IllustrationClass.com

This creative exercise isn’t anything new, it’s actually a test often done in creativity courses. It forces you to look at the mundane “Two Circles” and see what you can visually make from them. There is no right or wrong approach to this, cut loose and push yourself.

Keywords: Circles, Exercise, Doodle

File Size: 244 KB

Illustration for the sake of communication and explanation isn’t the most glamorous form of creative work, but it’s one of the most needed forms of illustration within any industry today. When done well it’s rarely noticed, pedestrian if you will.

But how many times have you tried to follow poorly executed diagram illustrations only to become frustrated because you couldn’t figure out what it was showing you. This is usually the only time you notice diagram illustration, when it fails to diagram a process well.

This tutorial will help you create well crafted diagram illustrations that communicate with clarity and serve their designated purpose well.

(Tutorial Includes Notes in both ‘English’ and ‘Español’.)

Keywords: Diagram, Instructions, Pedestrian

File Size: 4.8 MB

I’ve always enjoyed hand lettering. Creating unique custom letter-forms is actually very relaxing for me. I can’t say that about a lot of my illustration work which can often be some what stressful but when it comes to sketching out and creating custom typography it’s fun.

This tutorial documents the creation of the “Fa La La La Lifetime” Christmas promotional graphic I created for the Lifetime Channel.

(Tutorial Includes Notes in both ‘English’ and ‘Español’.)

Keywords: Lettering, Branding, Lifetime

File Size: 9.4 MB

One of the oldest forms of artwork is pattern design. You’ll find it within every culture globally from Middle Eastern rugs, lattice work in Asia, to border treatments on ancient manuscripts dating back thousands of years. One could say man has always had a penchant for ornament.

Last year I launched my own creative excursion into this art form when my new book “Drip.Dot.Swirl” hit the shelves. In all I’ve designed about 200 patterns since then and I’m still fascinated and intrigued by the whole creative process behind them. They are artistically addictive to say the least.

This tutorial goes into how one can go about creating their own pattern artwork from scratch sans any plugins, or software to pull off the repeating tile pattern. Eventually software will make this process easier but if you learn how to do it manually you’ll have far more control when it gets automated later.

(Tutorial Includes Notes in both ‘English’ and ‘Español’.)

Keywords: Pattern, Repeat, Tiles, Book

File Size: 16.8 MB

In a digital age analog methods are still valid and one could easily argue essential to a well defined creative process. I say that because this tutorial is more than a mere “click here and pull down this menu” type of process. It requires a level of drawing skills, there really is no way around that. But don’t let that intimidate you, anyone can improve their drawing skills and in return it’ll improve your design regardless if you ever want to become a full-blown illustrator or not.

I’ll show you how to derive a vector based portrait from a source photograph using simple common sense methods and helpful plugins that make building your art a whole lot easier. All you’ll need is Photoshop, Illustrator, Scanner, Pencil and Paper. So sharpen your pencil and your mind and lets dive in.

This tutorial was originally created for MacUser Magazine UK. It includes a self-contained PDF of the tutorial for easy offline access. If you enjoy this tutorial be sure to check out the Billy Mays tutorial that goes more in depth on this same type of project.

Read my blog post associated with this tutorial.

(Tutorial Includes Notes in both ‘English’ and ‘Español’.)

Keywords: Stylized, Portrait, Macuser

File Size: 23 MB

This helpful PDF produced by “The Creative Group” contains “20″ cost-effective ways to keep you creatively focused and inspired in an uncertain economy.

Several of Illustrationclass.com creative exercises are included in the PDF under “Drawing People Together”, along with other fun practical content to help you push yourself creatively.

Keywords: Creative, Exercise, PDF, Group

File Size: 3.1 MB

Since I posted my last video tutorial, I’ve been asked to do another video that showcases the same methodology as the previous one on a more complex illustration. So with this new video I’ll once again use an Ai plugin called “Xtream Path” by CValley Software to build my artwork.

This video tutorial will take you through the creation of an illustrative design project I worked on involving a dairy farm logo. I suppose I should point out that my video tutorials aren’t so much geared towards using the software, but more focused on a systematic creative process and methodology mixed with commentary that explains what I’m doing along with sharing my own random thoughts and funny stories.

I feel obligated to say this because some might be looking for software driven tutorials to learn applications and a tool driven process and for that specific type of tutorial I’d recommend Lynda.com instead. But if you don’t mind a casual, not too serious approach to learning by observing, than I think you’ll find this video useful.

This download contains a notes file (English Only) with more information about CValley Softwares plugin for Ai. Both videos are the same project I just broke it into two parts to make downloading and watching of the videos easier.

Watch the video tutorial online here:
- Herding Vectors Part 1
- Herding Vectors Part 2

(Video Tutorial is produced in ‘English’ only.)

Keywords: Cow, Logo, Vectors, Build, Methods, CValley, Xtream Path, Video

File Size: 4 KB

New media has allowed marketing to take on many new shapes and forms over the years and one new method is to create interactive games that incorporate advertising content or training information. The game is the vehicle to drive the message home.

In this tutorial I’ll show you how I worked with an interactive firm to create the visual assets needed so they could produce a simple Flash driven golf game for their clients marketing needs.

(Tutorial Includes Notes in both ‘English’ and ‘Español’.)

Keywords: Flash, Game, Golf, Animation

File Size: 10 MB

This is the first video tutorial I have posted on IllustrationClass.com. So I decided to base it on the question I get asked most often.

“How do you get such precise vector shapes with the pen tool?”

Well in all honesty my build methods don’t solely depend on the pen tool. Most of my finessing of shapes and refinement is done using selection tools and via a great very intuitive and useful plugin for Ai called “Xtream Path” by CValley Software.

I’ve mentioned and shown this plugin before in my other tutorials but now you get to see it all in action. If you like these video tutorials please let me know by posting feedback in the comments for this post.

This download contains both videos and a notes file with more information about CValley Softwares plugin for Ai.

Watch the video tutorials online here:
- Vector Build Methods 1
- Vector Build Methods 2

(Tutorial Includes Notes in both ‘English’ and ‘Español’.)

Keywords: Build, Methods, CValley, Xtream Path, Video

File Size: 27.2 MB

Digital illustration is awesome if for no other reason than you can create your own reality. Perspective doesn’t exist, and true to life shading and lighting isn’t limited to mere physics as it is for those who exist outside of the 2D universe.

Some illustration styles are flat, with minimal to no shading or lighting what so ever. But most illustration regardless of style depends on good shading and lighting to bring it to life, add necessary depth, and drama to the overall artwork.

This tutorial goes over the elementary fundamentals when it comes to shading and lighting within a digital illustration. For seasoned pros this will be a big “Duh!” but for those new to the game, or who struggle with knowing how or where to add shading and lighting it’ll at least point you in the right direction and give you a foundation to grow from.

Source files are provided with this download.

(Tutorial Includes Notes in both ‘English’ and ‘Español’.)

Keywords: Shading, Lighting, Newbert, 101

File Size: 3.1 MB