Accessibility Statement
    Log in
    Best seller

    Children's Book Illustration: A story in a moment

    A course by mark hoffmannAuthor and illustrator

    Children's Book Illustration: A story in a moment

    Hello there! Meet Mark Hoffmann, a talented author, illustrator, painter, and professor. In this online course, you'll dive into the world of picture book illustration, where Mark will guide you through the process of creating captivating and quirky illustrations that breathe life into stories.

    Throughout the course, Mark will share his expertise, gained from nearly 20 years of experience collaborating with renowned publishers like Random House and Groundwood Books. He'll take you on a journey where you'll not only make pretty paintings but also learn how to apply devices that engage readers, making them interact better with the text and imagery as they progress through the story.

    The course's main theme revolves around understanding that each image in a picture book is more than just a singular instance—it's a story within a story. Mark will emphasize the importance of finding fun ways to tell the same image through different means, allowing for multiple paths of storytelling and empowering you to control the direction of the narrative. Whether you're a professional illustrator or an aspiring artist, this course will provide valuable insights into making your illustrations shine with humor, color, texture, and adorable character designs.

    What will you learn in this online course?

    18 lessons & 23 downloads

    View all lessons ↓

    What's included in this course?

    To start, you'll craft a concept and explore how to control the image and the viewers' experience, keeping the intended audience in mind. The course will delve into shapes, design, and composition to provide context to your ideas. You'll learn to draw rough thumbnails, refine them, and realize your chosen concept at scale, ensuring your illustrations narrate the story beautifully.

    In the color and texture stage, you'll select your palette, apply layers of color and texture, and add the final details to create visually appealing artwork. Additionally, Mark will demonstrate how to edit using Photoshop and offer tips for sharing your creations on Instagram.

    By the end of this course, you'll possess the skills to paint a complete narrative moment, making each image in your picture book a true work of art that sparks readers' desire to continue turning the pages.

    Recommended software & tools for this course

    What is this course's project?

    Your final project will be a single spread illustration that hints at the past and foreshadows the future, enticing readers to explore what's to come in the story. It's your opportunity to showcase your newly acquired skills in crafting a picture book illustration that captivates and tells a tale within itself.

    Projects by course students

    Who is this online course for?

    This course is perfect for illustrators and artists who are eager to explore picture book illustration, particularly those who gravitate towards fun, quirky, and humorous content. If you're looking to expand your storytelling abilities, experiment with various narrative structures, and learn how to control reader engagement and page flow, then this course is tailor-made for you.

    Requirements and materials

    To embark on this creative journey, you'll need basic drawing skills and traditional painting materials, such as an illustration board and paints. While Mark's course will be incredibly enriching, it's recommended that you have some prior knowledge of illustration techniques and an understanding of drawing fundamentals.

    Reviews

    6,683
    Students
    103
    Reviews
    100%
    Positive ratings
    • azzurra_littlesqui
      12 days ago

      Corso completo e divertente

    • jsfaubert
      6 months ago

      Great teacher and great course, highly recommended!!

    • charllotteashlie
      6 months ago

      I enjoyed the course thoroughly. Even though I paint digitally, I learned many helpful tips. It would be perfect if the course could cover more on the character design part. I loved Mark's works so much that I even went on to purchase two of his books after the course!

    • rafaela_rm_maldonado2002
      6 months ago

      muy útil y la explicación clara. Me gustó

    • tihotak
      9 months ago

      Loved this course! It was super helpful and full of great tips. Perfect for anyone looking to level up their illustration skills

    More reviews
    mark hoffmann

    mark hoffmann

    Teacher
    Plus

    Author and illustrator

    Joined February 2022

    Meet Mark Hoffmann, a talented author, illustrator, painter, and professor, who truly embodies a kid-at-heart spirit. With a career spanning nearly 20 years, Mark has collaborated with esteemed publishers and showcased his goofy and fun illustrations through various avenues. From editorial illustration to animation and gallery work, Mark's passion for storytelling through illustration is evident in his work.

    Through his extensive teaching experience, Mark believes in the power of discovery and experimentation. In this course, he aims to emphasize the importance of thinking about each image as a story rather than just a part of one. Mark's hope is to impart his knowledge on how to approach text and ideas, allowing for multiple storytelling paths that captivate readers and enable artists to control the narrative direction.

    With a wide range of accomplishments, including working on 13 picture books and winning numerous awards, Mark's artistic journey continues to evolve, making him the perfect mentor to guide you on your picture book illustration adventure.

    Content

    • U1

      Introduction

      • About Me
      • Influences
    • U2

      The First Steps

      • The Materials and Tools
      • Crafting a Concept 1
      • Crafting a Concept 2
      • Controlling the Image
      • Context and Applications
    • U3

      Sketching

      • The Thumbnails: Sketch State 1
      • The Thumbnails: Sketch State 2
      • Deeper Dive
      • Selecting, Scaling, and Detailing
    • U4

      Preparing and Painting

      • Selecting and Mixing Color
      • Blocking and Texturing Color 1
      • Blocking and Texturing Color 2
      • Detailing
      • Text and Touch-ups
    • U5

      Making it Perfect

      • Color Correction and Revisions
      • Tips on Instagram
    • FP

      Final project

      • How to write and illustrate an original children's book (TBC)

    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

      PLUS

      If 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

    Category
    Areas

    Courses you might be interested in

    See more Domestika courses