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  • Curious Minds Podcast: What Even Is Knolling?
    Photography

    Curious Minds Podcast: What Even Is Knolling?

    Discover where these satisfying images come from with Curious Minds, an original podcast by Domestika Curious Minds is an original podcast by Domestika that explores the curiosities and untold histories of the creative world. Each week we’ll bring you a new episode, interviewing experts and creatives as we dive into the unusual origins of the images, patterns, and designs we take for granted. Subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app to never miss an episode.

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  • 10 Pioneering Street Photographers That You Should Know
    Photography

    10 Pioneering Street Photographers That You Should Know

    We’ve compiled a list of the greatest street photographers of the 20th and 21st centuries, featuring Henri Cartier-Bresson and Vivian Maier Urban or street photography can be defined as taking spontaneous photographs in public spaces, using reality as raw material. Although its greatest exponents did not emerge until the beginning of the 20th century, the origin of urban photography dates way back. Boulevard du Temple, a photograph taken from Louis Jacques Mandé Daguerre's studio between 1838 and 1839, is considered the first example of urban photography, capturing a fragment of Parisian urban life.

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  • Domestika Scholarships 2021: Deadline Extended to April 25th!
    Domestika

    Domestika Scholarships 2021: Deadline Extended to April 25th!

    We’ve extended the deadline for entries to take part in Domestika Scholarships to April 25th The third edition of Domestika Scholarships sets out to promote learning across a range of creative disciplines by offering participants the chance to win one of 10 scholarships. Each scholarship consists of 50 courses of the winner’s choosing. Anyone over 16 years old can take part: it doesn’t matter where you live or what your educational or professional background is. To those of you who have already submitted your portfolios, thank you very much for taking part and making our community continue to grow with talent. We have extended the deadline for entries to take part to April 25th. Therefore, if you want, you can take advantage of the extra time to continue developing your portfolio and how you present your projects for the jury’s consideration. Below, winners of previous editions share how they have become better professionals thanks to Domestika scholarships. If you haven't participated yet, we also explain how to get involved.

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  • What Is Architectural Perspective, and How Do I Use It in Drawing?
    Architecture & Space

    What Is Architectural Perspective, and How Do I Use It in Drawing?

    Discover the importance of perspective in architectural drawing when designing a space from scratch The word “perspective” comes from the Latin word perspicere, which means "to see through". This definition already provides some clues that will help us to grasp one of the most important concepts in architecture. Perspective in architectural drawing is the representation of three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional (flat) surface. This recreates the position of the observer relative to the object and shows the depth of the objects. To get our heads around this concept, we look back on the origins and development of the theory, as well as its influence on other artistic disciplines, such as painting. At the end of this post, there will be the opportunity to learn about three types of architectural perspective and put them into practice by following some simple exercises.

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  • How To Create a Papercut Tree of Life
    Craft

    How To Create a Papercut Tree of Life

    Storyteller and papercutting artist Karishma Chugani walks us through her creative process Karishma Chugani is a storyteller and papercutting artist whose work blends ancient narrative formats from across the world. After writing a story, she creates a visual language with images specifically designed to tell that story.

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  • 5 Amazing Terrarium Designers You Should Know
    Design

    5 Amazing Terrarium Designers You Should Know

    Discover these unique artists embracing the miniature world of botanical design These botanical designers, or terrarium designers, work in miniature, applying key knowledge and techniques–such as landscaping, design, flower arrangement, lighting, and even biology–to small-scale projects. Their creations are bursting with life–these designers carefully create environments in which botany can mutate, thrive, and surprise us all. Instead of paper, these artists use earth, rocks, and water as their canvas. They don’t use brushes or pencils, but plants, mosses, and fungi. We’ve selected five botanical designers you should know. Terra Jardim Ateliê Botânico (@terrajardim) Ju Ferrari and San Rodrigues are Brazilian biologists who apply their understanding of how ecosystems work to create magical little worlds in fish tanks and jars. Their terrariums are like 3D botanical postcards of moments we all yearn for: vacations with friends, sailboat rides, and yoga classes by the sea. Ju and San create these universes, but they also teach others how to create their own and take care of them.

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  • 10 Online Courses to Create Your Own Furniture From Scratch
    Craft

    10 Online Courses to Create Your Own Furniture From Scratch

    Elevate any space with contemporary pieces of wood, PVC, or concrete furniture created or restored by you It may surprise you that you don’t need any previous knowledge to jump into the world of furniture design. These online courses will teach you everything you need to know about furniture design, origami lamps, or restoring and upholstering chairs for instance. If you want to give new life to your spaces and give them your own touch, follow these tips and get to know the creative secrets of 10 experts who will show you how to make your own furniture from wood, PVC, concrete, and other materials. Get to know them all! Design and Creation of Handmade Workspaces, a course by Gema Casado Olea Gema Casado Olea is the founder and director of El Tarro de Ideas (@eltarrodeideas), the author of various DIY books, and the presenter of the Spanish TV show Decoración creativa (Creative decoration). Learn artisan techniques to make a desk and storage bench from zero without needing any previous knowledge of assembly or DIY.

