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  • 3 Free Inspirational Books For Illustrating Japanese-style Waves
    Illustration

    3 Free Inspirational Books For Illustrating Japanese-style Waves

    Boost your creativity with these early 20th-century illustrations from artist Mori Yuzan The ocean is incredibly hypnotic. Outlining the silhouette of a wave for an illustration requires letting the brush glide almost freely across the page. In Japanese art, waves express beauty and are packed with symbolism, and Hamonshū, a collection of three books from 1903, includes many great examples. Despite not being very well known, author Mori Yuzan demonstrates a unique ability to draw different types of waves with great accuracy. Thanks to Internet Archive and The Smithsonian Library, you can now access and download all three books free of charge. They will no doubt serve as an incredible source of inspiration and great reference material when creating mood boards in the early stages of your creative process.

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  • Domestika Challenge: Draw Your Favourite James Bond
    Illustration

    Domestika Challenge: Draw Your Favourite James Bond

    This month we’re celebrating one of the UK’s best-loved characters – James Bond The latest and much-anticipated Bond instalment No Time To Die hits our screens this month. As the final Bond film that Daniel Craig will star in, and after multiple delays in its release, we wanted to mark the occasion. To celebrate one of Britain’s best-loved characters, we’ve asked some of our favorite UK-based character and portrait illustrators to recreate their favourite 007. They call him Bond, James Bond, and they call themselves Teachers, Domestika Teachers…

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  • 10 Free Online Classes for Learning How to Illustrate With Ink
    Illustration

    10 Free Online Classes for Learning How to Illustrate With Ink

    Explore this versatile medium and get inspired by free ink classes led by Domestika experts Used for writing and drawing for centuries, ink is probably the most ancient medium in the history of humankind. The Egyptians used ink to write and draw on papyrus from as early as the 26th century BC, and it's believed that the Chinese were already using ink as far back as 4,000 years ago. Fast-forward to today, there are still infinite ways in which artists use this medium. Whether you're into calligraphy, illustration, urban sketching, or you enjoy experimenting in your sketchbook, you are bound to use ink in your artwork. This is largely because ink is so versatile, adapting to as many styles as there are artists. There are several techniques for drawing with ink, with some of the more traditional being hatching, cross-hatching and stippling when using a pen or fineliner. You can also apply ink washes with a paintbrush and achieve various degrees of transparency like you would use watercolor.

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  • 40 Essential Adobe Fresco Shortcuts for Illustrators
    Illustration

    40 Essential Adobe Fresco Shortcuts for Illustrators

    Make the most of the painting and drawing program's features with these speedy keyboard shortcuts When it comes to creating work digitally, many illustrators are looking to mimic the effects of real brushes and canvases. Adobe Fresco is a drawing and painting app that seeks to merge both worlds. This program offers drawing and painting experiences that feel natural, both for professional illustrators and people simply looking to experiment with different tools. In this post, we walk you through some of the program's key features and compile a list of shortcuts that will allow you to work more quickly and efficiently.

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  • Embroidery Tutorial: The Basic Stitches for Beginners
    Teacher Craft

    Embroidery Tutorial: The Basic Stitches for Beginners

    Learn three basic stitches with artist and embroiderer Mariah Escossia Many people think that embroidery is a big deal. Like any technique, embroidery requires a lot of training and dedication, however, getting started can be easier than it looks. Mariah Escossia (@bordadospraiaia) is the artist and embroiderer behind Bordados Pra Iaiá. She loves to experiment and mix creative techniques such as embroidery, watercolor, stonecraft, and is an expert in free embroidery. In this tutorial, Mariah teaches three basic embroidery stitches: the backstitch, the split stitch, and the stem stitch. Check it out!

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  • 7 Online Courses for Learning How to Illustrate in Photoshop
    Illustration

    7 Online Courses for Learning How to Illustrate in Photoshop

    Unleash Adobe Photoshop’s full potential and start illustrating your ideas digitally Digital illustration gained popularity in the early 1980s, thanks to the birth of Adobe and its range of software. Since then, it has greatly evolved and built up a huge following, becoming one of the most widely used and most popular artistic mediums of our time. To ensure you don’t get left behind, we’ve curated a list of Domestika courses on digital illustration. Taught by top professionals, they will guide you as you master new techniques and get to grips with different programs so you can produce one-of-a-kind digital artworks.

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  • What Is Ephemeral Architecture and What Purpose Does It Serve?
    Architecture & Space

    What Is Ephemeral Architecture and What Purpose Does It Serve?

