Magical Realism for Children’s Illustration

In this course, you will learn how to create a magical scene for a children’s book by utilizing Procreate or Photoshop to experiment with colors and textures. Juanita Londoño, an experienced children’s book illustrator, will guide you through the process of creating illustrations that inspire and captivate young readers using both traditional and digital tools.

Through this course, you will discover how to combine storytelling with the magic of illustration to create a captivating children’s book illustration. Learn the elements of magical realism in illustration and create a composition that stands out and draws the reader into a magical world.

Your instructor, Juanita, is a professional illustrator. She talks about her experience and shares some of her previous projects and books while also discussing the artists who have influenced her along the way.

Next, explore the essential elements of magical realism and learn how other artists have utilized them in their illustrations. Use brainstorming and mind-mapping techniques to generate ideas and create a mood board as a source of inspiration. Juanita also provides an overview of the digital tools she uses to produce her illustrations.

Use your imagination to produce an initial sketch on paper, then use your editing software to digitize it. Discover techniques for creating dimension in your illustration, such as value and tone. Select colors that reflect the mood of your illustration, and be creative with your color palette. Finally, add the finishing touches to your composition by working on details, lighting, and shadows to add an element of magic to your illustration.

Take some time to consider different ways of sharing your work to reach a broader audience. Juanita discusses best practices for sharing your work on social media and online portfolios, as well as ideas for submitting your work to contests or sending it to agencies or editorials to gain new clients and illustration projects. You could even take your illustration to the next level by creating your own children’s book to continue the magical story.