Illustration and Character Development with Watercolor

Valentina begins the course by talking about how she became an illustrator. She tells you about where she draws inspiration from for her work and shows you some of her main influences.

Next, she explains her approach and shares some tricks she uses to create, draw, and develop each of her characters. Analyze some illustrations with your instructor and explore her creative process including how to define concepts, search for references, and use a range of watercolor techniques.

Now it’s time to bring your character to life! Draw a sketch and then transfer it to the final paper and start painting. Valentina also gives you some useful tips on how to organize and prepare the colors for your illustration. Paint in layers starting with the face, the hair, and the body, and highlight certain details using colored pencils.

Put the finishing touches on your character and give them style and context by adding clothing or accessories. Finally, retouch your work in Photoshop to create an illustration with personality that’s full of life and color.