University of California, Santa Cruz

Digital Painting Specialization

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University of California, Santa Cruz

Digital Painting Specialization

Build Digital Painting Foundations.

Learn Photoshop workflows, concept art methods, immersive studies, and moving portraits.

Kathleen Deck

Instructor: Kathleen Deck

Get in-depth knowledge of a subject
Beginner level

Recommended experience

4 weeks to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Get in-depth knowledge of a subject
Beginner level

Recommended experience

4 weeks to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • Gain an understanding of digital painting, from basic techniques to industry application, to how the programs operate.

  • Create digital paintings with a variety of techniques and “media” that synthesize fundamental and elemental concepts and techniques.

  • Demonstrate digital painting and design approaches and visual organizational principles to explore methods of visual expression and creative process.

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Taught in English
Recently updated!

November 2026

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Specialization - 3 course series

Digital Painting: Photoshop Setup and Foundations

Digital Painting: Photoshop Setup and Foundations

Course 1, 9 hours

What you'll learn

  • Configure a digital painting workspace and brush engine in Adobe Photoshop for optimized production workflows.

  • Apply Elements of Art and Principles of Design to render digital forms with accurate value and structure.

  • Utilize professional visual arts terminology to analyze digital paintings and provide structured constructive feedback.

Digital Painting: Hybrid Techniques and Concept Art

Digital Painting: Hybrid Techniques and Concept Art

Course 2, 20 hours

What you'll learn

  • Adapt traditional sketching, underpainting, and layering techniques into a non-destructive digital workflow.

  • Integrate photographic assets with digital paint using blending modes and photobashing techniques to construct concept art.

  • Analyze entertainment industry pipelines to apply visual development methodologies across commercial creative occupations.

Digital Painting: Immersive Art and Moving Portraits

Digital Painting: Immersive Art and Moving Portraits

Course 3, 15 hours

What you'll learn

  • Evaluate how digital painting techniques extend into immersive media, including VR, AR, 3D texturing, and creative coding.

  • Paint a detailed digital portrait applying advanced value structure, color temperature, and motion-based visual effects.

  • Assemble a curated professional portfolio showcasing technical proficiency, personal style, and digital painting mastery.

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Instructor

Kathleen Deck
University of California, Santa Cruz
0 Courses0 learners

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