You want your characters to be better but you're unsure what you're missing
Does this sound familiar?
-
Struggle to realistically shade and light your characters
-
Not getting hired to paint characters for game companies
-
Your characters feel boring compared to pro pieces
-
Feel tired of the same vague tips from every art video
Student Art by Bjorn Rothig
I'm Clint Cearley, veteran fantasy illustrator, and I'll be your teacher
My focus as a teacher is explaining art theory in understandable ways which combine with assignments that will get you noticeable improvements. As an illustrator for D&D and Magic: The Gathering, I've learned what clients are looking for, and what key factors will make your pieces stand out from the crowd. I'll teach you what those are as you work on targeted skills then illustrate your own fantasy character.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Posing & Anatomy
Lighting & Shading
Portraits & Skin Tones
Material Rendering
Character Design
Final Character
TAKEAWAYS
Experience
Participants consistently give this course positive reviews and say it's one of the best courses they've ever taken.
Convenience
With the lesson videos being hosted on the site, no downloading and storing of large video files is necessary.
Confidence
Armed with the skills to tackle the trickiest problems, you will approach future pieces with confidence.
PROCESS
01
Get the Course
From the store you will choose either the regular self-study version or the premium version with feedback. If this is your first course at Academy, you'll be prompted to create a site profile during the checkout process.
02
Start the Lessons
After logging into your site profile, watch the lesson videos, download the provided assignment files, then complete the assignment worksheets.
03
New Art and Skills
Share your new character made during the class on your social then apply your new skills and understanding for both personal and professional characters.
CUSTOMER REVIEWS
"Definitely recommended!"
"Character Illustration is an awesome course, full of condensed information that is applicable to other subjects as well. Design, values, shading, materials - Clint manages to give a complete overview and introduction to many key concepts, while still diving deep enough to provide knowledge at all levels. Definitely recommended!"
Bjorn Rothig
"great way to understand the process"
"The Character Illustration course is a great way to understand the process and come up for illustrations for your portfolio. Clint and Diana are incredible teachers, always informative and open for questions."
Frank Santos
"best online art school"
"This is the best online art school. I have completed several online art courses, but this art school surpasses all of them for the price it is. The teachers here love art and what they teach. But the best part for me is how honest the teachers are."
FAQ
I want to work for D&D, is this the right course? Yes! This course was specifically designed for those who want to create standalone (no background) character illustrations like those seen in D&D, Pathfinder, and many other TTRPGs.
Is this course a good practice before Fantasy Illustration? Yes, the skills you learn in this intermediate class will directly build into doing the full scenes from the Fantasy Illustration course.
Can I complete this course while working full-time? The regular self-study version of this course can be accomplished at any speed so there is no pressure. Many students who successfully go through the premium version with feedback, are working adults. The assignments are designed to be doable in about 15 hours per week.
The price is higher than other courses I’ve seen, why? Our course produces better lasting results than other courses which are often hastily put together by skilled artists who unfortunately aren’t accomplished teachers. Those courses often rely on vague theory and intuition (without tailored assignments) rather than clear, actionable instruction (with tailored assignments). Because we are so critical about the quality of our curriculum, it means you enjoy a more streamlined course with less fluff, more actionable teaching, and lasting results that make students say it’s one of the best courses they’ve ever taken.
How do I know if I'm at the right level for this course? This course is intermediate difficulty and students should already have skills in the following subjects: foundational drawing, basic shading, foundational figure and anatomy, and prior experience with digital painting is recommended. Serious art students should find the class and homework enjoyable, yet challenging. Hobbyists will likely find the assignments more intensive and regimented than they are used to. If you are still unsure if you have the skill necessary for this class, please contact Clint at clint@swatchesacademy.com and include a link to your online artwork, and we will let you know.
READY TO GET STARTED?
There are currently three options for this course, which all use the same recorded lessons and course files.
IMPORTANT INFO: Preparation and Specs so you're ready, and Schedules for premium Feedback versions.
By registering for the course with feedback, you are agreeing to follow our common sense Code of Conduct.
​
BONUS ($50 value): Everyone who registers for this course (both self-study and feedback versions) gain access to the Custom Career & Portfolio Strategy Kit to help create a time-saving art career plan, and dynamic portfolio.
