Illustration Techniques for Children’s Books
A course by Estelí MezaIllustrator
A course by Estelí Meza, Illustrator
Learn the process of telling a story through a sequence of illustrations
The process of developing a character is essential to creating a good story. In this course, Estelí Meza—author of illustrated books like Lino Felino, Angustia, and El Príncipe Valiente Tiene Miedo—shows you how to create a character and then develop a story around them. The Mexican illustrator has established a successful career illustrating children’s books, working with magazines and creating book covers for editorials in Mexico, Spain, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates.
Estelí teaches a series of analog and digital techniques (with Adobe Photoshop), as well as how to work directly on your printed creations, to create a series of 3 narrative illustrations.
What will you learn in this online course?
16 lessons & 20 downloads
Draw and play
6 minutes, 34 seconds
Playing with the character
4 minutes, 25 seconds
Traits of my character
6 minutes, 59 seconds
Building a puppet
7 minutes, 0 seconds
First steps to tell a story
7 minutes, 18 seconds
Organizing the graphic narration
13 minutes, 35 seconds
What's included in this course?
The first unit begins with an introduction of Estelí, how she became an illustrator, and how she works her characters into her stories. She also shares her influences and explains what you will do throughout the course.
In the second unit, go over the materials you’ll use during the course and create your own sketchbook. Use it to practice fun drawing exercises to loosen up your hand. Define and visually develop your character concept, focussing on facial expressions before creating a puppet of your character using paper.
In the third unit, work on the personality aspect of your character, understanding it fully and use these traits to develop your story. Then, start to sketch your graphical narration, summarized in 3 important moments. Compose the graphic elements and see some color references.
In the fourth unit, as you work on the final sketches of your images, Estelí shows you how to work with different materials and techniques (e.g. acrylic markers, soft pastels, colored pencils, and paper cut-outs).
Lastly, scan your images and discover how to illustrate, retouch, and apply new elements to your composition with Adobe Photoshop. Print your images on cotton paper and work directly on the printed result to add final touches to your visual narrative.
Recommended software & tools for this course
What is this course's project?
Create a narrative project composed of three final illustrations.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Those interested in telling a story through images, as well as students of design, the arts, or illustration, who want to work on a visual narrative project and are interested in delving into the world of character creation.
Requirements and materials
To take this course, you will need basic drawing and composition skills.
You also need a sketchbook, white paper, a pencil, eraser, 200g drawing paper or a medium-sized illustration sketchpad, acrylic markers, colored pencils, water-soluble oil pastels, colored paper and cardboard, paintbrushes, a sharpener, scissors, a craft knife, white glue, a jar, a cloth, tracing paper, acetate paper, a cutting mat, scanner, and computer with Adobe Photoshop with access to a digital printer.
Reviews
- 6 months ago
El curso me dio una nueva metodologia de trabajo sobre una problematica habitual a la hora de dibujar personajes, el poder verlos en movimiento de la forma que en este curso se nos propone amplia la mirada para quienes encuentran este problema de los personajes estaticos....
- 1 year ago
It’s useful and I like the verity of using different techniques .
- 1 year ago
Es maravilloso y tiene tecnicas innovadoras para usar, me encanta su versatilidad y la continuidad de casa tema a seguir. Es excelente el curso.
- 1 year ago
Muy entretenido. Admiro a esta artista
- 1 year ago
Buen curso!!! Vale la pena hacerlo
Since 2007 she has dedicated 100% of her professional life to illustration. She is the author of three illustrated books: Lino Felino, Angustia, and El Príncipe Valiente tiene miedo. Her main clients include editorials such as Scholastic, Anaya, Fondo de Cultura Económica, Kalimat, Penguin Random House, among others, and she has worked with other clients such as Google.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- Presentation
- Influences
- What will we do in the course?
- U2
Illustrating is playing
- Drawing materials and sketchbooks
- Draw and play
- Playing with the character
- Traits of my character
- Building a puppet
- U3
Your character in action
- Who?
- First steps to tell a story
- Organizing the graphic narration
- Sketches
- U4
To work!
- Favorite techniques
- Color in your story
- Let's go digital
- Final Image
- FP
Final project
- Narrative Illustration with Mixed Media
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
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Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
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FAQs
You’ll learn to create original, expressive characters for children’s books using visual storytelling techniques, graphic experimentation, and a blend of traditional and digital materials.
This is an intermediate-level course, perfect if you already have basic drawing skills and want to deepen your knowledge of character creation and visual storytelling.
You’ll need a sketchbook, pencils, watercolors, acrylic markers, paper of various weights, and materials like acetate, cardstock, and cotton paper. Access to basic digital tools is recommended.
Yes, the course combines traditional techniques like watercolor and colored pencil with digital processes to enhance visual expression and the presentation of narrative illustrations.
Yes, you’ll learn how to create children’s characters with deep emotions by exploring facial expressions, physical variations, and distinctive features.
Yes, you’ll be taught how to plan and develop illustration projects for children’s books and editorial work, from initial sketches to final layouts.
You’ll learn how to select and combine color palettes, experiment with contrasts, and apply color strategically to convey emotions and strengthen visual storytelling.