Inspiration

Expand your personal library of references and get to know the work of creatives from various disciplines.

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  • 7 of Our Favorite Children's Illustrators
    Illustration

    7 of Our Favorite Children's Illustrators

    Discover seven of the most talented artists to illustrate our childhoods Kids are a demanding bunch and illustrating for them isn’t as simple as you might think. There are masters of the craft whose hands have created visual worlds that have captivated and calmed young minds for decades. Here is a look at seven of the most celebrated children’s illustrators and their wonderful artwork. Quentin Blake The scrawling illustrations of Quentin Blake are inseparable from Roald Dahl and the stories he wrote, ostensibly, for children. In 2008, David Walliams, of Little Britain fame, managed to persuade Blake to use his inimitable style to illustrate his book The Boy in the Dress, the story about a young boy who likes to crossdress and the reactions this provokes in his friends and family.

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  • Domestika Diary: Lapin
    Illustration

    Domestika Diary: Lapin

    The urban sketcher visits Madrid’s Retiro Park to share his process and capture the Palacio de Cristal Art, at its core, is a form of expression and observation, filtering the outside world to create something that reflects an individual’s own unique viewpoint. Urban sketching is a popular format for those looking to capture and enjoy their surroundings, jotting down everything from travels to faraway lands to scenes of everyday life. A vibrant community of artists, urban sketchers create pieces that offer a unique blend of observation and personal reflection. A pioneer in the online urban sketching community, Lapin (@lapinbarcelona) has published over 30 books, many of which illustrate his travels across the world. In this Domestika Diary, he visits Madrid’s Retiro park to sketch the Palacio de Cristal and talk about his process and why he believes urban sketching is such a powerful format.

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  • The Importance of Taking Notes
    Illustration

    The Importance of Taking Notes

    Turn your intuition into a creative tool to give substance to your ideas and emotions with Fito Espinosa Fito Espinosa (@fitoespinosa) is a painter, illustrator, and ceramicist. During a career that spans 20 years, he has managed to create a fantastical universe of characters, mixing his ingenious style with his own ideas and philosophical reflections.

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  • Textile Museum of Canada: Free and Unlimited Inspiration Online
    Teacher Art

    Textile Museum of Canada: Free and Unlimited Inspiration Online

    Explore fashion history from around the world through the Textile Museum of Canada’s digital collection Located in a modest neighborhood in Toronto, the Textile Museum of Canada was founded as a museum of carpets in 1975. Half a century later, it is one of the biggest textile museums in the world. Having digitized its entire collection, today it is a global reference, housing more than 15 thousand pieces that have been used throughout history by people from different places around the world. Its collection helps us better understand and appreciate the history of clothing and the customs and cultures of past and present civilizations. The museum’s collection includes every type of garment and item of fabric imaginable: uniforms used in ceremonies and rituals, carpets, blankets, bedding, hats, bags, and shoes. It’s an anthology that inspires and educates, not just when it comes to fashion, but any creative or scientific field, due to each piece’s historic significance.

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  • Apollo Program: a Universe of Photographs
    Photography

    Apollo Program: a Universe of Photographs

    Browse over 15 thousand images from NASA’s photo archive In 2004, the Johnson Space Center began digitizing the negatives of all of the images taken by NASA astronauts assigned to the Apollo Program. These images are property of the Project Apollo Archive–an initiative created in 1999 to compile all of the visual material from these missions and share with the world the emotion and historic moments that they document. Since then, NASA has been periodically updating the collection. Today, the Flickr account hosts nearly 16 thousand stunning images.

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  • The Adventure of Publishing Your First Children's Book, by Flavia Z Drago
    Illustration

    The Adventure of Publishing Your First Children's Book, by Flavia Z Drago

    We spoke with this talented Mexican illustrator about how she got her children's book published Flavia Z Drago (@flavia_zdrago) studied Graphic Design but specialized in illustration and children's books. She has illustrated more than ten books, a Hermès carré (scarf), a Frida Kahlo coffee pot, and cups for Chocolate Abuelita, among many other things. This year, Walker Books published her first book as an author and illustrator, titled Gustavo, the Shy Ghost, a dream that has haunted her for over a decade. We talked with her about her passion for storytelling, her influences, and the experience of preparing her first book.

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  • Product Photography: Flash Vs. Natural Light, Which One To Choose?
    Photography

    Product Photography: Flash Vs. Natural Light, Which One To Choose?

