Children's Narrative Illustration with Mixed Techniques

Start the course by getting to know Cecilia Varela. She explains how she got started in the world of illustration and tells you a bit about her professional background. She also shows you some of the artists she admires and talks about the places, situations, and experiences that have inspired her work.

In the next unit, cover the basics of narrative illustration including what it is and the most commonly used materials and techniques. Analyze the work of several professional illustrators to see how they developed their distinct styles and then practice the art of observation in search of inspiration and your own visual storytelling style.

Next, gather some objects that inspire you and use them to draw your characters in different poses and postures and create their surroundings. Experiment with collage and create multiple compositions to see how the different elements interact until you find the perfect combination for your final illustration. Then, create a color palette that expresses your protagonists' personality and emotions. Explore different techniques with acrylics, gouache, and colored pencils and add visual textures to your illustration.

Finally, learn how to use basic Photoshop tools to retouch your illustration and get it ready to print or share on your social media. To wrap things up, Cecilia gives you some tips on how to protect and preserve your original illustration.