Thematic Digital Illustration: Depict Different Worlds

As an illustrator, working on a series is a complex and rewarding process that invites you to delve into each and every element of a theme, while at the same time ensuring coherence throughout.

A graduate of the IED and in contact with the Brera Academy since she was a child, illustrator Chiara Vercesi has worked in a wide range of fields, winning over important international clients. A question of luck? Not at all. These collaborations are due exclusively to her tenacity and method, and the good news is, she’s now ready to reveal her secrets!

Start by hearing about Chiara’s journey so far and her influences, from Sir David Attenborough and botany textbooks, to the music of Morphine and the paintings of Malevich, Charley Harper, and Lorenzo Mattotti.

After an introduction to Procreate, discover the value of working with illustration series and the importance of good research. Move on to practice drawing animals from basic geometric shapes.

Now it’s time to get to work, making the first miniature sketches and gradually defining the composition of your pieces. After a few notions about color, Chiara explains how to define the details along with how many to include. Then finalize the sketches.

Next, choose your color palette and begin color drafting. Once you’ve applied the base and controlled colors that suit the whole series, add light, shadow, and textures, learning to highlight the contrast between figure and background to emphasize depth.