    Learn the advantages and disadvantages of working with natural light vs. flash when photographing products, especially if they have reflections Lighting is the key to perfect photography, and Martí Sans (@marti_sans), who discovered his calling as a product photographer while training as a chef, is an expert on the subject. As he says, photography allows him to control and take care of each ingredient to achieve an exquisite final product, and light is an essential factor. That’s why Martí has explained some of the pros and cons of working with natural light or flash when doing product photography. He also has some basic tips to achieve soft and hard lighting with any type of light.

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  • Legendary Photos Taken on Leica Cameras
    Photography

    Legendary Photos Taken on Leica Cameras

    Discover the history of the Leica camera and how it changed the course of history For over 100 years, image-makers worldwide have documented decisive moments in history with a Leica in their hands. Wars, pop culture, the environment, the everyday... shot over decades, both on film and digitally. This is the story of the Leica camera and how it changed the course of history. Leitz and Oskar Barnack In the early 20th century, Leitz–founded in Wetzlar, Germany in 1849–was the world’s largest manufacturer of microscopes. In 1911, the company was looking for a new master mechanic to oversee research. Following a recommendation from a friend, Ernst Leitz II hired Oskar Barnack, whose subsequent work would revolutionize and shape the history of 20th-century photography.

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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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  • 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: 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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  • 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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  • Early Concept Sketches by 5 of the World’s Most Famous Architects
    Design

    Early Concept Sketches by 5 of the World’s Most Famous Architects

    5 of the world’s most famous architects’ sketchbooks and napkin sketches, from Frank Gehry to Zaha Hadid The first time most people see an architect’s work, it’s in glass and steel, brick and mortar, or digitally rendered. There is nothing quite like seeing the hand-drawn rough sketches that capture the raw imagination and inspiration of great minds before the arrival of practical adjustments and new opinions. Different architects will use their sketches differently: to define the details of their designs; situate themselves in the location; identify key elements; and capture their moods and inspirations; and logging cultural and emotional references. These drawings and notes can take many forms too, spanning from specific structural designs and elemental analyses to abstract illustration and more conventional visual art. Here is a collection of the raw concept drawings, from wild sketches that capture the energy and shape of the artist’s thoughts to annotated scribbles that mark the different considerations they had in mind. Renzo Piano Napkin sketches are notorious in the world of architecture, one architecture school even funded scholarships through the sale of those of famous architects. Perhaps one of the most legendary pieces is that of Renzo Piano, the designer of London’s tallest building, the Shard, who apparently came up with the original sketch of the building on the back of a napkin while eating out with the property developer Irvine Sellar. "He saw the beauty of the river and the railways and the way their energy blended and began to sketch in green felt pen on a napkin what he saw as a giant sail or an iceberg," recalls Sellar who keeps the drawing in his offices.

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  • Movies Reimagined as Vintage Books
    Design

    Movies Reimagined as Vintage Books

    Designer Matt Stevens works on a personal project about love of cinema and reading Matt Stevens is an American designer and illustrator who is primarily engaged in brand identity and editorial publishing. Matt prefers to move away from very formal processes and work with intuitive approaches. One of his personal projects is titled Good Movies as Old Books. In this series, with the simple criteria of choosing movies that he is passionate about, Matt redesigns movie posters as if they were vintage books.

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  • How to Capture a City's Personality
    Illustration

    How to Capture a City's Personality

    Architect and artist Carlos Stanga teaches how to find the soul of a city for your illustrations Architectural illustration can provide a unique connection to urban space. It's a way to capture a moment or a building in time and to express creatively how a place makes you feel. Artist and architect Carlo Stanga (@carlo_stanga) has done precisely that with the streets of Milan, London, or New York, to name a few, and has some tips you can follow to capture the soul of cityscapes in your illustrations.

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  • Enjoy Over a Thousand Works by Georgia O’Keeffe
    Art

    Enjoy Over a Thousand Works by Georgia O’Keeffe

    Get to know the work of the modernist painter online Considered one of the most influential representatives of American modernism, Georgia O'Keeffe is also one of the most recognized painters in art history. One of her paintings sold for more than $ 44 million, the highest record for a female artist. Although critics claim that O'Keeffe's work is primarily about sexual themes, she claimed that she was only interested in the shape and beauty of nature. Throughout her life she fought against prejudice against her gender.

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