Zodiac Illustration: Creating A Unique Series

Applying ancient symbology to an illustration series is the ideal opportunity to generate a fresh perspective on a familiar idea to surprise and delight your audience. The twelve signs of the zodiac have been depicted for over four thousand years, yet they still feature in magazines, calendars, books, and websites all around the world today. Illustrator Silja Goetz is passionate about turning classic subjects into surprising compositions. Clients like The New Yorker, Vogue, Harrods, and Penguin Random House seek her expertise to tell their visual stories.

In her second Domestika course, Silja shows you how to create an original illustration series using a classic subject. Discover how to transform zodiac symbols into fresh and interesting compositions while maintaining consistency and harmony among your series. See also Silja’s first course, where she unravels the secrets of book cover illustration to capture the essence of a story using analog and digital techniques.

Meet Silja, discover her illustration work throughout her twenty years of experience as an illustrator, and see the artists that inspire her to further explore her imagination. Discover what you are going to learn in the course before delving into theory and practice.

Next, as Silja puts it: “Time to get seriously serial!” Analyze the zodiac by looking into its history and modern depictions. Explore other types of series such as playing cards to understand what makes an illustration series come together.

Discover the different versions of the zodiac and see the endless possibilities of interpretation. Learn about format, frame, color, composition, and recurring symbols. Unravel your personal style by exploring ideas and putting them on paper. Search for references to find inspiration for style and composition, and sketch your ideas.

Silja shows you how to create a blueprint for your series by working on its format, color scheme, and basic composition. Next, get your pencil and paper and draw the different elements for your zodiac signs. Scan and assemble your elements on Photoshop, seeing the basic functions, tools, and layer system Silja uses in the software. Polish and perfect your artwork until it is ready to print.

Analyze Silja’s twelve finished illustrations to explore different ideas and possibilities of where to apply an illustration series. Finally, get Silja’s expert advice on how to make a living from illustration and discover the best ways to get your first paid illustration assignments.

Create an illustration series of three zodiac signs in your own style with Silja’s methodology.

This course is for anyone interested in learning how to create an illustration series, as well as for illustrators who want to fill their portfolio with creative ideas

Basic drawing skills are required to take the course.

As for materials, Silja suggests you use whatever you prefer. She will be creating her illustrations with a pencil and paper, and then work on her illustrations on Adobe Photoshop to add color and details.