Guided Course: Create A Strange Animal
A guided course by Aljoscha Blau , Artist, illustrator and author

Develop creative illustration skills to create imaginative, realistic animals, from sketches to the final scene.
Immerse yourself in the wonderful world of creative illustration and learn how to bring a unique, imaginary animal to life using gouache paints. The process begins with extensive research and brainstorming, drawing inspiration from nature and diverse cultures. Develop initial sketches to define the shape and characteristics of your creature and choose the appropriate technique to translate your ideas onto paper. This artistic path offers you the opportunity to explore new perspectives and creative approaches.
Step by step, refine the details and character of your animal. Place it in an environment that emphasizes its characteristics and tells a story. Learn how to skillfully use colors and textures to create depth and expressiveness. Throughout the process, you'll expand your creative skills and develop a personal connection with your work. Be inspired and experience the joy of creating your own fantastical creature.
What will you learn in this online course?
6 lessons & 20 downloads
- 100% positive reviews (1)
- 228 students
- 6 lessons (1h 20m)
- 20 additional resources (10 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: German, English, Spanish
- Spanish · English · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish · Romanian · Indonesian
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
You'll learn to illustrate an imaginary, realistic animal using creative techniques and gouache. From brainstorming and sketching to the final illustration, including designing the character's environment, your creativity will be encouraged.
Who is this online course for?
Creative minds looking to improve their gouache illustration techniques will find inspiration here. Perfect for illustrators and artists who want to create imaginative creatures and expand their creative thinking through sketching and exploring references. Beginners and advanced artists alike will benefit from new perspectives.
Requirements and materials
No previous experience is necessary. You'll need gouache paints, a brush, paper, pencils, and an eraser. Simple sketching techniques and a little imagination will help you create this strange animal. Creativity and a love of painting are beneficial.
Reviews

Aljoscha Blau
A guided course by Domestika
Content
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Guided Course: Create A Strange Animal
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Brainstorming
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First Sketch and Technique Selection
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Creating the Final Illustration 1
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Creating the Final Illustration 2
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The Character’s Environment
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Podcast: Inventing fantasy creatures that push boundaries
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Final project
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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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.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
What are Domestika's online courses?
Domestika courses are online classes that allow you to learn new skills and create incredible projects. All our courses include the opportunity to share your work with other students and/or teachers, creating an active learning community. We offer different formats:
Original Courses: Complete classes that combine videos, texts, and educational materials to complete a specific project from start to finish.
Basics Courses: Specialized training where you master specific software tools step by step.
Specialization Courses: Learning paths with various expert teachers on the same topic, perfect for becoming a specialist by learning from different approaches.
Guided Courses: Practical experiences ideal for directly acquiring specific skills.
Intensive Courses (Deep Dives): New creative processes based on artificial intelligence tools in an accessible format for in-depth and dynamic understanding.
When do the guided courses start and when do they finish?
All guided courses are 100% online, so once they're published, guided courses start and finish whenever you want. You set the pace of the class. You can go back to review what interests you most and skip what you already know, ask questions, answer questions, share your projects, and more.
What do Domestika's guided courses include?
The guided courses are divided into different modules. Each one includes lessons, informational text, tasks, and practice exercises to help you carry out your project step by step, with additional complementary resources and downloads. You'll also have access to an exclusive forum where you can interact with other students, as well as share your work and your final project, creating a community around the guided courses.
Have you been given a guided courses?
You can redeem the guided courses you received by accessing the redeeming page and entering your gift code.
I loved it all!!