Sketching for Animators Who Can’t Draw from Udemy

I’m glad you decided to learn how to sketch for animation.

To start off with this course, I would like to answer one super important question.

How good do you need to be in sketching and drawing to be able to do decent animation?

The answer is:

You have to be decent at drawing.

Notice that I didn’t say you have to be the best, or you have to be very very good, no. You just have to be decent.

How can you be decent?

With a bit of practice.

As a disclaimer, I’m not a great artist, I’m not very good at drawing myself, I’m just decent, and that’s good for animation.

You will see for yourself in the following lessons, so if you are super passionate about drawing, you have some practice and want to take your drawing skills to the next level, then I’m not your guy, and this course is not for you.

Maybe you can get some value and some useful tips, but in general this course is not directed to you.

But if you are just starting, and you are not good at drawing, then this course will definitely help you in giving you some pointers to start drawing more decently.

Ok?

Inside this course, you will learn:

How to develop enough skill to draw anything you want in any style you want

The difference between drawing and sketching

How to measure proportions
How to duplicate references
Ho to draw basic 2d shapes and combine them to draw what you want
How to sketch basic 3d shapes
How to draw perspective using vanishing points and perspective lines
How to sketch a 3d scene
How to sketch and design very simple characters
How to sketch poses in 2D
How to sketch character poses in 3D
How to sketch thumbnails for animation
And finally, how to draw hands.

So, if you are interested in having the knowledge to get decent drawings skills, enroll now.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Draw anything you want by using sketching techniques
Copy and duplicate any drawing using a technique of measuring proportions
Perfect your drawing skills by doing drawing exercises
Sketch original characters that come to mind

Sketch character poses in both 2d and 3d
Sketch thumbnails for action
Sketch hands in different positions

Draw anything you want by using sketching techniques
Copy and duplicate any drawing using a technique of measuring proportions
Perfect your drawing skills by doing drawing exercises
Sketch original characters that come to mind
Sketch character poses in both 2d and 3d
Sketch thumbnails for action
Sketch hands in different positions

Syllabus

In this section you will learn what this course is about.

In this lesson you will learn what this course is about

In this lesson you will learn about the law of 100, what it means and how you can apply it to master any style of drawing. From Anime, to Comics, to Cartoonish, to anything you want.

In this lesson you will learn the difference between sketching and drawing

In this lesson you will learn the importance of being motivated sketching characters and objects that you find interesting.

In this section you will learn the different exercises you can apply to improve your drawing skills

In this lesson you will learn how to measure proportions

In this lesson you will learn how to duplicate references using a technique that uses the measurement of proportions to create coordinates.

In this lesson you will learn about drawing exercises to develop your drawing skills.

In this section you will learn how to sketch

In this lesson you will learn how to sketch basic 2d shapes.

In this lesson you will learn how to sketch thinking in 3D

In this lesson you will learn about perspectives and how to draw them using vanishing points

In this lesson you will learn how to sketch a scene of a city in 3D

In this lesson you will learn how to sketch and design simple characters

In this lesson you will learn how to sketch poses for your characters in 2D

In this lesson you will learn how to sketch poses for your characters, thinking in 3D

In this lesson you will learn how to sketch thumbnails for an animated scene.

In this lesson you will learn some tips to draw hands.

BONUS LESSON: What’s Next?

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Teaches the mechanics of drawing and sketching

Shows you how to draw challenging figures, such as hands

Provides instruction you can implement immediately

Suitable for beginners and those who want to improve

Does not assume any prior knowledge

Covers a wide range of topics, from basic to advanced

Reviews summary

Beginner-friendly sketching for animation

According to students, the beginner-friendly Udemy course, "Sketching for Animators Who Can’t Draw" is highly praised for providing a good foundation in animation. Learners say the step-by-step lessons make this a great entry-level course for animators. The assignments help students develop their skills and the instructor is responsive on the course forum.

Instructor responds to student questions on the forum.

"Professor was very quick to respond to questions."

Great foundational course for animation sketching.

"Pretty good entry-level quick course."

"The breakdown of lights and shadows really made the difference."

Useful exercises to improve animation skills.

