Where to start

[Annemieke]

Hi everyone,
I just signed up to svslearn. What a wealth of courses to take! I'm new to illustration but have some experience in traditional drawing (mainly in colored pencil) from references. My goal is to learn to use my fantasy more than just references, and to transition to digital media. Any advise on where to start?
Thanks!

[QuietYell]

@Annemieke Welcome! There are many great classes, but I think @Jake-Parker class, "How to Draw Everything" is a great place to start: https://courses.svslearn.com/courses/how-to-draw-everything

Also, posting here like you did is also a great place to start. There are all kinds of helpful & encouraging people on here. Look forward to seeing your work and hope you enjoy SVSLearn as much as I have!

( ^ - ^ )

[QuietYell]

@Annemieke Also, @Will-Terry course "Drawing with Digital Pencils" might be of particular interest to you from your background with colored pencil and your interest in going digital: https://courses.svslearn.com/courses/drawing-with-digital-pencils

[Jake Parker]

Hello @Annemieke! Welcome to SVSlearn.

Future versions of SVS will have course paths for artists to take depending on if they want to get into illustration, children's books, concept art, storyboarding, comics, etc.

But for now this list below should get you going in the right direction:

PHASE 1: Fundamentals:
HOW TO DRAW EVERYTHING
DRAWING FUNDAMENTALS
VISUALIZING DRAWING IN PERSPECTIVE
LIGHT AND SHADOW
MASTERING PERSPECTIVE
CREATIVE COMPOSITION

PHASE 2: Learning Digital
BEGINNING PHOTOSHOP
10 STEP DIGITAL PAINTING

PHASE 3: Color
WORKING WITH COLOR
PAINTING COLOR AND LIGHT
PAINTING IN PHOTOSHOP

PHASE 4: Characters
DRAWING HEROES AND SIDEKICKS
DRAWING ANIMALS
DRAWING VILLAINS AND MONSTERS
POSING CHARACTERS - CHILDREN'S BOOK EDITION
STYLIZING HUMAN CHARACTERS
BREATHING LIFE INTO YOUR CHARACTER DESIGNS

PHASE 5: Illustration
CREATIVE ENVIRONMENT DESIGN
VISUAL STORYTELLING TECHNIQUES
MIXED MEDIA-WATERCOLOR AND DIGITAL
LUMINOUS LIGHTING IN MIXED MEDIA
ILLUSTRATING CHILDREN'S BOOKS PART1

Also watch all the critique sessions you can. You'll learn a TON from those. There's hours of critiques we did for 3rd Thursday webinars you can see here.

And watch the demos too. There's a lot to learn there as well.

Hope that helps!

[Annemieke]

@Jake-Parker Thanks Jake! Wow, I guess I'll be spending a LOT of time here . I wish I didn't have to go to work tomorrow....

[Annemieke]

@QuietYell Oh, this one looks good as well!

[Kat]

@Jake-Parker, that's an extremely helpful list! Being self-taught, I tend to flounder around aimlessly trying to figure out what I need to learn next. Finally, a road map!

I'm keeping this list and checking them off as I go. Thank you!

[A Former User]

@Jake-Parker said in

PHASE 1: Fundamentals:
[HOW TO DRAW EVERYTHING]

HaHa! you start with EVERYTHING! No, but seriously that was a good list. Welcome to the forums @Annemieke I hope you find yourself at home. Warning, Will Terry did mention a new forum coming soon so I'd plan your best ideas for the forum for later since this one will be erased. I can't wait to see your work!

[A Former User]

@Jake-Parker said in Where to start:

Hello @Annemieke! Welcome to SVSlearn.

Future versions of SVS will have course paths for artists to take depending on if they want to get into illustration, children's books, concept art, storyboarding, comics, etc.

But for now this list below should get you going in the right direction:

PHASE 1: Fundamentals:
HOW TO DRAW EVERYTHING
DRAWING FUNDAMENTALS
VISUALIZING DRAWING IN PERSPECTIVE
LIGHT AND SHADOW
MASTERING PERSPECTIVE
CREATIVE COMPOSITION

PHASE 2: Learning Digital
BEGINNING PHOTOSHOP
10 STEP DIGITAL PAINTING

PHASE 3: Color
WORKING WITH COLOR
PAINTING COLOR AND LIGHT
PAINTING IN PHOTOSHOP

PHASE 4: Characters
DRAWING HEROES AND SIDEKICKS
DRAWING ANIMALS
DRAWING VILLAINS AND MONSTERS
POSING CHARACTERS - CHILDREN'S BOOK EDITION
STYLIZING HUMAN CHARACTERS
BREATHING LIFE INTO YOUR CHARACTER DESIGNS

PHASE 5: Illustration
CREATIVE ENVIRONMENT DESIGN
VISUAL STORYTELLING TECHNIQUES
MIXED MEDIA-WATERCOLOR AND DIGITAL
LUMINOUS LIGHTING IN MIXED MEDIA
ILLUSTRATING CHILDREN'S BOOKS PART1

Also watch all the critique sessions you can. You'll learn a TON from those. There's hours of critiques we did for 3rd Thursday webinars you can see here.

And watch the demos too. There's a lot to learn there as well.

Hope that helps!

@Jake-Parker I HAVE AN IDEA! By the way, I love your work. I was thinking about your list for @Annemieke and maybe you could show off work of the SVS students on the website who've completed the list. It could start out as a challenge to motivate people or at least be a guide for new students. Idk, I do think this list should be official for SVS and not just floating in the forums. It's a really good list!

[MOO]

@Jake-Parker Thanks for the list! So many have asked whee to start, now we have something to go by

[holleywilliamson]

@Jake-Parker love this list, thank you!

[Jake Parker]

@Ben-Migliore That's a pretty good idea. If anyone is up for it, we'd love to showcase before and after work on the site. And yes, we will put this list, or a list like it, on the website somewhere.

[Lee White]

Hey guys! here is where we can start utilizing our fancy pants new website. At the top of all the courses there is a discussion board where you can post images, videos, ask questions, etc. I've posted a pic showing where that is. I randomly picked Will's acrylic drybrush class, but it's in the same place in all of the courses. Please post images as you work through some of the classes. We can help you along and would love to see what you are working on! : )

[QuietYell]

@Lee-White oh that's cool!

[Dulcie]

@Lee-White Just following up on @Ben-Migliore's comment upthread - is it true that there's a new forum coming and if so, that our posts on the existing one will be erased? If so, would be good to have a heads up so we can save anything needed...

[Lee White]

@Dulcie great question. We are testing a new forum now. We will let you know when that switch (if it happens) might take place.