In the introductory lesson of the workshop, Rafael Sarmento establishes the foundational knowledge needed to begin working in Procreate. By learning to create custom canvases, artists can streamline their workflow and ensure their projects have the correct specifications. This preparation sets the stage for the more detailed illustration techniques that will follow in the remainder of the workshop.

Duration: 2m 24s

This lesson demonstrates how maintaining proper visual reference and allowing loose sketching to guide initial concepts creates space for discovery and the organic development of ideas. The goal is to let the illustration ‘find’ the artist as much as the artist creates it.

Duration: 5m 52s

This lesson emphasizes that digital illustration is an evolutionary process requiring the flexibility to deviate from the original concept while staying true to the initial creative spark. Rafael’s willingness to make major compositional changes proves that continuous evaluation and adjustment are essential to creating a balanced, narrative-rich composition.

Duration: 5m 4s

This lesson takes a look at an exploratory approach to digital illustration. By embracing constant adjustment and allowing space for discovery during the creative process, Rafael builds a rich, believable sci-fi/fantasy world that engages the viewers' imagination.

Duration: 20m 45s

This lesson demonstrates that professional illustration is an exploratory and iterative process. Rafael’s willingness to constantly question, revise, and experiment with every element reveals that achieving a compelling final piece requires patience, flexibility, and trial and error.

Duration: 23m 1s

In this lesson, Rafael demonstrates the ‘Liquify extravaganza’ technique: an experimental approach to digital texture creation that transforms destructive pixel manipulation into a creative advantage. By treating distorted layers as raw material to be manipulated and rearranged rather than final effects, he creates rich details and patterns that enhance illustrations with authentic-feeling textures and design elements.

Duration: 6m 58s

This lesson demonstrates how a single experimental technique can transform the direction of an illustration and strengthen its narrative impact. Embracing accidents and experimenting with tools like Liquify creates a discovery-based approach to digital painting. By developing a contrast between organic and artificial elements, the illustration evolves from a simple sci-fi scene into a compelling story about intrusion and the clash between nature and technology.

Duration: 12m 4s

In this lesson, Rafael discusses his artistic philosophy: that illustration is an evolving process requiring constant dialogue between creator and creation. The journey from rough concept to rendering involves countless experiments, adjustments, and even major compositional changes when the image demands it. Successful illustration isn't just about technical skill, but about developing intuition for what elements belong where, and how they align to support both the composition’s structure and the story being told.

Duration: 30m 5s

The last lesson in the workshop reveals how background elements and environmental storytelling can be refined in the final stages of the work. Rafael’s approach prioritizes compositional strength and narrative clarity, showing that stylization can create a compelling and cohesive final image. The addition of the wetlands answers the storytelling question of how the spacecraft arrived, while simultaneously improving the overall visual flow of the composition.

Duration: 7m 13s