Creative Illustration: Play with Unexpected Materials

A lot of the time, the pressure we put on ourselves and fear of what others might think prevent us from creating completely freely. Illustrator Adolfo Serra believes the best way to rouse the imagination and combat creative blocks is to play around with unconventional materials.

In this course, learn to unlock your creativity by illustrating with everyday materials like coffee, wine, and even branches, and break free from stresses and preconceptions.

If you'd like to further explore illustration with Adolfo Serra, this is the perfect opportunity to take one of his other courses: Acrylic Illustration: Create a Magical Universe, Illustration Techniques to Unlock your Creativity, and Introduction to Children's Illustration.

Start the course by getting to know Adolfo Serra, who talks about his career in illustration. He also discusses the artists that have influenced his work and helped him break through his own barriers.

Reflect on your own limitations, pressures, and inner critic until you are able to use them to your advantage. Then learn the ""piedra"" method to create freely through experimentation and connect with your ideas and inner world.

Then, make your own instruments and drawing tools using recycled packaging and organic materials, and play with home printing techniques like Gyotaku and using milk cartons and polystyrene foam.

With all these techniques and tools at your disposal, get illustrating using staining and drawing in the medium of your choice, whether a fanzine, an artist's book, or even an object. To finish off, Adolfo teaches you the best ways to share your pieces on social media to really make the most out of the platform.

Illustrate something you are enthusiastic about using unconventional materials and in the medium of your choosing: a pop-up book, a fanzine, an artist's book, there's no wrong answer!

Anyone passionate about creating, inventing, and using drawing and illustration as a tool for storytelling and expressing emotion. This course would also be of interest to anyone wanting to unlock their creativity using unexpected materials and methods.

No previous knowledge is necessary, just come ready to experiment, play, and explore the world around you to create without limitations.

In terms of materials, all you need is some everyday items like coffee, tea, or wine, some plants, old cartons, spoons, needles, soap, ink, oil paints, oils, and perhaps a few others.