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  • The Fascinating Story of the Women Who Created the Great Disney Classics
    Teacher Film & Video

    The Fascinating Story of the Women Who Created the Great Disney Classics

    The Golden Age of film animation would not have been possible without these female illustrators, animators, and art directors Cinderella (1950), Dumbo (1941), Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), and Bambi (1942) are classic Disney movies that marked the childhood of millions of children worldwide. They have one thing in common: the role played by women in their making was invaluable. Although it was the legendary animators of the early days of Disney Production (known as Disney's Nine Old Men) who went down in animation history, the dream factory created by Walt Disney paved the way to hundreds of women. However, their stories may not be as well-known as those of their male counterparts.

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  • 10 Black American Female Fiction Writers and Poets You Should Know
    Writing

    10 Black American Female Fiction Writers and Poets You Should Know

    From the first African-American novelist to the 22-year-old poet who performed at the 2021 presidential inauguration We are celebrating the outstanding achievements of female creatives throughout history. Stories help us understand the world and see it through another’s eyes. They can be an escape, teach us empathy, and inspire change. We have compiled a list of ten Black American female fiction writers and poets who have made their mark over two centuries and continue to shape and inspire generations. Harriet E. Wilson (1825–1900) Harriet E. Wilson is considered the first African American to publish a novel in the United States. Our Nig: Sketches from the Life of a Free Black was published anonymously in 1859, later discovered to be Wilson's work by the scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr in 1982.

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  • Bullet Journal Tutorial: How to Use Basic Symbols
    Teacher Craft

    Bullet Journal Tutorial: How to Use Basic Symbols

    Learn the basic symbols used in bullet journaling and how to make a key for your own journal, with Annie Weir Bullet journaling was designed to help people organize their lives and bring clarity to their minds using a simple and flexible system made up of basic symbols. Annie Weir (@a_journal_by_annie) has been bullet journaling since 2017, combining her passion for lettering and illustration with a place to store her ideas, thoughts, and memories. In this tutorial, she shares how to use bullet journal symbols and how you can make a key for your own journal.

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  • 15 Essential Online Courses for Those Passionate About Design
    Teacher Design

    15 Essential Online Courses for Those Passionate About Design

    These courses taught by top experts are sure to inspire anyone starting in UX design, logo design, branding, or interior design The word "design" is mysterious and diverse, referring to the conception and development of a product, a service, a process, a tool, packaging, a publication, and much more. Design is used to define the most basic and most complex aspects of a product. Whether we’re talking about a cup of coffee or the computer you’re working on, the application of a design process has made it possible for you to use the products around you. Design is ubiquitous. Whether you are looking to expand your knowledge of design or are on the hunt for a gift for a friend or family member, we have selected 15 of our favorite design courses for you to consider. Logo Design: From Concept to Presentation, a course by Sagi Haviv Finding a balance between simplicity and originality is one of the most difficult tasks in graphic design, yet it’s something at which Sagi Haviv (@sagi) excels. Over the years, the New York-based designer has created iconic logos for the US Open, National Geographic, Harvard University Press, and Conservation International, among others. In this course, Sagi will dismantle any preconceptions you have about design and help you take your work and portfolio to the next level. You’ll work on designing a logo and brand identity for a client while exploring your own identity as a graphic designer.

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  • Who Is Valerie Thomas and What Is the Illusion Transmitter?
    Design

    Who Is Valerie Thomas and What Is the Illusion Transmitter?

    The Illusion Transmitter was invented by a trailblazing Black female NASA scientist This March, we are celebrating the outstanding achievements of female creatives throughout history. Today, we look back on the life and accomplishments of a trailblazing black female scientist who made enormous contributions to NASA’s research and technological development: Valerie Thomas. Valerie Thomas was born in Maryland in 1943. As a child, she developed an interest in technology after watching her father tinker with the mechanical parts of radios and television sets. Aged eight, she read a book called The Boys First Book of Radio and Electronics, piquing her interest. She asked her father to help her with projects featured in the book, but he allegedly refused.