"The assignments really helped me improve."

"Step-by-step lessons are awesome."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Sketching for Animators Who Can’t Draw with these activities:

Read "Animation Academy" by Tom Bancroft

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This book is a great resource for beginners who want to learn more about the basics of animation, drawing, and character design.

View Creating Characters with Personality: For Film,... on Amazon

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Reserve a copy of "Animation Academy" from your local library or purchase it online.
Read the book at a leisurely pace, taking notes and sketching as needed to retain the information.
Refer back to the book as needed when working on your own animation projects.

Watch video tutorials on using drawing software

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Using animation software is essential for creating your animations.

Browse courses on Animation

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Find a video tutorial on using the drawing software that you are interested in.
Watch the tutorial and take notes or sketch along with the instructor.
Practice using the software to create your own drawings and animations.

Drawing Techniques

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Review and strengthen essential drawing skills to improve performance in this course

Browse courses on Sketching

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Gather your drawing materials
Review the basics of line, shape, and form
Practice drawing simple objects
Experiment with different drawing mediums

Ten other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all 13 activities

Watch and mimic professional animators

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These professionals have a wealth of knowledge and experience, and their tutorials can help learners develop their skills and techniques.

Browse courses on Animation

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Find a professional animator's tutorial that you are interested in following along with.
Gather the necessary materials for the tutorial.
Watch the tutorial and take notes or sketch along with the animator.
Practice the techniques and skills taught in the tutorial.
Share your work with others and get feedback.

Sketching Exercises

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Reinforce drawing concepts through regular sketching exercises

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Choose a simple object or scene to sketch
Draw the object or scene in 3 minutes or less
Analyze the result and identify areas for improvement

Sketch different characters from memory

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Draw as many characters as you can from your childhood, making sure to employ the techniques taught in the course.

Browse courses on Drawing

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Grab some drawing materials.
Think back to a character you enjoyed
Sketch the individual to the best of your ability.
Repeat this step until you've drawn 10-15 characters.

Online Sketching Courses

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Supplement your learning with guided tutorials to refine sketching techniques

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Identify areas where you need improvement
Search for online sketching courses that align with your goals
Follow the lessons and complete the assignments

Draw hands in different positions

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Drawing hands can be difficult, but it is an important skill for animators to master.

Browse courses on Drawing

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Try drawing hands in different poses and gestures.
Gather references of hands in different poses.
Start by sketching out the basic shape of the hand.
Add details and features to the hand.
Practice drawing hands from different angles.

Create a storyboard for a short animation

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This will help you plan out the sequence of events in your animation.

Browse courses on Animation

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Write down the main events of your animation.
Sketch out the storyboard panels.
Add dialogue and sound effects to the storyboard panels.
Get feedback on your storyboard from others.
Revise and improve your storyboard.

Create a character turnaround for a favorite character from a book

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This will help you practice drawing a character from different angles to fully understand their structure and shape.

Browse courses on Animation

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Choose a character you enjoy and have a good understanding of.
Sketch out the character's basic shape and proportions.
Add details and features to the character.
Draw the character from different angles, such as front, back, side, and three-quarter views.
Color and shade the character.

Sketchbook Project

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Create a collection of sketches to showcase your progress and identify areas for further development

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Set up a dedicated sketchbook
Make regular entries, sketching a variety of subjects
Reflect on your sketches and document your observations

Collaborative Sketching Group

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Engage with fellow students to share feedback, learn from each other, and enhance your sketching skills

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Join or create a study group focused on sketching
Meet regularly to sketch together
Provide constructive criticism and encouragement to group members

Sketching Workshop

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Attend a workshop led by an experienced artist to gain specialized knowledge and improve sketching techniques

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Identify a workshop that aligns with your goals
Prepare for the workshop by reviewing materials
Participate actively in the workshop and seek guidance from the instructor

Career center

Learners who complete Sketching for Animators Who Can’t Draw will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Animator

Animators create animated images, often for television shows, movies, and video games. Animators use a variety of techniques to create animations, including hand-drawn animation, computer-generated animation, and stop-motion animation. This course is a great starting place for those interested in getting into animation, or hobbyists who would like to try their hand at it.

