# Narrative Techniques for Illustrated Stories | Domestika

> A course by Paula Bossio · Illustration · Beginner
> 20 lessons (4h 12m) · 100% of the 1228 student ratings are positive

Illustration can be a determining tool in the narration of a story since it can reinforce it and offer specific nuances. But in addition, there are other narrative resources that the author and illustrator of children's stories Paula Bossio explains in this course, which you can apply to your own stories and exercise your creative abilities when narrating them.

Learn to be more aware of the importance of each of the elements that make up an illustrated image. Through exercises, you will see how to be more proactive and creative in illustrating your stories and you will exercise your ability to narrate visually, going beyond the creation of purely decorative illustrations.

## Who is this online course for?

All those who like picture books and everyone who is passionate about telling stories through drawing and wants to experiment and be creative.

Of course, also to artists, illustrators, reading enthusiasts, teachers, writers, students, designers, animators, and visual artists.

## What is this course's project?

Create a short and illustrated 8-page narration, inspired by a classic story but containing a narrative twist. You must include a time alteration, a sequential resource, and propose a format modification.

## Requirements and materials

Basic drawing skills are required. You don't need to be able to draw professionally, but you do need to be able to clearly express an idea.

You need a comfortable workspace, mixed media papers, brushes, colors, watercolors, pencils, markers, a notebook, scissors, a cutter, and a stapler.

## Content

### Introduction

In this unit I will tell you about my personal trajectory, my interests with the image, the illustrated books and the importance that I believe is in the stories not only as a source of life inspiration, but as a creative engine. I will tell you what are my main influences and what will be the final project that we will do in the course. Accompany me!

### First narrative resources

A story told in an illustrated book has many variations such as: the story, the narrative structure, the dimensions and characteristics of the publication, and of course, the image. In this unit I am going to explain three to you. The first is the parts of a story, the second is the changes in time and the third is the possibilities of the book as an object. I will relate all these themes to the image.

### Language of the images

In this unit I explain the most particular components of the image, from its composition to its relationship with a text. The images that belong to a narrative system will be subject to or depend on each other. Each of the elements that you will see in this lesson can be very connotative and add up to a great visual narration.

### Experimenting with the story

In this unit I will get to work. I will select some of the elements (not all) that we have mentioned above to retell my story, to play with it and transform it. The idea is to experiment and see that the story has thousands of possibilities, thanks to the image. I will make my story in 4 or 6 pictures. You will see that with the examples everything is clearer!

### Assembling the final model

After having worked on various exercises, explored a little, practiced and have exercised our creative muscle, we go to the final project. The idea is to make it look like a short book. I'm going to start with the paper cuts. Many times the dies can be the trigger. In this unit I will give you the guidelines to create it.

## Audio and subtitles

**Audio:** Spanish, English, French, Italian, Portuguese, Turkish

**Subtitles:** Spanish, English, Portuguese, German, French, Italian, Polish, Dutch, Turkish

[Narrative Techniques for Illustrated Stories](https://www.domestika.org/en/courses/1006-narrative-techniques-for-illustrated-stories)