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  • 5 Online Courses to Learn Naturalist Illustration from Scratch
    Illustration

    5 Online Courses to Learn Naturalist Illustration from Scratch

    Learn to create nature-inspired drawings and compositions using different art techniques with the help of expert illustrators Naturalist illustration developed during the time of great explorations as a way to depict all species discovered in the Americas. Contrary to their scientific counterpart, naturalist illustrations were not realistic representations and could reflect the artist's personal vision. Other than a pencil, ink, and brush, a naturalist artist also carried a magnifying glass to help them investigate, compare, and measure all sorts of details to best capture what they were observing. To learn to create naturalist illustrations professionally from scratch, we have selected five courses with five different expert teachers who will share all their tips and techniques. Naturalist Illustrations with Watercolors: Drawing and Composition, a course by Cristina Cilloniz Watercolor is a versatile medium that requires a lot of attention to detail and brings calm to those who paint with it. In this course, you will learn to draw and combine animal figures with botanical elements and complete a naturalist illustration in watercolor under the guidance of botanical illustrator and artist Cristina Cilloniz (@cristina_cilloniz).

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  • Basic Materials for DIY Shibori Technique
    Craft

    Basic Materials for DIY Shibori Technique

    Discover what materials you’ll need to dye fabrics using shibori techniques such as sewing, tying, folding, and fastening With a history that spans over 1300 years, shibori is a reserve dyeing technique, like batik or ikat, which means that areas of the fabric are left undyed; they are “reserved.” Those who practice shibori techniques use methods such as stitching, tying, folding, and pressing. Designer and artist Carolina Raggio (@carolina_45) grew up surrounded by fabric and colors. Keen to experiment with new materials, she discovered shibori–an ancient technique that has the power to transform your garments and home textile accessories using simple materials. In this blog post, Carolina also shares suggestions for tools you can use to reserve or protect areas of the fabric from the dye.

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  • Free Guide to Learn How To Draw Flowers and Leaves
    Illustration

    Free Guide to Learn How To Draw Flowers and Leaves

    Want to learn how to draw leaves and flowers? Check out this guide shared by Luli Reis, an illustrator specializing in botanical watercolor Observation is the most important skill for those who create botanical art, after all, nature, together with its nuances and particularities, serves as a starting point and inspiration for everything that will be created. Over time, you will be able to perceive and learn patterns that are repeated in several botanical varieties. Brazilian visual artist and illustrator Luli Reis (@lulireis) seeks to convey her love and admiration for botanical life through expressive watercolor compositions. In her creative process, the details of leaves and flowers play a crucial role in expressing and reproducing the beauty and enchantment present in nature.

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  • 5 Websites For Downloading Free UI Design Icons
    Design

    5 Websites For Downloading Free UI Design Icons

    Find the perfect icons to make your project shine One of the most important decisions when carrying out UI design is choosing the right icons. When you start working with icons, you soon realize that this decision is not just a question of aesthetics. Every detail counts, and there are various factors to think about, such as whether your icons need a supporting element for users to understand them. Christian Vizcarra (@christvizcarra) is an expert in interface design and is here to guide you through this process. Here he shares his favorite websites for finding icons in a range of styles. Enjoy! Iconfinder You’ll easily find what you're looking for on the world's largest icon marketplace. With more than 4,900,000 different types, this website is the place to go to find one icon in particular or a complete collection for your projects. One of Iconfinder’s key features is its team of creatives, who are always on the lookout for what users need. Its filter is very detailed, and you can browse through different sections: designers, categories, or styles. Aside from the icons that are available for free, you can also access their Premium rates.

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  • Domestika Maestros: Kiko Farkas
    Design

    Domestika Maestros: Kiko Farkas

    Kiko Farkas is a designer and illustrator whose work improves the visual experience of publications, books and posters. He talks to Domestika about his career

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  • What Is Botany, and How Does It Inspire Creativity?
    Illustration

    What Is Botany, and How Does It Inspire Creativity?

    Learn about the origin of this ancient science and how it has kept inspiring artists throughout the ages Botany is the science that studies the features, properties, and processes of plants and vegetables; how they connect, and what their vital functions are. It is a scientific discipline that's part of biology. Botany is also responsible for describing and classifying the world of flora. Origins of botany The need for early humans to identify and later cultivate edible and medicinal plants and avoid poisonous ones originated in the Paleolithic. The first written list of plants, which made herbalism one of the oldest branches of science and the basis for modern botany, dates back to the Sumerians over 5000 years ago. Later, in ancient Greece, a student of Aristotle called Theophrastus, wrote De Historia Plantarum (Enquiry into Plants) and On the Causes of Plants. These works, which gained him the title of 'father of modern botany,' were the most significant contribution to botanical science for 17 centuries, up until the Middle Ages.

