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Brian Jackson, Writing, Self-publishing and Marketing an Amazon Kindle eBook and Book with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and KDP

Hello,

Welcome to my beginners course on digital drawing using the free GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP).  My name is Brian Jackson and I'm a top rated Udemy instructor of over 48 courses covering a wide range of topics from writing, self-publishing and book covers to 2D animation.

Read more

Hello,

Welcome to my beginners course on digital drawing using the free GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP).  My name is Brian Jackson and I'm a top rated Udemy instructor of over 48 courses covering a wide range of topics from writing, self-publishing and book covers to 2D animation.

This course provides an introduction to both digital drawing using a tablet and the GIMP program.  Hardware and software usage details are woven throughout lectures on fundamental drawing techniques and example drawing workshops.  Each section concludes with a workshop in which all the previously discussed features are demonstrated followed by a project you can work on independently and submit for review and comment.

In an attempt to get you drawing fast, this course begins with tablet selection and installation and basic GIMP usage.  That's enough to get you drawing.  Then we'll add information on using layers, and digital editing.

Unlike other courses, this course assumes no former knowledge, begins at the beginning and teaches you drawing and the software rather than simply having you watch me draw (though you'll get plenty of that as well).

This course is designed for drawing and illustration enthusiasts who would like to learn how to draw digitally using a tablet and the free GIMP software product (that runs on Windows 10, Mac OS and Linux).  The ideal student is someone new to digital drawing and possibly even drawing itself.  Someone who has an idea trapped inside them that they need to express through a creative medium.

Thanks for your interest in GIMP digital drawing.  I hope you're excited to get started.  If you are, go ahead and click on the enroll button.  Don't forget the Udemy 30 day money back guarantee.  This should make your decision an easy one.

So, I'll see you in the classroom,

Brian

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Draw digital images for use in designing book covers and web graphics
  • Color black and white drawings quickly and easily
  • Learn the fundamentals of drawing and digital tablet use
  • Share your ideas with the world

Syllabus

Introduction
Course Overview
Tablet Fundamentals
Introduction to Tablet Fundamentals
Read more
Selecting the Perfect Tablet
Configuring Your Wacom Tablet Using Windows 10
From Paper/Mouse to a Tablet
Tablet Fundamentals Workshop
Tablet Fundamentals Section Project
Conclusion to Tablet Fundamentals
GIMP Fundamentals
Introduction to GIMP Fundamentals
Installing the GIMP
Starting the GIMP
Screen Layout and Configuration
New, Save, Open, Close, Export and Quit
Simply Drawing Using a Digital Pen
Undo and Undo History
Finger Gestures: Zoom, Pan and Rotate
GIMP Fundamentals Workshop
GIMP Fundamentals Section Project
Conclusion GIMP Fundamentals
Drawing Using Layers
Introduction to Drawing Using Layers
What Are Layers?
Adding, Moving, Copying, Deleting, Renaming and Grouping Layers
Reference Images and Tracing
Background Layers and Gradients
Two Layer Mask Applications
Drawing Using Layers Section Project
Conclusion to Drawing Using Layers
Digital Drawing and Editing
Introduction to Digital Drawing and Editing
Selecting, Deleting, Moving, Copying, Resizing and Rotating
Drawing Straight Lines
Drawing Rectangles, Squares, Ovals and Circles
Creating Picture Frames and Matting Your Work
Digital Drawing and Editing Workshop
Digital Drawing and Editing Section Project
Conclusion to Digital Drawing and Editing
Conclusion
What's Next?

In this lecture, I show how to find the remainder of my Udemy courses and how to get them dirt cheap.

