Stylized Vector Illustration with Color and Character
A course by Owen Davey, Illustrator
Create stunning digital illustrations with geometric shapes and curated color palettes
As a passionate illustrator, Owen Davey takes inspiration from the natural world to create bright and original work that is fun, unique, and memorable. Animals and other characters often act as the protagonists in his eye-catching illustrations, bringing together the cute, weird, and beautiful of the world to celebrate our uniqueness.
In this course, Owen shows you how to build a digital illustration from start to finish using Adobe Photoshop. From research and sketching to stylizing and sharing your work, learn the techniques you need to develop a singular illustration style that gets noticed. Plus, Owen shares his tricks and tips for navigating life as a freelance illustrator, including how he worked on projects with Google, Facebook, Sony, Lego, National Geographic, and more.
What will you learn in this online course?
21 lessons & 10 downloads
- 98% positive reviews (444)
- 9,644 students
- 21 lessons (2h 41m)
- 10 additional resources (1 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: English, Spanish (Latam), French, Italian, Portuguese, Turkish
- English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
Recommended software & tools for this course
Adobe PhotoshopWhat is this course's project?
Create a digital illustration with a curated color palette and characters designed by you.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone who loves to illustrate, but especially intermediate students who are starting a career in illustration and need help streamlining their workflow.
Requirements and materials
To take this course, you should have some knowledge of Adobe Photoshop. A basic understanding of Adobe Illustrator is also nice to have.
Regarding materials, you will need a pencil, paper, a scanner or camera phone, and a computer with Photoshop and Illustrator installed.
Reviews
Owen Davey
A course by Owen Davey
Owen Davey is an award-winning illustrator from the UK. He has been a professional freelance illustrator since 2009 and has had the pleasure of working with renowned international clients like Google, Facebook, Sony, Lego, and National Geographic.
He is the lead illustrator for the multi-award winning app Two Dots and has produced several picture books over the years, most notably the non-fiction ‘About’ series with Flying Eye Books, which began with “Mad About Monkeys” in 2015. Other notable clients include Airbnb, The New York Times, The Guardian, BBC, GQ, British Airways, Virgin, Orange, Guinness, Microsoft, and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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Introduction
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Influences
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What Will We Do in This Course
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U2
Preparation
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Materials and Digital Tools
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Research, Finding Inspiration and Reference
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Basic Edit in Photoshop
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Customising Your Workspace and Keyboard Preferences
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Designing a Colour Palette 1
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Designing a Colour Palette 2
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U3
Production
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Compositional Thumbnails
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Drawing and Stylisation
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Composition in Photoshop
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Techniques in Photoshop and Illustrator 1
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Techniques in Photoshop and Illustrator 2
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Creating a Character with Photoshop and Illustrator 1
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Creating a Character with Photoshop and Illustrator 2
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Review
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U4
Post-Production
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Texture as a Final Touch
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Saving File Types
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Scale Up Your Artwork
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Developing as an Illustrator and Sharing Your Work
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FP
Final project
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Stylized Vector Illustration with Color and Character
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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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.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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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.
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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.
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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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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.
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Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for intermediate-level digital artists who want to deepen their skills in geometric and stylized illustration using limited color palettes and digital workflows.
You’ll need access to Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, a drawing tablet or computer, and basic sketching materials like HP pencils and paper. A scanner or camera is helpful for digitizing hand-drawn sketches.
You’ll learn geometric stylization, limited color palette techniques, animal character design, digital workflow integration, reference gathering, and how to create editorial and book illustrations from concept to final artwork.
Yes, the course provides in-depth instruction on selecting, creating, and applying limited color palettes for cohesive and visually striking illustrations.
Yes, you’ll learn how to scan, digitize, and clean up pencil sketches, then refine them using Photoshop and Illustrator for professional-quality digital artwork.
Absolutely. The curriculum includes workflows for designing editorial pieces, book illustrations, and even pop-up book processes.
You’ll gain strategies for communicating with clients, managing feedback, and adapting your workflow to meet client needs in the illustration industry.
Adobe Photoshop
Superb course! Owen's work is just pure magic!
Este curso es un buen complemento para esos tips que a veces pasamos desapercibidos
This was helpful. Thank you Owen.
Easy to understand and love it
Me encanta este curso y la manera en la que es explicado cada paso. Me ha sido de mucha inspiracion y he sacado grandes aprendizajes.