Storytelling through Watercolor Illustration
A course by Daniela López MarínIllustrator and Painter
A course by Daniela López Marín, Illustrator and Painter
Learn to capture the moment by creating a visual work that tells a story
Creating an effective visual story begins with understanding how to communicate emotions through color. Artist Daniela López, also known as Dliok, is a painter and illustrator who creates realistic scenes that rely on characters and color to connect on a deeper level with the viewer.
From her work with brands like Harmonix and Hasbro to expositions in international galleries, Daniela has developed a unique technique for creating watercolor illustrations that come alive. Join her in this course and tell your own story by using watercolor paint, ink, and basic digital tools to breathe life into your next illustration project.
What will you learn in this online course?
14 lessons & 15 downloads
What will we do in the course?
1 minute, 58 seconds
Materials
5 minutes, 18 seconds
Use of materials and exercises
15 minutes, 31 seconds
Narrative in illustration
8 minutes, 56 seconds
Preliminary sketches
8 minutes, 16 seconds
Collection of references
5 minutes, 12 seconds
What's included in this course?
Start this course by getting to know Daniela. She tells you about how she became an illustrator and introduces you to some of her work, as well as some other artists that inspire her.
Begin preparing for your project by going through the different materials you are going to need and do a few exercises to get some practice. Then, Daniela explains the basic foundation for good storytelling and how to let your creativity flow while you are illustrating.
Get started with your final project by making some preliminary drawings and gathering some visual references. Start experimenting until you are happy and have defined your final sketch. To finish the unit, define a unique color palette that will establish a visual harmony throughout your illustration.
Daniela teaches you the correct method for adding color and creating the outlines of your illustration. Learn how to paint the lights and shadows and start coloring your characters so that they both stand out and feel natural within the illustration.
Finally, finish up the course by seeing how to scan and retouch your illustration in Adobe Photoshop. Learn how to eliminate imperfections and make some final adjustments to color and contrast before preparing the final high-resolution digital file.
What is this course's project?
Tell a visual story by creating an illustration with different watercolor and ink techniques.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for illustrators, designers, or anyone who would like to learn how to use watercolor painting to tell a story.
Requirements and materials
For this course, you will need some general knowledge of watercolor painting.
Regarding materials, you will need basic materials for drawing and watercolor painting, as well as markers, gouache, a scanner, and a computer with Adobe Photoshop or another image editing software.
Reviews
- rutesartPLUS5 months ago
Muy bueno
- 7 months ago
Muy buen curso, me gustó mucho como explicó el proceso de la creación de la ilustración, tambiem me gustó mucho la explicación del uso de la ténica, enhorabuena! aprendí mucho en este curos. 100% recomendable
- 2 years ago
Gostei muito do curso, a apresentação das etapas para se sair de um esboço e chegar à ilustração final foi bem didática. Os textos e vídeos tem muita qualidade visual e de conteúdo. Os links no final de cada unidade ajudam a complementar o aprendizado. Recomendo.
- 2 years ago
Excelente y muy ameno curso, definitivamente me encantaría mas cursos de la creadora!! totalmente recomendado.
- 3 years ago
Voy comenzando el curso pero hasta ajora estoy super feliz de todo lo que estoy aprendiendo, estoy satisfecha y si la creadora de este curso realiza mas sin duda los tomaria tambien.
Her unique aesthetic, heavily influenced by Japanese culture, has led her to collaborate with Harmonix and Hasbro on the music game Dropmix and several galleries in Chile and abroad. Daniela’s work can be found in a range of publications, at illustration fairs, and inside her online store.
Content
- U1
Presentation
- Presentation
- Influences
- What will we do in the course?
- U2
Toolbox
- Materials
- Use of materials and exercises
- Narrative in illustration
- U3
Working the project
- Preliminary sketches
- Collection of references
- Final sketch
- Color palette
- U4
Execution
- Erase and ink
- First lights and shadows
- Painting character and details
- Digital editing and finalized
- FP
Final project
- Storytelling through Watercolor Illustration
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
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
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
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
The course is designed for people with basic knowledge of watercolor and drawing but is accessible to those wanting to deepen their skills in narrative techniques and digital inking.
You’ll need watercolors, soft brushes, suitable watercolor paper, masking fluid, pencil, brush pen, markers, and access to a digital editing program like Photoshop.
You’ll learn how to create narrative scenes using watercolor, develop sketches, select visual references, work with light and shadow, build color palettes, and digitally retouch your illustrations.
You’ll learn how to gather, analyze, and adapt visual references to enrich details, perspective, and thematic consistency in your illustrations.
The course explains how to choose professional watercolor paper based on durability, texture, and project needs, ensuring optimal and lasting results.
Inking defines contours and details; the brush pen offers expressive, loose lines, while the marker provides uniform, precise lines—each suited to different areas of the artwork.
You’ll learn how to extract color schemes from references, mix colors, and design distinct palettes for characters and environments, adjusting mood and visual storytelling.