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Art Fundamentals

Foundations of Painting and Drawing Course

Scott Harris

What is the bottom line of this course?

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What is the bottom line of this course?

Put simply, it's a starting point to understand visual communication - it's more theoretical than practical, and will give you a solid foundation for your art learning and your art journey ahead. This course will not make you a professional artist, but it WILL give you foundations for reaching a professional level - and foundations are

Art Fundamentals: Drawing and Painting Essentials covers the key foundational principles that underly artwork and it's creation. You'll discover the core fundamentals you need to know in order to be effective at learning to draw and paint, be it digital or traditional, in any style or genre. This course is designed for artists of all levels.

Master The Essential Foundational Principles Of Drawing and Painting

  • Learn how images are built, from 2D shapes to final finished paintings

  • Understand how looseness, line weights and penmanship impact your artwork

  • Grasp the fundamentals of a strong art workflow, and the real goal of a "rough"

  • Gain insight on moving from vision to implementation, and reaching your idea

  • Recognise the empirical patterns apparent in all artwork

  • Learn to differentiate between art studies and art creation, and make real progress

  • Embrace true 3D drawing by learning to "Draw Through"

Learn Why Appealing Art Looks The Way It Does, And How To Do It

I'll show you the important fundamentals you need to know in order to have strong foundations in principles of creating art, whether you want to draw, paint, create comics, design concept art or illustrate manga.

This course is designed for imaginative and creative people who want to draw and paint from their minds, no matter the style or medium.

Primarily focused on digital tools, most principles apply equally to traditional art tools as well, and you'll quickly see how you can switch between mediums easily. This first course covers the absolute foundations of imagery, and is a necessary step before moving onto other courses such as Perspective, Light and Form, Color, Composition, Anatomy, Character Design and Drawing, Environment Design, Industrial Design and many more.

You'll be ready to approach studying other topics with the right artistic mindset, and a comprehensive set of skills.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • How to understand the core principles of creating art
  • Learn about shape, form and detail in art
  • How to draw and paint with looseness, energy and confidence
  • How to draw and paint with vision and a clear workflow
  • How to build a solid foundation for further art training

Syllabus

After watching this introduction, you'll have a clear idea of what we're going to be learning.
Introduction to Art Fundamentals: Drawing and Painting Essentials
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Welcome and Getting Started
At the end of this section, you'll understand the core fundamental principles of art - how images are built, from the ground up.
Introduction to the Foundation of Visual Images
Understanding Shape
Understanding Form
Understanding Detail
A Global Workflow for Art
Artwork is made with marks on a page - after completing this section, you'll understand how best to approach mark-making the right way, so your work is full of life and energy.
Introduction to Looseness, Lines and Brushstrokes
Looseness In Art and Penmanship
Warmup
Understanding Line Weight
Understanding Edges
Drawing Thinly, Lightly
In this section you will learn how to think about the artwork process, from starting a piece, to the roadmap that get's you to the final work.
Introduction to The General Art Workflow: From Vision to Implementation
Vision Before Implementation
A Cornerstone: Rough versus Refined in Art Creation
Understanding the Concept of Drawing Through
Art Studies versus Art Creation
The General Art Workflow
Implying Detail
Quality, Style and Next Steps
Quality Over Quantity
A Note on Style
Conclusion to Art Fundamentals: Drawing and Painting Essentials
A Final Note

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Develops a strong foundation for further art training, which is crucial for aspiring artists
Taught by Scott Harris, who is recognized for their expertise in visual communication
Introduces the basic principles of drawing and painting, which are essential for all artists
Focuses on digital tools, which are widely used in the art industry
May require previous knowledge or experience in art

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Activities

Coming soon We're preparing activities for Art Fundamentals: Foundations of Painting and Drawing Course. These are activities you can do either before, during, or after a course.