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  • Learn to Paint Digitally for Free with Joel Santana's Course
    Illustration

    Learn to Paint Digitally for Free with Joel Santana's Course

    Get free access to Joel’s course for just 72 hours and learn to inject life into your characters in Photoshop For an illustrator, making a character look realistic can be a challenge. What sets a sketch apart from a professional illustration is that the latter, once completed, will radiate life and depth. The key to achieving this quality in your work is knowing how to combine color, light, and texture. Joel Santana (@themaddhattr) is an expert in this field. Throughout his career, he has brought characters to life while working on freelance projects for brands such as Champs Sports, Walt Disney World Orlando, and other major clients. Aside from creating, Joel has also mentored other artists, generously sharing his techniques. From April 8, and for 72 hours only, you will be able to access Joel’s course, Digital Painting for Characters: Color and Light, for free, in which you will learn expert techniques to help you master combining color, light, and texture in your digital paintings.

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  • What Are NFTs, and How Are They Transforming Digital Art?
    Art

    What Are NFTs, and How Are They Transforming Digital Art?

    Discover the fascinating universe of NFTs, how they benefit the art world, the risks they pose, and why people are concerned about their environmental impact NFTs have taken the creative world by storm in recent weeks and prompted many questions. To fully get our head around this new technology, we need to put the current conversation into context. In February this year, the Nyan Cat meme sold for $600,000. On March 1, visual artist and musician Grimes sold some videos for $6 million. And on March 11, a single jpeg file sold for $69 million. Aside from receiving a lot of attention over recent weeks, the creator of this jpeg–digital artist Mike Winkelmann, best known as Beeple–has become a record holder: 'Everydays: The First 5000 Days' is the third most expensive artwork to be sold by a living artist. What do all of these works have in common? Well, they don't exist in the physical world and have conquered the mainstream.

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  • Interview with Illustrator Sergi Solans, Winner of Domestika Scholarships 2017
    Illustration

    Interview with Illustrator Sergi Solans, Winner of Domestika Scholarships 2017

    One of our 2017 winners tells us how he used 50 free courses to expand his creativity Sergi Solans (@no_topo) is an illustrator, screenprint artist, and graphic designer from Barcelona who specializes in editorial work. His work consists of transforming images and complex ideas into illustrations that complement a text. Thanks to his strong portfolio, Sergi was the winner of one of our Domestika Scholarships following the first edition in 2017. He was granted access to 50 courses to develop his skills and train in creative areas of his choosing. We talked to him about how he used his prize and how it helped him evolve his creative process for working on illustration projects. Find out what benefits the opportunity to win a Domestika Scholarship—now in its third edition—can bring to a creative’s work.

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  • 6 Free Editing Tutorials for Professional and Amateur Photographers
    Photography

    6 Free Editing Tutorials for Professional and Amateur Photographers

    Learn photo retouching and editing with experts and give your images a professional finish Photo retouching allows you to perfect your photographs and give your images a professional finish. Adobe Photoshop helps you with both minor adjustments and major retouching. We have listed six free Adobe Photoshop tutorials to discover or improve your photo editing options and enhance your jobs. Click on the red links to access the relevant blog post and view the embedded video tutorial. Get started and enjoy the ride! Photoshop Tutorial: Step-by-Step Tips for Retouching Skin Graphic designer and Adobe Photoshop expert Nina Bruno (@ninabruno) shares five essential steps to retouch skin quickly in this tutorial. Even without prior knowledge, you will achieve professional results. Her best tip? Don't go over the top with your retouching!

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  • What Is Retail Design?
    Design

    What Is Retail Design?

    Learn about the design of commercial spaces, the role they play, and the current trends within this discipline

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  • Curious Minds Podcast: Why Are Artists Hired to Illustrate Trials?
    Illustration

    Curious Minds Podcast: Why Are Artists Hired to Illustrate Trials?

    Discover how illustrators capture what happens behind closed doors with Curious Minds, an original podcast by Domestika Curious Minds is an original podcast by Domestika that explores the curiosities and untold histories of the creative world. Each week we’ll bring you a new episode, interviewing experts and creatives as we dive into the unusual origins of the images, patterns, and designs we take for granted. Subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app to never miss an episode.

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  • Free Guide: Light and Shadows in Street Photography
    Photography

    Free Guide: Light and Shadows in Street Photography

    Find out how to use light consciously in this guide created by brazilian urban photographer Gustavo Minas To find the source of light in an environment or scenario to be photographed, just look at the direction of the shadows. They are the ones that show the distance and intensity of the light source. This tip, taken from the book 50 years: Light, Camera, Action, by film photographer Edgar Moura, was a watershed for the career of photographer Gustavo Minas, specialized in street photography. One of his trademarks is the reflexes of everyday life, which allow the materialization of different points of view in the same image.

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  • What Is 360 Brand Identity and How Does It Help Brand Recognition?
    Marketing

    What Is 360 Brand Identity and How Does It Help Brand Recognition?

    Discover how to integrate your company or brand’s visual resources to improve your brand’s image If you own a business, at some point, you will have thought about ways to improve how you communicate. Embracing a brand identity is the best way to make coherent and effective decisions. A brand identity is defined by a set of graphic and visual elements and guidelines that communicate the story behind your brand: its values and how it interacts with the public. These elements will become easily recognizable once you have created a compelling brand identity. In a world full of stimuli, having a strong brand identity is becoming increasingly important. Today, businesses should consider it an utmost priority.

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