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Neil Fontaine

Master how to paint with Manga Studio 5, but this course is much more than just how to digitally paint. It also teaches all the fundamentals of painting, such as, how to paint thumbnail sketches and their importance, color theory, how to use color palettes, composition, values, making it look 3D, how to fit objects in your painting, how to tell a story with your painting, how to start a painting, etc.

We will do a few full paintings from sketch to completion. This is where we put it all together. So by the time you finish this course, you will have painted a few full paintings.

Read more

Master how to paint with Manga Studio 5, but this course is much more than just how to digitally paint. It also teaches all the fundamentals of painting, such as, how to paint thumbnail sketches and their importance, color theory, how to use color palettes, composition, values, making it look 3D, how to fit objects in your painting, how to tell a story with your painting, how to start a painting, etc.

We will do a few full paintings from sketch to completion. This is where we put it all together. So by the time you finish this course, you will have painted a few full paintings.

The course is structured so you can easily find the subject you are looking for. If you want to go back and watch how to paint that woman's shirt again in one of the lessons, you can, because the course is broken down into sections. Just find the lesson "painting her shirt."

You need this course if you are struggling with painting digitally. It will be a life saver, or your money back.

This is an eight-hour-long mega course, packed full of all the information you need in order to master digital painting with Manga Studio 5. However, much of the information can be used for any digital painting program.

You will not find a course out there like this that teaches so much and cost so little.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Blend colors in manga studio like a professional painter
  • Paint stunning digital paintings
  • Compose paintings like leonardo da'vinci
  • Avoid beginners painting mistakes
  • Master the fundamentals of digital painting
  • Apply color theory
  • Paint from black and white to color
  • Paint a full painting
  • Tell a story with your paintings
  • Use the best color palettes

Syllabus

Let's Get Started!
Introduction
What we will and will not learn in this course
This section will teach you how to avoid beginners make when painting
Read more

Thank you. appreciate that you spent your hard earned cash, and I hope you enjoy the course.

Adding to much detail throughout a painting doesn't give the viewer a clear place to focus. Therefore, place details where you want the viewer's attention.

You want to start with large brushes and a few values, then work in the details later.

Skin can be difficult to paint, but in this lesson I teach how to paint skin when lit by very opposite colors.

We learn how to paint female hands in this lesson.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Covers fundamental painting concepts like thumbnail sketches, color theory, composition, and values, which are essential for building a strong artistic foundation
Teaches how to blend colors, which is a core skill for creating smooth gradients and realistic-looking textures in digital paintings
Explores storytelling through painting, which helps artists create compelling and engaging visual narratives
Includes guidance on avoiding common beginner mistakes, which can accelerate the learning process and prevent frustration
Focuses on Manga Studio 5, which may be an older version of the software, so learners should ensure it meets their current needs
Features full painting demonstrations from sketch to completion, providing practical experience and reinforcing learned concepts

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Reviews summary

Digital painting fundamentals with clip studio paint

According to learners, this course offers a strong foundation in digital painting, particularly for those using Clip Studio Paint (formerly Manga Studio 5). Many students find the instructor's approach clear and easy to follow, covering crucial fundamentals like color theory, composition, and values. The course includes practical demonstrations, such as painting exercises and detailed breakdowns of how to paint specific elements like skin, hair, and clothing, which many found highly beneficial. While some noted the software specifics might be slightly outdated as versions change, the core artistic principles taught are widely applicable and remain relevant, making it a valuable resource for both beginners and those looking to improve their foundational skills. Some reviews mentioned wanting more advanced topics, but overall, the focus on fundamentals is seen as a significant strength.
Includes helpful step-by-step painting examples.
"Watching the full painting demos from start to finish was incredibly helpful to see how it all comes together."
"The specific lessons on painting details like skin, hair, and clothes were gold. I can apply these techniques now."
"Seeing him paint a full scene, explaining his thought process, was exactly what I needed."
"The exercises after each section reinforced the lessons learned through practical application."
Instructor explains concepts in an accessible way.
"The instructor explains things really clearly and breaks down complex ideas into manageable steps."
"I appreciated the pace of the lessons; it wasn't too fast, allowing me to follow along and practice."
"Very easy to understand for a beginner like me. He simplifies difficult topics."
"His teaching style is engaging and keeps you motivated to keep painting."
Covers core painting principles effectively.
"This course really nails the fundamentals of painting, stuff like composition and color theory that are key no matter the software."
"I finally understand values and how they impact my digital art after this course. It's a solid foundation."
"The principles taught here aren't just for Clip Studio Paint; they apply to any digital painting program, which is great."
"It gives you the building blocks needed before diving into complex techniques."
Primarily covers beginner/intermediate topics.
"As someone with some prior experience, I found parts of the course a bit too basic, though the fundamentals review was good."
"It gives you a great start, but don't expect to become a master artist solely from this; it covers the essentials well."
"I wish there were lessons on more advanced rendering techniques or specific styles."
"It's perfect if you're struggling with the basics, but intermediate artists might find it lacking depth in certain areas."
Relies on an older version of the software.
"Since it was made with Manga Studio 5, some of the menus or tool locations are slightly different in the newer Clip Studio Paint versions."
"While the principles are timeless, navigating the software based on the video can be confusing sometimes due to updates."
"I had to spend a little time figuring out where things moved in the current version of Clip Studio Paint."
"An update covering the latest Clip Studio Paint interface changes would be very beneficial."

