Mastering Digital Illustration for Beginners
Stronger illustration skills,even if you're starting fresh.
- 9.5hHD video
- 70lessons
- 7modules
- Alllevels
Most tutorials show you what to draw and skip why it works. Maria teaches the choices underneath, from the first gesture sketch to the last pass of light, so the next illustration doesn't start with a blank stare.
Where illustrations actually go wrong
A drawing rarely falls apart at the rendering stage. It falls apart earlier, in a pose that doesn't read, a face built without proportions, a palette picked one colour at a time.
Maria works in the order a professional does. Gesture, then structure, then character, then colour and light, with the reasoning said out loud at each step.
By the end you have finished pieces, and more usefully, a running order you can bring to the next idea.
Your whole studio fits on the iPad
Nothing to replace, nothing to scan, nothing to clear off the table before dinner.
Nothing to buy first
No paints, no paper, no scanner, no corner of the room given over to drying work. Open the canvas on the sofa and you have started.
Mistakes? What mistakes?
Undo costs you nothing, so you can try the bolder pose, the odd colour, the composition you would never risk on paper. Keep what survives.
Zoom for precision
Zoom in until one eyebrow fills the screen. That is where an expression gets fixed, and it is the part hardest to match with a real brush.
Your teacher
Meet Maria (Art by Memo)
Maria, known online as Memo, is an author-illustrator, character designer and art educator based in Italy.
She has illustrated for publishers and brands including Disney, Hachette Jeunesse, Lucky Charms, Oxford University Press, Auzou and Sweet Cherry Publishing, mostly character work for books and graphic fiction.
She teaches the way she works, slowly and out loud, answering the beginner questions before you have to ask them.
Where you'll be by the last lesson
Every module ends with something on your canvas, not just in your notes.
Confident sketching: warm up, sketch loosely, and commit to linework you don't immediately undo.
Character design: build a character from basic shapes, then redraw them in a new pose without losing the face.
Story-driven composition: place a character in a scene that tells the viewer what is happening.
Colour, light & shadow: set the mood with value first, then colour, then the light that sells it.
A pro workflow: move between Procreate and Photoshop, and put the results somewhere people can see them.
Everything you need is already in the app
A traditional setup means brushes, paints, paper, a scanner and somewhere to leave it all out. That is money and floor space spent before the first mark.
In Procreate and Photoshop the brushes, layers and effects are already there. Nothing wears out, nothing needs washing.
What matters is that you finish things. The lessons are built around pieces you would actually put in a portfolio.
Bonuses included with enrollment
Extras that keep the practice going after the last lesson.
Free Bonus #1
Private Student Area, Discord Community
Maria's private Discord for her students. Post work in progress, ask the awkward questions, see what everyone else is stuck on. Free, for as long as you want it.
Free Bonus #2
Bonus: Speedy Art Class
A short extra class on choosing what goes in your portfolio, and what quietly holds it back.
7 modules, 70 lessons, 9.5 hours
Click any module to expand the lesson list. All lessons are narrated in English with English subtitles.
Before we begin drawing, this section walks you through the course, what you’ll achieve, and how to make the most of your learning.
1. Course Introduction2:39
2. What You Learn2:36
3. How It Works1:10
Build your foundation in illustration, learn the tools, explore styles, and start practicing sketching with confidence.
1. Hello and Welcome!1:46
2. Introduction of the Course and Objective3:17
3. Essential Tools for Artists4:23
4. Setting Up Your Workspace2:54
5. Overview of Illustration Types (Style, Purpose, and Media)3:28
6. Exploring Art Styles and Inspirations3:26
7. Using Online and Offline Tools for Reference Keeping4:41
8. Sketching Warm-up and Line Work5:13
9. Exercise Explained6:50
Learn the building blocks of character design, proportions, gestures, poses, and expressions that bring your drawings to life.
1. Anatomy Simplified: Drawing Proportions12:00
2. The Body As a Solid, 3D Object7:26
3. Movement and Shape, The Twin Aspects of Dynamic Poses6:37
4. The Importance of Gesture Drawing in Your Art Practice4:44
5. Gesture Drawing Lexicon11:24
6. Gesture Drawing Method for Quick Sketching Part 19:30
7. Gesture Drawing Method for Quick Sketching Part 23:15
8. Drawing Faces and Proportions11:28
9. Facial Expressions and Emotions10:22
10. Exercise Explained6:20
Take your characters further, develop unique designs, explore shape language, and keep them consistent across different poses.
