Gouache and Collage Techniques for Narrative Illustration
A course by Enrique TorralbaIllustrator Specialized in Literature for Children and Young Adults
A course by Enrique Torralba, Illustrator Specialized in Literature for Children and Young Adults
Learn to use gouache and collage to convey narrative concepts and broaden your expressive horizons
For illustrator Enrique Torralba, creative processes are like caring for a child—you have to "spend time with them and watch their steps, because stress and haste can traumatize them." With this in mind, he accompanies you in experimenting with mixed techniques.
In this online course, learn to mix gouache and collage to produce stunning narrative concepts. If you want to immerse yourself further in the creation of meaningful and detailed images through visual metaphors, check out Enrique's other course, Narrative Illustration: Tell a Story without Words.
What will you learn in this online course?
15 lessons & 19 downloads
The materials
4 minutes, 14 seconds
Count and structure
4 minutes, 39 seconds
Technical tests 1
8 minutes, 20 seconds
Technical tests 2
10 minutes, 10 seconds
How to make your own gouache
6 minutes, 17 seconds
Mixed gouache and collage
19 minutes, 26 seconds
What's included in this course?
Get to know Enrique Torralba, who shares the most noteworthy moments of his professional career. He also talks about the references that inspire him and the creative processes he follows in his work.
Next, take a look at the necessary materials for the gouache and collage technique. Explore the basic structure of a narrative and begin to create rough versions of your piece and do some graphic synthesis tests.
Then Enrique encourages you to introduce these two worlds, and gives you some resources to help make your narrative more sophisticated. Now practice how to conceptualize, shape, and express an idea through figures of speech, symbols, and metaphors.
It's time to put together your final artwork. Start by doing a sketch along with some paint tests using textures, gradients, and effects. To wrap up the course, add any final details and you're ready to share your work with the world!
What is this course's project?
Create a triptych of illustrations, all connected by the same idea.
Who is this online course for?
Anyone interested in learning new mediums, formats, and graphic narratives.
Requirements and materials
Basic knowledge of drawing and color is recommended for this course.
Reviews
- maxrisoPLUS2 months ago
Ottimo corso, molto coinvolgente e di grande ispirazione. Prezioso!
- 3 months ago
Me encanta el proyecto final de este curso, buena forma de plasmar lo aprendido, incluso exponerlo, my bueno
- 4 months ago
Really enjoyed it. Thank you
- 10 months ago
Enrique es un gran ilustrador y un gran creativo. He disfrutado mucho su clase.
- 1 year ago
Was an interesting course. Something a bit different. Recommended.
He has been selected to represent Mexico twice alongside other Mexican illustrators, at the 2009 Salón del libro in Paris and the 2010 Salón del libro in Quebec. He is also a founding member of Ilustradero and the Mexican Illustrators' Association.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- U2
Gouache and natural collage
- The materials
- Count and structure
- Technical tests 1
- Technical tests 2
- How to make your own gouache
- U3
Intervened role, narrative reinforcement
- Mixed gouache and collage
- Paint the paper
- Narrative reinforcement
- U4
Project development
- Sketch and composition
- Paint, visualize and crop 1
- Paint, view and crop 2
- Paint, view and crop 3
- The final touch
- FP
Final project
- Gouache and Collage Techniques for Narrative Illustration
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
You’ll learn how to blend gouache and digital collage techniques to create narrative illustrations, develop graphic synthesis, use limited color palettes, and build coherent visual stories using simple formal elements.
This course is designed for people with intermediate illustration skills but is also accessible to those with basic experience who want to deepen their knowledge of mixed media and visual storytelling.
You’ll need gouache, brushes, various papers (including tracing paper), adhesives like glue sticks or gum arabic, scissors or a craft knife, containers for mixing, and collage papers. Using artist-quality materials is recommended for the best results.
You’ll create projects such as sequential illustrations, album covers, Toulouse-Lautrec-style posters, narrative triptychs, artistic collages, and contemporary murals, combining gouache and digital collage techniques.
Yes, the course includes analysis of influencers like Toulouse-Lautrec, Matisse, Picasso, Braque, and Juan Gris, and their impact on the development of gouache, collage, and contemporary muralism.
You’ll learn to distill visual elements into essential shapes using graphic synthesis, making it easier to communicate ideas clearly and build effective visual narratives.
You’ll master techniques like washes, dry brush, flat painting, color blending, opacity adjustments, and applying gouache on different papers, plus how to make your own gouache if you want.