Domestika Teachers Celebrate The Year of the Dragon

If you have a lunar calendar at home, there is no need for me to notify you that we just entered the Chinese new year. But there is still a lot of people that don't know (some don't even care) about this festivity. I'll make it short, don't worry:

We might call it the Chinese new year but the lunar calendar which marks the date, is also shared by other cultures like the Hindu, Islamic and Jewish (Christians aren't buying it, though. Always late to the party, I guess...!).

This time around a wooden dragon is the symbol for the year. Wood, in the context of Feng Shui, represents growth, expansion and vitality. It is associated with renewal, creativity and the beginning of new projects. I'm glad it doesn't represent death, decay and lack of imagination...!

Let's delve into some of these new projects:

Marcos Chin

The award-winning freelance illustrator Marcos Chin (@marcoschinart) currently lives in New York City. His family emigrated from Guangdong, China, to Mozambique, then to Portugal, before settling in Canada. But Marcos didn't stay there long either... These are some of the reasons why he chose to illustrate Bruce Lee:

“I’ve been watching Bruce Lee movies since I was a kid. I used to watch ‘The Green Hornet.’ I wanted to do a strong portrait of Bruce as this iconic, poetic figure. The number eight is a lucky number for Chinese people, that's why I incorporated it..." - Marcos Chin

If you like how that sounds here is his course on creative illustration, composition and color. Learn to depict your TV hero and much more!

Adelina Wang

The self-taught punch needle artist and designer, we know as Adeline Wang (@byadelinewang) started her punch needle journey with small projects such as pillows, trivets, and crossbody bags but quickly moved on to larger projects like rugs and wall hangings. Incorporating weaving, embroidery, beading and tufting into her work, now the possibilities are endless!

For the lunar new year she created these cute red envelopes, and as she states on her instagram:

"Yes, my kids got real ones too! I used a #14 Oxford punch needle to create extra short and compact loops. Worsted weight yarn. Monk’s cloth." - Adeline Wang

If you'd like to know what a #14 Oxford punch needle is, you might want to delve into her course on punch needle technics for home decor. You might even learn to read what is written on the pouch... Something about a dragon perhaps...? That's my guess.

Alex Foxley

Alex Foxley (@alex_foxley) is a British Illustrator and Art Director based in Barcelona. Since graduating from Norwich University of the Arts BA (Hons) Photography in 2017 he moved to Spain and switched up his career. His colourful and playful style has seen him work for the likes of Hey Studio and Vasava as well as being a freelance designer. He also celebrates the occasion on his instagram, like so:

"Are we ready for the Lunar New Year?! To celebrate the year of the dragon I’ve decided to take part in this weeks @mondayschallenge who have partnered with my lovely agent @totallyreps" - Alex Foxley

It sounds like he had some ulterior motif behind this celebration, but we'll let it slight... (this time...!) The animation is great! If you'd like to ad a modern flare to the festivity (or any other occasion) his course on motion graphics for social media might be the one for you!

Asia Orlando

This digital artist and professional illustrator isn't from Asia or Orlando, FL... Asia Orlando (@asiaorlando_) is rather in Amsterdam... I'm sorry if this sounds confusing...! Let's forget about boundaries and focus on nature, the predominant character in her work:

Every piece of artwork she creates is meant to tell an amazing story, and also transport the viewers into new fantastic and incredibly detailed scenes full of colourful characters, and vibrant natural environments. Throughout her career, she worked with the top publishing houses and brands (Domestika included...! Don't forget in what domain you currently are...).

Of course, Asia Orlando couldn't leave the lunar year out of her Instagram grid! If you'd like to draw dragons as cute as hers, her course on digital illustration and colorful natural sceneries might be your perfect match!

Estrellita Caracol

Her real name is Natalia Spadaro, but everyone knows her by her pseudonym Estrellita Caracol (@estrellita_caracol) ("Little Star Snail" or "Starry Snail"... although that would be Caracol Estrellado in Spanish which could also mean Crushed Snail as well...! Translation is hard sometimes...).

Drawing, collage and books have been part of Natalia's life for as long as she can remember, perhaps that is why it is so natural for her to use this technique as a form of expression.

Estrellita was trained as a graphic designer at the University of Buenos Aires, but book illustration came later. She began to illustrate and taught herself along the way. Natalia then chose to work and specialize in collage because she found it to be a playful and versatile technique. "When you cut something it's done, you can't delete it or go back, that seems wonderful to me." explains Estrellita Caracol

If you like the puzzle piece dragon taken from her Instagram you will definitely enjoy learning all about the collage and illustration process she undertakes to achieve such an impressive aesthetic in her course on illustration storytelling using paper

Estudio Kudasai

Here comes the Otaku hour we were waiting for! Azul and Carlos, together created the Illustration and Design Studio called Kudasai (@estudiokudasai). They design characters and illustrate content inspired by Japanese visual aesthetics (with that name who would expect otherwise...!). Azul and Carlos share an interest in this culture since they were children, mainly in traditional stories and animated series... Do I mean Manga and Anime...? Yes!

Estudio Kudasai has dedicated several years to researching different animation and illustration techniques. They enjoy delving into all creative manifestations such as music, art and design, but mainly character design as a powerful communication tool. And needless to say, the work of Estudio Kudasai has a strong inclination towards the so-called “kawaii” style. I'm sure you couldn't have guessed it on your own...!

Check their cute dragon out on the Estudio Kudasai Instagram if you don't believe me! And if you still have doubts you might need to delve deep into their course on kawaii character design... Azul Piñeiro and Carlos Higuera will show you the way!

Matt Curtis

Okey, enough kawaii stuff! Do you like tough and muscular dragons...? Maybe that is going too far but, what you might actually enjoy is fine line vectorial illustration, giving off an archaic aesthetic, lost in time!

Freelance illustrator and designer Matt Curtis (@curtisillustration) mastered this style through the creation of original designs for Nirvana, Dead & Company, Wu-Tang Clan, Blue Moon Brewing Company, and a variety of other clients.

Matt spent his undergrad years at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn and graduated in 2001. He worked doing a variety of different jobs while starting his illustration career, including making commissioned portraits and even painting storefront mannequins.

It might be better not to mention his job as a barista at Starbucks... It isn't as badass sounding...! "My order will consist of a killer instinct latte, massive size, with a side of volcanic radiation muffins in bulk, as usual...". Those were cooler times!

The image above was taken from Matt's Instagram. You can marble at his work all you want, but one day you'll need to grow up and do something for your own good and the people you love that count on you. Starbucks might disappear one day, how are you going to feed your family then? You need to start a new fine line vectorial illustration business to stay save in this chaotic world...

In Matt Curtis' Domestika course you will learn all the technics you need to survive the upcoming pixelation global crisis, one vectorial fine line at a time!

See you next year! The year of the Snake according to the Chinese calendar... I bit of a downgrade from the Dragon, to be honest...!