Introduction
In this unit, I will introduce myself as an artist and author and I will also share with you my influences and a general outline of what we will do in this course.
-
Presentation
In this course, I will take you through a comprehensive step-by-step process to help you harness your creativity and transform the written word into eye-catching, professional illustrations.
-
Influences
I was inspired from a young age by the rich and colorful worlds both illustration and classical painting. I will take you on a tour through the fantastic worlds of Roger Dean, Ralph Steadman, Alan Aldridge, Frank Frazetta, Chris Foss, John Tenniel, Mervyn Peake, Andre Derain, John Singer Sergeant and more. Each of them taught me valuable lessons about composition, color, dynamism, and breathing life into a subject.
-
What Will We Do in the Course?
In this lesson, I will give you a brief rundown of the course; what you’ll need to start off, what you will learn, and how you can use the skills you acquire to launch a new career in illustration, or just to produce stunning artwork for your own satisfaction.
Tasks
-
Introduce Yourself Practice exercise 1.1
Introduce yourself on the forum. You can share a link to the Pinterest board you’ve made. Let’s see what moves you!
I suggest you to add a picture to your profile and add a new project you would like to highlight from your portfolio. It would be interesting to share pictures from your previous works as well.
-
Signing Up for Pinterest
Open a Pinterest account, if you don’t have one already. Pinterest is the best and easiest way to compile reference material, collect influences you like, etc.
-
Your First Board
Make a Pinterest board for illustrators and artists you like.
Add artists you already know, and keep it fresh by adding any new discoveries you make.
Additional resources
-
The Night Shift
I like to listen to music while I work. This is a Spotify playlist I planted some time ago, which has grown organically to over thirty hours of quality sounds – Not too rowdy, not too soporific. This will help get you through those late-night deadlines.
Enjoy!
Additional resources
-
PDF
My Influences
Here are some of the artists and illustrators that knocked my socks off as a child, and set me on the path to a career in illustration.
-
PDF
Conceptual Illustration
Here’s a list of some of my favourite illustrators working today. Exploring these will show you how there are as many approaches to conceptual illustration as there are illustrators.