Watercolor and Mixed Media for Illustrated Books
A course by Juan Camilo Mayorga , Illustrator
Joined November 2020
Give life to a children’s story by creating an illustrated universe using digital and analogue techniques
To create visual universes that are full of excitement and original stories, we have to overcome our fear of technique, get experimental, and use error as a method of expression. That's how Juan Camilo Mayorga, an illustrator specializing in children's books, tackles all his projects for publishers such as Cataplum libros, Rey Naranjo, Loqueleo, Norma, and writers like Jairo Buitrago, Candelario Obeso, Beatriz Helena Robledo, and many more.
In this course, learn a creative approach based on intuition to analyze and interpret a narrative text and use it to illustrate a universe with a mixture of materials, combining analog and digital techniques with watercolor as the main player.
What will you learn in this online course?
12 lessons & 13 downloads
- 100% positive reviews (37)
- 858 students
- 12 lessons (1h 25m)
- 13 additional resources (4 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: Spanish
- Spanish · English · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
Recommended software & tools for this course
Adobe PhotoshopWhat is this course's project?
Create three final illustrations based on a text analysis that tells a particular story, experimenting with materials and techniques.
Who is this online course for?
Illustrators, artists, and anyone who'd like to get started in the creative process of illustrating books.
Requirements and materials
You need basic knowledge of drawing and Adobe Photoshop.
As for materials, you need a computer with Photoshop, watercolors, gouache, a cloth and a container of water, a mixing tray, brushes, coloring pencils, pencils, oil pastels, dry pastels, paper of different textures and colors, scissors, and some other material that Juan explains in the course.
Reviews
Juan Camilo Mayorga
A course by Juan Camilo Mayorga
A native of Colombia, Juan Camilo Mayorga studied Graphic Design at the National University of Colombia, where he developed an interest in illustration, art, and a special taste for book illustration, especially the picturebook format, for the creative freedom that the illustrator has in interpreting a story.
After graduating from college, he published his first book Nicolás Aprende Los Números (SM, 2012), where he was able to put into practice the experimentation he had been doing with watercolor. This was the beginning of several collaborations both locally (Colombia) and internationally with the publishing companies including SM, Castillo, Rey Naranjo, El Naranjo, Loqueleo, and Norma.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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Presentation
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Influences
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U2
Ideas first
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The text
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Picture grammar: storyboard
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The materials
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U3
The technique
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Open and closed stain
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Color palette
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Characters, setting and mixed media
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Final composition on paper
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U4
From paper to screen
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Digitization and adjustments
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Digital collage
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The possibilities of illustration
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FP
Final project
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Watercolor and Mixed Media for Illustrated Books
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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
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FAQs
What are Domestika's online courses?
Domestika courses are online classes that allow you to learn new skills and create incredible projects. All our courses include the opportunity to share your work with other students and/or teachers, creating an active learning community. We offer different formats:
Original Courses: Complete classes that combine videos, texts, and educational materials to complete a specific project from start to finish.
Basics Courses: Specialized training where you master specific software tools step by step.
Specialization Courses: Learning paths with various expert teachers on the same topic, perfect for becoming a specialist by learning from different approaches.
Guided Courses: Practical experiences ideal for directly acquiring specific skills.
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When do the courses start and when do they finish?
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.
What do Domestika's courses include?
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.
Have you been given a course?
You can redeem the course you received by accessing the redeeming page and entering your gift code.
Adobe Photoshop
Very enjoyable. This course is helping me organize a current project.
¡Fenomenal, este curso! ¡No solo que me gusta mucho el arte y el estilo de Juan Camilo Mayorga, – las lineas muy elegantes y su facilidad de colorear y jugar con los materiales me encanta, también lo explica todo muy bien!
Me ha animado mucho a experimentar sin miedo. En cuanto tenga mi proyecto final terminado lo compartiré en el foro. También me han ayudado mucho los materiales que Juan comparte, los resultados de su propio trabajo y los consejos que da. 10 de 10 estrellas para este curso!!
Very interesting and a unique approach to illustration. I especially like the methods with watercolour and a great sense of freedom it allows. Will return back to this course in future also.
Molto interessante come corso, mi ha aperto a nuove idee!!
A great course! The instructor is experienced. The content is excellent. I learned a lot.