Illustration for Picture Books: Combine Digital and Analog Techniques
A course by Maguma , Illustrator and Designer

Create the cover of an illustrated book using analog techniques like watercolors or India ink and Photoshop
According to illustrator and designer Maguma, a book cover is a window that gives us a glimpse of the world held within its pages. What we say with the cover and how we say it is a crucial part of the book as a whole. Captivate your readers and prompt them to discover the rest of the story with nothing more than an image.
In this course, learn how to create an illustration using analog techniques, like watercolors and India ink, and enhance your art with digital tools like Photoshop. Your project will be the cover of a picturebook and the starting point for creating powerful illustrations with your own style.
What will you learn in this online course?
16 lessons & 25 downloads
- 100% positive reviews (42)
- 832 students
- 16 lessons (2h 54m)
- 25 additional resources (12 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: Spanish
- Spanish · English · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
Illustrate the cover of a picturebook by combining digital and analog techniques.

Who is this online course for?
Anyone who enjoys illustrating by hand and wants to discover how to combine analog techniques with digital tools to take their illustrations to the next level.
Requirements and materials
No illustration experience is needed to take this course, but some basic knowledge of Photoshop is recommended.
As for the materials, you need India ink, watercolors, graphite and colored pencils, a computer with Photoshop, a light table, and a scanner.

Reviews

Maguma
A course by Maguma
Maguma is an architect by trade with a passion for drawing. He began working in illustration by collaborating with El País newspaper where he was a regular contributor. Since then, his illustrations have been published by major media outlets including Courrier International, Forbes, and Yorokobu.
His books have also seen widespread distribution by publishers like Fondo de Cultura Económica, Editorial Milrazones, Editorial Limonero, A buen paso, Editorial Amanuta, Gallucci Editore, Boitempo, Tara Books, and Libros del Zorro Rojo.
Maguma's work has earned him a long list of awards including first prize at the 2019 Babalunga International Contest, promoted by the Babakamo festival, and the Latin American Illustration 7 Award. His picture book El sueño de Pandora also earned honorary mention at the 4th edition of the International Compostela Awards.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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Presentation
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Influences
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U2
First steps
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The journey of Illustrating an album with four colors
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Images that communicate
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Materials
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My cover and some references
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U3
Starting to draw
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Expressive sketches
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Concept sketches
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Cover Layout
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U4
Analog stains
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From lithography to risography
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Working with matter
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From analog to digital
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U5
Finishing the cover
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The digital stain
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Digital collage 1
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Digital collage 2
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Preparing the file for printing
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FP
Final project
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Illustration for Picture Books: Combine Digital and Analog Techniques
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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
Domestika's courses are online classes that provide you with the tools and skills you need to complete a specific 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 teacher and with other students, creating a dynamic course community.
All courses are 100% online, so once they're 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.
The courses are divided into different units. Each one includes lessons, informational text, tasks, and practice exercises to help you carry out your project step by step, with additional complementary resources and downloads. You'll also have access to an exclusive forum where you can interact with the teacher and with other students, as well as share your work and your course project, creating a community around the course.
You can redeem the course you received by accessing the redeeming page and entering your gift code.
lindaguerra
PlusI'm only part way through the course and I had to come here and leave a review. This teacher is very inspiring and has a way of opening your mind to see things differently. I think seeing is the secret to drawing and he makes you see. If you want to illustrate kid's books, you need this course.
nuriaotte
Normalmente trabajo usando técnicas tradicionales que luego coloreo en digital, pero usaba una técnica muy complicada. En este curso he aprendido cómo mejorar la calidad de mis ilustraciones de una forma mucho más facil. Muchas gracias.
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elle_ru8
Me esta fascinando este curso, me entendí muy bien con las ilustraciones y la forma de trabajar los bocetos de Maguma, es mucha inspiración, tiene muy buenos consejos. Ampliamente recomendado.
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superbubble
Si. Está muy interesante.
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mail_38
Very nice and inspiring course