New skills, projects, ideas and fun facts about the world of illustration
Do you work with Photoshop on a daily basis and feel that you could optimize your time?. Photoshop is one of the most powerful tools for designers and illustrators, but it can also become a maze of layers, brushes and shortcuts if you don't know how to get the most out of it.
Illustrator Alberto Russo shares his top technique to boost creativity and track your artistic progress with a sketchbook. If you're looking to improve your drawing skills, there's one simple yet powerful habit every aspiring illustrator should adopt: filling a sketchbook. According to professional illustrator Alberto Russo, this daily practice is one of the most effective ways to develop your artistic abilities, experiment with new techniques, and visually track your creative evolution over time. In this tutorial, Alberto walks us through his step-by-step sketching process, using a lion portrait as a reference. He emphasizes the importance of analyzing proportions, focusing on the aspect ratio of width and height, and reproducing it carefully on paper.
Master the Process of Designing Pixel Art Avatars Using Photoshop If you've ever wanted to turn a photograph into pixel art, this step-by-step tutorial is the perfect place to start. Pixel art portraits are not only a fun creative exercise but also a great way to design unique avatars for social media, video games, or digital art projects. In this guide, Jude Buffum, an experienced pixel artist, walks you through the process of creating a perfectly symmetrical pixel art portrait using Photoshop. You’ll learn essential techniques for preparing your image, creating symmetrical designs, selecting color palettes, and using classic pixel drawing tools.
Improve the composition of your portraits with this free guide on the rule of thirds. Learn from Gabriela Niko, an expert in illustration. Want to improve the composition of your portraits? The rule of thirds is one of the most important principles in creating a balanced and attractive image. To help you master it, at Domestika we give you a free downloadable guide with the key concepts to take your drawings to the next level.
Free downloadable posters on color theory for beginners in drawing and painting, created for the course Painting and drawing for beginners: a basic guide by Daphne Frizzle (Miss Frizzle Art).
Meet Amy Sherald, the artist behind Michelle Obama's portrait, and discover how her work is transforming contemporary art. Amy Sherald is an influential figure in contemporary art for her unique style and dignified representation of the African American community. Her international fame grew after she officially portrayed Michelle Obama, but her career was already significant.
Master Color Theory with These Easy and Inspiring Tips from Illustrator Allison Cole If you've ever stared at your canvas wondering which colors to choose, you're not alone. For illustrators and surface designers, color palette decisions are key to making artwork pop and feel cohesive. In this tutorial, artist and surface designer Allison Cole shares 5 expert color palette tips rooted in color theory to help you level up your creative process. Whether you're designing a pattern, illustration, or digital artwork, these color palette techniques will help you work with confidence and create more vibrant, harmonious compositions.
Master the Art of Preparing Your Canvas for a Perfect Painting Foundation Toning your canvas before painting is an essential step that can dramatically impact the final result of your artwork. By applying a thin, even layer of color, you create a harmonious base that helps unify your composition and enhances the vibrancy of your paints. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to tone a canvas using burnt sienna and Gamsol, ensuring a smooth and balanced surface for your next masterpiece.
Starting illustration is exciting, but mistakes can slow progress. This article covers common beginner pitfalls and gives practical tips to avoid them. Frustration is completely normal when you're starting out. Many beginners look at professional illustrators on social media and think, "How do they create such amazing work?" The truth is, over time, common mistakes gradually disappear with practice. This article will highlight the most frequent beginner mistakes and share tips on how to overcome them.
Art Deco reshaped design, architecture, and illustration in the 1920s and 1930s. Its geometric elegance and sophistication left a lasting impact on fashion, advertising, and art. 1. Tamara de Lempicka No list of Art Deco artists would be complete without Tamara de Lempicka. Her portraits of women stand out for their bold colors, geometric forms, and sleek aesthetic that perfectly captured the modern spirit of her time. Influenced by Cubism and the avant-garde, her signature style remains an enduring symbol of Art Deco glamour and sophistication.
Make Your Sketchbook More Dynamic with These Creative Layout Techniques A sketchbook is more than just a place to draw—it’s a space for exploration, creativity, and storytelling. Whether you're an illustrator, a picture book artist, or simply someone who enjoys sketching, how you arrange your sketches can enhance the visual appeal and functionality of your sketchbook. In this tutorial, illustrator and picture book maker Raahat Kaduji shares creative sketchbook layout ideas to make your pages look more engaging and dynamic.
