[Course]conceptartist,alexchow Details
Intro
Class Intro
Concept Artist,
Alex Chow
"What makes a good portrait? Traditional techniques & a human touch!"
Paint the Unseen: Ethereal Portraits in Photoshop with Alex Chow
If you've ever struggled to bring softness, atmosphere, and emotion into your digital portraits, this class is your breakthrough. In this focused, niche course, acclaimed artist Alex Chow shares his complete Photoshop workflow—from blank canvas to finished, ethereal portrait. You’ll learn how to paint luminous skin, control delicate lighting, and create that signature softness using custom brushes and Photoshop-exclusive blending techniques
Whether you're aiming to level up your rendering or break out of a flat, over-digital look, these methods are designed to give your work a refined, expressive edge.
What sets this class apart is its balance of technical depth and artistic intention. You'll not only understand how to achieve that misty, dreamlike finish—but why each lighting choice or brush stroke enhances the mood. This is a rare opportunity to learn a specialized, sought-after aesthetic from an artist known for portraits that feel both intimate and otherworldly. By the end, you’ll have a powerful new toolkit—and the confidence to create digital art that resonates on a deeper level.
Whether you're aiming to level up your rendering or break out of a flat, over-digital look, these methods are designed to give your work a refined, expressive edge.
What sets this class apart is its balance of technical depth and artistic intention. You'll not only understand how to achieve that misty, dreamlike finish—but why each lighting choice or brush stroke enhances the mood. This is a rare opportunity to learn a specialized, sought-after aesthetic from an artist known for portraits that feel both intimate and otherworldly. By the end, you’ll have a powerful new toolkit—and the confidence to create digital art that resonates on a deeper level.
Class Preview
Still Not Sure?
Check Out Alex's Class Preview!
Chapter 04.
Head/Bust Structure
1. Break the head and upper torso into clear, repeatable volumes so every later brushstroke rests on unshakable anatomical ground.
Class Perks
Special Gift from Alex Chow
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Complete PDF of Artbook 'Wolf'-Receive Alex Chow's 2020 artbook "Woof" in digital form as a bonus! -
Customized Brush PackBrush Pack For Photoshop
-15+ Brushes to Apply
-Also Used as Blending Brushes -
Sketches and WorksheetsClass sheets For Growth
- Simplified anatomy cheat sheet for portraiture, allowing every student to refer back to for help
- Utilize in Your Way, Every Outcome Should and Can Be Different -
All In-Class / Final FilesPSD Files of Portraits
-All FInal Products, Including the layers
Material for students to refer to and follow along with -
Timelapse Videos-Timelapses of Alex Chow's illustration, showing the process with no major skips
Recommendation
Who Should Take This Class?
Digital Artists Pursuing Ethereality
Artists wanting to master soft lighting and dreamy, atmospheric portraits that stand apart from AI-generated imagery.
Illustrators and Concept Artists
Professionals looking to create emotionally expressive, fantastical portraits with refined blending techniques and a distinct artistic voice.
Traditional Artists Exploring Digital Mediums
Traditional artists eager to transition their foundational skills into Photoshop, achieving delicate brushwork and whimsical, ethereal styles digitally.
Expert Concept Artist Alex Chow's Portfolio
Why Take This Class?
In an era being taken slowly by AI-generated imagery, authentic artistic skill is more essential—and more valued—than ever. This course, led by acclaimed artist Alex Chow, sharpens your technical capabilities in Photoshop through precise brushwork, sophisticated lighting setups, and advanced rendering techniques for realistic skin textures. You'll gain in-depth mastery of custom brushes, controlled layering, and cinematic lighting—skills critical for artists who wish to produce unique, expressive, and convincingly human portraits that AI alone cannot replicate.
Today’s visual industry seeks creators whose technical artistry stands out clearly from automated art—work infused with deliberate choices, emotional depth, and human touch. By refining your technical precision and digital craftsmanship, you’ll confidently position yourself as an indispensable artist, capable of delivering portraits that resonate with realism, narrative depth, and a distinctive human aesthetic that clients, studios, and audiences continue to demand and value.