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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 GIMP Digital Drawing: Free GIMP with a Budget Tablet with these activities:
Practice Basic Drawing Techniques
Reviewing fundamental drawing techniques will provide a solid foundation for digital drawing in GIMP.
Browse courses on Line Drawing
Show steps
  • Practice drawing basic shapes like circles, squares, and triangles.
  • Experiment with different shading techniques to create depth.
  • Practice drawing straight lines and curves accurately.
Read 'Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain'
Reading this book will help you develop your drawing skills and understand the fundamentals of visual perception.
Show steps
  • Read the book and complete the exercises.
  • Focus on the techniques for seeing and drawing shapes.
Follow GIMP Tutorials on YouTube
Following GIMP tutorials will help you learn specific techniques and workflows within the software.
Show steps
  • Search for tutorials on specific GIMP features, like layers or brushes.
  • Follow along with the tutorials and practice the techniques.
  • Experiment with different settings and approaches.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Practice Coloring Black and White Drawings
Practicing coloring black and white drawings will reinforce your understanding of color theory and digital painting techniques in GIMP.
Show steps
  • Find black and white line art online or create your own.
  • Use GIMP's color tools to add color to the drawings.
  • Experiment with different color palettes and blending modes.
Create a Digital Book Cover
Creating a digital book cover will allow you to apply your GIMP and drawing skills to a real-world project.
Show steps
  • Choose a book and research its genre and target audience.
  • Sketch out several cover ideas.
  • Create the final cover design in GIMP.
  • Get feedback on your design and make revisions.
Share Your Artwork Online
Sharing your artwork online will help you get feedback and build a portfolio.
Show steps
  • Create an account on an art-sharing website like DeviantArt or ArtStation.
  • Upload your artwork and write a description.
  • Engage with other artists and get feedback on your work.
Read 'Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter'
Reading this book will deepen your understanding of color and light, improving your digital painting skills.
Show steps
  • Read the book and study the examples.
  • Experiment with different lighting and color schemes in GIMP.

