Creative Illustration: Play with Unexpected Materials
A course by Adolfo SerraIllustrator
A course by Adolfo Serra, Illustrator
Awaken your creativity with everyday items, from coffee to feathers or an apple, and create illustrations freely and without judgment.
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.
What will you learn in this online course?
17 lessons & 23 downloads
Your inner critic is wrong!
14 minutes, 47 seconds
Fanzines and artist books
15 minutes, 9 seconds
The STONE method to approach a project
15 minutes, 13 seconds
Get your hands dirty! 1
13 minutes, 39 seconds
Get your hands dirty! 2
9 minutes, 24 seconds
Arte-factos: creating guerilla brushes
7 minutes, 35 seconds
What's included in this course?
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.
What is this course's project?
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!
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
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.
Requirements and materials
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.
Reviews
- 1 day ago
Uno de los mejores cursos de Domestika
- 5 months ago
Great and very inspiring course!
- 5 months ago
Je suis tous les cours d'Adofo Serra. C'est un excellent professeur ! Il sait toujours nous faire expérimenter de nouvelles techniques tout en nous amusant et en apprenant à lâcher prise et tirer partie de nos erreurs. De plus, il est d'un grand sérieux, vient voir nos publications et sait toujours nous encourager pour progresser. Je recommande vivement, plaisir créatif garanti ! Merci Adofo Serra !
- 9 months ago
Interesante
- 10 months ago
I've tried all of Adolfo's courses and it's fascinating how he always finds new ways to inspire us. Just let loose and play. Wonderful ideas!
He loves to experiment with techniques, play with materials, and, above all, tell stories with his art. He considers himself a trailblazer of blank pages who maps uncharted territory with illustrations for children and young adults.
His illustrations have been featured at the Bologna Children's Book Fair (Italy), Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (Slovakia), Sharjah Children's Book Fair (United Arab Emirates), Ibero-American Illustration Contest (Mexico), CJ Picture Book Awards (Korea), and the International Exhibition of Illustrations for Children in Sàrmede (Italy).
His wordless version of Little Red Riding Hood has been published in Spain, Germany, France, and Mexico, and has won numerous awards. He also won the 19th A la Orilla del Viento Award for illustrated album from the Fondo de Cultura Económica.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- Presentation
- Influences
- U2
The art of the game
- Your inner critic is wrong!
- Fanzines and artist books
- The STONE method to approach a project
- U3
Let's get our hands dirty!
- Get your hands dirty! 1
- Get your hands dirty! 2
- Arte-factos: creating guerilla brushes
- Illustrated textures
- Gyotaku and squid ink
- Vegetable stamping
- U4
A printing house at home
- Tetrabrick colography
- Etched with tetrabrick
- Polyspan engraving
- Marbled paper and collage
- U5
The fanzine or artist book
- My artist book
- And now that?
- FP
Final project
- Creative illustration: play with unexpected materials
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
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.
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.
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.
Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
You’ll learn to work with unconventional materials like coffee, wine, squid ink, and recycled items; create artist’s books, fanzines, and unique textures; and develop strategies to overcome creative blocks and boost your artistic freedom.
This is an intermediate-level course, perfect for those with basic experience in illustration or art who want to explore experimental techniques and alternative materials.
You’ll need household and recycled materials like coffee, wine, tea, juice cartons, styrofoam, homemade brushes, leaves, inks, acrylics, and basic drawing and bookbinding tools.
The course includes hands-on exercises and strategies such as playful use of materials, constructive self-criticism, and the PIEDRA method to identify and overcome internal and external creative blocks.
An artist’s book is a creative work in book form that combines illustration, experimental techniques, and personal materials. You’ll learn how to design, bind, and experiment with your own artist’s book.
Yes, you can apply these techniques to editorial, commercial, stage, or personal projects, enhancing both your artistic process and how you present your work.
You’ll explore marbling, plant and juice carton printing, cyanotype, painting with coffee, textures using salt and paprika, making homemade brushes, and combining acrylics, wax, and organic materials.