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August 2020

  • 7 Free Resources for Bloggers
    Web & App Design

    7 Free Resources for Bloggers

    Make the most of these online tools to improve your blog and reach the right audience For different industries and services, blogs are powerful allies when it comes to reaching your target audience. They allow you to communicate with potential clients and share products, creative processes, and future plans. Or, maybe you want to run one just because you enjoy sharing and exchanging ideas with other people working in the same sector as you. Discover seven resources that will help your blog grow without needing to be an expert in design, content marketing, or programming. Optimizing Images: Tinypng Tinypng will help you compress your images in JPG and PNG format without losing quality (in some cases you can achieve compressions of up to 70%). It’s always advisable to reduce the size of your photos so that your web page can load quicker. It has a Photoshop plugin (plus many other useful tools) that will allow you to preview your images and easily adjust their size.

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  • 5 Sumi-e Illustrators and Painters To Follow
    Illustration

    5 Sumi-e Illustrators and Painters To Follow

    Discover the books, artists, and films to add to your reference library for Japanese art Whether you already have a project in mind or are looking for ideas to inspire your next creation, getting to know and studying the work of other creatives will always help to awaken your imagination. Illustrators Mika Takahashi and Flor Kaneshiro share a selection of inspirational artists using Indian ink and watercolor to create Japanese-style illustration and sumi-e painting. Flor Kaneshiro’s Influences Flor Kaneshiro (@florkaneshiro) is an Argentinian illustrator specializing in traditional Japanese illustration. Her work features chiefly in video and editorial illustration projects.

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  • Meet Visual Development Artist Samuel Smith
    Illustration

    Meet Visual Development Artist Samuel Smith

    He worked as a color artist on Klaus, the animated film that tells a different version of the legend of Santa Claus Samuel Smith (@samuelsmith) is a French independent illustrator and visual development artist for animation. As a visual development artist, Samuel’s job is to translate the director’s vision into images, focusing specifically on light and color. He paints color keys–reference images that prioritize details such as lighting and material–that serve as guides for the lighting department so that they can work out how to light a certain scene. Color key artists have similar roles to background artists; however, they focus on these specific details. After studying at a 3D Art School, Samuel’s big break came when he was hired by SPA Studios in Spain to work on their first movie, Klaus, as a color artist. He spent a year and a half painting more than 450 color keys, learning a lot about light, cinematography, and movie-making.

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  • Domestika Diary: Hugo Barros Costa
    Illustration

    Domestika Diary: Hugo Barros Costa

    The Portuguese architect, illustrator, and urban sketcher takes us on a tour through the streets of the city he has called home for years, Valencia, taking us to the places that inspire him most First, there were the buildings, the attractive details of the facades, the lush roofs, and the ingenious solutions achieved by so many architects throughout history. Then, the surrounding landscape, the trees, the street benches, and public spaces. Finally, the people arrived: the everyday protagonists of the scenes that make a city come to life. For years, these elements have combined to broaden the vision of Portuguese architect Hugo Barros Costa (@yolahugo) in his home of Valencia, as an artist, an illustrator, and an urban sketcher. In the most recent episode of the Domestika Diaries series, Hugo takes us on a tour of the places in Valencia that inspire him to create the drawings that have brought him fame and exhibitions in many different countries, opening up his creative process to us. In addition to his work as an artist, he teaches at the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de la Universitat Politècnica de València and at the prestigious Parsons in New York. Discover more in the video:

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  • What is Photo Composition in Photography?
    Photography

    What is Photo Composition in Photography?

    Discover this type of photographic composition where the only limit is your own imagination Although, when we talk about photo composition, many will think of linotypes used in graphic arts, in photography, it has more to do with creative collage and photo retouching. What is photo composition? It is a photographic style that consists of creating images from several photographs. To obtain good results in photo composition, it is not necessary to use many media or extremely sophisticated cameras because the success of a good composition lies in the concept behind it. What is required are high-quality images and, above all, a good command of photographic retouching to ensure that, however unlikely the resulting photographs may be, the look is completely realistic and close to what a picture would look like without intervention.

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  • Materials for Building Scale Models
    Craft

    Materials for Building Scale Models

    Find out what materials are necessary to start building your own models with Julieta La Valle Whether it’s for an audiovisual project or an architectural one, models are one of the best ways to visualize a space. By reproducing an idea in three dimensions, even on a small scale, we can give form to our imagination and better understand the textures, proportions, and other elements of our concept. Sculptor, director, and art director Julieta La Valle (@julietalavalle) specializes in making miniature models for video and art projects. Below, she lists the materials you will need to make your own models.

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  • What Is Crowdfunding?
    Marketing

    What Is Crowdfunding?

