Carved Stamps for Illustrated Compositions
A course by Viktoria ÅströmArtist and Illustrator
A course by Viktoria Åström, Artist and Illustrator
Learn how to carve a collection of handmade rubber stamps to print multiple compositions, from an illustration to simpler motifs or patterns
Stamp-making is a hands-on way to create unique illustrations and compositions. Swedish artist and illustrator Viktoria Åström creates playful rubber carvings that breathe life onto the blank page. From her home just outside Gothenburg, Sweden, she makes and sells her artwork, and shares it with over 188K followers on Instagram.
In this online course, she teaches you how to create vibrant stamp illustrations and compositions from scratch. Learn** rubber carving techniques** to create original stamps filled with detail and personality.
What will you learn in this online course?
14 lessons & 20 downloads
Tools and Materials
8 minutes, 16 seconds
Practical Carving Exercises
19 minutes, 16 seconds
Choosing a Motif
9 minutes, 20 seconds
Transferring the Swan Family
6 minutes, 34 seconds
The Carving Process: The Outlines
15 minutes, 52 seconds
The Carving Process: The Details
13 minutes, 42 seconds
What's included in this course?
Meet Viktoria Åström, an artist, illustrator, and your teacher for this course. Hear about her creative journey into the world of rubber carving and stamps. She also talks about the people and things that have had a big impact on her life.
Get an overview of the tools and materials needed for the course. Then do some practical carving exercises, before looking for inspiration for your subject and creating a mood board of references.
Time to start carving! See how to prepare your illustrations, and transfer them to the rubber with the carving techniques learned earlier in the course. Then learn how to assemble your final design, ready to be stamped onto paper.
To wrap up the course, explore the different potential uses for your stamps, namely bookmarks, labels, cards, and even a gift box. As a bonus, Viktoria talks about some fun ways to take your work further with patterns, rocks, and fabrics!
What is this course's project?
Carve an original stamp onto rubber, and use it to create an illustrated composition.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for DIY lovers and creatives who want to make something truly original with their own two hands.
Requirements and materials
No previous experience is necessary.
To take this course, you need carving tools, rubber, scalpel, and ink pads.
Reviews
- 8 months ago
Great course. I'm learning a lot.
- 1 year ago
The course helped me understand the basic of creating stamps, and also helped me figure out what are the tools and materials that can suit my projects. The explanations are very clear and useful, and also very details - which is exactly what I needed in order to jump in.
- 1 year ago
very well done class
- 1 year ago
Excellent course. Very useful content, very well presented and explanations very clear and detailed. I loved the examples and the demonstrations of carving. The content is well organized and the classes well paced. I would highly recommend it.
- 1 year ago
Thank you for such a useful course! It's inspired a lot.
As an artist, she does a lot of her work by hand with everything from watercolors, ink illustrations, and prints with carving rubber. She runs her own web shop on Etsy where she sells her work, and does illustrative and 2D animation work for clients. She has also worked as an art director for clients like Volvo, SCA, Wellspect, and Trelleborg AB.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- U2
Getting Practice and Inspiration
- Tools and Materials
- Practical Carving Exercises
- Choosing a Motif
- U3
The Swan Family
- Transferring the Swan Family
- The Carving Process: The Outlines
- The Carving Process: The Details
- Creating the Rest of the Stamps 1
- Creating the Rest of the Stamps 2
- Assembling the Final Motif
- U4
New Ideas
- Creating Different Compositions
- The Gift Box
- Other Applications
- FP
Final project
- Carved Stamps for Illustrated Compositions
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
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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.
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FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for beginners and provides step-by-step guidance on rubber carving, watercolor techniques, and combining both for unique artwork.
You’ll need rubber carving blocks, carving tools, watercolor paints, Bristol or watercolor paper, ink pads, tracing paper, a brayer, Procreate (optional), and basic art supplies like pencils and erasers.
You’ll learn how to design, carve, and print rubber stamps, paint backgrounds with watercolor, and combine both techniques to create layered, visually striking art.
The course covers strategies for photographing and presenting your art, building a cohesive portfolio, and promoting and selling your work on platforms like Etsy and Instagram.
You’ll learn to sketch motifs, use tracing or transfer paper, and align your design on the rubber block before carving for accurate, clean results.
No, but using Procreate or similar digital tools is optional and can help you refine your motif designs before transferring them to rubber.
You’ll explore outlining, detail carving, varying line width, and using different carving tools to achieve clean, expressive lines and intricate details.