Top 10 Creative Projects of May 2021

Illustration, papercraft, and embroidery projects got the most attention from the Domestika community during May

Should you share your creativity with others? If you’ve ever asked yourself this question, then the answer is simply yes. In the same way that other people's work inspires you, you too can contribute with your style and skills. You may even find some opportunities to collaborate with like-minded people.

The project area within the Domestika community is the perfect place to showcase your creations. You will find personal projects of creative members of the community, end-of-course projects, and new material from the Domestika teachers and experts. Furthermore, any member of the community has the chance to like or comment on your project. If your project receives the most likes in one month, it will be featured as one of the month’s favorites, just like the ones listed in this article.

In May, projects in illustration, papercraft, and embroidery have received the most reactions and likes, proving that there are infinite possibilities using these techniques. Have a look and see for yourself below.

Don’t forget to click on the red titles to get more details about each project.

Sketch notes, por Thomas Rohlfs (@thomasrohlfs)

This Dutch illustrator admits to not being an expert in drawing anatomy but that practicing all sorts of poses has helped him find his own style. He encourages you to perfect your technique using these sketches. Simply follow his steps and comments.

Using simple lines and shapes, illustrating characters is a skill at everyone's reach. In his course, Dynamic Character Illustration, Rohlfs will teach you professional methods for drawing and coloring animated characters full of energy.

30 Day Challenge, by Sorie Kim (@soriekim)

Exercising your imagination daily is an excellent way to perfect your drawing technique. Domestika expert and illustrator Sorie Kim has set her students a 30 Day Challenge for this reason, with the aim to create a sketch in a different technique every day. She herself took part and created sketches such as the below, based on nature.

In her course, Daily Sketching for Creative Inspiration, you will be able to explore, imagine, and experiment in your sketchbook. Most importantly, you will be able to let go of perfectionism, to give way to your creativity.

Geisha, by Sarah Stokes (@sarah_stokes)

This artist from the United Kingdom usually amazes us with her naturalistic compositions and has taken us all the way to Japan with this entry. Sarah Stokes' geisha has enchanted the Domestika community through her expressivity, cold color palette, and play with light. Her brushstrokes reflect the delicacy of the face and hint at the texture of the shiny kimono.

In her course, Artistic Charcoal Portraiture: Creating Atmosphere, you will learn to use this material to create unique compositions with details bound to awaken your senses.

My course project: Interactive Pop-up Books: Create a Paper World, by Silvia Hijano Coullaut (@silvia_libracos)

A walk through nature was the inspiration for Silvia Hijano, editorial designer and Domestika teacher. Her specialty is creating worlds made of paper, by using three-dimensional techniques and traditional bookbinding. This book is special: it tells the story differently depending on who's holding it.

You can look at the full creative process and, if you're inspired, you can check her course, Interactive Pop-up Books: Create a Paper World. You can shape your own editorial projects and find some stories go beyond the very pages of a book.

Portrait of a Chaffinch, by Sarah Margaret Gibson (@sarahmargaretgibson)

Birds are one of this contemporary artist's favorite subjects. Having studied drawing and painting in Florence, Gibson uses chiaroscuro techniques to achieve poetic results. By combining various layers, she adds depth and achieves different details and textures. One can spot new details at every viewing.

Sarah Margaret co-founded the Glasgow Academy of Fine Art in 2019 with her husband. Her work can be found at the New Britain Museum of American Art and numerous private collections. She invites you to discover some of her oil paintings in her Domestika portfolio.

My Course Project: Basic Embroidery Techniques: Stitches, Compositions, and Color Ranges, by Señorita Lylo (@srtalylo)

Loly Ghirardi is known by her Domestika students as Señorita Lylo. The artist loves to give her interpretation of life with embroidery stitches, creating unique pieces, and experimenting with different mediums. Here, she showcases the final project from one of her courses. Despite the limited space in the shirt collar, she was able to recreate a detailed landscape with mountains, trees, leaves, and even raindrops.

If you want to learn to embroider with Señorita Lylo you can sign up for her course, Basic Embroidery Techniques: Stitches, Compositions, and Color Ranges. Once she discovered this world, she was forever hooked. Will this happen to you?

Bordar a la Primavera(Embroidering Spring), by Señorita Lylo (@srtalylo)

The Domestika community also loved a second project by Señorita Lylo, an embroidery on one of Burrito Blanco & Veepee's products. The colors of the garland are cheerful and fresh. The relief of the stitches has a casual feel. She also embroidered the brand name and its mascot. She turned a basic cushion into a unique hand-crafted piece.

If you already know how to embroider, and you want to explore this technique, check her course Advanced Embroidery Techniques: Stitches and Compositions with Volume. You will be able to create compositions with volume and apply them to your favorite garments.

Billie Eilish's "Happier than Ever" Angelic dandelion portrait, by Gari Lubag (@garilubag)

Singer Billie Eilish has surprised her fans with a change of style. She's the protagonist of the digital portrait created by Gari Lubag. Inspired by this new look, the illustrator has combined delicate and bright tones in a fantastical and sensitive atmosphere. "I wanted to create an artwork depicting the beauty of this wonderful person, as her family, friends, and fans see her," Lubag explains.

In this portrait, the student was able to apply techniques learned in the course Digital Fantasy Portraits with Photoshop. Don't miss the full creative process, from sketching to retouches.

Inktober, by Manuela Montoya Escobar (@manumontoya)

When the fall comes, Inktober, the global illustration challenge created by Jake Parker in 2009, lands at Domestika. The rules are simple: every day, from the first to the 31st day in October, you must complete an ink sketch or illustration, following the daily theme. Manuela Montoya, illustrator and art director, took part in it with this series of drawings combining light marks and minimalist poetry.

Manuela Montoya studied Advertising Visual Communication at Medelln University. Later on, she achieved a Master's degree in Art Direction. She has worked for advertising agencies and illustrated books for publishers such as Cruïlla, Penguin Random House, Usborne, and Little Brown.

Covers for my favorite books, by Silja Goetz (@silja)

Chances are you own a number of books that have a special meaning in your life. How about redesigning their covers? Illustrator Silja Goetz has created the above collection based on this theme. Moby Dick, The Great Gatsby, and The Portrait of Dorian Gray are some of the covers she has personalized and modernized in her conceptual illustration style.

Silja Goetz has a lot of experience creating book covers for Penguin Random House, Harper Collins, and Doubleday. In her course, Book Cover Illustration: Unraveling the Essence of a Story, you will learn the secret to creating an attractive cover using analog and digital techniques.

Congratulations to all! Don't forget, you too can share your projects here.

If you're left wishing for more, you are never too far from other personal works, end-of-course projects, and new material from the Domestika teachers.

English version by @acesarato.

You may also like:

- The 11 Most Popular Courses in May 2021
- 120 Books to Spark Your Creativity
- Watercolor artist Sarah Stokes shares her creative process in the latest Domestika Diary