    Learn about this practice that can help turn your big ideas into reality Over the last ten years, the concept of crowdfunding has evolved considerably, becoming one of the practices that generates the most funding around the world. In the beginning, it was a way to support a cause through donations. However, today, big projects have come into existence thanks to this practice: from music productions and films to the launching of start-ups that have revolutionized industries. Below, Juan del Cerro–a top promoter of entrepreneurship in Latin America and director of Disruptivo.tv (@disruptivotv)–talks through using this innovative method to make the most of your network of contacts and turn your big ideas into reality. What is it? Crowdfunding is a practice that allows you to finance projects with the support of entire communities. It is based on the idea that it is much more difficult to get one person to invest a huge sum than it is to get people from your intimate circle (including friends, family, collaborators, coworkers, followers, etc.) to support you with smaller sums that, when added together, meet the target you need to finance your project.

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  • Calligraphy Tutorial: Basic Brush Pen Strokes
    Teacher Typography, Calligraphy and Lettering

    Calligraphy Tutorial: Basic Brush Pen Strokes

    Learn the basic strokes of brush pen calligraphy with Ana Hernandez The brush pen, with its ability to create organic calligraphies, has become one of the most used tools by some of the most remarkable artists in calligraphy. Although mastering a brush pen requires time, there is no doubt that it is one of the most amenable techniques for those who are just beginning to create letters. In the following video tutorial, graphic designer and specialist in calligraphy and lettering Ana Hernández (@ana_hera) shares a few basic brush pen strokes to get you started in the art of calligraphy. Discover more below:

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  • 5 Apps You Maybe Haven’t Heard of for Making Creative Presentations
    Marketing

    5 Apps You Maybe Haven’t Heard of for Making Creative Presentations

    Discover these alternatives to PowerPoint so that you can create presentations that make an impact In the worlds of design and creativity, presentations continue to be important tools, especially when it comes to winning over clients, presenting proposals, budgets, mood boards, or teamwork schedules. To give your presentations a professional edge, here are five apps providing brilliant alternatives to your classic PowerPoint. You will be able to explore their unique options, such as adding movement, transitions, animation, and effects to your content. Prezi Create presentations on an infinite canvas using Prezi Present. This app allows you to insert attractive and dynamic effects, including zooming in and out on your content, as well as add graphics and audiovisual files. You can start at 0 and experiment with your creativity, or you can choose one of the ready-made templates. Price There is a free version as well as paid versions that cost between 5 to 55 dollars a month.

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  • A Brief History of Italic Calligraphy
    Typography, Calligraphy and Lettering

    A Brief History of Italic Calligraphy

    Ivan Castro tells us about the origin of Italics, the historic handwriting that inspires his brush calligraphy Ivan Castro (@ivancastro) has had a passion for letters since he was a child. Calligraphy and lettering have become his profession, which he practices from his studio in Barcelona, working for clients all over the world with his characteristic style that draws from both classic and modern fonts. His work requires a lot of practice but also an arduous research process. For Ivan Castro, knowing the origin of writing styles, the tools required, and the way they are built, is extremely important. That's why he has shared the fascinating history of Italics with Domestika: Goodbye, Gothic. Hello, Italics At the end of the 15th century, after the invention of Gutenberg's printing press and a growing preference for a more easily read style to Gothic, Italian intellectuals promoted a new model of writing based on ease and speed of execution: Italic or Chancellor's writing began. This hand of continuous strokes, allows words to be written without lifting the pen from the paper. Thanks to its rapid execution, it is completely customizable and adaptable to whatever register one wishes to give it, allowing more expressive letterforms.

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  • 5 Fantastic Books for Those Starting Out in UX
    Design

    5 Fantastic Books for Those Starting Out in UX

    Be inspired by these books, recommended by Ethan Parry, that are ideal for those who want to create digital experiences For UK designer and investigator Ethan Parry (@ethanparry), inspiration is everywhere, and books are the best way to keep your mind active and ready to learn from the experiences of those who have faced the same problems as you, before you. This list of books is perfect for those starting out in UX design, with several also covering other fields of creativity: it compiles a great range of different ideas to reflect on. 'Don't Make Me Think, Revisited’, by Steve Krug The premise of this book, as its title indicates, is to make us see good design as that which enables the user to obtain the expected results while encountering as few obstacles as possible. A user experience that doesn’t make the user think is an ideal user experience, according to Steve Krug. Krug cites Amazon as a usability reference model throughout the book.

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  • Fito Espinosa: 3 Creative Approaches
    Illustration

    Fito Espinosa: 3 Creative Approaches

    Be inspired by the work of this Peruvian artist and illustrator Fito Espinosa (@fitoespinosa) has been cultivating his prolific portfolio for 25 years in painting, illustration, and ceramics. In the last few years, he has also contributed to advertising campaigns, participated in collective and individual exhibitions, as well as a number of painting competitions, many of which he has won. He has published five books and collaborated on a number of other publications. Below, we present a collection of his vibrant and varied art.

