• 5 Online Beginner Courses for Drawing Manga Characters

    5 Online Beginner Courses for Drawing Manga Characters

    Learn to create your own manga and anime characters with Domestika experts Manga character drawing is a creative discipline inspired by the aesthetic and anatomical features of traditional Japanese comics. The following courses teach you how to illustrate manga and anime-style facial expressions and create kawaii characters. You can also learn coloring techniques and how to animate your creations. If you want to perfect your technique, you may want to check your progress with a little help from these illustrators, whatever your level of experience. They will inspire you with their work and reference material, and they'll share their methods so you can develop your own manga-style characters. Creation of Manga Characters, a course by Andrea Jen Andrea is one of the leading manga design figures in the Spanish-speaking world. She will teach you to create your own characters from the concept idea to the character sheet. You'll get to draw male and female figures in different poses, conveying emotions of various intensity.

  • Celebrate 10 Years of Procreate With These 10 Amazing Timelapse Videos

    Celebrate 10 Years of Procreate With These 10 Amazing Timelapse Videos

    The illustration app, one of the most loved among creatives, is 10 years old The creators of Procreate claim that their dream was to develop the best drawing app for the first iPads. 10 years on from its launch, the team strives to improve this unique tool's drawing experience. Procreate's potential, versatility, and simplicity have won over artists from all over the world. The following 10 fascinating time-lapse videos showcase expert illustrators using Procreate, creating classic manga characters such as Sailor Moon, incredible portraits, or extraterrestrial figures. Watch them as they use analog and digital techniques to capture their projects' qualities and be inspired by their drawing styles and skillful character designs.

  • Sonia Pulido: "Illustration Fosters Reflection and Change"
    Teacher Illustration

    Sonia Pulido: "Illustration Fosters Reflection and Change"

    We spoke to Spain's winner of the 2020 National Illustration Award about the role of illustration in today's 'tsunami of images' We could say that Sonia Pulido, illustrator and winner of the National Illustration Award of 2020, decided that she wanted to devote herself to this profession after watching a rerun movie on a Sunday afternoon. When she was nine, she noticed a secondary character in one of those films: an illustrator who had a fantastic studio filled with art materials and drawing tables. Suddenly, all the illustrated books in her home took on a different meaning. "I almost felt something click when I realized it was those people who made the illustration," she recalls. Unlike many others, she never abandoned drawing. At the university where she studied Fine Arts, she discovered a book by illustrator Ana Juan in the library and had another revelation. It opened the doors to a whole other world. "I came across a style and method different to what I had ever produced before," she explained.

  • What Are the Key Characteristics of Manga Illustration?

    What Are the Key Characteristics of Manga Illustration?

    Discover more about this format and the key characteristics of Japanese illustration The word “manga” refers to Japanese comics and graphic novels. The manga industry is huge and a key part of Japanese culture: its reach goes way beyond the country’s borders. In this blog post, we explore the history and main features of this genre.

  • Melanie Chadwick: Philosopher of Sketching

    Melanie Chadwick: Philosopher of Sketching

    Meet food and travel illustrator Melanie Chadwick and learn why she considers sketching to be a way of life Melanie Chadwick (@melanie_chadwick) is a freelance illustrator and designer based in Cornwall, UK. She believes that design should be fun, lively, and enrich the lives of those around it. She has a love for sketching and incorporates it into her daily practice. She specializes in map and food illustration and enjoys mixing analog and digital techniques in her work, working in a variety of media–from traditional watercolors, pen and ink, and collage to digital and vector brushes. She has worked with numerous clients across various projects, including book illustration, food packaging, restaurant menus, magazine editorials, branding projects, maps, greeting cards, postcards, and more. Melanie's clients include Cornish Seasalt, Foodimentary, Ferment Magazine, American Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic.

  • What It's Really Like To Be a Female Creative?
    Teacher Illustration

    What It's Really Like To Be a Female Creative?

