Watercolor Techniques for Graphic Design
A course by Glenn WolkArtist and Designer
A course by Glenn Wolk, Artist and Designer
Explore the spontaneity of watercolors with lettering and illustration work before polishing it in Photoshop and Illustrator to create unique designs
Creating art by hand is what gives it personality. By combining the imperfection of watercolors with digital design, Glenn Wolk has developed a unique artistic style that has led to collaborations with brands such as Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, and New Balance. He has also designed posters and merchandise for musicians like Elton John, The Rolling Stones, Eminem, and Lady Gaga.
In this online course, learn to create original graphic designs with a hand-painted aesthetic. Glenn walks you through his process step by step, from developing the concept and capturing it on paper to digital retouching and mock-ups. Explore the best of both worlds and see where spontaneity takes you.
What will you learn in this online course?
15 lessons & 18 downloads
Steps and Materials
4 minutes, 15 seconds
Research
3 minutes, 41 seconds
Inspiration for the Project
4 minutes, 2 seconds
Creating Sketches with General Ideas
5 minutes, 15 seconds
Looking for the "Magical Moments"
3 minutes, 3 seconds
Final Digital Sketch
2 minutes, 47 seconds
What's included in this course?
Meet your teacher for the course, Glenn Wolk. He tells you about his journey through the world of art and design, along with the influences that inspire the work he creates.
Get an overview of the course project and the materials needed to complete it. Then, dive into the research phase to find ideas and gather inspiration.
Start working on your design by developing a series of sketches. Explore different concepts and directions while keeping an eye out for “magical moments”—when all the pieces fall into place. Once you’ve defined the concept, create the final layout in Photoshop.
Next, trace your composition, paint it with watercolor, and scan it back into the computer to touch up details and add color. Glenn also shows you how to adapt your artwork to paint on a dark background.
To wrap up, learn how to adapt your design for different uses and assemble professional mock-ups to share with the client or on social media.
What is this course's project?
Design and paint a poster for a music festival using watercolors and polish it in Photoshop and Illustrator.
Who is this online course for?
Anyone interested in creating unique graphic designs by combining watercolors with digital tools.
Requirements and materials
No prior knowledge is necessary for this course, but basic notions of Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator are recommended.
As for materials, you need:
-A pencil and an eraser -Tracing and watercolor paper -Brushes and a mixing palette -Black and white watercolors -A computer with Photoshop and Illustrator
Reviews
- rinamelconianPLUS2 years ago
Muy buen curso, muy recomendable.
- 2 years ago
Great and inspirational course!
- 3 years ago
Très intéressant
- 3 years ago
Ottimo corso, originale e trasversale.
- 3 years ago
Toller informativer Kursus mit einer für mich interessanten und gut nachvollziehbaren neuen Technik.
Known for his hand-painted style, Glenn has collaborated with brands such as Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Sperry Top-Sider, and New Balance. He has also designed posters and merchandise for musicians including Elton John, The Rolling Stones, Willie Nelson, The Beatles, Guns N’ Roses, Eminem, and Lady Gaga.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- U2
Materials and Research
- Steps and Materials
- Research
- Inspiration for the Project
- U3
Creating a Design
- Creating Sketches with General Ideas
- Looking for the "Magical Moments"
- Final Digital Sketch
- U4
Painting: Planned Spontaneity
- Tracing the Design and Painting It with Watercolor 1
- Tracing the Design and Painting It with Watercolor 2
- Scanning the Artwork and Touching It Up
- Coloring the Design
- Using Watercolor on a Dark Background
- U5
Variations and Mock-up
- Adaptations
- Mocking Up
- FP
Final project
- Watercolor Techniques for Graphic Design
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.
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FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for those with some experience in art or design, offering intermediate-level instruction that blends painting with graphic design and digital workflows.
You'll need watercolor supplies, quality paper, brushes, a light box, pencils, and erasers. Digital tools like Photoshop and Illustrator are also required for scanning, editing, and finalizing your artwork.
After completing this course, you’ll be able to design hand-painted posters, merchandise, and promotional artwork, expertly blending traditional painting with digital design and preparing professional print-ready files.
The course covers hand-painted and digital poster design, musician merchandise creation, typography, sourcing copyright-free images, Photoshop and Illustrator workflows, and techniques for promoting your art on social media.
Basic familiarity with painting or design is recommended, but the course guides you through both traditional and digital techniques, making it accessible if you have foundational skills.
You’ll learn how to transfer sketches, paint with watercolor, scan and edit artwork, and integrate hand-drawn elements into digital compositions using Photoshop and Illustrator.
Yes, the course includes specialized lessons on creating music and festival posters, including concept development, typographic choices, and visual storytelling tailored to each event.