In this hands-on workshop led by designer and illustrator Gabriela Parra, participants discover the art of photographic intervention combining expressive lettering, typography, and digital illustration in Procreate.
The core objective of the workshop is to merge the emotive power of words with the visual texture of photography. Whether creating art prints, personal visual diaries, editorial pieces, or brand communication, this experience provides the technical and conceptual tools to transform everyday photos into striking graphic compositions.
What You Will Learn
- Procreate Essentials for Typography: Workspace setup, brushes, layers, blending modes, and hand-lettering workflows with the Apple Pencil.
- Lettering & Typographic Composition: Principles of letterform anatomy, rhythm, hierarchy, and spatial balance over photographic backgrounds.
- Photographic Intervention: Integrating visual depth, textures, shadows, and color harmonies between text and image.
- Digital Workflow & Export: Preparing high-resolution outputs for social media, fine art printing, and editorial publishing.
“Explore your creativity without limits: merge the power of words, typography, and photography to craft unique visual stories.”
Workshop Agenda
- Introduction to Digital Lettering: Overview of typographic interventions in urban landscapes and personal photography.
- Hands-on Warm-up: Brush dynamics, pressure sensitivity, and loosening the hand with digital drawing tools.
- Creative Conceptualization: Selecting imagery, defining keywords and phrases (max. 10 words), and sketching initial layouts.
- Execution & Detailing: Layering typography over photos, adjusting color palettes, adding highlights and graphic accents.
- Group Review & Feedback: Collective analysis of each participant’s finished artwork.
What You Need
- A tablet (preferably an iPad with Procreate installed, or a drawing tablet with Sketchbook).
- A compatible stylus/pencil (e.g., Apple Pencil) for natural drawing flow.
- A selection of photographs (ideally personal photos of cities, objects, or portraits) to intervene during the session.
- A few inspiring phrases or short quotes to integrate into your compositions.
About the Instructor
Gabriela Parra Sánchez is a Colombian type-focused designer, artist, and illustrator who studied at the Bauhaus Universität Weimar. Her work bridges typography, vivid color palettes, and emotional storytelling. She has developed corporate visual languages, posters, and identity systems for clients across Colombia, Germany, and Australia.