Master simple techniques to enhance your sketching practice and bring your creativity to life When it comes to drawing, preparation is key! Whether you’re sketching for fashion design, illustration, or personal projects, warming up helps you loosen your hand and get into a creative flow. In this tutorial, illustrator Josefina Fernández shares her go-to method for starting a drawing session, from choosing the right tools to layering color for depth and vibrancy.
Discover eight powerful female painters from the 20th century whose works have left a lasting impact!
Discover the life and legacy of Mary Blair, the creative behind It’s a Small Word at Disney.
Discover a free download of these popular brushes that are now compatible with Photoshop!
The young Cuban designer tells us how Domestika boosted her creativity and led her to place third in the Domestika contest. In the dynamic world of design and illustration, talent finds its way in many forms. For Wanda, a recent graduate in Visual Communication Design from the Instituto Superior de Diseño (ISDi) in Havana, Cuba, Domestika became a key platform in her creative development. After participating in the Domestika Contest and being named one of the winners, her confidence and motivation have reached new heights. She shares her experience on the platform, the lessons that have shaped her journey, and the impact this recognition has had on her career. How did you discover Domestika, and what motivated you to join the platform? I first came across Domestika during my studies at ISDi. One of my professors, noticing my passion for illustration, recommended several courses—many of them from Domestika. From that moment, I was drawn to the platform and its content. What really pushed me to officially join was the Character Design Contest, an opportunity I simply couldn’t pass up. How many Domestika courses have you taken, and which ones are your favorites? Throughout my studies, I’ve explored numerous Domestika courses, guided by my professor’s recommendations. However, illustration-focused courses—especially those related to scene and character creation—have been my favorites. I love the variety of approaches and techniques that each instructor brings, and I’m always eager to learn from their tips and tricks.
Dive into the art of journaling and access a free download from a course that contains a few different prompts for you to start with!
Learn How to Create Flawless Repeating Patterns with Illustrator’s Powerful Tools Creating seamless repeating patterns is an essential skill for illustrators and surface designers, allowing you to develop eye-catching designs for textiles, wallpapers, packaging, and more. In this tutorial, Allison Cole, an experienced illustrator, shares her step-by-step process for designing patterns using Adobe Illustrator, ensuring smooth and dynamic compositions.
Discover Adobe Fresco and Procreate, which is better for your needs, and the pros and cons of each platform!
At Domestika, we highly value creativity, but also the ability to share the process and teach others. Recently, we held an illustration contest in which we received 142 high-quality projects from our creative community. Domestika invited its creative community to design a captivating character inspired by two themes: "The Bright Side," focused on positivity and joy, and "The Dark Side," centered on mystery and intrigue. With a $500 prize at stake, the competition was fierce, and the level of entries was exceptional.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Mastering Animation Assist for Cute and Easy Animations Bring your kawaii illustrations to life with simple and adorable animations in Procreate! If you’ve ever dreamed of animating cute clouds, twinkling stars, or any of your favorite characters, this guide is the perfect starting point. Hi, I’m Becky Cas, an illustrator with a passion for kawaii and pastel colors, and today, I’ll walk you through creating a charming animation in Procreate using Animation Assist.
Master Dry Media Techniques to Create Vivid and Realistic Nature Sketches Nature offers endless inspiration for artists, and creating lush, nature-inspired illustrations is a wonderful way to connect with the outdoors. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced illustrator, warm-up exercises using dry media can help bring your sketches to life. Hi, my name is Alexandra Finley, and I'm an illustrator passionate about drawing and painting nature. Today, I’ll share simple but effective warm-up exercises that use tools like graphite sticks, colored pencils, and tombow markers to create vibrant nature illustrations.
Access a pack of free brushes and presets that will help you get started with digital painting in photoshop.
A Timeless Legacy in the World of Comics
Learn the Art of Balancing Chaos and Order to Create Abstract Paintings That Captivate Abstract art is a realm where creativity flows freely, unrestricted by the constraints of traditional forms. However, crafting a visually striking piece requires more than splashes of color and random patterns. It demands a well-balanced composition that guides the viewer's eye and evokes emotion. In this blog post, abstract artist Josh Jensen shares his insights into creating harmonious compositions, exploring the delicate interplay between order and chaos, and using techniques to achieve visual depth.
Discover the history and Wolverine and dive deeper into this complex character.
Learn essential techniques to create lifelike self-portraits by understanding light, shadow, and form When it comes to creating realistic drawings, understanding the relationship between light and shadow is crucial. Whether you’re an aspiring artist or a seasoned creator, mastering these principles will elevate your artwork, bringing depth and dimension to every piece. In this tutorial, visual artist Gustavo Ramos shares his step-by-step approach to capturing the nuances of light and shadow through a simple sphere exercise. This foundational practice can prepare you for more complex projects like self-portraiture.