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 How to Digitally Paint -- Paint with Clip Studio Paint with these activities:
Review Color Theory Fundamentals
Solidify your understanding of color theory to enhance your digital painting skills.
Browse courses on Color Theory
Show steps
  • Review the color wheel and color relationships.
  • Study different color schemes and their effects.
  • Practice creating color palettes for various moods.
Review 'Dynamic Anatomy' by Burne Hogarth
Improve your figure painting skills by studying human anatomy.
Show steps
  • Study the skeletal and muscular structures.
  • Practice drawing figures from different angles.
  • Apply your knowledge of anatomy to your digital paintings.
Review 'Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter'
Deepen your understanding of color and light principles to improve your digital paintings.
Show steps
  • Read the chapters on color mixing and light interaction.
  • Analyze the examples provided in the book.
  • Apply the concepts to your own digital painting practice.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Value Painting Exercises
Improve your understanding of values by practicing painting in grayscale.
Show steps
  • Create a value scale from black to white.
  • Paint simple objects using only values.
  • Practice painting scenes in grayscale before adding color.
Paint a Scene from a Story
Practice storytelling through digital painting by illustrating a scene from a book or movie.
Show steps
  • Choose a scene from a story that inspires you.
  • Create thumbnail sketches to explore different compositions.
  • Paint the scene, focusing on conveying the story's mood.
Create a Digital Painting Portfolio
Showcase your digital painting skills and track your progress by building a portfolio.
Show steps
  • Select your best digital paintings.
  • Organize your paintings in a visually appealing format.
  • Write descriptions for each painting, highlighting your techniques.
Explore Advanced Blending Techniques
Refine your blending skills by following advanced tutorials for Clip Studio Paint.
Show steps
  • Search for tutorials on advanced blending techniques.
  • Follow the tutorials step-by-step.
  • Experiment with different blending modes and brushes.

