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  • Top 5: Brown Girls Doc Mafia
    Film & Video

    Top 5: Brown Girls Doc Mafia

    Brown Girls Doc Mafia champions women and non-binary people of color working in the documentary film industry Brown Girls Doc Mafia is a community of women and non-binary people of color who are passionate about documentary filmmaking. The initiative began five years ago, when founder Iyabo Boyd was visiting Good Pitch New York in October 2015. During the event, Iyabo was excited to find herself surrounded by so many black female filmmakers (including Tabitha Jackson, N’Jeri Eaton, Sonya Childress, and Rahdi Taylor). Iyabo introduced herself and invited each woman to a meet-up in a nearby bar. A photo of the group went viral on Facebook, inspiring more filmmakers to band together. Brown Girls Doc Mafia was born and went public at Sundance Film Festival in 2017. It now has over 3300 members who convene online and in-person to provide a nurturing atmosphere where careers can evolve in a safe place.

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  • Julieta Álvarez: Ceramic Jewelry with a Flamenco Twist
    Craft

    Julieta Álvarez: Ceramic Jewelry with a Flamenco Twist

    Julieta Álvarez talks us through one of her latest projects: creating ceramic jewelry for Lladró While Julieta Álvarez’s passion for creating things out of clay dates back to childhood, this love truly blossomed when she discovered she could use it to make unique pieces of jewelry. Now, Julieta (@julieta_alvarez) has almost a decade of experience creating delicate handmade ceramic jewels under her belt. This career path has brought about opportunities to collaborate with international businesses and create collections for brands such as Lladró from Spain, a project which we had the opportunity to learn all about in the following interview.

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  • Essential Keyboard Shortcuts for TVPaint Animation
    Web & App Design

    Essential Keyboard Shortcuts for TVPaint Animation

    Discover the keyboard shortcuts of one of the most popular 2D illustration and animation programs around TVPaint Animation, with After Effects and Toon Boom Harmony, is one of the most complete and used 2D illustration and animation programs on the market. The program allows you to make storyboards, character designs, and boasts other tools that will help you create two-dimensional animations in the best way possible. A good animator needs to be fast and efficient and, as you use TVPaint Animation, you will realize the amount of time it can save you knowing these useful keyboard shortcuts. Here we compile some of the basic shortcuts on TVPaint Animation:

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  • 5 Embroiderers That Will Inspire Your Next Creation
    Craft

    5 Embroiderers That Will Inspire Your Next Creation

    Find inspiration in the work of these textile artists, who will soon start new courses at Domestika As a creative discipline, contemporary embroidery offers limitless possibilities. Throughout the world, embroiderers have created designs with unique expressive styles and singular pieces. Here are five wonderful embroiderers who will soon be sharing their knowledge with you in new Domestika courses. Get to know them all! Elena Obando (@e___l___o) Based in San José, Costa Rica, Elena is a designer, jewelry maker, and embroiderer. After working in design and advertising, she discovered her love for handicrafts while studying contemporary jewelry. By combining various techniques, she self-taught her way into the world of embroidery, leaning on what she had learned as a child. Currently, embroidery is her main media. Her unmistakable style of textile illustrations is inspired by birds and portraits she stitches on tulle.

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  • These Are the Design Apps the Domestika Community Loves
    Design

    These Are the Design Apps the Domestika Community Loves

    We asked the Domestika community on Instagram what their favorite design apps are, and here are the results A good app can inspire you to start a new project, deal with those little repetitive tasks that take the fun out of your creative process, or encourage you to explore new techniques. With this in mind, we asked the Domestika community on Instagram what their favorite design apps are; what programs help them to be more productive or creative. These are your favorites. Mojo Stories have become one of the main features of Instagram and a valuable tool to share creative projects. Fast-paced, fun to watch, and highly addictive, these snippets can be used to tell stories or show a technique. But it can feel a little bit constrained sometimes. Creating attractive designs requires time and effort. Mojo solves this by giving the user hundreds of stunning templates to choose that create eye-catching animated slides, unlock new narrative avenues, and take stories to the next level. A great tool to boost engagement in all of your social posts.

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  • 10 Free Design and Branding Classes for Non-Designers Who Want to Relaunch a Brand
    Teacher Design

    10 Free Design and Branding Classes for Non-Designers Who Want to Relaunch a Brand

    Learn branding and identity tips from experts in design and creativity So that you do not hesitate and start working on that creative project you have in mind, we compiled these lessons for you that you can enjoy for free for a limited time. Join ten experts in different branches of design and creativity to discover best practices and tips to launch or renew a brand and achieve the greatest impact. To view each class, just click on its title in red. Enjoy!

