Online Portfolio for Children’s Book Illustrators
A course by Marissa Valdez , Children's Book Author and Illustrator
Joined February 2021
Learn the fundamentals of children’s book illustration to create a playful portfolio ready to share with editors and art directors
Joined February 2021
Starting a new career in illustration can be a daunting task, but with the help of celebrated illustrators like Marissa Valdez, the first step is made easier. With books like Ambitious Girl which was a #1 New York Times Bestseller under her belt, Marissa has valuable insight in the illustration industry.
In this online course, Marissa walks you through the process of creating a vibrant online portfolio to kickstart your career as an illustrator. Learn how to give shape to a colorful story that inspires young readers, and how to bring compelling characters to life.
What will you learn in this online course?
18 lessons & 27 downloads
- 100% positive reviews (289)
- 11,603 students
- 18 lessons (3h 20m)
- 27 additional resources (9 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Turkish
- English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish · Romanian · Indonesian
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
Create three illustrations for an online portfolio to help kickstart a career in children’s book illustration.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for aspiring illustrators interested in building their careers.
Requirements and materials
Some illustration experience is recommended.
To take this course, you need sketching tools and access to Photoshop. An iPad or graphics tablet with Procreate is recommended.
Reviews
Marissa Valdez
A course by Marissa Valdez
Marissa is a children’s book author and illustrator based in Houston, Texas. Drawing and illustration have always been present in Marissa’s life, which led her to study animation at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. After her studies, she went on to work as a preschool teacher, an art teacher, and a graphic designer. She later discovered children's illustration and decided to pursue her newfound passion as a career
She has since worked with publishers such as Hachette, Penguin Random House, and Macmillan. Marissa illustrated books like Ambitious Girl, which was on The New York Times bestseller list, as well as the books Hedgehogs Don’t Wear Underwear and Esme’s Birthday Conga Line.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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About Me
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Influences
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U2
Tools for a Children’s Illustration Portfolio
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Materials and Tools
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Elements of a Portfolio 1
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Elements of a Portfolio 2
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Characters, Setting, and Storytelling 1
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Characters, Setting, and Storytelling 2
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U3
Creating Illustrations for Your Portfolio
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Creating a Character 1
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Creating a Character 2
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Creating a Character 3
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Creating the Setting
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Creating Narrative Scenes
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Finishing in Procreate 1
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Finishing in Procreate 2
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U4
Presenting Your Portfolio
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Preparing Files for Your Portfolio
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How To Format Your Online Portfolio
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Making a Physical Portfolio
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Tips for Presenting Your Portfolio
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FP
Final project
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Online Portfolio for Children’s Book Illustrators
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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
Yes, this course is designed for beginners and covers foundational skills in children's book illustration, including character design, storytelling, and portfolio creation.
You’ll need basic drawing tools like pencils and sketchbooks, optional items like a light pad and India ink, and digital tools such as Procreate and Photoshop for colorizing and exporting artwork.
You’ll learn to design characters, create picture book scenes, experiment with illustration styles, develop your portfolio, and use both traditional and digital techniques for children's book illustration.
The course guides you through curating and creating artwork, developing diverse characters and settings, and presenting your illustrations professionally in both digital and physical portfolios.
Yes, the course encourages experimentation with styles and techniques, helping you develop a personal illustration style suited for children’s books.
Yes, you’ll learn traditional methods like sketching and ink textures, as well as digital techniques using Procreate and Photoshop for coloring, editing, and exporting illustrations.
You’ll learn to create a range of characters, including expressive cartoon faces, diverse personalities, and characters with unique traits, props, and accessories tailored for children’s stories.
amazing learning experience .
Great course! I especially loved (and appreciated) all the very specific information about what you should include in your portfolio (that I have not heard before) - lots of different expressions, adults AND children, spot illustrations along with detailed background illustrations, etc.
really great tips for starting my journey in children's books illustration-- thank you!
One of the most complete portfolio courses I've ever seen! Super insightful and detailed, even when I studied illustration I didn't have such a complete explanation on how to manage and make a proper portfolio as I did here. I feel so grateful to Marissa for sharing with us so many professional advises🌟
Excelente curso !!