this class I will share with you my process in choosing a topic.

Materials

The tools are essential for any creative area, so I will present you what materials we will need for this technique: • Papers: rice, cotton, bristol, newspaper • Inks: sumi, ink in bar, ink pen; gouache and / or white acrylic paint • Brushes: shodo or sumie, watercolor • Container or bowl • Cloth or paper towel • Pencil or mechanical pencil • Rubber or bread crumb • Cleaners • Gauze and / or cotton • Light table • Scanner • Computer with Photoshop

Line exercises

Now that we have the materials, let's start exploring them with basic exercises. Repetition is what makes perfect! So, do not save ink or paper for these exercises that will help you further.

Stain exercises

In addition to the basic exercises, it is also important to explore the possibilities of the materials through experimentation. In this class we will get our hands dirty and find out how the ink reacts to water and different types of paper.

Composition

Composition is the structural basis of an image and it is it that will define the narrative. In this class I will show my process for developing an illustration and some composition tips. In the additional resources, at the end of this page, you will find a complement to this class in "Influences on the choice of my theme". In that document, I explain why I chose this photo, what it means to me and why I decided to make this composition.

Final drawing

After defining the sketch it is now time to work on the final drawing. In addition to the materials we discussed earlier, I will show you some new tools that can help you in this step.

First spots

Now we started to work with the ink. Let's define the mood of the image with the first light spots that will help us compose the light areas.

Contrast

After defining the overall mood of the illustration, I will show you how to use contrast to better define the shapes of the drawing.

Lines and fills

In this last step, we will draw the lines and define the illustration with a fine brush to draw the details.

In this lesson, I will show you how you can correct minor imperfections in your work using opaque white paint such as gouache or acrylic.

Manual editing

Digital Edition

And to finish the illustration, I will show you how to scan and digitize the image to get it ready to print.

Module 4

Before you begin painting petals and mixing colors, take a moment to explore what inspires Akemi Lucas—known artistically as Koshu—in her elegant approach to sumi-e. Rooted in tradition and shaped by her deep cultural heritage, her style blends discipline with sensitivity. In this first step, you’ll discover the stories, symbols, and quiet moments that breathe life into every brushstroke.

17 lessons (3h 39m)

Presentation of Material: Paper

In this lesson, I will cover the materials required for this course, with a special focus on ideal papers to be used for Sumi painting.

Senbyouhou and Kourokuhou Techniques with a Small Brush

Let's start practising! First, I will recap the three key features of Sumi painting. Then, I will complete several exercises to help you familiarise yourself with small brush movements.

Kasure Technique

Now, I will revise Kasure, the dry-brush technique used to add texture to elements of the natural world, like trees, rocks, or grass.

Tsuketatehou Technique with Ink Effects

After practising with Kasure, here I will teach you how to use ink to create gradations and express depth in a simple line.

Tsuketatehou Technique with Ink Effects and Use of Colours

Next, I will build on the techniques covered in the previous lesson and introduce colour to create leaves and flower petals.

In this lesson, I will cover some techniques and principles to improve the composition, with a focus on plant paintings. I will also discuss the importance of copying the art of skilled painters in order to learn their brush techniques and connect with their state of mind.

Ideas on Composition

Persimmons in Senbyouhou 1

It's time to paint! Here, I will show you how to paint persimmons in Senbyouhou. Using a reference, I will start by making some initial sketches of the leaves and the fruit. Then, I will choose the layout and practise painting the subject from different angles.

Persimmons in Senbyouhou 2

After practising painting the draft, I am ready to paint the final artwork! I will show you how to add texture by focusing more on the brush movements and ink effects.

Persimmons in Senbyouhou 3

Once the painting is dry, I will finalise the artwork and add colour: I will use yellow and orange. Before applying colour, it's important to wet the paper with water to help the ink spread.

A Magnolia in Senbyouhou 1

In this lesson, I will teach you how to build up a magnolia artwork in Senbyouhou. Here, I will start showing you how to practise painting the flower petals and how to get to the final black-and-white artwork.

A Magnolia in Senbyouhou 2

Next, I will show you how to add light pink colour to the petals and yellow to the central part of the flowers.

A Rose in Tsuketatehou 1

You have learnt the process of creating fruit and flowers using Senbyouhou. Now, I will show you the process of painting a rose in Tsuketatehou.

It's time to finalise the artwork with colour. I will paint a rose that doesn't exist in nature, with blue petals to symbolise mystery.