See salaries and explore the career path for Animator

Character Designer

Character Designers create the visual appearance of characters for television shows, movies, and video games. They work with directors, producers, and other creative professionals to develop the look and feel of a character, and then create the artwork for that character. This course will help you develop the drawing skills and knowledge of anatomy that is essential for Character Designers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Character Designer

Concept Artist

Concept Artists create visual concepts for a variety of projects, including movies, video games, and advertising campaigns. They work with directors, producers, and other creative professionals to develop the look and feel of a project. This course will help you develop the drawing skills and knowledge of perspective that is essential for Concept Artists.

See salaries and explore the career path for Concept Artist

Comic Book Artist

Comic Book Artists are responsible for creating the visual elements of comic books. They work with writers to develop the story and characters, and then create the artwork for each page of the comic book. This course is a great way to develop your drawing skills and learn the basics of comic book art.

See salaries and explore the career path for Comic Book Artist

Storyboard Artist

Storyboard Artists create visual representations of a script, which are then used to plan the shots for a film or television show. They work with directors, producers, and other creative professionals to develop the visual style of a project, and then create the artwork for each shot. This course will help you develop the drawing skills and knowledge of filmmaking that is essential for Storyboard Artists.

See salaries and explore the career path for Storyboard Artist

Motion Graphics Artist

Motion Graphics Artists create animated graphics for a variety of purposes, including television commercials, music videos, and website banners. They work with clients to develop the visual concept for a project, and then create the animation. This course will help you develop the drawing skills and knowledge of animation that is essential for Motion Graphics Artists.

See salaries and explore the career path for Motion Graphics Artist

Illustrator

Illustrators create visual concepts, using hand-drawn or computer-generated art. You could work as an Illustrator in many different industries, but many Illustrators are employed by publishers of books, magazines, and newspapers. Many Illustrators are also self-employed. This course would be particularly useful for Illustrators interested in getting into animation, or who wish to expand their skillset to include it.

See salaries and explore the career path for Illustrator

Graphic designer

Graphic Designers create visual concepts, using computer-generated art or hand-drawn art. They work with clients to develop the visual identity of a brand, and then create the artwork for a variety of marketing materials, including logos, brochures, and websites. This course will help you develop the drawing skills and knowledge of design that is essential for Graphic Designers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Graphic designer

UX Designer

UX Designers create the user interface for websites and apps. They work with product managers, engineers, and other creative professionals to develop the user experience for a product, and then create the visual design for the interface. This course will help you develop the drawing skills and knowledge of design that is essential for UX Designers.

See salaries and explore the career path for UX Designer

Web Designer

Web Designers create the layout and design of websites. They work with clients to develop the visual identity of a website, and then create the code for the website. This course will help you develop the drawing skills and knowledge of design that is essential for Web Designers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Designer

Art Director

Art Directors oversee the visual elements of a project, including the art direction, graphic design, and photography. They work with clients, creative teams, and other stakeholders to develop the visual style of a project, and then ensure that the final product meets the client's expectations. This course will help you develop the drawing skills and knowledge of design that is essential for Art Directors.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art Director

Photographer

Photographers take pictures of people, places, and things. They work with clients to develop the visual concept for a photoshoot, and then take the pictures. This course may be useful for Photographers who are interested in learning more about drawing and composition.

See salaries and explore the career path for Photographer

Art teacher

Art Teachers teach art to students of all ages. They develop lesson plans, teach students about art techniques, and help students to develop their artistic skills. This course may be useful for Art Teachers who are interested in learning more about drawing and teaching art.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art teacher

Video Editor

Video Editors edit video footage to create a cohesive and visually appealing video. They work with clients to develop the visual style of a video, and then edit the footage to create the final product. This course may be useful for Video Editors who are interested in learning more about drawing and animation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Video Editor

Museum curator

Museum Curators are responsible for the care and management of museum collections. They work with other museum staff to develop exhibitions, conduct research, and educate the public about the museum's collection. This course may be useful for Museum Curators who are interested in learning more about drawing and art history.

See salaries and explore the career path for Museum curator