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

    Brush Pen Tutorial: Basic Strokes of the Letters

    Learn the basics of how to handle a brush and gain confidence and fluidity using a brush pen, with Bego Viñuela Nearly everyone who was taught to write as a child had to do exercises to improve the fluidity of their handwriting. Practicing strokes, curves, ovals, waves... the shapes that build the letters that allow us to express our ideas and feelings, recording an infinite amount of stories. Italic calligraphy goes one step further in the art of handwriting. Characterized by elegant and decorative lines, refined curves, and a lot of expressiveness, it is more than a means to convey a message: it is the message itself. Calligrapher Bego Viñuela (@caligrafiabilbao) is an expert in this technique, and here she teaches us the basics of how to handle a brush and create beautiful letters full of strength and visual impact. "There are traits that are shared among the letters. If we work on them a little more and put emphasis on perfecting them, then the letters will be stronger," says Viñuela. Find out below:

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  • Domestika Diary: Alex Hillkurtz
    Illustration

    Domestika Diary: Alex Hillkurtz

    Alex Hillkurtz, a storyboard artist fascinated by urban watercolor, shows us his personal vision of Madrid When it comes to the art of urban watercolor, there’s a magical mix of two elements: the unique vision of the illustrator who executes it, ensuring that no two watercolors are ever the same, and the personality of the buildings, people, and streets of the city that they’re capturing. This combination makes urban watercolor a fleeting reflection of the observer’s senses and an ever-changing environment, its results defined by the viewpoint of the artist and the location that they are seeking to capture. Few have a viewpoint as unique as that of Alex Hillkurtz. A storyboard artist with a passion for urban watercolor, he has an innate talent for reinterpreting the cities he visits through striking splashes of color and fascinating perspectives. Because of this, we jumped at the chance to accompany him during one of his drawing sessions set in the streets of Madrid. Find out more in the following Domestika Diary:

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  • 5 Instagram Photography Courses
    Photography

    5 Instagram Photography Courses

    Make the most of this social network and adopt effective strategies for your brand There’s no denying that Instagram is one of the biggest virtual display windows for showing off whatever products or services you're selling. Companies and brands each have to find their own way to use it to stand out and draw people in. Not only does Instagram enable users to get a good look at your projects and products, but it can also be used to construct a non-verbal narrative that tells the world outside what you’re about. While the app’s most popular tools are its filters, the most successful profiles are those sharing powerful photos that have a deep understanding of creativity, composition, and photographic technique. Learn to unlock your potential and embrace your artistic sensitivity with these five Instagram photography specialists and discover how to get the most out of the tools on offer. Professional Mobile Photography and Videos, a course by Nay Jiménez Learn to take great photographs using just your phone. This photographer and art director will help you understand concepts such as color and composition so that you can create an Instagram feed with a consistent visual style. Also, they will share all of their techniques for dispelling fear and transforming your phone into an ideas machine.

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  • Cyanotype: Simple Materials to Print Images with Light
    Craft

    Cyanotype: Simple Materials to Print Images with Light

    Learn about cyanotype, a low-cost, creative, and beautiful printing process that lets you print any type of image from scratch and the surprisingly simple materials and method to apply it Cyanotype. Sounds cool. But what is it? Cyan, as in the shade of blue, and type, as in printing: cyanotype is a printing process which has been used by artists, botanists, and architects for almost two centuries. A photosensitive solution that dyes objects blue when it comes into contact with light is used to develop images onto a whole range of surfaces, from paper to fabric, wood, and ceramics. For this article, Xavier and Gabriela from the design workshop Fábrica de Texturas (@fabricadetexturas), who teach the course Cyanotype: Printing with Light, have shared the materials and tools you need to embark on your own blueprint journey.

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  • Free Download: Report Template for Social Media Campaigns
    Marketing

    Free Download: Report Template for Social Media Campaigns

    This digital campaign tracking template allows you to study metrics over time When creating marketing campaigns for social networks, it is essential to monitor results throughout the entire duration of the campaign in order to correct any potential issues and to obtain learnings related to what has and hasn't worked. Arantxa Beltrán and Guillermo Medina have been working in digital marketing for years, primarily with Google and Facebook Ads campaigns, and beyond mastering various types of ads and the ways they influence user behavior, the pair are also specialists in analyzing and tracking campaign metrics. This template which they've shared with Domestika will help you better manage and understand the metrics generated by your social media campaigns.