    Get an inside look into the life of 15 amazing creators and artists and their creative processes The creative process is different from one person to another, and it can take many forms. From the very disciplined people to those who navigate by ear, a creative mind is always exploring new ways to express itself. The video series Domestika Diaries explores precisely how is really like to be creative in different disciplines. Next, we gathered a list of 15 exceptional female artists from all over the world, so you can get inspired and start your next project right now and learn from their tips to be more creative and translate your ideas into real work.

  • 10 Easy Ideas to Get You Sketching

    10 Easy Ideas to Get You Sketching

    We select 10 projects that will help you to fill your sketchbook, whatever your drawing level Drawing is one of life’s greatest creative pleasures. However, many people are held back by self-doubt, under the impression that the quality of their sketches isn't good enough, or feeling like they’ve run out of ideas for a new project. Below, 10 Domestika teachers share easy and fun ideas for sketching projects. While our recommendation is to start them in a sketchbook, you only really need a piece of paper and a pencil to try them out. You'll see that you don't need to be an expert to get your hand moving and unleash your creativity. A love for silhouettes Find a couple of reference images. You can look them up on the internet, or better yet, find them in books, magazines, on postcards, or whatever you have around the house. They can be works of art or photographs; what’s important is that you feel a connection with the image. Now, look at the image. What shapes do you see? How are they distributed within the composition? Once you have a basic understanding of the shape of the image, draw its silhouette. In other words, draw the outline of the image first, then color in the space inside your shape. Learn more creative techniques with illustrator and designer Manuel Vargas in his course, Creative Sketchbooks for Illustration Projects.

  • Draw Yourself: Paper Artist and Storyteller Karishma Chugani on her Multicultural Inspirations
    Teacher Illustration

    Draw Yourself: Paper Artist and Storyteller Karishma Chugani on her Multicultural Inspirations

    Karishma Chugani answers, and illustrates, questions about her creative life Karishma Chugani (@karishma_chugani) is an illustrator and paper artist who has authored and illustrated multiple books. Fascinated by storytelling, her work often plays with ancient and immersive narrative formats like theater books and story boxes. In this Draw Yourself, Chugani illustrates her journey with a pen, paper, and a pair of scissors, answering questions about her life and loves. From what inspires her and the places she’s from, to how she represents herself as a multi-armed goddess, Chugani demonstrates her talent for storytelling and narrative illustration.

  • 20 Free Elements to Add to Your Portraits in Procreate

    20 Free Elements to Add to Your Portraits in Procreate

    Combine letters and abstract elements in your digital illustrations with Samuel Rodríguez Procreate has become an essential tool for today’s digital artists. Its ease of use and infinite possibilities mean that you can create something to be proud of no matter what your illustration level. Samuel Rodriguez (@samrodriguezart) is a renowned California-based artist who swapped analog techniques for an iPad Pro and Procreate, using the tools to develop stunning portraits filled with bold colors, abstract designs, and an original style.

  • Complete Guide to Anime and Manga Terms

    Complete Guide to Anime and Manga Terms

    This glossary explains the different terms related to Japanese animation and comic genres If you're looking to venture into the world of Japanese manga and anime but don't quite know where to begin, this guide is for you! Whether you’re on the hunt for a new favorite series or movie, or you want to learn how to illustrate your own comics inspired by these styles, getting to grips with some of the most commonly used terms is sure to help you discover what suits your tastes and needs. Anime vs. Manga Manga is the name given to graphic novels and comics from Japan, or those that adhere to this school of illustration. The term means "improvised images.”

