Smooth Blends in Acrylics - dry brush technique
Acrylic paints are notorious for drying super fast, and many struggle to get the kind of smooth transitions that are so easy with oils. BUT there are techniques you can use to get around this. Pro illustrator Will Terry shows you how.
How to Perfect Your Children's Book Portfolio
What should you include in your children's book portfolio? Well, there are 100+ items you might want to consider. Pro illustrator Will Terry covers ALL the things.
How to get your First 10k Followers
If you want to make it as an artist, you need to grow your audience! Pro illustrator Jake Parker shows you how to harness the power of social media to build your following.
Draw 50 Things
One of the hardest things for artists to do is draw a jam-packed scene. Pro illustrator Will Terry breaks down his strategy for drawing lots of STUFF.
Making Graphic Novels
Hey all you graphic novel fans, this one's for you! Follow along as Nathan Hale, the man behind Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales, demos how to make a graphic novel.
Drawing Robots and Machinery
To draw believable machines, you must first learn the anatomy of machines, young grasshopper. Illustration pro Jake Parker teaches the principles of designing machinery that actually looks functional.
Drawing Heroes and Sidekicks
Learn how to draw awesome good guys! Pro illustrator Jake Parker will rescue you from weak character design and show you how your characters can save the day. To infinity and beyond!
Drawing Villains and Monsters
Learn how to draw awesome bad guys! Pro illustrator Jake Parker shares his techniques for designing evil characters of all kinds. Plus learn how to draw them in evil poses, wearing evil clothes! Mwahahahahahaha!
Painting Color and Light
If you already know the basics of color and light, the next step is to master these skills, young padawans. Pro illustrators Will Terry, Jake Parker and special guest Ty Carter reveal their techniques for infusing their work with color and light.
Drawing Comics
Thinking about drawing comics? In this tutorial, Jake Parker, the artist behind the popular Missile Mouse comic books, gives an overview of the industry and shows you how to make a comic book from start to finish. Ka-pow!
Mixed Media-Watercolor and Digital
Ever wish your digital paintings looked a little more, er, traditional? In this video, pro illustrator Will Terry demonstrates how to give your digital work that organic feel with digital textures made from actual watercolors!
Creating Custom Brushes in Photoshop
Ever wonder how some artists manage to get such realistic textures in their digital work? Pro illustrator Lee White demonstrates how to create all sorts to custom brushes in Photoshop to get that natural, painterly look.
Drawing with Digital Pencils
Why digital pencils? No disrespect to Dixon Ticonderoga, but digital pencils are the tops when it comes to versatility and control. Pro illustrator Will Terry reveals his tricks for making digital pencils and mimicking the real thing.
Art Critiques: Illustrating Children's Books
As they say, criticism only makes you stronger! Follow along as pro illustrators Will Terry and Lee White critique work submitted by aspiring kidlit artists.
Photoshop Demo with Jim Madsen
Want to see how the pros work, up close and personal? Check out this video, my preciousss. Follow along as pro illustrator Jim Madsen breaks down his method for painting amazing images in Photoshop.
Art Critiques: Fall 2015
Why would anyone willingly sign up for their work to be critiqued? They know it's one of the best ways to get BETTER. Watch as pro illustrators Will Terry and Lee White critique personal work submitted by budding artists.
Visual Storytelling Techniques
Learn how to put the story in your visual storytelling. Pro illustrator Lee White shares techniques for coming up with good concepts that actually tell a story.
SketchBook Painting
Spending too much time in front of that screen? Go paint outside! Pro illustrator Marco Bucci shows you how to pack a mobile studio and paint on location (plein air if you're fancy!).
Drawing a Portrait
If you want to get better at drawing, practicing portraits is a good place to start. Pro illustrator Dave Malan demonstrates how to draw a portrait in pencil from start to finish.
Ipad Pro Painting with Procreate
So, you went ahead and bought that iPad Pro. Now what? Pro illustrator Will Terry demonstrates how to use popular app Procreate to make amazing digital illustrations.
Art Critiques: Digital Painting with Marco Bucci
Once you've watched Digital Painting 1 and 2, check out the live critiques to see how the principles are applied in real life. Watch as pro illustrator Marco Bucci critiques digital paintings submitted by SVS students.
Painting the Head
How on earth do you paint like that?? Find out how master painter Britt Snyder manipulates oils to create his amazing painting style.
Visualizing Drawing in Perspective
Have you already watched Mastering Perspective? Great, then you are in the right spot. In this course, pro illustrator Will Terry demos how to visualize perspective in your mind's eye, ('cause sometimes there's no reference for what you're drawing!).
Design and Color: Hair
Ok everybody, let's get into all the hairy details. In this video, pro illustrator Ty Carter analyzes the importance of hair and shares techniques for making it shine. Part 1 is all about short hair.
Drawing Animals
Drawing horses is scary! Put your fears to rest by mastering the art of drawing animals. In this video, pro illustrator Jake Parker deconstructs principles of designing animals of all kinds.
Art Critiques: Spring 2016
A little constructive criticism can go a long way to making an image better. Tune in while pro illustrators Lee White and Will Terry critique work submitted by SVS students.
Digital Painting 1
One way to improve your craft is to watch how the pros do it. In Part 1 of this class, pro illustrator Marco Bucci throws all caution to the wind and demonstrates how to improvise when painting digitally.
Editorial Illustration
Want to break into editorial illustration? Learn all about the industry and how to prep your work for assignments from the grand poobah of editorial illustration himself, James Yang.
Luminous Lighting in Mixed Media
Let it glow, let it glow, can't hold it back anymore! In this traditional painting class, pro illustrator Lee White demos how to build up lighting in a painting and give it that luminous glow.
Digital Painting 2
Welcome to Part 2 of trying to improve your craft by watching how the pros do it. In this class, pro illustrator Marco Bucci explores the process of visual development from concept to finished digital painting.
Digital Painting with Denis Zilber
Settle in and get comfy, you've got 9 hours of digital painting instruction ahead of you! Find out how pro illustrator Denis Zilber makes his amazing digital masterpieces.
Lighting for Storytelling
Lighting is super important in any storytelling project. It can convey everything from mood to environment to time of day. Follow along as visual development artist Zac Retz reveals how he approaches lighting.
How to Make Money in Illustration 2
Let's get down to business! In Part 2 of this video series, pro illustrator Lee White shows you how to set up your freelance illustration business and stay on top of your finances.
Drawing Fundamentals
Before you can get fancy, you need to master the basics. In this video, pro illustrator Dave Malan takes you back to the drawing board so you can strengthen your core skills.
Stylizing Portraits
Learn how to stylize portraits like illustrator Mel Milton, who is internet famous for the morning sketches he calls "dooks." He starts with reference photos and embellishes from there. Keep on keepin' on!
How to Make Money in Illustration 3
Wait, there's more! In Part 3 of this video series, pro illustrator Lee White shows you what to do once you land that freelance illustration job.
Portfolio and Self Promotion with James Yang
Every freelancer needs a portfolio of their work at the ready. See how veteran illustrator James Yang preps his work for art directors. Plus you get to see his old school portfolio from back before the internet!
Beginning Photoshop
Secretly scared of Photoshop? Well, no more excuses! This video is designed for those who have never even opened Photoshop before. Pro illustrator Will Terry guides you through all the basics of digital painting.
Stylizing Human Characters
How do you go from a reference photo to a stylized character ready for their debut? Learn how to design appealing and engaging characters with pro illustrator Jake Parker.