Illustrating Emotions through Color

Would you like to start telling stories through powerful illustrations? Learn how to create images that connect with the viewer in an emotional way, working with color professionally as an emotional tool and capturing the essence and atmosphere of your characters.

Illustrator and concept artist Gaby Zermeño specializes in transmitting emotions through her illustrations. She has worked for publishers such as Macmillan and Cambridge University Press, created illustrated projects for Netflix, Cartoon Network, and OhMyDisney, and animated projects for studios such as Anima, Mighty, Lunch Films, and Sesame Workshop.

In this course, learn how to approach the design of a piece that tells a story and transmits emotions based on colors. Establish the visual style, set design, and characters, and add a color and lighting palette that is consistent with the emotion you want to communicate for a striking result.

Start the course by getting to know Gaby. Learn how she moved from graphic design to working as a freelance illustrator in the publishing and animation industry and discover some artists who have influenced her style.

First, look at what is commonly associated with different colors and examples of their communicative use in illustrations and films. See their importance in creating atmospheres and transmitting emotions.

Explore the idea or narrative that you are going to illustrate in your project based on a basic emotion like joy, fear, or sadness. Search for graphic references to support your image.

Gaby shows you her creative process and the main tools she uses in Photoshop. Discover the rules of visual style for use in your illustration, do some composition and design exercises starting from basic figures, and begin sketching.

Immerse yourself in color and discover how to apply it, considering the correct use of tonal values and bringing vividness to the shades.

Clean up your sketches, adding elements that help tell your story. Work on the characters, their look, expression, and color. Then, learn how to integrate all the elements into your final piece, adding color and ambient light that are consistent with the emotion you want to transmit.

Finally, Gaby shares some Photoshop tricks to help you enhance your illustration. She finishes by showing you how to export the files for print and digital media.

Create and scene in which you illustrate a character and its feelings, focusing on the design, use of color, and consistent lighting.

Drawing enthusiasts, concept artists, and in general, anyone interested in illustration who wants to tell stories and create emotional atmospheres with shapes, colors, and lights.

To take this course, basic drawing knowledge is required, as well as knowing how to use Adobe Photoshop.

For materials, you will need a pencil, paper, a mirror, and a computer with Photoshop installed.