Expressive Mixed-Media Illustration: Find Your Creative Flow
A course by Yoyo NastyArtist and Illustrator
A course by Yoyo Nasty, Artist and Illustrator
Explore playful painting and collage techniques to create colorful works of art from your imagination
Original ideas aren’t born from planning, they are born in the act of making. Experimenting based on intuition is an essential part of Yoyo Nasty’s illustration process. As an artist and illustrator, she has created artwork for international brands including Klarna and H&M, won multiple awards, and exhibited her work at both group and solo exhibitions.
In this course, she teaches you to find your own creative flow and how to turn your unique ideas into illustrations that are full of personality. Discover how to use mixed media to produce bold and colorful artwork, then learn how to digitize it for different mediums using Photoshop. Unlock your creativity and express yourself through illustration.
What will you learn in this online course?
14 lessons & 13 downloads
Materials
3 minutes, 2 seconds
Creating Your Colour Palette and Exploring Colour
10 minutes, 45 seconds
Inspiration
5 minutes, 44 seconds
Exercises to Unlock Your Creativity 1
16 minutes, 6 seconds
Exercises to Unlock Your Creativity 2
7 minutes, 10 seconds
Experimenting with Collage
12 minutes, 11 seconds
What's included in this course?
Begin the course by getting to know artist and illustrator Yoyo Nasty. She talks through the creative career that has seen her work for international brands including H&M and Klarna. Discover the influences which inspire the work she creates, from cartoons to fellow artists.
Dive into the different materials Yoyo uses as part of her practice, including gouache and watercolor paper, and see how to get the most out of them. Learn to experiment with color by mixing different shades on paper, then discover Yoyo’s playful and intuitive approach to generating ideas. Next, she guides you through some exercises to get your own creativity flowing as you begin sketching the initial drawings for your piece. Cut out the favorite parts of your drawings and experiment with composition through the use of collage.
Time to turn your collage into a refined illustration. Start by choosing a palette of colors to work with, then transfer your drawings from earlier in the course onto the final paper. Paint the background and the larger features of your artwork before moving on to the details of your illustration using pens.
Discover how to use Photoshop to digitize and scale your work for different purposes, from posters to wallpaper. To finish the course, Yoyo gives her advice for sharing your work on social media, as well as connecting with fellow creatives and potential clients online.
Recommended software & tools for this course
What is this course's project?
Create a vibrant mixed-media painting filled with intricate details and bold colors.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone with an interest in learning to express their ideas through mixed-media illustration.
Requirements and materials
No previous experience is required.
In terms of materials, you will need A4 watercolor paper, A3 watercolor paper, Flashe vinyl paints and/or gouache paints, round and flat synthetic paintbrushes in different sizes, and other materials specified by the teacher in this course.
Reviews
- 3 months ago
Thank you!
- 4 months ago
So far so good! I've watched all the videos through and have just gotten my paints in the mail. Excited to experiment. It's a very approachable, beginner-friendly course.
- 6 months ago
Un curso muy interesante. Ejercicios y Explicaciones claras y amenas por parte de la profesora. Recomendable
- 6 months ago
Really great course, especially if you would like to learn a more colourful and expressive way to approach your own art. I loved to learn how simplistic shapes can really be transformed into highly complex and bold visuals informing my own art practices. Highly recommended!
- 9 months ago
I love the simplicity and playfulness of Yoyo’s process. The freedom from perfectionism felt so joyous throughout this class. Loved it!
She’s collaborated with international brands like Klarna and worked on the print design for H&M’s Zara Larsson collection. She has led both solo and group exhibitions in Stockholm and won numerous awards from the Swedish Arts Grants Committee. Yoyo has been featured in publications including Paper Magazine, and she shares her designs with over 14K followers on Instagram.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- U2
Having Fun with Painting
- Materials
- Creating Your Colour Palette and Exploring Colour
- Inspiration
- Exercises to Unlock Your Creativity 1
- Exercises to Unlock Your Creativity 2
- Experimenting with Collage
- U3
Turning Your Collage Sketch into Wonderful Illustrations
- Choosing Your Colour Palette
- From Your Sketch to the Refined Artwork 1
- From Your Sketch to the Refined Artwork 2
- Adding More Details to Your Composition
- U4
Sharing Your Work with the World
- Editing Your Illustration: Turn It into Products
- Sharing Your Work on Social Media
- FP
Final project
- Expressive Mixed-Media Illustration: Find Your Creative Flow
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
Yes, this course is designed for beginners and provides step-by-step guidance on illustration, collage, and portfolio building.
You’ll need basic art supplies like Flashe or gouache paints, Posca markers, watercolor paper, glue sticks, flat synthetic brushes, and collage materials such as paper and scissors.
You’ll learn techniques for painting botanicals and animals, capturing movement and expression, and blending observation with imagination to create unique character illustrations.
The course guides you in creating self-initiated projects, refining your personal style, and presenting your artwork effectively to clients and on social media.
Yes, you’ll learn exhibition planning strategies, including tips for local venues and approaches to sharing your work with a wider audience.
Yes, the course offers practical advice for building your online presence, sharing process work, and engaging with potential clients on Instagram.
You’ll explore adding humor, playful details, and narrative elements to your illustrations to make your work more engaging and relatable.