Illustration for Beginners: Find Your Own Method
A course by Daniel RoldanIllustrator and Graphic Designer
A course by Daniel Roldan, Illustrator and Graphic Designer
Learn to express ideas with your own visual language and turn your creative process into a play space
Want to learn to communicate through your creativity? Discover the secrets of visual language and the power it has to transmit ideas alongside illustrator and designer Daniel Roldán. Train your imagination and find your own work method through playing with everything around you.
In this course, learn how to manifest your ideas and discover concepts to unlock your mind and make it more flexible. Experiment with materials, patches of color, cuttings, and the meaning of shapes to conceptualize everything you want to express.
What will you learn in this online course?
14 lessons & 27 downloads
Tool Factory 1
11 minutes, 56 seconds
Tool Factory 2
10 minutes, 19 seconds
Material that moves
20 minutes, 10 seconds
Stains and cuts
9 minutes, 33 seconds
The method above the result
5 minutes, 59 seconds
How to catch ideas
7 minutes, 15 seconds
What's included in this course?
Daniel Roldán starts the course by showing you some of his graphic work and talks about his experience as a college professor. He also tells you about four artists who have inspired him, taking you through some of their work and explaining what he loves most about them.
Next, experiment with different materials and let their expressivity speak for itself. Continue with the exploration process, turning everyday objects you have around the house into creative tools; Daniel teaches you how to use them in different ways and play around with layers, cuttings, and textures.
Now it’s time to work on your illustration! First, take a look at the relationship between a text and an image to discover the endless ways shapes can be read as words. Then, try different methods such as tracing something you like and drawing with your eyes closed.
This is where typography comes into play; Daniel teaches you how to choose and where to position it in relation to your illustration. Finish up by learning how to adapt your final project to digital format to share on social media and to analog format to publish as a fanzine.
What is this course's project?
Develop a sequence of six different illustrations based on one word, for example "love." Prepare them for posting on an Instagram carousel and in analog in the form of a fanzine.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Anyone who wants to find their own visual language through experimenting with materials and anyone who wants to establish their own work method.
Requirements and materials
You don't need any prior knowledge of illustration to take this course, but it would be helpful to have basic notions of working with an editing program.
In terms of materials, any object that's capable of leaving a mark on a sheet of paper can be used as a tool, as well as pencils, markers, paintbrushes, printed paper, and scissors, etc.
Reviews
- 7 months ago
A good course
- 7 months ago
Fantastico
- 10 months ago
Molto bello
- 1 year ago
I loved hearing different explanations for the process of working with materials and tools, and exploring what comes from it. I resonate with the process and the method, and it was wonderful getting a perspective on my own visual language. Mucha gracias!
- 1 year ago
I really enjoyed it. The focus of this course is on the process, not on the result. Makes you think outside the box and inspires to experiment with materials. A good option for those who feel stuck and want to expand the toolset and ways of getting new ideas.
He is the founder of the subjects "Initial Illustration" and "Editorial Illustration" from the graphic design course at the University of Buenos Aires, where he is currently a professor.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- Presentation
- Influences
- U2
Shapes lab
- Tool Factory 1
- Tool Factory 2
- Material that moves
- Stains and cuts
- The method above the result
- U3
Word Lab
- How to catch ideas
- Trace what you like
- Draw with your eyes closed
- Cut papers
- Represent concepts
- U4
Final details
- Design and typography
- Digital and analog application
- FP
Final project
- Illustration for Beginners: Find Your Own Method
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
You’ll learn to experiment with a variety of illustration techniques, create visual compositions, develop your own style, and communicate ideas through images using personal methods and everyday tools.
The course is designed for intermediate learners, so it’s recommended to have some basic drawing or illustration skills before starting.
You’ll need paper, pencils, India ink, brushes, sponges, scissors, glue, acrylic paints, homemade stamps, and common household items like cotton or brushes to try out different techniques.
You’ll explore intuitive drawing, tracing, collage, ink blots, textures, cutouts, stamp making, charcoal use, experimenting with inks and acrylics, and mixing traditional and unconventional materials.
The course encourages experimentation and reflection on your creative process, helping you identify your strengths and build a personal, authentic visual language.
A fanzine is a small, self-published booklet. You’ll learn how to design one by combining illustrations, typography, and folding and cutting techniques on A4 paper for a professional and creative finish.
It’s not required, but the course covers strategies for digitizing and sharing your illustrations on social media, expanding your creative reach and exposure.