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  • 7 Tips to Make Your Next Live Broadcast a Success
    Marketing

    7 Tips to Make Your Next Live Broadcast a Success

    Get more engagement from your followers when doing live transmissions A live broadcast allows content creators to connect with their audience more deeply and interactively. Recently, the format has gained traction thanks to international quarantine measures and the fast paced and meaningful interaction it enables. This inspired us to collect some useful tips that will guarantee better engagement. Notify your followers Illustrator Carlos Rodríguez Casado (@carlosrodriguezcasado) did Lives almost every day during the COVID-19 confinement in Spain and, in addition to becoming one of his favorite ways to connect with his audience, he learned a lot about how to make them work. Carlos' first piece of advice is to announce a Live session in advance with a Story slide that specifies the date and time: "The more attractive the design, the better. I'd also recommend using the countdown sticker, since it's very visual." This tip may sound obvious, but many people forget the importance of notifying their followers in advance about when and on which platform the live transmission will be on. Don't make just one announcement. Make several posts on your social networks, reminding everyone of the day and time it will take place.

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  • What is Doodle Illustration?
    Illustration

    What is Doodle Illustration?

    Learn how the scribbles we make when daydreaming can become art from a master in the craft: Mauro Martins Illustrator Mauro Martins (@mauromartins) stood out as an art director in advertising and later established himself as a creator, applying a refined and personal version of doodle style artwork. His characterful work has secured him commissions from companies like Absolut, Domino’s Pizza, Amarula, and many more. He believes in the ability to tell small narratives through a style of drawing we typically call doodling, drawings that can grow in complexity as we improve. Below, he explains the characteristics of this playful and attractive style of illustration.

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  • Great Architectural Photographers
    Photography

    Great Architectural Photographers

    Be inspired by classic photographers who have led the way for Tuca Reinés and his professional career Tuca Reinés (@tucareines) trained as an architect, but his passion has always been photography. His work has been featured in the pages of major magazines such as Casa Vogue, A&D, Elle, Wallpaper and others, for almost three decades. He has presented solo exhibitions and created advertising campaigns for major clients: Maxhaus, Audi, Ermenegildo Zegna, Banco Santander, and Mobil, among others. Among his major awards are two golden lions at the Cannes Lions Festival.

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  • These 10 Illustrators Use Ceramics as a Canvas
    Craft

    These 10 Illustrators Use Ceramics as a Canvas

    Ceramic artist Pepa Espinoza shares some of her references when modeling new pieces with clay Although Pepa Espinoza (@espinoza_mariajose) will be the first to tell you that her main inspiration is her grandmother, her work is influenced by an immense range of potters that work with ceramics in very different ways, imbuing their pieces with their personality. The list is long, but we have selected some of her favorites so that you can also enjoy their pure creativity: Sara Theron (@dodo_toucan) The distinctive feature of Sara Theron's work is, without doubt, color. This French ceramic artist creates everyday objects with simple shapes that give the enameling process and color palette the spotlight.

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  • The 5 Names You Need to Know in Fine Art Photography
    Photography

    The 5 Names You Need to Know in Fine Art Photography

    Gerardo Montiel Klint shares 5 influential artists that helped him discover his passion for photography Gerardo Montiel Klint (@gerklint) is an industrial designer and photographer, teacher, workshop leader, and member of the Sistema Nacional de Creadores in Mexico. He has received numerous accolades in his career, including the Acquisition Award of the XIII and XI Photography Biennial, the Silver Medal for Fine Arts Mexico 2008, the Omnilife 2000 Grand Prize, and Fonca/Banff Center artistic residencies in 2001 and 2002-2003. His work has been featured in collections and galleries throughout the United States, Brazil, Mexico, Hungary, Denmark, Spain, and China. He is also co-founder of the Hydra platform, belongs to the advisory team of EXIT magazine, and co-directs Klint & Photo, a production house and photographic studio specialized in advertising, interior design, fashion, and portraiture.

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  • Practical Exercise: Freehand Negative Drawing
    Illustration

    Practical Exercise: Freehand Negative Drawing

    Learn to invert color by hand with this technique from Amadeo Gonzales Amadeo Gonzales (@amadeog77) is an illustrator, drawer, lecturer, and self-taught musician. He is the creator of Carboncito, a magazine filled with graphic arts and comic strips that, since 2001, has published the work of a wide range of contemporary Latin American artists. Amadeo has also published a variety of fanzines, including Tránsito intestinal, Actitú records, Bandas inexistentes records, Frustrazine and Nervenzusammenbruch.

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  • Challenge: Draw Captain Spock in Tones of Pink
    Teacher Illustration

    Challenge: Draw Captain Spock in Tones of Pink

    Pablo Velasco Bertolotto takes on the challenge set by Domestika to reproduce in detail the iconic character from the Star Trek saga Hair, eyes, clothes, hands, reflections, and textures... all in pink: the challenge proposed to the illustrator and graphic designer Pablo Velasco Bertolotto (@bertolotto) in this edition of the Domestika Challenge. He will have to play with different shades of pink to obtain the necessary contrasts and variations to give life to the character. The figure that this creative artist has chosen for this purpose is the mythical Captain Spock, from the Star Trek saga. Will he be able to perfectly reproduce, with hardly any variation in color, the creator of the 'live long and prosper' greeting? Find out in the video:

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  • Free Download: Guide for Drawing Head and Body Proportions
    Illustration

    Free Download: Guide for Drawing Head and Body Proportions

    Learn how to draw a human head and body using the correct proportions Although the human body is probably the figure we know best, many of us would find it difficult to correctly draw its proportions from memory. The length of the arms, the width of the shoulders and hips, where the wrists hit the body... and the same goes for the head and face. The relationship between all these body parts, which we have seen so many times, becomes a little less obvious when we sit in front of a blank piece of paper with a pencil in hand. This guide to anatomical proportions, shared with Domestika by Brazilian comic artist and illustrator Marcio Takara (@marciotakara), will help make the task of drawing people much easier.

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  • Pixelmator Photo: Edit Like a Professional Using Your iPad
    Photography

    Pixelmator Photo: Edit Like a Professional Using Your iPad

    This photo editing app will convert your iPad into a mini studio that competes with any desktop software Pixelmator is a family of programs and apps, which serves as a basic and intuitive alternative to Photoshop, available for Mac users and all other iOS devices. Now, the company has launched Pixelmator Photo, an iPad app that makes the most of all the benefits this tablet has to offer for editing photos. Pixelmator Photo has a number of features that demonstrate that we can retouch photos from our iPad to professional standards. These are some of the stand-out tools that the app offers:

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  • SEO Tutorial: What and How to Measure in Google Analytics and Search Console
    Marketing

    SEO Tutorial: What and How to Measure in Google Analytics and Search Console

    Learn the key steps to measuring your SEO strategy and the free tools that you can use with technical and strategic SEO consultant Natzir Turrado No matter the size of the business, by using SEO tools you can create a greater chance of your website organically being ranked highly by search engines like Google, helping you to reach the exact clients that interest you the most and increasing the number of promotional possibilities. But what metrics and tools are essential to use when working on the positioning of a website? In the following video tutorial, SEO consultant Natzir Turrado (@n_turrado_ruiz) details how to use Google Analytics and Search Console to understand if your website is successfully reaching its goals. Find out more below.

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  • Giacomo Prestinari: “It’s possible to tell a powerful story in under 30 seconds”
    Film & Video

    Giacomo Prestinari: “It’s possible to tell a powerful story in under 30 seconds”

    We talk to Giacomo Prestinari, editor of some of the most famous TV commercials today Many of the commercials he has worked on rank high on the list of those that have made us laugh and cry in front of the TV (or computer) screen. Many were edited in remote and unexpected places around the world–something which seems to awaken even more creativity in Giacomo Prestinari (@giacomo_prestinari). We spoke to him to learn about the work of a video editor for advertising in more depth and discovered some of the secrets behind his best commercials.

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  • What’s a Storyboard and What's a Shooting Board
    Illustration

    What’s a Storyboard and What's a Shooting Board

    Storyboard artist Pablo Buratti talks us through the difference between these key pre-production tools If you are both an illustrator and a cinema aficionado, storyboarding might be your calling. A vital tool in the pre-production stage of any audiovisual project, a storyboard depicts a film sequence, breaking down situations and actions into individual panels to show how they will unfold. Pablo Buratti (@pabloburatti) is an illustrator working in the film industry. He is a storyboard artist working across character design, set design, concept design, and more. Pablo landed his first storyboarding job over fifteen years ago for Luis Sepúlveda’s film, Nowhere. It was after this that he became determined to make a career out of this way of fusing illustration and film. Since then, Pablo has worked on numerous projects, including Pedro Almodóvar’s four most recent feature films, from Broken Hugs (2009) up to Julieta (2016). He has also worked with directors Álex de la Iglesia on the film Witching & Bitching and JA Bayona on The Impossible. Pablo has collaborated with Daniel Calparsoro for more than 10 years–beginning with a film called Ausentes (2005) and most recently working on To Steal from a Thief (2016). Here he explains the differences between a storyboard and a shooting board.

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  • Essential Shortcuts for Mastering Adobe Camera Raw
    Photography

    Essential Shortcuts for Mastering Adobe Camera Raw

    Speed ​​up your photography workflow with these Adobe Camera Raw shortcuts Raw photos are non-processed images, files that contain all the information that your camera is capable of capturing. One of the best tools for importing and editing these raw images is Adobe Camera Raw, a native Adobe plug-in for working with Raw files in both Photoshop and Lightroom, and a tool that has become indispensable for professional photographers. It is advisable to use Camera Raw whenever you are working with these types of files since its purpose is to recover all the information that the camera saved for processing the image. Then, you will be able to use any Photoshop or Lightroom editing tool on it. To increase your productivity when using the Adobe Camera Raw plug-in, use these basic keyboard shortcuts, and download a PDF file below.

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