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  • Free Download: Brush Lettering Practice Sheets
    Teacher Writing

    Free Download: Brush Lettering Practice Sheets

    Practice your calligraphy skills with these exercises by James Lewis James Lewis (@jamesllewis) is a multidisciplinary British artist, specializing in calligraphy and lettering, with clients such as Pepsi, Amazon, Montblanc, the BBC and more. He’s well-known on both Instagram and TikTok with a combined following on both apps of over 1.5 million. He began his career as a digital logotype & lettering designer but slowly transitioned from designer to artist by focusing on calligraphy and painting. His passion for letters, social media understanding, and a handcrafted approach have formed the basis of his career.

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  • Challenge: Can You Paint a Portrait with Just One Color?
    Illustration

    Challenge: Can You Paint a Portrait with Just One Color?

    Alejandro Casanova takes on the latest Domestika Challenge: can he paint a portrait with only green watercolors? How does one bring a face to life using only one color? How do you build features, the shadows, and textures without being able to use anything but green? Of course, patience and mastery are needed, virtues that can only be learned with constant practice and which Alejandro "Ale" Casanova (@casanova_ale), a multi-award winning painter and teacher, has plenty of. In the following video, Casanova faces the Domestika Challenge: will he be able to paint a watercolor portrait using only green watercolors? Find out below:

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  • Free Download: Easy Doodle Exercises to Learn to Draw
    Illustration

    Free Download: Easy Doodle Exercises to Learn to Draw

    Puño shares with you easy exercises to warm up your hand Puño (@puno) is an educator and illustrator who has worked in advertising, animation, photography and editorial illustration, including the publication of several books of his authorship. Puño teaches daily to draw that they thought would never be possible, and he trusts that the idea is to simply lose his fear of the sheet and the pencil.

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  • Self-Publishing: An Art and a Challenge
    Illustration

    Self-Publishing: An Art and a Challenge

    Cartoonist and screenwriter Albert Monteys has some advice for those who want to publish their own work independently Albert Monteys (@albertmonteys) is a cartoonist and comic scriptwriter with more than 25 years of experience. He was trained in fanzines and spent almost two decades at the weekly illustrated satirical El Jueves, which he also directed for four years. He then embarked on digital comic projects such as Orgullo y Satisfacción and "Universo!", the latter being nominated for an Eisner Award, and winner of the Best National Comic Award at the Barcelona Comic Fair (2019).

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  • Procreate Tutorial: Basic Actions for Working on an iPad
    Teacher Marketing

    Procreate Tutorial: Basic Actions for Working on an iPad

    Learn from Samuel Rodriguez the basic actions needed to make a creative illustration using the Procreate app Over the past few years, the Procreate app has quickly become popular with illustrators and visual artists, thanks to its low price, large suite of tools, and often intuitive controls. Combining some traditional interface elements with iPad-enabled features, like hand gesture shortcuts, the app makes it easy to begin illustrating without having to deal with a major software learning curve. In this tutorial, illustrator Samuel Rodriguez (@samrodriguezart) shares the basics for how to get started with Procreate, demonstrating how to set up a new document, manipulate layers, and use time-saving shortcuts.

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  • Monetization Platforms for Creatives
    Web & App Design

    Monetization Platforms for Creatives

    Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of sites like Patreon that allow you to diversify your income More and more creatives are turning to crowdfunding websites to monetize their work these days. There are different platforms where your followers can make small donations to support your creative and artistic work, but not all are alike. Learn about what should consider before choosing any of these platforms, as well as some options available to you. The first thing you should know Donations are not going to start flowing magically. It is good practice to integrate these options into your social media strategy and include information about your crowdfunding account in your social media and website profiles. For example, some creatives periodically make short videos on YouTube or on Instagram and Facebook Stories to ask their followers to contribute. Some will find creatives and projects to support using the search engines on each platform, so you must include complete information about yourself and your work.

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  • What is CNC?
    Craft

    What is CNC?

    An introduction to this automated manufacturing process CNC stands for computer numerical control. It refers to the automated control of machinery and tools–such as drills, boring tools, lasers, and lathes–to generate physical parts from CAD (computer aided design) files. This manufacturing process is much faster, incredibly precise, requiring very little to no human assistance or interaction. CNC machines have at least two axes, operating along an XYZ plane–X axis (vertical), Y axis (horizontal), and Z axis (depth)–following instructions from a computer. The number of axes usually determines the type of movement a CNC machine can perform. The instructions the machine receives are written in a programming language known as G-code. We can use CAM (computer aided manufacturing) software to automatically convert CAD files into G-code.