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  • Experience the Power of Daryan Dornelles’ Iconic Portrait Photography
    Photography

    Experience the Power of Daryan Dornelles’ Iconic Portrait Photography

    This remarkable contemporary photographer captures the soul of his subjects Daryan Dornelles is Brazilian, lives in Lisbon (Portugal), and his experience with photography started when he was a teenager thanks to his passion for music. So, it is no surprise that he's photographed some of the biggest names in Brazilian music, from Gilberto Gil to Chico Buarque, Caetano Veloso, Marisa Monte, Elza Soares, and Maria Bethânia. Over the years, his photographs have appeared on the cover of over 150 magazines worldwide: GQ, Vogue, Bravo, Rolling Stone, Serafina, Trip, and Esquire, to name a few. In addition, he was awarded the Prêmio Abril de Jornalismo in 2007, and in 2016 the Prêmio Globo de Comunicação, both prestigious Brazilian accolades.

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  • What Is Ghost Light in Photography?
    Teacher Photography

    What Is Ghost Light in Photography?

    Learn about this mysterious lighting technique and how you can use it to take incredible photos Ghost light is a lighting technique that photographer Ibai Acevedo (@ibai) discovered while trying to find the best way to light his models and control the light as much as possible, both how it is perceived and how it appears. Imagine you want to photograph a person using a diffuser, playing with the light and shadows. Given that you need the light source to be close to your model in order to achieve the right lighting, surely the light source will be visible in the frame? Well, Ibai discovered that it’s possible to light your model without showing your light source. He does this by creating a layered composition as if it were a collage. This gives you the power to decide what you want and don't want to show in the photograph: he calls this technique “ghost light”.

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  • Melanie Chadwick: Philosopher of Sketching
    Illustration

    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.

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  • 8 Miniature Artists and Diorama Creators to Inspire You
    Teacher Craft

    8 Miniature Artists and Diorama Creators to Inspire You

    What is a diorama? Be inspired to create your own miniature worlds A diorama is a three-dimensional miniature model, usually representing a scene that includes characters interacting, a landscape, and architectural elements. The models are typically found in museum exhibitions. However, many different types of creatives have focused on this craft in cinema, television, graphic design, advertising, and other art fields. While museums’ dioramas are usually highly realistic historical representations, contemporary creators tend to recreate scenes with a satirical message and social commentary. These artists create all their work in miniature, showing impressive technical ability. Meet some of these creators and their artwork, accurately capturing their love for miniature sculpture in their photographs. Lori Nix and Kathleen Gerber An architect and a sculptor make up this duo. Their work is inspired by classic disaster movies and post-apocalyptic literature. Their experimental scenes depict a dangerous world, ridden from human beings, all with a touch of humor. Their advice to young artists is to remember that all good projects require time for development.

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  • Top 10 Creative Projects of February 2021
    Teacher Design

    Top 10 Creative Projects of February 2021

    We put together the projects that received the most likes in February within the Domestika community Like every month, we showcase the 10 projects that have caught the Domestika community's attention and received the most likes and appreciation. They are the final projects created by students from all the different courses on offer and are a mix of assignments suggested by teachers and personal projects. All get to fill up this space with creativity. Among the most appreciated projects in February are illustrations and knitting pieces. Also, making a debut this month are some creative cake designers, which made it to the list with three impressive final projects. To check their creative processes, click on the red titles. Don't forget to add your comment at the end of the article and let us know your favorite. Watercolour hummingbird, by Sarah Stokes (@sarah_stokes) This artist's wildlife work is inspired by her home environment in the countryside around Worcestershire, in the United Kingdom. This piece demonstrates many of the techniques Sarah teaches in her Domestika course, Artistic Watercolor Techniques for Illustrating Birds.

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  • How to Make Lifelike Paper Petals
    Craft

    How to Make Lifelike Paper Petals

    Learn this simple method for making 3D paper craft petals, with Eileen Handmade. Paper flowers capture the beauty of nature and survive a lot longer than your average bouquet. Eileen Ng (@eileen_handmade), also known as Eileen Handmade, is a craft artist and maker who has been creating floral installations for years. In this tip, she shares a simple technique to make paper petals with volume.

