Sketchbook Techniques for Children's Illustration
A course by Ema MalyaukaIllustrator
A course by Ema Malyauka, Illustrator
Explore materials, colors, and drawing techniques to bring to life fairy-tale stories for children's books in your sketchbook
Illustrating a fairy tale is like having a superpower: you can create worlds filled with any characters and landscapes you can imagine. A sketchbook is a great place to start, and it’s an essential tool for illustrator Ema Malyauka’s creative process. She has worked on illustrations for, postcards, book covers, and more, and worked with brands including Adobe.
In this online course, Ema teaches you her preparatory process for illustrating a picturebook. Discover her favorite techniques to develop your visual storytelling and create captivating children’s illustrations. Express your fantasy world in a sketchbook and design the children's book of your dreams.
What will you learn in this online course?
20 lessons & 24 downloads
Supplies and Materials 1
10 minutes, 46 seconds
Creating a Mood Board
20 minutes, 43 seconds
Sketching 1
10 minutes, 18 seconds
Sketching 2
17 minutes, 50 seconds
Ideas for the Trial Illustration
15 minutes, 13 seconds
Using Different Colors, Techniques, and Materials
3 minutes, 27 seconds
What's included in this course?
Begin by getting to know illustrator Ema Malyauka. Discover how she turned her childhood love of books into a full-time career, along with the influences that inspire the work she creates.
Hear Ema’s advice for choosing a sketchbook before diving into the tools and materials needed for the course, from brushes to gouache paints. Explore different types of picturebooks and settle on a fairy tale for your project. Then create a mood board filled with inspiration.
Learn how to develop convincing characters. Start by understanding their personality, before creating your initial sketches of them. Ema shares her techniques for turning an ordinary character into an interesting one, as well as her tips on choosing a diverse cast of characters for your work.
Come up with an idea for a final illustration and experiment with fundamental composition techniques, before deciding on your favorite sketch. Draw your chosen sketch in an A4 format, then use color theory to bring it to life with different shades and textures. See how to redraw your work using different colors, techniques, and materials until you’re happy with the finished result.
Ema shares her advice for turning your illustrations into a picturebook, and presenting your work to a client. To finish the course, discover more creative projects you can start using your sketchbook.
What is this course's project?
Create a sketchbook containing a collection of your ideas and illustrations that can be transformed into a picturebook.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone with an interest in discovering new illustration techniques and learning about the process of illustrating for children’s publications.
Requirements and materials
Previous drawing experience is beneficial, but not essential.
In terms of materials, you will need synthetic paintbrushes, paper towels, a paint palette, gouache paints, and other materials specified by the teacher in the course.
Reviews
- paulalamalPLUS2 months ago
Es un curso muy bello, la artista es supercreativa e inspiradora, cada cierto tiempo lo vuelvo a ver, porque me ayuda muchisimo.
- 3 months ago
Corso completo, molto bello
- 3 months ago
El trabajo de Ema es muy inspirador y ella habla con gran honestidad. Se nota que le gusta lo que hace.
- 4 months ago
Un curso maravilloso e inspirador. Me ha motivado mucho !
- 4 months ago
It's interesting and dynamic, loved the examples and illustrators that she recommended.
Ema has since worked on illustrations for encyclopedias, postcards, book covers, and more. She has collaborated with Adobe, as well as smaller companies and charities, and has had her work published in China and South Korea. She also came third in an Adobe drawing contest. Ema has built a creative community called Sketch & Breakfast that brings artists together to sketch on a weekly basis, and she also sells her prints on Etsy.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- U2
Preparation for the Project
- How to Choose Your Sketchbook
- Supplies and Materials 1
- Supplies and Materials 2
- Choosing a Tale
- Creating a Mood Board
- U3
Developing Characters
- Personality
- Sketching 1
- Sketching 2
- Developing a Line of Actors
- U4
The Illustration
- Ideas for the Trial Illustration
- Shaping Your Work
- Color Study 1
- Color Study 2
- Working on Your Illustration with Color 1
- Working on Your Illustration with Color 2
- Using Different Colors, Techniques, and Materials
- U5
What Now?
- From Sketchbook to Picture Book
- Other Options
- FP
Final project
- Sketchbook Techniques for Children's Illustration
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.