Career center

Learners who complete How to Digitally Paint -- Paint with Clip Studio Paint will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Comic Book Artist
Comic book artists create the artwork for comic books and graphic novels. The course is highly applicable, as it addresses digital painting techniques, composition, and storytelling, all essential for comic book art. Learning to paint full scenes from sketch to completion, as covered in the course, mirrors the comic creation process. The lessons on character design, clothing, and background painting provide valuable skills. A comic book artist may find the focus on visual narrative of particular use.
Matte Painter
Matte painters create realistic backgrounds and environments for films and television shows, often using digital painting techniques. This course focuses on painting environments, landscapes, and cityscapes which is invaluable for a matte painter. The course covers techniques for painting skies, clouds, plant life, and other natural elements. Moreover, the lessons on composition and color theory may enable matte painters to create visually appealing and believable backdrops. A matte painter benefits from the sections on adding textures and using photos in paintings.
Illustrator
Illustrators create images for books, magazines, websites, and other media. This course directly benefits aspiring illustrators by focusing on digital painting techniques and fundamental art principles. The course covers color palettes, blending, and adding textures, all crucial for producing high-quality illustrations. Furthermore, the emphasis on storytelling within paintings helps an Illustrator communicate effectively through their artwork. The lessons on painting clothing, faces, and various environments may provide a solid foundation for a diverse illustration portfolio.
Background Artist
Background artists create the backgrounds for animations, video games, and other visual media. This course is a good fit, due to the emphasis on painting environments, landscapes, and cities, which are core skills for background artists. The course covers techniques for painting skies, clouds, plant life, and other natural elements. Moreover, the lessons on composition and color theory may allow background artists to create visually appealing and immersive environments. The sections on painting specific details, such as bridges, roads, and buildings, may enable the creation of detailed and believable backgrounds.
Freelance Artist
A freelance artist offers their artistic services to clients on a contract basis. This course can be particularly beneficial for those seeking to improve their digital painting skills and create a strong portfolio. The emphasis on fundamental art principles, such as composition and color theory, may allow them to produce high-quality artwork for a variety of clients. The full paintings completed in the course may serve as portfolio pieces, while the lessons on storytelling through painting can attract clients seeking artists with strong narrative abilities.
Visual Development Artist
Visual development artists work in animation and film to create the overall look and feel of a project. The skills taught in this course are essential for visual development artists, as it teaches them how to paint thumbnail sketches, apply color theory, use color palettes, and tell a story with paintings. The course may assist artists in developing the visual language of a project. The full painting projects from sketch to completion translate well to the workflow of a visual development artist.
Concept Artist
A concept artist visualizes ideas for use in media like games, film, and animation. This course may be useful for refining your digital painting skills, an essential tool for concept art. The course emphasizes fundamental painting skills like thumbnail sketching, composition, and color theory, laying the groundwork for creating compelling concept designs. Moreover, the full painting projects, which cover sketching to finishing details, directly translate to the workflow of a Concept Artist.
Video Game Artist
Video game artists create visual assets for video games, including characters, environments, and props. This course may be useful, as it covers the fundamentals of digital painting, color theory, and composition, all essential for creating video game art. The lessons on painting textures, objects, and environments may teach valuable skills for creating visually appealing game assets. The course's emphasis on painting full scenes provides a solid foundation for working on complex game environments. A video game artist could use this course to hone the technical skills needed to create detailed and immersive game worlds.
Character Designer
Character designers develop the visual appearance of characters for animation, games, and other media. This course may be useful for a character designer, particularly the lessons on painting faces, clothing, and textures. The emphasis on storytelling through paintings helps designers create characters with visually compelling backstories. Moreover, the course content on color theory and blending techniques may allow them to realize unique and expressive character designs. The sections on painting specific details like hands, eyes, and hair support the nuanced work of a character designer.
Animation Artist
Animation artists create moving images for films, television, and other media. This course can be valuable for animation artists, as the core principles of digital painting, color theory, and composition apply directly to animation artwork. Understanding how to paint characters, backgrounds, and objects, as taught in the course, helps to create visually engaging animations. The sections on storytelling through painting help animators convey narratives effectively. An animation artist may use this course to improve their skills in creating visually appealing and expressive animated scenes.
Storyboard Artist
Storyboard artists create visual representations of scenes for films, television shows, and commercials. A course that covers digital painting fundamentals and storytelling can be valuable to a storyboard artist. Understanding composition, value, and color theory, as taught in the course, helps in creating effective storyboards that clearly convey the narrative. The course's focus on thumbnail sketching and composition may aid in rapidly visualizing and iterating on scene layouts. This course may hone the skills needed to create compelling visual narratives.
Texture Artist
Texture artists create the surface details on 3D models for video games, films, and animation. This course may be helpful for texture artists, especially the sections on adding texture to clothes and using photos and textures in paintings. Understanding how light affects colors, as taught in the course, helps texture artists create realistic and visually appealing surfaces. The course may enable texture artists to develop the skills needed to create high-quality and detailed textures for 3D models.
Art Director
Art directors oversee the visual style and images for various projects, such as magazines, newspapers, product packaging, and film and television productions. Although often requiring a master's degree, this course assists those who wish to become an art director in understanding the fundamentals of digital painting. While an art director typically manages other artists, a solid understanding of painting, composition, and color theory, as taught in this course, enables them to provide effective guidance and feedback. The emphasis on applying color palettes and avoiding common painting mistakes may provide the skills needed to ensure visual consistency and high-quality artwork across projects.
Art teacher
Art teachers educate students on art history, techniques, and concepts. This course may provide art teachers with a refresher on digital painting techniques and fundamental art principles. The lessons on blending colors, applying color theory, and composing paintings can be shared with students. Furthermore, the full painting projects completed in the course may serve as examples for students. An art teacher may use this course to expand their knowledge of digital painting and enhance their teaching abilities.
Digital Sculptor
Digital sculptors create 3D models for video games, films, and animation. While the course focuses on painting, the understanding of form, value, and color may be useful to digital sculptors. The lessons on making objects look 3D and composing with values may help sculptors create visually appealing and believable models. A digital sculptor might benefit from the course to improve their understanding of visual principles that inform their sculpting work.

Reading list

We've selected two 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 How to Digitally Paint -- Paint with Clip Studio Paint.
Must-read for any digital painter looking to master color theory and light interaction. It bridges the gap between traditional painting principles and digital techniques, offering practical advice applicable to Clip Studio Paint. Gurney's clear explanations and illustrative examples make complex concepts accessible, enhancing the learner's ability to create realistic and visually compelling paintings. It is particularly useful for the sections on color theory and painting from black and white to color.
Hogarth's 'Dynamic Anatomy' comprehensive guide to understanding the human form in motion. It's particularly useful for artists who want to create dynamic and expressive figures in their paintings. While challenging, the knowledge gained from this book can elevate the quality of character art significantly. It is particularly useful for the sections on painting figures and characters.

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