Career center

Learners who complete Art Fundamentals: Foundations of Painting and Drawing Course will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Art Director
An Art Director oversees the visual style and presentation of various forms of media, including print, digital, and film. This course, Art Fundamentals: Foundations of Painting and Drawing Course, can help build a foundation for success in this role by providing a comprehensive understanding of the core principles of creating art. By mastering these fundamentals, aspiring Art Directors can develop a strong foundation in visual communication and aesthetics, which are essential for creating visually appealing and effective designs.
Illustrator
Illustrators create visual concepts and images to communicate ideas and messages. This course, Art Fundamentals: Foundations of Painting and Drawing Course, can help aspiring Illustrators develop the technical skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in this field. By mastering the core principles of drawing and painting, students will gain a strong foundation in visual storytelling, composition, and color theory, which are essential for creating compelling and effective illustrations.
Graphic designer
Graphic Designers create visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers. This course, Art Fundamentals: Foundations of Painting and Drawing Course, can help aspiring Graphic Designers develop the foundational skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in this field. By mastering the core principles of visual communication, typography, and layout, students will gain a strong foundation in creating visually appealing and effective designs.
Concept Artist
Concept Artists create visual concepts and designs for various forms of media, including film, video games, and animation. This course, Art Fundamentals: Foundations of Painting and Drawing Course, can help aspiring Concept Artists develop the foundational skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in this field. By mastering the core principles of drawing, painting, and visual storytelling, students will gain a strong foundation in creating visually appealing and effective concept art.
Art teacher
Art Teachers instruct students in the principles and techniques of art, including drawing, painting, sculpture, and design. This course, Art Fundamentals: Foundations of Painting and Drawing Course, can help aspiring Art Teachers develop the foundational skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in this field. By mastering the core principles of art education, pedagogy, and curriculum development, students will gain a strong foundation in effectively teaching art to students of all ages and skill levels.
Digital Artist
Digital Artists create visual content using digital tools and software. This course, Art Fundamentals: Foundations of Painting and Drawing Course, can help aspiring Digital Artists develop the foundational skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in this field. By mastering the core principles of digital art, including software proficiency, color theory, and composition, students will gain a strong foundation in creating visually appealing and effective digital art.
Animator
Animators create moving images for film, television, video games, and other forms of media. This course, Art Fundamentals: Foundations of Painting and Drawing Course, can help aspiring Animators develop the foundational skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in this field. By mastering the core principles of animation, including character design, motion graphics, and storytelling, students will gain a strong foundation in creating visually appealing and effective animations.
Fine Artist
Fine Artists create original works of art, including paintings, sculptures, drawings, and other forms of media, for exhibition or sale. This course, Art Fundamentals: Foundations of Painting and Drawing Course, can help aspiring Fine Artists develop the foundational skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in this field. By mastering the core principles of art, including composition, color theory, and technique, students will gain a strong foundation in creating visually appealing and effective works of art.
Fashion Designer
Fashion Designers create clothing and accessories. This course, Art Fundamentals: Foundations of Painting and Drawing Course, can help aspiring Fashion Designers develop the foundational skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in this field. By mastering the core principles of fashion design, including sketching, pattern making, and sewing, students will gain a strong foundation in creating visually appealing and effective fashion designs.
Architect
Architects design and oversee the construction of buildings and other structures. This course, Art Fundamentals: Foundations of Painting and Drawing Course, may be useful for aspiring Architects as it provides a foundation in visual communication and aesthetics. By mastering the core principles of drawing and painting, students can develop a strong foundation in understanding spatial relationships, perspective, and scale, which are essential for creating functional and visually appealing architectural designs.
Interior designer
Interior Designers plan and decorate the interiors of buildings. This course, Art Fundamentals: Foundations of Painting and Drawing Course, may be useful for aspiring Interior Designers as it provides a foundation in visual communication and aesthetics. By mastering the core principles of drawing and painting, students can develop a strong foundation in understanding spatial relationships, color theory, and lighting, which are essential for creating functional and visually appealing interior designs.
Landscape Architect
Landscape Architects design and create outdoor spaces, such as parks, gardens, and other public spaces. This course, Art Fundamentals: Foundations of Painting and Drawing Course, may be useful for aspiring Landscape Architects as it provides a foundation in visual communication and aesthetics. By mastering the core principles of drawing and painting, students can develop a strong foundation in understanding spatial relationships, perspective, and scale, which are essential for creating functional and visually appealing landscape designs.
Product Designer
Product Designers create and develop new products. This course, Art Fundamentals: Foundations of Painting and Drawing Course, may be useful for aspiring Product Designers as it provides a foundation in visual communication and aesthetics. By mastering the core principles of drawing and painting, students can develop a strong foundation in understanding form, function, and usability, which are essential for creating innovative and effective product designs.
Photographer
Photographers create still and moving images, using a variety of cameras and techniques. This course, Art Fundamentals: Foundations of Painting and Drawing Course, may be useful for aspiring Photographers as it provides a foundation in visual communication and aesthetics. By mastering the core principles of drawing and painting, students can develop a strong foundation in understanding composition, lighting, and color theory, which are essential for creating visually appealing and effective photographs.
Art Therapist
Art Therapists use art to help people improve their mental and emotional health. This course, Art Fundamentals: Foundations of Painting and Drawing Course, may be useful for aspiring Art Therapists as it provides a foundation in visual communication and aesthetics. By mastering the core principles of drawing and painting, students can develop a strong foundation in understanding how art can be used to express emotions, process trauma, and promote healing.

Reading list

We've selected ten books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Art Fundamentals: Foundations of Painting and Drawing Course.
Delves into the principles of color and light, essential elements for painting and drawing. It offers practical guidance on capturing the effects of light, shadow, and color in realistic artworks.
This classic text comprehensive guide to perspective, providing a deep understanding of its principles and techniques. It helps artists create accurate and realistic depictions of three-dimensional space.
Shares the insights and techniques of renowned painter Richard Schmid. It focuses on alla prima painting, a method where the artist completes a painting in one sitting. It's an excellent resource for developing a strong understanding of painting techniques and principles.
This inspirational book explores the philosophy and mindset of an artist. It emphasizes the importance of individuality, creativity, and the pursuit of one's artistic vision.
This foundational text provides a comprehensive overview of composition principles, including balance, rhythm, contrast, and harmony. It's a valuable resource for understanding how to create visually appealing and cohesive artworks.
Presents a systematic approach to drawing, emphasizing observation, perception, and the development of the artist's eye. It's a valuable resource for those looking to refine their observational skills and improve their drawing abilities.
Offers a unique approach to teaching drawing, breaking down the process into simple steps and principles. It's suitable for beginners and provides a solid foundation for developing drawing skills.
While not directly related to the technical aspects of art, this book offers a unique perspective on the creative process. It combines practical exercises with insights on overcoming creative blocks and developing a mindset that supports artistic expression.
Provides a comprehensive introduction to watercolor painting techniques and materials. It's a valuable resource for beginners looking to learn the fundamentals of watercolor and develop their skills.

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