Starting Your Career as an Illustrator
A course by Marco Bucci , Concept artist and illustrator

Unlock your potential as an illustrator by mastering drawing techniques, digital painting, color theory, and storytelling.
Embark on a vibrant journey into the world of illustration, where creativity meets digital innovation. Explore the foundational techniques of drawing, from gesture sketches to shape design, and delve into the captivating dynamics of color theory. Enhance your skills with digital painting, mastering tools like Adobe Photoshop to bring your art to life. This course also guides you in composition and storytelling, ensuring your artwork is not only visually appealing but also narratively compelling. Each lesson builds on the last, offering a holistic approach to developing your artistic voice.
Beyond the canvas, navigate the business side of being an illustrator. Learn to build and present a professional portfolio, interact effectively with clients, and price your work competitively. Gain insights into industry trends and discover how to market your services in a digital age. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your skills, this program equips you with the knowledge and confidence to thrive in the ever-evolving field of illustration, making your mark in the creative industry.
What will you learn in this online course?
17 lessons & 25 downloads
- 100% positive reviews (3)
- 625 students
- 17 lessons (3h 43m)
- 25 additional resources (7 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: English, German, Spanish (Latam), French, Indonesian, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish
- Spanish · English · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish · Romanian · Indonesian
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
Students will create a detailed illustration showcasing their mastery of techniques and skills discussed throughout the course, culminating in a piece ready to be a cornerstone of their professional portfolio.
Who is this online course for?
Aspiring illustrators and art enthusiasts eager to enhance their skills in drawing, color theory, and digital painting will find valuable insights here. Ideal for beginners to intermediate artists, students, and adults transitioning into the dynamic field of professional illustration.
Requirements and materials
No extensive prior knowledge is needed; just a basic understanding of drawing and art concepts is helpful. Access to digital drawing tools, a graphics tablet, and Adobe Photoshop is essential. Be ready to explore both creative and technical aspects of illustration.
Reviews

Marco Bucci
A course by Marco Bucci
Marco Bucci is a concept artist, illustrator, and educator with over 15 years of experience in the entertainment industry. His journey began with a determination to master drawing—a skill he openly admits didn't come naturally at first. That early challenge sparked a lifelong commitment to understanding art fundamentals, eventually leading him into painting, illustration, and professional work across books, film, animation, and advertising. His clients include Disney, Marvel, LEGO, LucasArts, Mattel, and Fisher-Price, among many others. Alongside his studio work, Marco has been a devoted teacher since 2009, sharing his passion for strong foundations with students of all ages and skill levels. He has taught at institutions like Academy of Art University, Centennial College, and CGMA, and has built a global learning community through his long-running YouTube lessons. Today, he continues helping artists unlock their creativity through a structured, fundamentals-first approach that has guided more than 25,000 students worldwide. A todos los idiomas
Content
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U1
Drawing Your Art Career
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About Me
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The Illustrator's Journey
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Understanding the Illustrator's Role 1
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Understanding the Illustrator's Role 2
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The Illustrator's Daily Schedule
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U2
Personal and Professional Development
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Crafting a Career Roadmap
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Developing a Personal Style vs. Versatility
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Artificial Intelligence, Threat, or Tool? 1
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Artificial Intelligence, Threat, or Tool? 2
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U3
Working with Clients and Projects
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Understanding Client Briefs 1
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Understanding Client Briefs 2
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Understanding Client Briefs 3
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Creating and Presenting a Project 1
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Creating and Presenting a Project 2
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U4
Building a Sustainable Career
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Building a Portfolio
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Pricing Your Work and Negotiating with Clients
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Industry Insights and Finding Work
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FP
Final project
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Starting Your Career as an Illustrator
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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.
Muito útil, fácil compreensão.
Muy interesante hasta donde llevo.
Este curso es más de su experiencia como ilustrador y algunas lecciones que aprendió a lo largo de su carrera. Es más una narrativa de él. No és lo que esperaba, ya q los otros cursos de domestika con estos temas son diferentes, pero me ha gustado conocer más de él , ya que sigo su recorrido desde hace años, y me fue satisfactorio escuchar sus consejos.