1. "The Sweet Mix" - How Reality and Imagination Come Together10:45
2. Character Archetypes and Basic Shapes7:46
3. Techniques for Quick Shape Iteration (Concept Process)13:17
4. Finalising the Design Part 1 (Why Backstory Matters)9:35
5. Finalising Design Part 2 (The Practical Part!)9:52
6. Drawing Believable Outfits11:23
7. Drawing Props6:24
8. How to Draw the Same Character in Different Poses13:16
9. Exercise Explained4:24
Go beyond characters and learn how to tell full stories through your art with composition, perspective, and backgrounds.
1. The Role of Composition in Storytelling7:01
2. Creating Visual Narratives5:51
3. Simple Perspective Techniques for Beginners13:20
4. Backgrounds & Environments8:11
5. Thumbnails for Illustration8:37
6. Thumbnailing Demo11:21
7. Thumbnail to Clean the Line10:06
8. Exercise Explained4:34
Get comfortable with the digital tools of the trade, learn the essentials of Photoshop and Procreate step by step.
1. Intro to Photoshop CC 2025 for Illustration14:25
2. Layers and Masking Techniques9:52
3. Layer Blending Settings8:19
4. Using Brushes and Creating a Favourites Folder13:33
5. Adding Special Effects and Fliters10:05
6. Exporting and Sharing your Artwork10:04
7. Getting Started with Procreate15:10
8. Brushes & the Brush Studio10:31
9. Layers, Blending Modes & Masks8:37
10. Select, Transform & Gestures10:46
11. Adjustments, Timelapse & Export Settings9:51
12. Module Recap3:49
Learn how to use value, palettes, and lighting techniques to add depth, mood, and atmosphere to your art.
1. Intro to Colour Theory14:50
2. Creating Value Studies6:08
3. Creating Mood with Colours8:32
4. Laying Down Flat Colours14:04
5. Adding Linework and Detail before Rendering9:41
6. Understanding Shading and Lighting for Beginners12:01
7. Shading through Layer Blending Setting14:07
8. Lighting through Layer Blending Setting15:42
9. Exercise Explained6:51
Learn the practical side of being an artist, time management, routines, social media, and growing your visibility.
1. Time Management for Artists12:19
2. Build a Creative Routine8:53
3. Overcoming Creative Blocks9:10
4. Build a Portfolio8:56
5. Networking to Find Job Opportunities5:26
6. The Role of Creative Agencies in the Art Industry8:22
7. Branding and Social Media for Artists8:37
8. Continuous Learning and Skill Development4:20
9. Final thoughts3:44
Discover simple strategies to plan and polish your portfolio so it reflects your skills and attracts the right clients.
- 1. Speedy Art Class: Make Your Portfolio Stand Out8:50
30-day money-back guarantee
You get a full 30 days to try the course. If it isn't the right fit, email support@twotap.art and we'll refund every cent, including credit card processing fees. No questions asked.
Lifetime access and updates- 70 lessons across 7 modules
- Private Discord student community
- 30-day money back guarantee
Mastering Digital Illustration for Beginners
7 Modules, 70 Lessons, 9.5 Hours of in-depth video lectures
Secure payment
FAQs
Find answers to common questions about this and other Twotap courses
No. Maria starts at gesture sketches and assumes nothing before that. An iPad with Procreate is enough to follow along, and there is a Photoshop path if you would rather work on a computer.
Any iPad from 2018 onward runs Procreate well. You don't need the newest model, a solid Apple Pencil, compatible iPad is enough.
Yes, Procreate works best with a pressure-sensitive Apple Pencil (1st Gen, 2nd Gen, or Pro). The basic USB-C Pencil is less ideal for line weight and opacity.
The videos total about 9.5 hours. Most people take longer because they draw along, which is the point. Lifetime access means nobody is timing you, and around 30 minutes a day works well.
You can watch on any device with a browser, but you'll want your iPad open to draw along. Many students watch a step, pause, then paint, or use a second screen for the video.
You are not stuck alone. Maria's private Discord comes with the course, and students and our team answer questions there. You can also email support@twotap.art any time.
No. This is a one-time purchase with lifetime access. Buy once, revisit forever, including updates we add to the course.
Yes. We offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. If it isn't the right fit, reach out to support@twotap.art within 30 days and we'll take care of a full refund.
Procreate on an iPad, or Photoshop on a computer. Maria teaches both, so start with whichever you already have.
Yes. Maria's private Discord for her students, free for life, for sharing work and getting feedback.
Still have questions?
We're happy to help, whether it's a login problem, a question about the lessons, or you're just not sure which Twotap course fits. Reach out anytime.
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