Career center

Learners who complete GIMP Digital Drawing: Free GIMP with a Budget Tablet will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Digital Artist
A Digital Artist creates art using digital tools and software. They may work in a variety of styles and mediums, including illustration, painting, and photo manipulation. This course is specifically designed for learning digital drawing and is tailored for drawing and illustration enthusiasts who want to learn how to draw digitally using a tablet and the free GIMP software product. The course will be useful in learning how to draw digital images. The digital editing portion of the course will also be helpful to a Digital Artist.
Digital Painter
A Digital Painter creates artwork using software and tablets to mimic traditional painting techniques. This role is very similar to that of an Illustrator, which is mentioned above. This course is tailored for drawing and illustration enthusiasts who want to learn digital drawing using a tablet and GIMP. The course emphasizes fundamental drawing techniques and software usage. The course's focus on digital tablet use and GIMP program, along with workshops throughout lectures, will be helpful.
Illustrator
An Illustrator creates images for books, magazines, posters, and other media. They use various techniques, including hand-drawing and digital tools, to bring ideas to life. This course is tailored for drawing and illustration enthusiasts who want to learn digital drawing using a tablet and the GIMP software. The course emphasizes fundamental drawing techniques and software usage, while also providing hands-on workshops and projects. The course's focus on digital tablet use and GIMP program, along with workshops throughout lectures, will be helpful to an Illustrator.
Graphic designer
A Graphic Designer creates visual concepts to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, or captivate consumers. They develop the overall layout and production design for advertisements, brochures, magazines, and corporate reports. This course helps build a foundation in digital drawing using a tablet and the GIMP program, with hands-on workshops that teach fundamental drawing techniques and software usage. Learning how to draw digital images will be useful for designing web graphics. One who wishes to become a Graphic Designer should take this course to get familiar with GIMP, a free software, and learn how to navigate it effectively.
Book Cover Designer
A Book Cover Designer creates visually appealing and marketable covers for books. They combine typography, imagery, and layout to attract readers and convey the book's essence. The course should be particularly useful for designing book covers, and teaches the fundamentals of drawing and digital tablet use. Notably, it teaches how to draw digital images for use in designing book covers. This makes the course particularly useful for one who wants to become a Book Cover Designer.
Freelance Artist
A Freelance Artist will typically handle the task of creating visual content for a wide variety of clients. This course helps build a foundation in digital drawing using GIMP. The course begins at the beginning, and teaches drawing in addition to software, which may be especially useful to a Freelance Artist who does not have a formal education in art. The digital editing components of the course will also be useful.
Character Designer
A Character Designer job involves visually developing characters for animation, video games, and other media. This course will be especially useful in learning how to draw digitally using a tablet and the free GIMP software product. The course will be useful in learning how to draw digital images. The digital editing components of the course will also be helpful to one who wishes to become a Character Designer. The course assumes no former knowledge which may be useful for a beginner Character Designer.
Visual Development Artist
A Visual Development Artist (often requiring a master's degree) creates the overall look and feel of a project, such as an animated film or video game. The ideal student is someone new to digital drawing, and possibly even drawing itself. The course will be useful in learning how to draw digital images. The digital editing components of the course will also be helpful to one who wishes to become a Visual Development Artist.
Concept Artist
A Concept Artist creates visual representations of ideas for use in films, video games, and other media. They design characters, environments, and objects to help guide the creative process. This course helps build a foundation in digital drawing using GIMP, which is useful for creating concept art. The course begins with tablet selection and installation and basic GIMP usage, so that one can get drawing fast. The example drawing workshops are of particular use to one who wishes to pursue the role of Concept Artist.
Game Artist
A Game Artist creates visual elements for video games, including characters, environments, and user interfaces. They work closely with game designers and programmers to bring the game's world to life. This course focuses on digital drawing, which is a critical skill for any Game Artist. The course will be useful for drawing and illustration enthusiasts who would like to learn how to draw digitally using a tablet and the free GIMP software product. The digital editing components of the course may also be helpful to a Game Artist.
Web Designer
A Web Designer plans the visual layout of websites and online platforms. They ensure websites are user-friendly, aesthetically pleasing, and effectively communicate information. This course is designed with the aim of creating web graphics. The curriculum focuses on fundamental drawing techniques and introduces the use of tablets, alongside teaching how to use GIMP to create visual designs. The tablet fundamentals section project may also assist Web Designers.
Storyboard Artist
A Storyboard Artist creates visual representations of scenes for films, television shows, and commercials. This course may be useful for Storyboard Artists as digital drawing is an important subskill. The course's inclusion of hardware and software usage details woven throughout lectures on fundamental drawing techniques may be helpful to a Storyboard Artist. The digital editing components of the course may also be useful.
Texture Artist
A Texture Artist in the gaming and animation industries creates the surface details of 3D models. They paint realistic or stylized textures that define the look and feel of characters, environments, and props. This course may be useful for Texture Artists as digital drawing is an important subskill. The course's inclusion of hardware and software usage details woven throughout lectures on fundamental drawing techniques may be helpful to a Texture Artist. The digital editing components of the course will also be useful.
Motion Graphics Designer
A Motion Graphics Designer creates animated visuals for videos, websites, and other media. They use animation and visual effects to communicate ideas and messages in an engaging way. This course might be useful for Motion Graphics Designers as digital drawing is an important subskill. The course's inclusion of hardware and software usage details woven throughout lectures on fundamental drawing techniques may be helpful to a Motion Graphics Designer. The digital editing components of the course may also be useful.
Animator
Animators create moving images using computer software or stop-motion techniques. They work in a variety of industries, including film, television, and video games. This course may be useful for Animators as digital drawing is an important subskill. The course's inclusion of hardware and software usage details woven throughout lectures on fundamental drawing techniques may be helpful to an Animator. The digital editing components of the course will also be useful.

Featured in The Course Notes

This course is mentioned in our blog, The Course Notes. Read one article that features GIMP Digital Drawing: Free GIMP with a Budget Tablet:

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 GIMP Digital Drawing: Free GIMP with a Budget Tablet.
Teaches you how to draw by tapping into the creative side of your brain. It classic guide to learning how to draw realistically. It is particularly useful for beginners who want to improve their observational skills and translate what they see onto paper. This book provides a strong foundation for the digital drawing techniques taught in the course.
Explores the principles of color and light in painting. It valuable resource for understanding how light interacts with objects and how to create realistic color palettes. While focused on traditional painting, the concepts are directly applicable to digital painting in GIMP. This book provides a deeper understanding of color theory and lighting techniques, enhancing the digital drawing skills learned in the course.

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