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  • How to Find Images When Creating a Digital Collage
    Illustration

    How to Find Images When Creating a Digital Collage

    Learn about different sources of royalty-free pictures and learn to search by color or resolution Israel G. Vargas (@israelgevargas) is a Mexican designer and visual communicator who graduated from the UNAM Faculty of Arts and Design. As an editorial designer, he has worked for different Mexican magazines, including Picnic, where he was a graphic editor for seven years. Israel is also an illustrator whose work has been featured in various international magazines and brands such as Wired, Texas Monthly, Atlanta, Entrepreneur, Fast Company, The Atlantic, Adidas, Tbrand Studio from The New York Times and Metaleap Creative, as well as in Mexican publications such as Tierra Adentro, Expansión, Accent, and Chilango.

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  • Lessons We Learned from Milton Glaser in His Final Interview
    Teacher Design

    Lessons We Learned from Milton Glaser in His Final Interview

    Domestika visited Milton Glaser for what would be the last interview he gave in his studio, where he spoke about art, collaboration, and his purpose in life As one of the most influential and celebrated graphic designers in history, even if you don’t know Milton Glaser’s name, you’ve certainly seen his work. In a career that spanned almost seven decades, he applied his talents to everything from branding, to editorial and interior design, creating iconic imagery that has shaped our visual landscape. In late 2019, Domestika had the privilege of visiting Glaser for what would be the last interview he gave in his New York studio. In this video he shares his thoughts on creativity, collaboration, and his purpose in life.

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  • Domestika Diary: Catalina Estrada
    Teacher Illustration

    Domestika Diary: Catalina Estrada

    The Colombian graphic designer shares her creative routine and the landscapes that have inspired her to create her award-winning prints. Catalina Estrada has only been in Colombia a few months. Having lived for years in Barcelona, she became stranded in her home country while visiting her mother. Not that she’s complaining, since the varied landscapes, lush colors, and natural beauty of Colombia are where she draws much of the inspiration behind her internationally award-winning prints. The stylish graphic designer and illustrator says that beauty and optimism are the trademarks of her work, thanks to her experience growing up surrounded by these striking landscapes. In this Domestika Diary, recorded in her home in Colombia, she shares how her surroundings have impacted and enriched her creative work.

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  • Free Download: Social Media Calendar Template
    Marketing

    Free Download: Social Media Calendar Template

    Dot Lung shares a template for your social media planning Dot Lung (@dotlung) is a Social Media Expert who has worked with international brands, creating strategies and content for social media and advertising. Among her clients and collaborators are Wix, Facebook, and the OFFF Festival. If you want to promote your social media account’s growth, an essential part of your strategy is content planning. This way you’ll have visibility and control over your posting and workload.

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  • Ana Victoria Calderón’s Favorite Watercolor Painting Materials
    Illustration

    Ana Victoria Calderón’s Favorite Watercolor Painting Materials

    Ana Victoria Calderón shares her favorite materials for illustrating with watercolor To browse Ana Victoria Calderon’s work (@anavictoriana) is to submerge yourself in a world of watercolor illustration. She creates little universes with ink and water on all kinds of canvases–collaborating with brands and publications around the globe. We spoke to her about her favorite materials so we could share the tips and tricks of a seasoned pro and help you get the right material for your own watercolor creations.

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  • Elliot Tupac’s Street Art
    Typography, Calligraphy and Lettering

    Elliot Tupac’s Street Art

    Be inspired by the work and career of this graphic artist and printmaker from Peru Elliot Tupac (@elliottupac) is a Peruvian graphic artist and printmaker who channels his passion for screen printing, calligraphy, and lettering into creating pop art and marketing tools. His style–characterized by spontaneity and color–makes his work stand out; Elliot has redefined both a traditional art form and what it means to be a lettering artist in his native Peru.

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  • Different Types of Camera Shots and How They Drive Visual Narrative
    Film & Video

    Different Types of Camera Shots and How They Drive Visual Narrative

    Learn about different types of camera shots and why they are so important when telling an audiovisual story Aside from their aesthetic power, camera shots play a vital role in how moments are narrated on the screen. Depending on how the camera frames a situation, the audience will receive information in different ways. This is why it’s essential to learn the names of the different shots and how they drive a narrative. Extreme Long Shot (ELS) In this type of shot, the subject is not the focus of the scene. In fact, often they don’t even appear in it. You won’t really notice where the character is; even if you do see them, it will be at a great distance, and they will be very small. The ELS is often used to introduce a new setting–it shows where the story is taking place, and its function is always descriptive. Many films often start with an ELS as a way to bring the audience into the place where the story is occurring. Also, given how much information is being transmitted in each frame, this shot can remain on the screen for longer than usual.

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