  • Creating Iconic Editorial Covers: Carlos Rodríguez Casado

    Creating Iconic Editorial Covers: Carlos Rodríguez Casado

    We look back on the most important moments from Carlos’ professional career, such as winning a gold medal at the ÑH 2020 Awards The achievements of Carlos Rodríguez Casado (@carlosrodriguezcasado) will make your jaw drop. His cartoons have been published in magazines such as Interviú, Jot Down, El Jueves, and Líbero, as well as other international publications. His work can often be spotted in the Spanish national newspaper, El Mundo, portraying personalities from the world of politics, with his drawings often appearing on front pages. Recently, he won the gold medal at the ÑH 2020 Awards, which celebrates journalistic design across media titles in Spain, Portugal, and Latin America. We caught up with Carlos, who is also a Domestika teacher, to discuss his profession, his favorite projects, and the path he took to become a professional illustrator. He also talks about his dreams, such as getting to illustrate one of The New Yorker’s legendary covers and the determination it takes to keep making a living doing what he loves. That, he insists, he discovered very early on.

  • Basic Tattooing Materials for Putting Together Your First Kit

    Basic Tattooing Materials for Putting Together Your First Kit

    What essential items to include in your tattoo kit from day one Tattooing is not just any art. Not only does it require incredible precision, given that the results can’t (easily) be erased, but maximum hygiene and sanitary care. Every tattoo artist must get to know their tools and products inside out to achieve great results and take care of their clients in the best way possible. Polilla (@polillatattoo) is a tattoo artist and digital designer who has her own studio in Santiago de Chile. One by one, she talks us through the different items that make up a basic tattoo kit and what we should keep in mind when assembling our own.

  • What Is Editorial Illustration and How Can I Launch My Career as an Editorial Illustrator?

    What Is Editorial Illustration and How Can I Launch My Career as an Editorial Illustrator?

    Learn the key design principles to get started in this branch of illustration Editorial illustration consists of analyzing and interpreting texts to create images that enrich and complement said texts. We have all seen illustrations in printed publications, and even now, there’s still a high demand for illustrators and designers in the digital era. Learn more about the history of editorial illustration, its basic principles, and what it takes to start working in this creative discipline.

  • 10 Free Tutorials for Illustrators Who Want to Promote Their Work (And Don't Know How)
    Teacher Illustration

    10 Free Tutorials for Illustrators Who Want to Promote Their Work (And Don't Know How)

    Discover practical tips so that your designs and illustrations capture the attention of your audience Once you start a career as an illustrator, designer, or other creative disciplines, it's a matter of time before you discover that the promotion stage is almost as important as the production stage. Reaching out to potential clients and establishing yourself within the creative community is crucial, but we don't always know how to position our work. In the following tutorials, experts give you the best tips to make your professional profile and your work attractive and generate more work for you. If, in addition to watching the videos, you want to read the complete instructions, click on the red title of each tutorial.

  • Free Step-By-Step Guide to Perspective Drawing

    Free Step-By-Step Guide to Perspective Drawing

    Architect and illustrator Héctor López shares a useful guide to understand the technique for drawing architectural objects and perspective In drawing, perspective is used to represent spatial depth. It is a way of looking at three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional plane or surface. This representation helps us understand the proportions and depths of the elements we are drawing and is extremely useful to understand the shape of an object. Both architects and illustrators know perfectly the power of perspective: it creates depth through drawing and therefore realism.

  • 5 Vector Illustration Online Courses for Beginners

    5 Vector Illustration Online Courses for Beginners

    Learn this essential tool to create amazing digital illustrations with vectors from the experts Vector illustration is a type of graph that represents images or shapes through mathematical formulas. Unlike what happens with illustrations made in bitmaps or from pixels, vectors do not lose sharpness or resolution no matter how much the size varies. At present, vector illustration is used in creative fields such as web design and this is due to its ability to be resized without losing quality. Graphic designers and digital illustrators are the ones who use it the most. If you need to learn how to create vector graphics, these courses could help you:

  • 7 Postage Stamps From Major Illustrators To Celebrate the Chinese New Year 2021

    7 Postage Stamps From Major Illustrators To Celebrate the Chinese New Year 2021

    The year of the Ox begins and several countries welcome it with postage stamps from amazing illustrators The Lunar New Year, also called the Spring Festival in China, is the most important of the traditional festivals celebrated by Asian cultures around the world. In addition, it represents another beginning in the oldest calendar in the world. On February 12th, the year of the Buffalo or Ox begins and, to welcome it, many postal services around the world call on artists and personalities to be inspired by the figure of this animal. These are limited pieces that, over time, acquire special value among collectors. We show you seven of the most important and who is behind them.

