Digital Illustration: Create a Colorful Nature Scene
A course by Asia OrlandoDigital Artist and Illustrator
A course by Asia Orlando, Digital Artist and Illustrator
Explore color, mood, and composition to paint a digital illustration inspired by animals and nature as you discover your own unique style
Illustrations can tell fascinating stories that transport viewers into vivid, detailed universes. Inspired by nature and animals, digital artist and illustrator Asia Orlando creates scenes full of colorful characters and vibrant environments. She is the founder of the illustration movement Our Planet Week, which spreads environmental awareness through art, and has produced artwork for many international brands and publishing houses.
In this course, learn how to use digital tools to illustrate a unique scene with an animal character. Discover how to develop your own illustration style, explore composition, color theory, how to create atmosphere, and adding detail. Tell stories through artwork inspired by natural surroundings.
What will you learn in this online course?
22 lessons & 20 downloads
Finding Your Style
2 minutes, 52 seconds
The Composition Tells a Story
8 minutes, 51 seconds
Color Theory and Atmosphere
11 minutes, 23 seconds
Choosing Your Tools
4 minutes, 36 seconds
Inspiring Nature
2 minutes, 34 seconds
Converting Inspiration into Ideas
6 minutes, 7 seconds
What's included in this course?
Get to know digital artist and illustrator Asia Orlando as she talks about her creative journey and how she became the artist she is. She also discusses her influences and the artists, books, and paintings that inspire her.
Asia explains how you can begin to develop your own illustration style. See how rules of composition can affect your art, and how layering and positioning elements can tell a story. Learn color theory and how it helps build mood and atmosphere before exploring your digital tools as Asia guides you through finding ones to give the effect you want.
Discover the importance of observation and hear Asia’s tips on gathering inspiration and playing with ideas. Then, take your ideas and begin the drawing process, first with some rough sketches of the main theme, before building your character and background.
See how to set up your canvas by adjusting resolution, color mode, and layers so it’s ready for you to develop your sketch. First, sketch in black and white as you establish composition and all elements together. Next, using the black and white sketch as a base, learn to create a color map for your illustration, and see how Asia layers colors and defines qualities like tone and contrast. Then, refine the lines and shapes before adding the last brush strokes and final adjustments.
End the course with Asia’s advice on using social media to showcase your art, and professional tips to help you understand some basics for pricing and licensing your art, working with briefs, and preparing agreements.
Recommended software & tools for this course
What is this course's project?
Create a digital illustration rich in detail and color with an animal as the main character in a natural setting.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone looking to learn how to make a digital illustration full of color.
Requirements and materials
You will need basic knowledge of digital illustration to take this course.
In terms of materials, you will need a drawing tablet with illustration software installed. The teacher uses an iPad with Procreate, but you are free to use any combination that works for you.
Reviews
- 6 months ago
De los mejores cursos que he hecho en Doméstica. Me encanta la profesionalidad de Asia.
- 1 year ago
Uy buen curso, inspirador
- 1 year ago
Very basic and not what I was expecting. This really felt like just watching another one of her videos that one can find on her YouTube channel for free. Not worth it.
- 1 year ago
Grate course, well explained, love it!
- 2 years ago
This course was amazing and I got to learn about some new tricks in pro create which I did not know before. Asia explained everything very well.
A large part of Asia’s work is focused on colorful and detailed universes with eye-catching characters and surroundings. Animals and nature are a huge inspiration for Asia’s art, and environmental causes are close to her heart. Because of this, in 2020, she founded the illustration movement Our Planet Week to spread environmental awareness through art. One Planet Week is an annual event for illustrators all over the world. Asia has produced artwork for products, toys, posters, many international brands, and publishing houses including Bayard Presse, Egmont Publishing, and Quirk Books.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- U2
Creating Your Own World
- Finding Your Style
- The Composition Tells a Story
- Color Theory and Atmosphere
- Choosing Your Tools
- U3
Inspiration and References
- Inspiring Nature
- Converting Inspiration into Ideas
- My Sketching Process 1
- My Sketching Process 2
- My Sketching Process 3
- U4
Nature Full of Colors
- Setting up the Canvas
- Black and White Sketch 1
- Black and White Sketch 2
- Color Sketch 1
- Color Sketch 2
- Refining and Polishing 1
- Refining and Polishing 2
- Final Details and Touches 1
- Final Details and Touches 2
- U5
Final Considerations
- Showcasing Your Work Online
- Professional Tips
- FP
Final project
- Digital Illustration: Create a Colorful Nature Scene
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 intermediate artists who already have basic drawing or illustration skills and want to deepen their understanding of techniques, digital tools, and portfolio development.
You should have foundational drawing skills and access to digital illustration tools such as Procreate or a similar app, plus basic art supplies like pencils and a sketchbook for practice and inspiration.
You’ll learn advanced techniques in composition, color theory, digital painting, drawing plants and animals, building a unique style, and creating a professional illustration portfolio.
Yes, the course covers both traditional drawing and painting methods as well as digital illustration skills using software like Procreate.
You’ll experiment with different media, analyze influences, and use creative exercises to help you synthesize personal interests and techniques into a distinct illustrative style.
Yes, the course includes guidance on creating, organizing, and presenting a professional illustration portfolio to showcase your skills and attract clients.
Yes, you’ll learn how to use Procreate, including brush selection, layering, color adjustments, and other digital painting techniques.