A Rose in Tsuketatehou 2

An Iris in Tsuketatehou 1

In this lesson, I will teach you how to paint an iris in Tsuketatehou to try and capture its essence through brush movements and ink effects.

An Iris in Tsuketatehou 2

Now, I will finish painting the petals of the iris before adding the leaves. In this phase, it's very important to always keep in mind the balance of the composition.

About the Seal

What is the signature or seal and what is its purpose? In this lesson, I will briefly discuss its origins and historical significance.

Seal Making

Now that you know the meaning of the seal, I will show you the key stages of seal making!

Aesthetics of the Japanese theme

Module 5

Get ready to jump headfirst into a bold, colorful world—right where retro meets Japanese pop culture. But before sketching or scanning anything, Paiheme invites you behind the scenes of his creative universe. Discover the graphic influences, vintage references, and playful obsessions that drive his unique visual style. It's the perfect starting point to unlock your own imagination and approach illustration with fresh energy.

23 lessons (5h 14m)

Learn in this lesson how to immerse yourself in a culture and its codes. Are you ready ?

Iconographic research

I will explain to you how to observe and analyze vintage posters to find iconographic references for your illustration.

A quick overview of the tools to use in Photoshop

You will learn to master some tools that will be useful to you to create your illustration: the brush, the lasso, the selection of colors, etc.

From idea to paper

Now learn how to get started by quickly sketching out the first drafts of your illustration.

Pass the sketch on Photoshop

I'll explain how to import your project into Photoshop to clean it up and add textual elements to it.

Contour line drawing: the central drawing 1

In this lesson, you will focus on outline lines, starting with line art . I will also show you how to inking your drawing.

Contour line drawing: the central drawing 2

You will see how to work all the details of your drawing to be able to simplify it. Also, you will see how, when you simplify your illustration, you notice the positive and negative spaces. This is going to be interesting, because it will be useful to create an illustration as harmonious as possible.

Contour line drawing: the central drawing 3

I now turn to the second element of my illustration - the mask of the deity which represents good fortune - and then to the third. Here, you will learn, among other things, to work on symmetry.

Contour line drawing: the central drawing 4

All the elements being present, you will see how to finalize the central drawing. I'll show you how to take care of the symmetry and how to add and polish the final details.

Contour line drawing: textual elements and background 1

Following the drawing of the line art, you will now see how to place the different textual elements of the poster by deepening the choice of typography, the arrangement in space and the addition of background patterns.

Contour line drawing: textual elements and background 2

I'm focusing here on one element of the poster - a way of showing you a concrete example of the logic behind the choice of typography.

Contour line drawing: textual elements and background 3

Now, I will explain to you how to work with Japanese signs, a new typographic variety. You will see how we can combine a hyper traditional and hyper modern style at the same time, which gives us a very nice design.

Contour line drawing: textual elements and background 4

Once all the textual elements and their typography have been chosen and rearranged in the space of your illustration, you can start working on the background! I will teach you how to add symbols and other elements that are going to be a part of it.

Contour line drawing: textual elements and background 5

You come to the last step of this unit. I will teach you how to bring the different graphic elements in your illustration to life. Don't worry if you make mistakes! Remember this is the opportunity to spot all the little details that you missed. I will finally show you how to position all the elements to play on the overall symmetry of the illustration.

Combinations of several sources to create a color palette

After having selected several posters that you like, I will help you identify the colors of the time and explain how to synthesize the graphic trends.

Define the dominant colors and color

Now, you will learn how to logically select the different dominant colors that will dress the poster according to the chosen theme, and enrich this choice with complementary colors.

Here you will see how to add a vintage touch to your illustration by playing with the different textures.

Add textures

Add imperfections: vintage look

What gives an illustration its vintage look? I'll show you how to add and recreate that imperfect touch that will make the poster look more real and authentic, like it's already dated.

Final details: colorimetry, saturation and level

Here, you'll learn how to make the final adjustments to colorimetry, saturation, and levels.

Explore color variations on our poster 1

You will see how to adapt your poster by testing other complementary colors. So you can choose the ones that suit you best.

Explore color variations on our poster 2

We will continue to explore color variations. I will show you the second variation proposal for the color blue. So you will see which elements you can play with a bit to have multiple variations.

Print your poster and publish it on social networks

I will teach you how to adapt your poster to the formats of different social networks.

10m

Produce mock-up of the product

Using the Photoshop application, you will learn how to make a product mockup with your illustration.

