World Building & Compositional Techniques for Illustration
A course by Ben Newman, Illustrator
Learn to create visual worlds for your characters and ideas to live in by exploring simple, graphical techniques and digital tools.
‘A vital part of learning is to be engaged and entertained’. That’s at the core of what Illustrator Ben Newman does. As a children’s book illustrator, he endeavors to make complex information fun for everyone with engaging worlds and characters, as well as bold shapes, colors, and composition. Ben has worked with the likes of The New Yorker and the BBC, but his true passion is educational books and games for children.
In this online course, Ben teaches you the foundational aspects of composition building by stripping illustrations back to basics and gradually introducing details to keep your creativity alive. Using Ben’s tactics, you will create a busy and inspiring set populated by unique characters.
What will you learn in this online course?
15 lessons & 11 downloads
What's included in this course?
First, meet Ben Newman, your teacher. He takes you through his journey as an illustrator and those who have influenced him, from Eastern European matchbox labels to the Pink Panther and Daffy Duck.
Then start your hunt for references and brainstorm the activities you want to depict in your illustration. Ben also shows you how to break complex images down into their components, demonstrating the foundations of composition.
Next, choose your location and do timed exercises to practice drawing it. Then, make thumbnails for your composition and do character sketches. After we’ve refined them and filled out the interactions, build up the world around them and color it all in.
Finally, add some flair with textures and depth, as well as any necessary touch-ups.
By the end of this course, you’ll be ready to turn simple shapes and lines into entertaining artworks that are brimming with life.
- 100% positive reviews (50)
- 1,343 students
- 15 lessons (2h 18m)
- 11 downloads
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: English
- English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish · Romanian · Indonesian
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
Recommended software & tools for this course
Adobe PhotoshopWhat is this course's project?
This course’s project is to create an exciting one-page illustration of a world for your characters to live in using simple graphical techniques and timed exercises.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Anyone who wants to take their understanding of composition to the next level.
Requirements and materials
Students need drawing materials and access to Photoshop.
Reviews
Ben Newman
A course by Ben Newman
Ben Newman is a freelance illustrator based in the UK. He has worked with the likes of the New Yorker, Apple, BBC, and Google - but his true passion lies in illustrating children’s books and games. Inspired by children’s space books he flipped through while working in a bookshop, he co-created a book series with his friend, Dr. Dominic Walliman, called Professor Astro Cat. It has since been translated into 28 languages and has been turned into spin-off series for different age groups. He has also written two books inspired by his sons — the sounds Wilbur made to imitate crocodiles motivated him to write Snip Snap, while Rumble Tumble was inspired by Ernie’s frequent accidents while learning to walk.
Growing up, Ben loved watching Pink Panther and Tom & Jerry reruns on television and reading American Superhero comics. Those references have stuck with him throughout his career and he hopes his characters and worlds will be passed down to the next generation in the same way.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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About Me
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Influences
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U2
Foundation and Analysis
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Contextual Elements in a Story
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Decoding Images
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Defining Your Project
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U3
Conceptualizing and Creating
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Location
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Composition
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Characters
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Refining the Characters and Their Interaction
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World Building with Shapes 1
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World Building with Shapes 2
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Introducing Colour
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U4
Finishing Touches, Textures, and Shadows
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Texture and 2D Depth
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Patient Changes
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Finishing Touches
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FP
Final project
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World Building & Compositional Techniques for Illustration
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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Certificates
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Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for intermediate-level artists who want to enhance their skills in composition, character design, and digital illustration techniques.
You’ll need basic drawing materials (paper, pencils) and access to digital tools like Photoshop. The course blends traditional sketching with digital workflows for illustration projects.
You’ll learn how to create immersive worlds, develop engaging characters, and design scenes that bring children’s book stories to life using both analog and digital methods.
The course guides you to analyze and simplify complex images by deconstructing them into basic geometric shapes, improving composition planning and creative workflow.
Yes, you’ll learn how to collect, organize, and use reference materials and boards to inspire and inform your illustrated scenes and character designs.
Absolutely. The course includes lessons on using Photoshop tools and layer techniques to add texture, shadows, and depth, making your digital artwork more dynamic.
Yes, the course features timed drawing and sketching exercises to help you work quickly, build confidence, and improve your compositional skills.
Adobe Photoshop
This course was so much fun, I really like how the teacher broke down complex design methods into easy-to-follow steps
Clear instructions on how to construct a complex illustration.
Amazing! love how he works and explains each lesson! can't wait to see my final result!
great class!
This course is absolutely amazing and very helpful with an excellent teacher. Really recommandable!