Playful Illustration with Watercolor & Colored Pencils
A course by Daria Solak , Illustrator
Joined September 2020
Explore patterns, textures, colors, and composition to create meaningful portraits filled with personality
Explore patterns, textures, colors, and composition to create meaningful portraits filled with personality
Portrait drawing is all about authenticity and spontaneity. With vivid colors, personalized details, and the quirky imperfections of analog mediums, you can create compelling depictions that make their way into people’s hearts. After studying graphic design, illustrator Daria Solak got back to basics, experimenting with gouache, watercolor, and colored pencils to craft unique pieces inspired by the aesthetics of the ‘90s. Her lively drawings have been featured in children’s books and have led to collaborations with brands like CASETiFY, Anthropologie, and Hallmark.
In this online course, learn to create vibrant illustrations with watercolor and colored pencils. Combine handmade patterns, textures, and details to develop meaningful portraits full of character, exploring everything from color theory to composition. Embrace the power of simplicity and bring your world to life with original works of art.
What will you learn in this online course?
18 lessons & 26 downloads
- 100% positive reviews (156)
- 6,043 students
- 18 lessons (3h 45m)
- 26 additional resources (11 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: English
- English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
Create a colorful, personalized portrait with mixed media.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Anyone who wants to create striking illustrations with watercolor and colored pencils.
Requirements and materials
No prior experience is required.
As for materials, all you need is a sketchbook, A4 paper, watercolor, and colored pencils.
Reviews
Daria Solak
A course by Daria Solak
Daria Solak is a London-based illustrator from Poland. After completing a degree in graphic design at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw and in Bologna, she began working as a freelance illustrator, using mainly traditional mediums like watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil. Heavily influenced by the ‘90s aesthetics of her childhood, she plays with vivid colors and textures to capture the world around her.
Daria has illustrated children’s books like Little Women, Little People, Big Dreams: Dolly Parton, and Big Wide Words in the Neighbourhood. In addition to creating custom portraits for countless families, she has also collaborated with brands such as CASETiFY, Anthropologie, Hallmark, and the Keith Haring Foundation.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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About Me
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Influences
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U2
Defining Our Style
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Sourcing the Materials
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Finding the Way to Draw People
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Trying Different Textures and Patterns 1
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Trying Different Textures and Patterns 2
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Trying Different Textures and Patterns 3
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Inspirations
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U3
Creating the Portrait
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Sketches
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Colour Theory and Ideas
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First Stages of the Final Illustration
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Colour 1
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Colour 2
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Finishing Touches 1
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Finishing Touches 2
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U4
Different Ways to Share Your Work
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How to Make a Greeting Card Out of Your Portrait
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Stand-Out Content: Photographing and Showing Your Work to the World
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How to Wrap Your Illustration as a Gift
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FP
Final project
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Playful Illustration with Watercolor & Colored Pencils
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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
Domestika's courses are online classes that provide you with the tools and skills you need to complete a specific project. Every step of the project combines video lessons with complementary instructional material, so you can learn by doing. Domestika's courses also allow you to share your own projects with the teacher and with other students, creating a dynamic course community.
All courses are 100% online, so once they're published, 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.
The courses are divided into different units. 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 the teacher and with other students, as well as share your work and your course project, creating a community around the course.
You can redeem the course you received by accessing the redeeming page and entering your gift code.
yeideebelenrm
PlusExcelente para reconectar con nuestro yo. Excelente ejercicio , amo el curso
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maraike
PlusEin toller Kurs, um wieder kreativ wie als Kind zu malen. Besonders vereinfacht und doch so schön.
Besonders das Moodbord war eine schöne Anregung, kreative Ideen zu entwickeln. Die werde ich mitnehmen.
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inafani
PlusReally enjoyable course, don't miss it! Easy to follow instructions, step by step. A relaxing process using simple materials. Providing multiple external links for further inspiration. Found the story of the Polish School of Posters very interesting. Daria Solak thank you so much!
kkwilson
This course is great fun! By the end of it, I learned to relax and allow my inner child to paint these colorful characters. I've got plans now to gather photos of friends and family members so that I can paint them in this enjoyable way! The instructor shares the easy step by step process and gives many hints and ideas to enhance the experience. I will definitely sign up for more Domestika courses!
rosanerangelalmeida
Um dos melhores cursos que já fiz na plataforma. Professora maravilhosa com excelente bom gosto, moderna e super didática! Ameeeeeeeeeeiiiiiii!!!!!!!!
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