Surrealist Illustration Inspired by Nature
A course by Marco MazzoniArtist and Illustrator
A course by Marco Mazzoni, Artist and Illustrator
Use colored pencils to illustrate animals and natural elements with mood and symbolism
The animal kingdom has always been a potent source of inspiration for artists, with surprisingly accurate metaphors of human emotions found in each animal’s characteristics. Artist and illustrator Marco Mazzoni is fascinated by flora and fauna. His work is filled with depictions of human emotions inspired by nature, and in this course, he invites you to try his own methods to create surreal illustrations of animals.
Forget the structure of academic drawing and the use of visual references. Instead, discover fun techniques to refine the message behind your animal illustrations. This is Marco Mazzoni’s second course. In his first course, he teaches how to use Chiaroscuro with pencils to achieve striking color use and contrasts in your pencil portraits.
What will you learn in this online course?
15 lessons & 21 downloads
What Will We Do in This Course?
3 minutes, 36 seconds
Materials
5 minutes, 45 seconds
Shading and Color Techniques
19 minutes, 57 seconds
Sketching
16 minutes, 14 seconds
Create the Palette
8 minutes, 0 seconds
Let’s Do the Lines
7 minutes, 18 seconds
What's included in this course?
Meet Marco, learn about how nature has been a major influence in his art, and understand the importance of using life’s experiences in your work. Discover Marco’s artistic journey and take a look at the artists he admires.
Once you’ve seen what is taught in the course, Marco gives you advice and guidance on the best materials for your artwork. Learn how to use different kinds of colored pencils with a practical exercise in shading and coloring techniques.
Work on the concept of your drawing by researching and analyzing what different animals symbolize to you. Start sketching some ideas once you’ve chosen an animal, experimenting with different positions until you find one that evokes your message.
Stretch your creative muscles with Marco’s original exercises for loosening up and having fun with new ideas. Develop a color palette in the final exercise to explore some unusual color combinations, observing how your perception of color changes.
Begin drawing your animal by starting with the linework before moving on to coloring using Marco’s window technique. Finally, see some tricks for giving personality to your subject by learning how to add finishing touches to brighten your illustration.
What is this course's project?
Create a surrealist illustration of an animal with natural elements using Marco Mazzoni’s original techniques.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
For drawing enthusiasts of all levels who want to explore the symbology of animals and create original illustrations filled with metaphors.
Requirements and materials
To take this course, you will need colored pencils (non-water soluble), paper, and a love for nature.
Reviews
- 26 days ago
Surrealismo. Bello
- 4 months ago
This was amazing!!
- 5 months ago
Muito inspirador! Trouxe um novo gás para a criação artística! E o trabalho do Marco Mazzoni é maravilhoso!
- 6 months ago
este es el ultimo curso del gran maestro lo recomiendo 100%
- 7 months ago
muy buen curso y facil de entender
Marco’s recent achievements include working on an illustrated version of the Hans Christian Andersen classic Poucette for the French publishing house Albin Michel Jeunesse, where he takes the reader on a captivating journey through his use of color and texture. His work is also exhibited in galleries and museums across Europe and North America.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- Introduction
- Influences
- What Will We Do in This Course?
- U2
Preparation (Materials and Concepts)
- Materials
- Shading and Color Techniques
- The Symbolic Meaning of Animals
- Sketching
- U3
Stretching
- What Is Drawing Through the Window?
- Draw Without Looking
- Shape Shifter
- Create the Palette
- U4
Coloring with Little Windows
- Let’s Do the Lines
- Starting to Color Our Animal
- Color the Rest of Our Animal
- Finishing Touches
- FP
Final project
- Surrealist Illustration Inspired by Nature
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
Yes, this course is designed for intermediate artists who already have basic drawing skills and want to explore surrealist techniques with colored pencils and graphite.
You will need colored pencils, graphite pencils, erasers, a sharpener, a sketchbook with textured paper, and photo or video references for animal poses.
You’ll learn colored pencil techniques, animal symbolism, surrealist composition strategies, creative sketching exercises, and how to convey emotion and narrative through animal metaphors.
The course teaches you to build custom color palettes by blending and layering colored pencils, focusing on harmony, contrast, and the intended mood of your artwork.
The 'drawing through the window' technique involves framing your subject to focus on composition and creativity, helping break creative blocks and generate unique perspectives.
Yes, the course includes playful sketching exercises and new drawing methods specifically designed to help overcome creative stagnation and reignite inspiration.
Animals are used as metaphors to represent emotions, societal themes, and psychological concepts, adding depth and narrative to your illustrations.