Is a blank sheet intimidating? In this lesson, I will share how to use word and visual associations to search for gold. Later, you will be given a task to develop your own association! The most important thing is to relax and have fun!

Module 6

Sometimes, illustration is more than image-making—it’s a quiet return to yourself. Yohey Horishita invites you to begin this creative path not with tools, but with intention. In this first step, you’ll explore the personal memories, Japanese motifs, and emotional influences that shape his “tradigital” process. It’s a space to reflect before you create, and to understand how meaningful work begins from within.

17 lessons (3h 23m)

Getting Started

Next, I will go through my drawing tools and materials. These are the tools that work best for me and are only recommendations. Hope it helps!

Tools and Materials

Traditional Japanese Art and Design: The Anatomy 1

What is the hype about Japaneseness in art!? Traditional Japanese art and design teach you so much about the basics: the elements of art and the principles of design. In this lesson, I will discuss these in more detail and explain how important it is to know the basics. I will share where the inspirations for my illustration come from. By the end, you will be able to bring the essence of traditional Japanese art and design into your own illustration!

Traditional Japanese Art and Design: The Anatomy 2

Now that we've discussed composition and the importance of empty space, let's talk about lines!

Creating a Sketch from Thumbnails

Let’s review the word and visual association task from the previous unit. It's time to highlight some keywords that will help you to create thumbnails. Then, we will transform these into a sketch!

Digital Manipulation and Image Tracing

The next step is to scan the thumbnail sketch into Adobe Photoshop. Once in Photoshop, I will show you how to resize the image to scale. Then your image will be ready to print out. Using the printed-out image, we will use the lightbox to trace the image onto a new sheet of paper.

Using Traditional Methods: Pen and Ink on Paper 1

It's time to start inking! In this lesson, you will learn some tips and techniques to ink your sketch onto watercolor paper. In this first section, I will ink the helmet—a reflective surface with decorative elements—and rock—organic, textured objects made up of abstract shapes. You will see the different inking approaches I adopt. This stage relies heavily on technique, so prepare to focus!

Using Traditional Methods: Pen and Ink on Paper 2

In the second part of this lesson, I will sketch and ink the eye of my illustration, before taking a final look at my composition.

Using Traditional Methods: Oil Pastels 1

Now, I will show you how to prepare the texture for the digital part of the project. I love this part.

10m

Using Traditional Methods: Oil Pastels 2

Now that the canvas is ready, I will show you how to apply layers of oil pastel, followed by graphite powder to create a scale of different values.

The Digital Stage: Adding Color 1

As much as I love working on my illustration traditionally, I’m the kind of person who gets bored easily. So, let’s have some fun in Photoshop. Coloring digitally gives so much more flexibility and space to explore your creative freedom—the power of "Command+Z", y'all! In this lesson, I will show you how I combine my ink drawing and the oil pastel board digitally and color them in Photoshop to complete my illustration step by step! Let’s go!!

The Digital Stage: Adding Color 2

Here, I will continue adding color to my illustration, using it as a tool to differentiate the different elements. The focus will be placed on building my "FLATS" layer in Photoshop. I will then work on my "LINES" layer, to separate the drawing lines as required.

The Digital Stage: Adding Color 3

Finally, I will add shadows and highlights. Not too much though. Subtlety is the key! Then, I will demonstrate how to clean up the illustration. This is something I like to call the "Target Moment", and consists of streamlining the piece. I tend to be a maximalist, so this step is particularly important for me.

Prepping the File for Print

It’s important to take a look at your digital file and see which settings it's under because the digital files have their own language too! When they deal with screens (which is the TV, cellphone, or tablet) and print, they use a different language for how to display the color! For print, let me show you what you should do.

Preparing to Share the Illustration Online 1

In this lesson, I will prepare you for the web and social media. There are many different platforms out there and it's likely that some will come and go. It’s important to stay current, try different approaches, and play with features. The ultimate goal is to find your own vibe. First, you will need to leave your digital fingerprint on the work by filling out the file information. This way, your art will always find its way back to you.

Preparing to Share the Illustration Online 2

Now that I've covered how to upload your document to the web, let's talk about social media! On Instagram, I only post a couple of times a month. But I love Instagram stories; I use them 24/7. That’s just how I roll, you know? I know myself very well, and I’m not one to create a post every day. I have a busy life outside of social media, okay? Haha! BUT anyway, whether it’s this platform or different platforms, it’s important to know the image requirements and make sure you set up your file accordingly.