Color and Lighting Techniques with Acrylic Paint
A course by Sole OteroIllustrator and Textile Designer
A course by Sole Otero, Illustrator and Textile Designer
Learn to work with color harmoniously to create the perfect mood in your illustrations
Acrylic painting is a versatile art form that allows you to experiment with intense colors, light, and shadows to spark different emotions. Sole Otero, illustrator and author of several internationally successful graphics novels and children's books, teaches you how to create the perfect mood for your illustrations.
In this course, learn how to work with color harmoniously and create a balanced atmosphere using acrylic paint. Explore different ways to express feelings using volume, light, shadows, and texture and fill your illustrations with color and meaning.
What will you learn in this online course?
16 lessons & 16 downloads
What will we do in the course?
4 minutes, 8 seconds
Materials
8 minutes, 44 seconds
Watching the lights and shadows
8 minutes, 2 seconds
Choosing the palette
16 minutes, 30 seconds
Acrylic
17 minutes, 47 seconds
Distance 1
15 minutes, 56 seconds
What's included in this course?
Sole begins the course by explaining what led her to become an illustrator and comic artist. She shows you her biggest influences and explains how they inspired her to work with color and acrylic paints.
Start with the basic concepts of acrylic painting and understand how light and shadows behave with objects. Then, review different types of color palettes you can use for your project and analyze their impact on communication. Sole gives you a few tips on how to choose the right colors for your illustration and then encourages you to start experimenting and draw your first sketches.
Practice different ways to combine acrylics and apply those techniques to your illustration. Work on different ways to express dimensions like distance using the diluted acrylic technique, volume, and the wet-on-wet technique.
Enhance your illustration adding lights and shadows to create a harmonious atmosphere. Finally, touch up your piece in Photoshop to produce an illustration that’s full of color and life.
What is this course's project?
Illustrators interested in traditional techniques and anyone who wants to learn more about volume and color selection for illustrating.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Illustrators interested in traditional techniques and anyone wanting to know more about volume and color selection in illustrations.
Requirements and materials
You don't need any prior knowledge since Sole teaches you the basic techniques from scratch.
The materials for this course include HB and B pencils, watercolor paper, different types of brushes with a range of qualities, a palette, and acrylic paints in the following colors: red, phthalo blue, medium yellow, cadmium yellow, magenta, cyan, and white.
Reviews
- 2 months ago
De momento me parece estupendo!
- 4 months ago
Un maravilloso curso inspirador y lleno de información para aplicar el color con intención. Recomiendo totalmente cualquier curso de Sole Otero !!
- lauraldiezPLUS6 months ago
¡Fantástico curso!
- 1 year ago
Me ha parecido excelente, la forma de explicar, la claridad, los recursos utilizados. He aprendido mucho. Gracias.
- 2 years ago
Excelente curso, aprendí mucho, la profesora explica muy bien, es toda una profesional, seguiré su curso de sicología del color. Muchas gracias aprendí mucho
Color is the most salient feature of her compositions, but she compliments her storytelling by experimenting with words and illustrations. When she’s not creating, she shares her passion for art by teaching classes on expressive mediums, embroidery, knitting, illustration, and comics.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- Presentation
- Influences
- What will we do in the course?
- U2
Acrylic
- Materials
- Watching the lights and shadows
- Choosing the palette
- U3
Applying palettes
- Acrylic
- Distance 1
- Distance 2
- Volume 1
- Volume 2
- Finishing the foundations of the illustration
- U4
Applying everything learned
- Details 1
- Details 2
- The shadows
- The final file
- FP
Final project
- Color and lighting techniques with acrylic paint
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
You’ll learn how to blend acrylic and digital techniques, create storytelling illustrations, master color, light, and shadow, and use both traditional and digital materials for comics and children’s book projects.
This course is aimed at people with intermediate drawing or painting skills, but techniques are explained from the ground up, making it accessible for motivated self-learners.
You’ll need acrylic paints, brushes, heavy paper or primed cardboard, pencil, masking tape, a palette, and access to a tablet or computer with Photoshop for the digital portion.
Yes, you’ll learn how to layer acrylic over pencil and use acrylic’s transparency to enhance your drawing and visual storytelling.
The course covers using two-color, triadic, and monochromatic palettes, as well as saturation and contrast to create depth, atmosphere, and emotional impact.
Yes, digital tools like Photoshop and iPad will be introduced for illustrating, editing, and final touch-ups of your acrylic artwork.
The course compares acrylics with oils and watercolors, highlighting acrylic’s fast drying time, versatility, and ease of correction.