Explore over 490,000 works of art and 5,000 years of history in high resolution.
Discover how Stig Legrand found art, mindfulness, and community through daily sketch journaling inspired by Domestika courses For Stig Legrand, a Domestika enthusiast, creating an illustrated daily journal started as a simple project and grew into a life-changing practice. With influences from renowned artists and courses, Stig has turned everyday moments into vibrant visual stories, blending gratitude, art, and reflection. Her journey reminds us that even small creative steps can lead to transformative experiences. What initially inspired you to start an illustrated daily journal, and how did you keep yourself motivated to continue this practice for three years? I first heard about sketchbooking and illustrated journaling through Domestika. Even though I always liked illustrated travel journals from various artists, I didn’t know I had it in me to want to draw this much and share personal stories this way. I begun Domestika courses with Mattias Adolfsson’s “The Art of Sketching”, then first tried watercolor with different teachers, discovered wonderful artists that I learned so much from, and one day in 2021, I came across Kate Sutton’s “Illustrated Life Journal: A Daily Mindful Practice”. I did the exercises she had devised, drawing tables loaded with what we ate, cutting up short stories into squares, picturing things that inspired me… In the end, I prepared my course Project, and little did I know that it would snowball into this daily rendez-vous that deeply changed my life in these three last years. Actually, I don’t have to keep myself motivated. It has become an essential part of my life without my noticing. The only problem is that it takes a few hours each day, so I would love to have a PAUSE button on my timeline, to be able to use extra time for other creative ideas… But compiling these gratitude moments is important and therapeutic for my balance. Due to health problems, I don’t go out much, or see people, so drawing the moments that I find precious at home allows me to share my outlook, to build a memory of life at Maison Legrand. It isn’t the same with photography, even though I use a lot of photos to capture the look of these moments. Drawing is an alchemy that materializes my singular perspective into a personal artistic production, with its flaws, its qualities, its uniqueness. And it sharpens my perception of the intensity of life’s little moments! Can you walk us through your creative process? How do you decide what to illustrate each day? First, there always is a delay of 5 to 6 days between real-time and the moment I draw a page. I like to keep it that way as it gives me a buffer, and time to settle my feelings. I keep a journal of written notes where I jot down moments when I felt conscious, or poetic, or touched by events, or even distraught. I also take lots of photos to help me remember how it felt and how it looked. It can be pictures of our 7 cats being sweet or silly, of recipes that I just prepared, or how I felt freshly dressed in the morning, what music I listened to… When I am in front of the blank page, I always begin by writing at the top a title that comes from Kate Sutton’s course : «Today, I’m grateful for». It’s like a magic formula but it’s also true to my purpose. Then, I look at my notes and photos, to remember everything and select what will end up in the illustration of the day. Most of the time, I have to trim things down, I’m lucky to have so much to be grateful for, or items I want to share. When I have chosen the elements, I imagine them assembled on paper, I give them each a space in my mind, and often, I run my fingertips over the page, to kind of press them there symbolically. Then I first draw a light sketch in graphite (Faber Castell, and Pentel Graphgear 1000). I would like to be able to skip this part and draw directly with fineliners and color, like lapin encouraged us to do in his courses; it felt so liberating… I know I would also gain much time, and hone my skills for urban sketching which takes place in a tighter timeframe… But I’m still too line-shy somehow and can’t always find ways to play around obvious mistakes. Yes, I use an eraser. When I’m done with the graphite, I use fineliners to ink the illustration. My favorites are Uni Pin in Dark Grey, Black and Light Grey, my most common weight is 0.5, but for details I go down from 0.1 to 0.003 ! One must remember that my Carnet de gratitude sketchbook is small (9x14cm, Art Creation by Talens). This is the perfect size for this project, even though details become really very tiny and my eyes aren’t this sharp anymore. Sometimes, I try to zoom with my fingers just like on a screen… LOL Then I add color last. I use water-based Tombows and Lyra brush pens. I like to blend colors on makeshift palettes, to mix shades, lighten them, and create color gradients. When color is finished, I sometimes add shadows with graphite blurs and highlights with gel pens. Then I photograph the page, always on the same table. I like to keep a coherence and try to have the same light, setting, etc. But it’s amateurish compared to what industry artists do when they maintain a graphic charter. Another of my kinks for this project is to keep the same color for my little sketchbooks covers, a light blue, called Fresh Mint. I have bought many in advance but am already finishing the 6th.
Unleash your inner artist and create the cutest, quirkiest ducks with this fun and easy tutorial—perfect for beginners and seasoned creators alike!
