Dynamic Vector Illustration: Keys to Color and Composition
A course by Pietari Posti / Studio Posti
Illustrator.
Barcelona, Spain.
On Domestika since 04/29/2020
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, Illustrator
On Domestika since 04/29/2020
Learn how to create impactful vector illustrations with balanced compositions and limited colors in Adobe Illustrator
- 100% Positive reviews (100)
- 1820 students
- Audio: English
- English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, Italian

Learn how to create impactful vector illustrations with balanced compositions and limited colors in Adobe Illustrator
- 100% Positive reviews (100)
- 1820 students
- Online and at your own pace
- Audio: English
- Level: Beginner
- 22 Lessons (4h 35m)
- Available from the app
- English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, Italian
- Unlimited access forever
Even the most eye-catching illustrations are built on the basics of design. By learning how contrast and color work together, you can use minimal tools to create bold visual worlds that stimulate the imagination and connect with viewers.
By balancing multiple shapes and limited colors, Pietari Posti has developed a unique aesthetic which has led him to work with companies like Apple, Starbucks, and Nespresso, as well as publications like Monocle, The Guardian, and The New York Times.
In this course, Pietari shows you that beautiful design doesn't have to be complex. By focusing on composition and color basics, he shows you how to train your creative eye and create lively vector illustrations from sketch to final product.

About this course
Course table of contents
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U1U1. Introduction
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U2U2. Training Your Eye
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U3U3. Let’s Draw Vectors
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U4U4. Optional Finishing Touches and Exporting Your Work
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FPFP Final Project
To begin, Pietari introduces himself and talks a bit about his experience working as a professional illustrator. Go through some of his favorite client projects and understand how your inspiration can influence your work.
In preparation for your final project, start to gather visual references to refine your concept. Explore some basic design concepts which will help you achieve the perfect balance of composition and color as you sketch your illustration manually or in Procreate.
Using Adobe Illustrator, start drawing the basic elements of your final project. Discover how to breathe life into your illustrations with minimal colors and by layering different gradients, highlights, and shadows.
Finally, learn how to add textures in Photoshop to achieve a more organic look and the best way to export your illustrations for online use or print.
What is this course's project?
Using essential design principles, create a dynamic vector illustration with limited elements and colors.

Projects by course students
Who is it for?
This course is for beginners who are interested in illustration or professional illustrators who would like to expand their understanding of how composition and color work together in design.
What you need
To participate in this course, you’ll need to sketch. This can be done with a pencil and paper or digitally with an iPad or a graphics tablet. For the final illustration, you’ll need a computer with Adobe Illustrator.
Basic drawing skills are nice to have but are not necessary.

Reviews

A course by Pietari Posti / Studio Posti
Pietari Posti is a Finnish-born illustrator based in Barcelona. After studying graphic design in Finland, he founded Studio Posti, a creative studio specializing in design and illustration.
Recognized for his use of bold shapes, sharp contrast, and expressive style, Pietari’s work in advertising, editorials, and publishing has attracted a diverse range of clients including Apple, Nespresso, Random House, Starbucks, Monocle, The New York Times, The Guardian, and more.
In 2013, Pietari won the Victor & Albert Museum Best Book Cover Illustration Award for Arthur Ransome’s Swallows & Amazons.
Contents
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U1
Introduction
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About Me
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Influences
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What We Will Do in the Course?
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U2
Training Your Eye
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Finding References 1
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Finding References 2
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The Basics of Composition
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The Basics of Color
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Sketching
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Choosing and Refining Final Sketch 1
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Choosing and Refining Final Sketch 2
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U3
Let’s Draw Vectors
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Drawing the Basic Elements 1
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Drawing the Basic Elements 2
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Drawing the Basic Elements 3
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Drawing the Basic Elements 4
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Drawing the Basic Elements 5
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Applying Color
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Applying Gradients, Shadows, and Highlights 1
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Applying Gradients, Shadows, and Highlights 2
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Refining and Cleaning up Your Illustration 1
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Refining and Cleaning up Your Illustration 2
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U4
Optional Finishing Touches and Exporting Your Work
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Adding Textures and Analogue Feel to Your Vector Illustration
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Exporting Illustration - for Digital Use and Print Use
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FP
Final Project
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Dynamic Vector Illustration: Color and Composition
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This Is What Domestika Courses Are Like
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Learn From the Best
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Expert Instructors
Each instructor teaches only what she/he does best, conveying true passion and excellence in every lesson.
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Front Row Seats
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Share Knowledge
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Frequently Asked Questions
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What are Domestika's online courses?
Domestika's courses are online classes that provide you with the tools and skills you need for completing a specific final project. Every step of the project combines video lessons with complementary instructional material, so you can learn by doing. Domestika's courses also allow you to share your own projects with the instructor and other users, thus creating a dynamic course community.
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When do the courses start and when do they finish?
The course is 100% online, so once they are published, courses start and finish whenever you want. You set the pace of the class. You can go back to review what interests you most and skip what you already know, ask questions, answer questions, share your projects, and more.
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What do Domestika's courses include?
The courses are divided into different units, each one includes lessons, informational texts, tasks and practice exercises to carry out your project step by step, with additional complementary resources and downloads. You will also have access to an exclusive forum where you can interact with the instructor and other students, and share your work and your course project, thus creating a community around the course itself.
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Have you been given a course?
You can now redeem the course you received, just access redeeming page to enter your gift code and redeem it.
daniel.adrip
ProNice course! Teacher explains every step of the illustration slowly and very clear to understand.
Very useful
inna8kor
Great course and teacher! Highly recommend
Jesús Sanz
Me encanta el trabajo de ilustración de Pietari Posti, especialmente por su uso sintético y exquisito del color la composición. Estoy encantado con el curso pues además de excelente ilustrador Pietari es un buen profesor que transmite con mucha claridad, y de manera sencilla conceptos complejos. ¡Me encanta ver cómo trabajan los ilustradores a los que admiro!
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satirelounge
Sr. Posti is obviously a remarkable illustrator- he's also a clear and concise educator. I leaned a few new tricks or approaches to using Illustrator while also learning the process and conceptual angles a very talented illustrator utilizes to bring an idea to life. I really enjoyed the class and will be rewatching it soon to refine my notes so I can begin my project.
javierctorrez
Very informative!