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  • Be Inspired to Create Amigurumi Characters with the Prince of Crochet
    Craft

    Be Inspired to Create Amigurumi Characters with the Prince of Crochet

    Crochet artist and character designer Marcelo Javier Cortés, a.k.a. Príncipe del Crochet, shares his favorite projects Crocheting is a hand knitting technique that is gaining interest among contemporary creatives. Starting in the craft of crochet is easy, and there are lots of possibilities. One of the most attractive projects you can do using a crochet hook is ‘amigurumi.’ You can create cute, three-dimensional characters by crocheting them as if you were sculpting with yarn.

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  • 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.

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  • Packaging Tutorial: How to Choose Your Materials
    Teacher Design

    Packaging Tutorial: How to Choose Your Materials

    Learn how to choose the best materials for your packaging designs, with packaging designer Marion Bretagne Good packaging must balance price, practicality, and aesthetics to best serve your product or your client. In this tutorial, artist and packaging designer Marion Bretagne shares her tips for finding and selecting the best materials for your packaging.

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  • The 4 Pillars of Constructive Advertising
    Marketing

    The 4 Pillars of Constructive Advertising

    What is constructive advertising and how to achieve it, according to copywriting expert Carla González Sooner or later, if you work in the field of advertising, these questions will pop-up in your head: does my work have any meaning? Can a publicist do more than just sell a product? Advertising has evolved over time. We went from a simple "buy now" to campaigns that help discover, deepen, and expand a brand's universe through concepts such as "values". In this context, we spoke with Carla González (@carlagoon), an advertising copywriter specializing in Branded Content and a Domestika teacher. We wanted to know what constructive advertising is and how it is made. We are talking about the kind of advertising that promotes values, takes a stance, and aims to benefit consumers and society. Carla, who has worked for brands such as IKEA, BMW, Vueling, Banco Sabadell, or Casio, shared some ideas and tips to rethink advertising as a business and our role within it.

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  • 10 Easy Ideas to Get You Sketching
    Illustration

    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.

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  • 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.

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  • Afrofuturism: How Black Creatives Point to a Brighter Future
    Design

    Afrofuturism: How Black Creatives Point to a Brighter Future

    Learn what afrofuturism is and what it shows us about the power of fiction, imagination, and hope Before diving into what afrofuturism is, it’s worth looking at plain old futurism. It might sound like a made up concept from science fiction but that’s sort of the point: any theory about the future has to be built on fiction, as the future hasn’t happened yet. A futurist finds meaning in the future, imagining what might be possible when we get there. In literature, this act is often called speculative fiction. But futurism can be applied to a multitude of disciplines, from architecture to legislation. By using the future as a starting point, futurists can establish ideal worlds, ideas, and creations that incorporate their beliefs, prompting us to look at what might be possible, and what needs to be done to get there.

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  • Domestika Diary: Weekend Creative
    Marketing

    Domestika Diary: Weekend Creative

    Product photography and art direction duo Weekend Creative take us on a day in their life as they make their podcast, shoot photos, and visit the places that brought them together. Weekend Creative (@weekendcreative) is a creative duo made up of Arabela and Elle, who specialize in stop motion and playful and creative brand photography. The two of them have collaborated with the likes of Benefit, Camelbak, and Saint Jane. No matter what they’re working on, they demand just two things from a client: “you need to know how to have fun” and “you have to prefer the weekend.” In this Domestika Diary, you will see where the pair met, what they do, and why they work so well together.

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  • What was the Harlem Renaissance?
    Art

    What was the Harlem Renaissance?

    Learn about this cultural boom in African American history The Harlem Renaissance was a golden age of African American culture that took place during the early 20th century. It had a lasting impact both at home and overseas and set the stage for the Civil Rights Movement of the 50s and 60s in the United States. This cultural boom was fuelled by Black pride; Black artists’ determination to have authority over how the Black American experience was portrayed; and the belief that Black literature, Black art, Black theater, and Black music were forms of activism that promoted progressive politics and integration. Names often linked to this movement include Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, W. E. B. Du Bois, Josephine Baker, and Louis Armstrong.

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  • 20 Free Elements to Add to Your Portraits in Procreate
    PLUS Teacher Illustration

    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.

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