    Learn about the history of temporary design spaces and discover how artists have evolved the style today One of the most basic requirements of good architecture is that the construction is built to last. However, sometimes, architects purposely disregard this golden rule: they erect creations that are designed to disappear after a limited period of time. Some say we are currently living in an ephemeral society in which things aren’t created to last. According to ephemeral designer Luca Hugo Brucculeri (@lucahugobrucculeri), this is not necessarily a bad thing. He says that the temporary nature of a design can push the creator to take bold risks and drive innovation. Many of the monuments we admire today were created to be temporary, however, because they were seen to be so beautiful, ground-breaking, and culturally relevant, they instead became permanent features of our skylines. Here, we look back on the history of ephemeral architecture, explore some iconic examples, and explain how this design practice is used today.

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  • Essential Materials for Making Paper Mache Sculptures
    Craft

    Essential Materials for Making Paper Mache Sculptures

    Discover the tools and craft materials you need to craft your own paper mache models at home From quirky dolls to plant pots, jewelry, and beyond, with a few simple ingredients to mix up paper mache paste and some easy-to-get equipment, you can create DIY three-dimensional works of art at home. Artist, author, and Domestika teacher Sarah Hand (@the_sarah_hand) sees creating paper mache (aka papier-mâché) as a way of slowing down and enjoying the moment. She teaches creative techniques for all ages using the papercraft technique and has even published a book in which she shares her tips and insider secrets on the subject. Sarah has enjoyed making things with her hands since childhood: a small comforter for her dolls’ house, a puppet theater to perform for her family, sketchbooks, and more. Her love of color and curiosity for the world we live in, as well as the feeling of accomplishment, inspires her art.

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  • Free Professional Architectural Sketches to Inspire Your Projects
    Teacher Architecture & Space

    Free Professional Architectural Sketches to Inspire Your Projects

    Discover sketches by great architects and get inspired to create your architectural design projects Regardless of genre and style, illustrating requires a lot of research and a good set of references. In the case of architecture, studying the sketches and designs of other architects, especially those you admire, can make a big difference in the outcome of your drawings. After all, observation is also an art. Understanding the identity of a space and knowing how to express it in architectural illustration is the challenge that urban architect Marcelo Marttins (@marcelomarttins) takes on in each of his projects. Through humanized drawing, he transforms his sketching into a powerful tool.

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  • 8 Apps to Manage and Improve Productivity
    Web & App Design

    8 Apps to Manage and Improve Productivity

    Discover the tools to help you out of a creative jam, organize your to-do list, and reduce stress It's no secret the creative process isn't always the cleanest one: you probably know what it’s like having a few dozen tabs loaded, and as many open files. You've most likely experienced the headache that comes from not only doing your job but also having to search for your work among all that information. The good news is that there are apps out there to help you keep the urgent tasks in view and get rid of the extras, preserving your creative energy so you can focus on specific tasks and work more productively. These tools allow you not only to be more efficient but also to rid yourself of unnecessary stress and, as a result, use that energy to be creative. The productivity experts at Elastic Heads studio (@elasticheads) encourage entrepreneurs and freelancers to use a variety of apps to manage and improve their productivity on a daily basis - here's eight to get to know now.

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  • Illustration Challenge: 31 days, 31 drawings
    Teacher Illustration

    Illustration Challenge: 31 days, 31 drawings

    Flex your creative muscles and win free Domestika courses with our daily drawing challenge running through October The month of October is synonymous with daily drawing. And to keep this healthy habit alive, we at Domestika are inviting you to join in our challenge with thousands of other people around the world to draw something every day for 31 days. Of course, you'll be rewarded for your efforts - keep reading to find out more and how you could win a free course!

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  • 5 Tips on Writing Flash Fiction for Children
    PLUS Teacher Writing

    5 Tips on Writing Flash Fiction for Children

    Discover top tips on how to write flash fiction that will capture a child’s attention Some of the best stories are about events that really happened. Whether you were with a friend, family member, or random companion at the time, a fun, unexpected adventure can inspire an excellent tale for children. All you need to do is use a handful of creative tools to fully explore the possibilities of a child's imagination. Catarina Sobral (@catarina_sobral) is a Portuguese illustrator and author of children's picture books. She knows the secrets to telling an unforgettable story, capturing the reader's attention, and encouraging them to reflect on some of the most interesting moments in their lives.

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  • 10 Professions That Wouldn't Exist Without Google
    Marketing

    10 Professions That Wouldn't Exist Without Google

    From SEO to YouTubers, we take a look at the creative jobs born thanks to the search engine giant In recent years, the digitization of the economy has led to the emergence of new professional profiles characterized by having the skills - and essentially tools - to adapt to a way of working that requires us to analyze, interpret, and respond to markets quickly and efficiently. Most of the tools that these new professionals know how to use have been created, acquired, or improved by Google - a company that since its founding in 1998 has led the way of future trends in industries such as marketing, design, and programming. To mark the anniversary of the search engine giant’s creation, which falls on September 27, here we take a look at ten professions that wouldn’t exist without Google - and the tools that make them possible. Considering a career change? Take note of these careers with great prospects...

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