Digital Character Illustration: Conceptualization and Color
A course by Pamela Espino, Illustrator and Comic Artist
Create characters with a unique personality through composition and color
Do you have a brilliant character idea you want to develop? It’s time to bring it to life with illustrator Pamela Espino, also known as Chica Espinaca, winner of the Platinum Pentawards and creator of the comic Indi rocker kitty. Learn how to illustrate your own digital character and build their entire universe from scratch.
Go through all the steps you need to create a digital character, from conceptualization and an initial sketch to facial expressions and color. By the end, you’ll have an original character with an unmistakable personality.
What will you learn in this online course?
15 lessons & 22 downloads
What's included in this course?
Start by getting to know Pamela Espino, better known as Chica Espinaca, who tells you about her path to becoming an illustrator. She shows some of the projects she’s created along the way and then briefly explains what is going to be covered in the course.
Learn to organize your digital workspace on Procreate and explore the tools and functions you will need to begin creating your character.
Dive into the conceptualization stage by defining your character’s personality, the world they live in, and their true purpose. Once you’ve done some research, it’s time to create a concept board that gives us a clear idea of their universe.
Turn your character’s identity into an illustration. See how to design its body, expressions, and the overall scene. Learn about color theory and define the perfect palette for your project.
Learn some techniques for applying color to your character and scene. Then, add light and shadows to give it added depth and realism.
Add some unique details to your artwork by giving it some final touches. Then, Pamela shows you the best way to present your illustration and how to share it on social media.
- 100% positive reviews (44)
- 1,236 students
- 15 lessons (2h 5m)
- 22 additional resources (10 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: Spanish
- Spanish · English · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish · Romanian · Indonesian
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
Illustrate your own character with a scene and color palette that reflect its personality.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
For beginner’s level illustrators, drawing enthusiasts, or anyone who wants to create their own digital character.
Requirements and materials
You will need basic skills in Adobe Photoshop or Procreate.
If you decide to use Photoshop, you’ll need a computer with a graphics tablet. If you prefer Procreate, you’ll need an iPad and an Apple Pencil.
Reviews
Pamela Espino
A course by Pamela Espino
Pamela Espino, better known as Chica Espinaca, is a young and talented illustrator and comic artist from Peru. Her area of expertise ranges from packaging design, posters, and album covers, but her most iconic work is her own comic book: Indi Rocker Kitty.
She has illustrated for the Gran Circo de China with Zoom Studio and, while working with Zeppelin, collaborated with Movistar Música. She has also created album covers for local bands like Diazepunk and Los Protones. Her work has been recognized with prestigious awards like Pentawards Platinum and LAD Awards.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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Introduction
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Influences
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What will we do in the course?
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U2
Preparation and conceptualization
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Workspace and tools
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Finding the idea
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Character exploration
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Concept board
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U3
Capturing the idea
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Defining the body
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Expressions
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Creating a scene
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U4
Color
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Color
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Clean sketch
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Color application
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Lights and shadows
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U5
The details
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Final details
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FP
Final project
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Digital Character Illustration: Conceptualization and Color
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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
This course is designed for intermediate learners, perfect for those who already have basic digital illustration skills and want to deepen their knowledge in character conceptualization, color theory, and advanced techniques in Procreate and Photoshop.
You’ll need a tablet compatible with Procreate (ideally an iPad with Apple Pencil) and access to Photoshop. Basic digital illustration skills are also recommended to get the most out of the course.
You’ll learn how to conceptualize original characters, apply color theory, create color palettes, illustrate facial expressions, work with light and shadow, design backgrounds, and export your artwork for social media and portfolios.
The course focuses on the creative process of crafting original characters, combining digital techniques, color theory, sketching, visual storytelling, developing your own style, and preparing illustrations for professional projects.
Yes, the course includes visual storytelling, storyboarding, and scene composition techniques, enabling you to create comics, panels, and your own narrative visual projects.
It will teach you how to strategically select and combine colors to convey emotions, enhance your characters’ personalities, and create visually striking, cohesive illustrations.
Yes, you’ll learn how to optimize, export, and adapt your digital illustrations in formats and resolutions perfect for social media and professional portfolios.
great teacher, even greater tutorial
muy bueno
Buen curso, bien explicado, profesora encantadora, hace que todo sea comprensible.
Un curso estupendo y una profesora magnífica!
Muy bien explicado!