Intro to Illustration
Learn the theory and techniques needed to create stunning illustrations that are rich in narrative and visual appeal!
Teacher Artwork by Nino Vecia
This class is full. More seats may become available this term or we may open a new section. You can also check out our Intro to Character Design class.
Intro to Illustration
In this course, you will learn the process of creating impactful illustrations from start to finish. With your instructor acting as both your guide and your project client, they first will show you how to best source reference images and then sketch multiple variations of your concept, allowing you to push your ideas to their fullest creative potential. You will also develop a thorough understanding of how to use composition, colour and lighting to create visually-striking work that is both memorable and guides the audience to elements of narrative importance.
By the end of this course, you will have learned the essential creative steps and technical painting skills required to create stunning illustrations. What's more, you will have also discovered the secrets to building an impactful portfolio, landing your first freelance gig, and developing productive relationships with your clients—all of which will set you on the path to becoming a successful illustrator!
- Course Type Concept Art and Illustration Classes
- Duration 10 Weeks
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Skill Level
Level 3 Level 3
These courses are for people who can already draw and paint realistically and can create complete digital illustrations.
Level 3 classes will help students to give a new edge to their images, properly render their digital work, and bring them closer to a professional level.
- Language English
Class Formats
Live Online Class
- An in depth 10 week course taught by an industry professional
- A course brush pack
- 30+ hours of live interactive classes: Demos and lectures
- Constructive homework and assignments that will help you reach an understanding of class topics
- Live personalised feedback on your weekly homework and assignments
- A classroom of up to 20 peers
Video Access Only
- An in depth 10 week course taught by an industry professional
- A course brush pack
- 30+ hours of video content: Demos and lectures
- Constructive homework and assignments that will help you reach an understanding of class topics
(save $zzz!!!)
(save $zzz!!!)
Schedule
Note: This class will be offered online only
Term: Winter 2024
Class Timings: TBD
Date of first class: TBD
Duration: 10 weeks
Please note that our classes times are listed as EDT (GMT-4) but that starting on Sunday, November 5th, 2023, all class times will go into EST (GMT-5).
If you are unable to attend the class during the times listed above, you will still have access to video recordings of the class lectures and will still receive personalized feedback from your instructor.
It should be noted that students should set aside a minimum of 3 hours per week to complete assignments for this class. Students may even require a bit more time (4-5 hours per week) depending on how quickly they can work through assignments.
Prerequisites
Skill requirements
To enroll in this course you should have:
- Intermediate drawing and digital painting skills (use of proper perspective, proportions, shading and colour).
- Proficiency with all basic Photoshop tools.
- Ideally completed our Intro to Digital Painting OR Digital Painting, in addition to drawing classes such as Analytical Sketching, Drawing the Human Form, and Fundamentals of Perspective (or have equivalent practice/experience).
If you are unsure of your skill level, please contact [email protected] for additional guidance.
Language and age requirements
You should have at least intermediate level English to take this class. Please be advised that there could be artistic nudity in our classes. Students should be 14 years old to enroll.
Minimum Artistic Skills Required
Your current skill level should roughly be on par with the artwork featured here before taking this class.
Required Materials
Material List:
- A desktop computer or laptop with Photoshop installed*
- A graphic tablet with pressure sensitivity (from brands such as Wacom, Huion, or Xencelabs), OR a tablet-laptop hybrid (also with Photoshop installed) with pressure sensitivity (such as the Wacom Cintiq Companion or Microsoft Surface Pro).
Important note:
Please note that the vast majority of our digital classes are taught using Adobe Photoshop and that this is also the recommended program for students to use. You may consult our FAQ for more information on other software which may be potentially used for class, however, please note that no technical assistance will be provided by instructors on the use of alternative painting software as they may not be familiar with the program.
Please ensure that all of your hardware and software are functioning properly before the start of the term; there will not be any time to resolve technical issues in class.
*Please consult our Tech Requirements below for more precise computer specifications.
Tech Requirements for Attending Syn Studio Online Classes
Minimum Requirements
- A strong uninterrupted broadband wired or wireless (3G or 4G/LTE) connection with a minimum 600kbps bandwidth (up/down).
- A Laptop/Desktop computer equipped with a single core processor (at least 1 GHZ processing speed) or a smartphone/tablet with equivalent processing capabilities
- Good speakers/earphones to listen to the classes
- Browser - IE7+, Safari 5+, Firefox, Chrome
- Operating System - Windows XP, Mac OS 10.6, Linux distro based on 3.0 kernel, Android 5.0, iOS 10
Syn Studio Recommendations
- A strong uninterrupted broadband wired or wireless (3G or 4G/LTE) connection with a minimum 1.5Mbps bandwidth (up/down). You can also connect to the internet directly using your ethernet cable to improve your experience.
- Laptop/Desktop computer equipped with a dual core processor with at least 2 GHZ processing speed and a 4 GB RAM
- High Quality speakers/earphones to listen to the classes
- Browser & Operating System - We recommend using the latest version of the browser and operating system for an optimal online classroom experience.
Course Outline
*Please note that the following outline is subject to change slightly at the teacher's discretion.
Part 1: How to Create an Illustration from a Client Brief: the Basic Process
You will receive an illustration brief with specific requirements as you would from a real client.
The instructor will show you his methods to interpret the brief, create thumbnails, gather references, receive and incorporate feedback, and take the image to polish in Photoshop.
You will become proficient in these methods as the instructor takes your hand and guides you through this powerful illustration process.
Part 2: Creating a Polished Illustration for your Portfolio and your Career
You will choose 1 brief from several options given. Following the process you learned in the first part of this course, you will create an impressive illustration piece for your portfolio under the guidance of the instructor.
You will gain mastery of the process and learn how to choose the correct composition, symbolism, pose/placement, setting, lighting and colour palette. This will allow you to tell a story in a single image and create the desired mood, atmosphere and impact on the viewer.
Finally, you will learn the business skills of the trade and how to negotiate and create successful and long-lasting relationships with your clients so you will keep getting great commissions.
Questions and Assistance
Feel free to send us an email at [email protected] or give us a call at 514-998-7625
Please consult our FAQ; most of the commonly asked questions are answered in detail there. If you cannot find the answer to your question, please feel free to fill out the form below, or, send an email to [email protected]