Illustrating Emotions through Color
A course by Gaby ZermeñoIllustrator and Concept Artist
A course by Gaby Zermeño, Illustrator and Concept Artist
Harness the power of color to create emotional illustrations that impact the eye as well as the heart
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.
What will you learn in this online course?
31 lessons & 29 downloads
What will we do in the course?
1 minute, 45 seconds
Let's talk about color
15 minutes, 10 seconds
Image narrative
16 minutes, 46 seconds
Designing from scratch with basic shapes 1
18 minutes, 30 seconds
Designing from scratch with basic shapes 2
15 minutes, 53 seconds
Narrating from the grays 1
14 minutes, 42 seconds
What's included in this course?
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.
Recommended software & tools for this course
What is this course's project?
Create and scene in which you illustrate a character and its feelings, focusing on the design, use of color, and consistent lighting.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
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.
Requirements and materials
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.
Reviews
- 4 months ago
me encanta el trabajo de Gaby, que increibe tener aqui su curso!
- 4 months ago
Maravilhoso! Recomendo muito!
- 5 months ago
Very thorough course and a lot of information, i love her style and learnt so much, i highly recommend this course
- 6 months ago
buen curso y recomendable
- 9 months ago
Um bom conteúdo aprendi muito com esse workshop
She has illustrated children's books for publishers such as Macmillan, Cambridge University Press, and Storytime Magazine, created storyboards for Netflix, and animated projects for studios like Anima, Mighty, Lunch Films, and Sesame Workshop. She has also participated in advertising illustration projects for Cartoon Network and OhMyDisney.
In addition, Gaby teaches Professional Illustration at ESCENA, an animation and digital art school in Mexico.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- Presentation
- Influences
- What will we do in the course?
- U2
Preparing the set
- Let's talk about color
- Image narrative
- Designing from scratch with basic shapes 1
- Designing from scratch with basic shapes 2
- Narrating from the grays 1
- Narrating from the Grays 2
- U3
Action!
- Introducing the set 1
- Introducing set 2
- The look of the characters 1
- The look of the characters 2
- The look of the characters 3
- The expressiveness of the characters 1
- The expressiveness of the characters 2
- Application of tonal values 1
- Application of tonal values 2
- Let's add color to our illustration 1
- Let's add the color to our illustration 2
- Let's add the color to our illustration 3
- Let's add the color to our illustration 4
- Let's add the color to our illustration 5
- Let's add the color to our illustration 6
- U4
The final touch
- The dramatic touch 1
- The dramatic touch 2
- Final Photoshop tricks 1
- Final Photoshop Tips 2
- Final Photoshop Tricks 3
- File export and presentation 1
- File Export and Presentation 2
- FP
Final project
- Illustrating Emotions through Color
What to expect from a Domestika course
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FAQs
This is an intermediate-level course, perfect for those who already have basic illustration skills and want to deepen their knowledge of color techniques, visual storytelling, and character development for animation and editorial media.
To get the most out of this course, you should have basic digital illustration skills, a beginner’s knowledge of Photoshop, and access to a computer with the software installed.
You’ll learn advanced techniques in color, composition, character design, portfolio creation, storyboarding, concept art, and tools to craft powerful visual stories across different formats.
The course covers narrative use of color, creating emotional scenes, character illustration, lighting techniques, visual composition, and project development for animation, children’s magazines, and packaging.
You’ll need a computer with Photoshop, a graphics tablet (optional but recommended), internet access, and visual references for hands-on exercises.
It guides you in creating professional and diverse pieces like fan art, promotional posters, and concept art, showing you how to present them attractively and neatly on platforms like Behance.
Yes, the course is designed so you can apply techniques and develop projects aimed at children’s magazines, animated series, and animation studios.