  • My Materials: Acrylic Illustration

    My Materials: Acrylic Illustration

    Illustrator Jon Berkeley takes us through the tools he uses to conceive, paint, and publish his acrylic illustrations Whether digital or analog, the variety of materials available to an illustrator is vast. Everyone has their own preferences but when investing in your own materials, it can be helpful to see what other professionals use. Jon Berkeley has over 30 years of experience in editorial illustration, and has won awards from Creative Quarterly, the Society of News Design, and the British Society of Magazine Editors for his work illustrating for the biggest magazines in the world. His preferred medium is acrylic as, in his opinion, it offers him the best of watercolor and oil painting. In this video, Jon shows us what tools he uses, sharing simple tips on how and why they are useful for acrylic illustration.

  • 5 Free Essential Color Theory Classes Online
    Teacher Illustration

    5 Free Essential Color Theory Classes Online

    Learn how to use the color wheel and benefit from this important tool for illustrators and painters We often talk about the importance of the color wheel and color theory, but how are they applied? With the intention that you observe closely the use that the experts give it and so that you analyze how to apply the color wheel to your projects, we have selected the following free classes. To see each lesson, you just have to click on its red title. Enjoy!

  • Domestika Challenge: Draw Keanu Reeves’ Many Facial Expressions in 5 Minutes

    Domestika Challenge: Draw Keanu Reeves’ Many Facial Expressions in 5 Minutes

    Can character designer Laura Ewing illustrate Keanu Reeves’ many emotions in 5 minutes? The face is one of the most expressive parts of the body, which is why understanding how to illustrate believable facial expressions is a key skill for any character designer. Laura Ewing (@le_lauraewing) is a storyboard artist and character designer whose job it is to capture the essence of a story quickly and convincingly for films, documentaries, and publishing houses. We challenged Laura to imagine and illustrate actor Keanu Reeves’ face expressing different emotions, using surprise prompts ranging from “just won an Oscar” to “just got fired” via “too much coffee”. See how she did below:

  • James Chapman on Swapping Microscopes for Acrylic Paint Markers

    James Chapman on Swapping Microscopes for Acrylic Paint Markers

    Illustrator James Chapman on why he chose a career in art after completing a PhD in physics Over the last five years, illustrator designer James Chapman (@jameschapman) has written and illustrated his own books; worked on projects for Disney, Nickelodeon, and Universal as a 2D designer at the animation studio, Brown Bag Films; created viral content for Buzzfeed; and seen his POSCA pen sketchbook series evolve, attracting tens of thousands of followers to his Instagram account. James describes his specialty as “making art that’s cute and colorful and overall entertaining.” James grew up in an artistic household in the West Midlands in England. “My dad was an architect, and my brother was very good at drawing.” Inspired by the talents in the family, he set about practicing his drawing skills at a very young age, producing pictures of the things he liked most (namely Sonic the Hedgehog). Aged 16, he came to a crossroads when picking the subjects he would study at A-level–a decision that would determine what he could go on to study at university. Forced to decide between science and art, he eventually chose science and went on to study physics, right up to PhD level.

  • Drawing Tutorial: Graphic Techniques for Designing Tattoos from Scratch
    Teacher Illustration

    Drawing Tutorial: Graphic Techniques for Designing Tattoos from Scratch

    Learn how to draw using line work, dot work, and solid shading, to create a unique design, with Sophie Mo There is no one way to design a tattoo. In fact, most benefit from a variety of techniques. Understanding which ones to use and how to apply them will ensure you achieve the effect you want. Sophie Mo (@sophiemoillustration) is a tattoo artist whose designs have also been used by Squarespace, the BBC, and size? In this tutorial, she shares when, why, and how to use line work, dot work, and solid shading in your tattoo designs.