Surrealistic Fineliner Illustration
A course by Redmer HoekstraIllustrator
A course by Redmer Hoekstra, Illustrator
Discover a new fantastic reality and learn how to create unpredictable drawings with an artisanal approach
A fish smoking a pipe, a leopard violin, a flying teapot, a banana canoe…they may seem like combinations of random words, but they’re actually the concept behind some of Redmer Hoekstra’s surreal illustrations. The Dutch artist’s method involves associating seemingly distant concepts to create works that defy your expectations and bring a smile to your face.
In this course, learn the techniques Redmer uses for drawing with fineliners, paying attention to the aspects that make a drawing lifelike. Discover a series of associative thinking exercises that will help you design and create a surreal drawing.
What will you learn in this online course?
15 lessons & 20 downloads
What Will We Do in This Course?
2 minutes, 16 seconds
Hatching
5 minutes, 1 second
Drawing Textures
18 minutes, 6 seconds
When Ctrl+Z Is Not An Option
6 minutes, 41 seconds
Bloom and Pollinate
8 minutes, 13 seconds
Watching It Bear Fruit to Harvest
15 minutes, 57 seconds
What's included in this course?
Start the course by getting to know Redmer, how he became an artist, his influences, and what he most enjoys about their work. Get an overview of the course’s content before continuing onto the preparation of your final project.
Learn different techniques to start familiarizing yourself with fineliners. Redmer teaches you some basics about working with light, shadows, and structures that will be helpful in the creation of your final drawing. Then, get some tips on how you can correct minor mistakes.
Learn Redmer’s unique process for coming up with ideas and explore his creative methods for creating a surreal drawing from beginning to end. Create your drawing in pencil before using fineliners to add the finishing touches.
After your piece is finished, Redmer will show you the best ways to present it. Learn how to digitize your work to share on social media and how to frame it so it stays protected from the elements.
What is this course's project?
Create a surrealistic fineliner drawing combining an animal with an object.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone with an interest in drawing who would like to learn more and improve their existing skills.
Requirements and materials
Some drawing experience is necessary to take this course.
As for materials, you need a Staedtler pigment liner (0.1. and 0.3), a mechanical pencil (0.5), an eraser, and some reference material like books, magazines, or even online resources.
Reviews
- 1 month ago
Awesome!
- 2 months ago
I really enjoyed this course. I learned the techniques I wanted to know. Thank you!
- farauzo06PLUS4 months ago
Excelente
- 4 months ago
Very good course for surrealism in ink. Very helpful, i will think about doing more cross hatching.
- 5 months ago
Excelente propuesta! muy didáctico y entretenido
He works with fineliners, creating light and volume through shading, which gives life to his drawings. The purpose of Redmer’s work is to make people smile and think about their world and reality.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- Introduction
- Influences
- What Will We Do in This Course?
- U2
Preparation
- Materials and Tips
- Hatching
- Light and Dark
- Drawing Textures
- When Ctrl+Z Is Not An Option
- U3
Growth Season Has Started
- Planting the Seeds
- Weeding and Watering
- Giving All Your Attention to the Right Plant
- Bloom and Pollinate
- Watching It Bear Fruit to Harvest
- U4
Post-production
- Leaving the Nest
- Hiding and Flying
- FP
Final project
- Surrealistic Fineliner Drawing Techniques
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
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.
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.
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FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for beginners and covers foundational techniques for creating detailed surreal illustrations with fineliners.
You’ll need fineliners (like Staedtler pigment liners 0.1 and 0.3), drawing paper (Fabriano or similar), mechanical pencil, eraser, clean paper for smudge protection, and a sketchbook.
You’ll learn how to create surreal artworks by combining animals and objects, apply fineliner hatching, render textures, use light and shadow, and correct mistakes in pen drawings.
You’ll learn step-by-step how to merge features from different animals and objects to create unique, imaginative illustrations using associative design and sketching techniques.
The course teaches hatching, cross-hatching, pressure variation, and layering to achieve smooth shading and realistic textures in your ink drawings.
You’ll learn methods like using a white pen, shading over errors, mechanical removal with an X-Acto knife, and blending to correct mistakes without starting over.
You’ll use clean smudge paper under your hand, keep tools and workspace clean, and apply fixatives or archival techniques to preserve your work.