What's included
4 live meetings
3 hrs 20 mins in-class hoursProjects
1 hour per week. After each class, students will have the option to complete a drawing assignment similar to what we covered in class. They can submit their homework and receive feedback, including visual and verbal commentary and corrections.Assessment
The teacher will give video, visual and verbal feedback on the homework assignments.Class Experience
Iβm so excited to bring back this popular class, where weβll dive into creating amazing background scenes for your artwork! This class is great for all skill levels, whether youβre new to drawing or have some experience under your belt. Weβre going to explore tons of cool environments and pick up techniques that will help you create your own fantasy worlds. Every week weβll focus on a new theme, so thereβs always something fresh to draw! Weβll start with nature scenes, then medieval architecture, futuristic cityscapes, and youβll even get to vote on a theme, so we can all create something unique together based on what youβre most excited about! Throughout the course, youβll learn lots of essential drawing skills like perspective (how to make things look realistic and three-dimensional), layering (foreground, midground, and background), shading, and adding fine details to make your drawings pop. These skills are super important if you want to create environments that feel real and interesting. Plus, learning them now will give you a strong foundation for any art projects you take on in the future. The class is mostly taught in black-and-white, so all you need is a pencil and paper. But if you like drawing digitally, feel free to use those tools too! Most students stick to black-and-white to practice fundamentals, but if you work quickly or want to experiment, you can add line art or color to make your drawing stand out. This setup allows everyone to work at their own pace, which means youβll feel comfortable whether youβre a beginner or a more advanced artist. This class is perfect if you already enjoy drawing characters and want to create worlds for them to live in! Learning to draw environments can be really rewarding, especially if youβre interested in creating comics, concept art, or even your own fantasy landscapes. Itβs also a great way to get more comfortable with drawing scenes that tell a story. I canβt wait to see all the creative landscapes youβll bring to life in this class. Weβre going to have a lot of fun experimenting with different themes and learning together. Get ready to turn your imagination into amazing drawings, and Iβll see you in class!
Learning Goals
The learning goal is to master fundamental drawing techniques and use them to create original backgrounds. Students will be able to look at multiple reference photos and draw their own unique interpretations.
Syllabus
4 Lessons
over 4 WeeksLesson 1:
Nature Countryside & Forest
In the first class, we will learn the fundamentals of environmental design, focusing on how to draw trees, natural elements, and forests.
50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Medieval Town & Castle
In the second class, we're going to learn how to draw medieval architecture, including towns and castles.
50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Futuristic Cityscape
In the third class, we will draw a futuristic cityscape with buildings, flying cars, and other details.
50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Student Choice
In the final class, students will be able to vote on a theme, and together we will create a custom piece of art based on the chosen theme.
50 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Supply List
Flexible Material List: The class is mostly taught in black-and-white, so all you need is a pencil and paper. But if you like drawing digitally, feel free to use those tools too! Most students stick to black-and-white to practice fundamentals, but if you work quickly or want to experiment, you can add line art or color to make your drawing stand out. This setup allows everyone to work at their own pace, which means youβll feel comfortable whether youβre a beginner or a more advanced artist.
Β 1 file available upon enrollment
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Teacher expertise and credentials
Bachelor's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from Carnegie Mellon University
Chris Chien is a professional theme park designer who has spent the last 10 years contributing to projects such as Universal Studios, Sesame Street Land, SeaWorld, Kennedy Space Center, Ferrari World and many more. As a professional concept designer and illustrator, he has created designs for many theme parks all around the world!
Chris primarily works in Photoshop, but his background in traditional mediums such as charcoal, watercolor and oil painting help gives his digital art an authentically βhand-paintedβ look. In addition, Chris often uses 3D software such as SketchUp, Unreal Engine and Planet Coaster to create immersive worlds.
In 2010, Chris graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a Bachelors in Industrial Design and a minor in Theater. During his time in college, Chris designed and built many award-winning Carnival Booths, which sparked his interest in themed entertainment. Afterward graduating from Carnegie Mellon, he moved to Los Angeles to study at the prestigious Concept Design Academy, studying under Hollywoodβs finest professionals from Disney, Pixar, Dreamworks, Lucasfilms, Marvel, and Blizzard.
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Chrisβ passion for themed entertainment and storytelling comes from exploring different countries. With his desire to learn and explore, he backpacked around the world, visiting the continents of Europe, Asia and South America - seeing castles, jungles, and temples in their natural context. Chrisβ mission in themed entertainment not just to entertain, but to also provide education and inspiration to people around the globe.
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Skills:
ββ’ 10 years of concept art and design experience
ββ’ 8 years of professional teaching experience (art classes for children, teens and adults)
β’ Experienced in theme park design, concept art for games and movies, showset design, fabrication, and scenic painting
Reviews
Live Group Course
$19
weekly or $75 for 4 classes1x per week, 4 weeks
50 min
Completed by 261 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 10-15
5-12 learners per class
Financial Assistanceβ
Outschool Internationalβ
Tutoringβ
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