12 Class Exercises
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Drawing Loosely and Freeflowing -
Sketching on a Single Layer -
Blocking in Head and Bust Forms
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Drawing Heads Using Basic Shapes -
Lighting for Mood in Portraits -
Expressing Emotion in Portraits
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Experimenting with Hue Shifts -
Customizing the Workspace Layout -
Confident and Controlled Linework
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Developing a Thumbnail into a Final Sketch -
Deliberate Brush Stroke Control -
Blending Realistic Skin Tones
Final Product Examples
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Concept Portrait + Layer files -
Mood Variant Gradients -
Light Variants for Compositing
Instructor
Concept Artist
Alex Chow
Alex Chow is a professional illustrator based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. A graduate of Sheridan College’s prestigious Classical Animation program (2013), he has garnered over 10 years of industry experience, specializing in character illustrations and creating art for companies around the world. His work can be seen on book covers, video games, card games and other forms of entertainment media.
His style combines classical painting techniques with digital media, and takes heavy influence from his love for video games and Anime. He has a clientele spanning worldwide including from Australia, China, Japan, Europe and America. His specialties are book covers and character illustrations.
He is the creator, artist and writer of “Wolf Teaches How to Draw”, a graphic novel that teaches art fundamentals within its story. It had its first campaign in the summer of 2024, garnering over 500 backers and around $40,000 in funding.
His work has been featured in numerous publications and websites such as Spectrum Fantastical Arts (2016 and 2019), 3DTotal, Renderwave’s Colorpedia and Eurogamer. He also has experience in lecturing at colleges, tutoring and creating digital lessons, bringing his expertise to new generations of artists.
Concept Artist,
Alex Chow
[Current]
Freelance Illustrator and Concept Artist
Highlights
Class Highlights
Craft Mood and Magic through Cinematic Portraiture
Learn to translate emotional depth and atmosphere into your digital portraits by skillfully controlling light, color, and expression, enabling your artwork to resonate deeply in an age increasingly dominated by AI-generated imagery.
Photoshop Mastery & Technical Precision
Gain complete technical command of Photoshop’s powerful tools—mastering custom brushes, sophisticated blending methods, and precise layering techniques crucial for achieving the delicate lighting, ethereal softness, and striking realism that define Alex Chow’s renowned style.
Distinctive Artistic Identity
Develop and refine your personal style within a niche aesthetic, equipping you with the artistic insight and technical skills necessary to produce captivating portraits that stand out in today’s competitive digital art industry.
Class Details
You'll Learn
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Mastering Facial Anatomy & StructureLay the groundwork for portrait painting by mastering facial anatomy and proportions. You’ll practice using Photoshop’s custom Brush Settings and layering techniques to sketch accurate facial landmarks and build realistic features. -
Crafting Mood & AtmosphereExplore how color, lighting, and composition shape the emotional tone of your art. You’ll learn to use Photoshop’s Blending Modes and Adjustment Layers to fine-tune color and lighting, creating an immersive atmosphere that pulls viewers into your work. -
Designing Appealing CharactersBend the rules of anatomy to create characters with stylized, eye-catching proportions. Experiment with Photoshop’s Liquify filter and Transform tools to exaggerate features in a balanced way, maximizing each character’s visual appeal.
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Epic Lighting & ChiaroscuroMaster dramatic lighting techniques inspired by chiaroscuro to add depth and drama to your art. Using simple sphere studies, you’ll practice with Photoshop’s Dodge & Burn tools and light-enhancing Blending Modes to give your work a radiant, cinematic glow -
Digital Painting EssentialsLearn the complete workflow of digital portrait art, from configuring your Photoshop workspace to mastering brush strokes and color palettes. Practice adjusting Brush Settings, organizing Layers and Layer Masks, and using Adjustment Layers to apply color theory for lifelike, vibrant portraits. -
Style Exploration & Finding Your VoiceLearn to ask the right creative questions and use Photoshop tools like custom brushes, textures, and Layer Styles to mimic, then to create a powerful vault of various art styles, helping you carve out your own artistic niche.
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- Best Price
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Today's Deal
Interview with
Concept Artist, Alex Chow
Question.01
Why did you choose this specific topic?
Portraiture is my specialty that has carried me through professional gigs and publishings. I wanted to teach others the way I paint and the importance of having a unique style that may not always resemble what people think studios want from artists.
Question.02
What makes your class different from other classes?
Portraiture is my specialty that has carried me through professional gigs and publishings. I wanted to teach others the way I paint and the importance of having a unique style that may not always resemble what people think studios want from artists.
Question.03
What do you think is the most important trait(s) to success in your industry?
In a world infested with AI art, it's now far more important to have a style that's brandable and not easily replicated with AI. Having a recognizable style trumps the need to be the most technical artist in the market, now more than ever. You want to be told that your style is associated with your name.
Required Programs
This course will use Photoshop.
Please purchase and install these program(s) for an optimized chapter experience.
*These programs and/or materials will not be provided with the chapter.
