Digital Art and Composition

Character design, proportion, anatomy, costume design, movement, character interaction, and composition are the focus of this digital class, which is taught by two excellent professional illustrators.

PLEASE NOTE: Instructors Lilliah Campagna and Mick Kaufer head our Digital Art and Composition Classes. They have also been Art Academy students since they were teenagers. When you view their work you are seeing how skills develop through our programs. The same is true of guest instructor Eliza Baker.

Lilliah Campagna's work is displayed first and Mick Kaufer's comes second. Then there are a few pieces by Eliza Baker and Sam Petersen. We hope you enjoy the exhibition!

LILLIAH CAMPAGNA

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Drelethyn, Digital Portrait

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Velsi, Digital Portrait

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Asher-Ren, Digital Portrait

Lillah Campagna, Instructor, S'en, Digital Portrait

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Character Design, Digital Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Swordplay, Digital Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Archer, Digital Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, 20 Minute Male Gesture Drawing and Jacket Study, Digital Life Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Wordless Color Panel 1, Digital Graphic Novel Page

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Wordless Color Panel 2, Digital Graphic Novel Page

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Diagnosis, Age 19, Two Panel Digital Painting

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Spook, Digital Half Length Portrait

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Character Design, Digital Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor 2-3 Perspective Study, Digital drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Elfen Meeting, Digital Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, The Kiss, Digital Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Fashion Variations, Digital Costume Design

Lilliah campagna, Instructor, Room Render and Wire Frame 2, Digital Perspective Study

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Room Render and Wire Frame 2, Digital Perspective Study

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Armor Design, Digital Costume Design

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Dance, Digital Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Couple, Digital Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, 20 Minute Male Gesture Drawing, Digital Life Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Digital Sketchbook Page, Digital Drawing and Painting

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Color Costume Design, Digital Costume and Character Design

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Color Costume Design 1, Age 20, Digital Costume and Character Design

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Color Character Design 2, Closeup

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Color Character Design, Digital Costume and Character Design

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Graphic Novel Page, Digital Color Panel

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Roan, Digital Costume and Character Design

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Storytelling Moment Inside a Yurt, Digital Painting

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Tindlewick, Digital Costume and Character Design

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, S'en, Digital Illustration

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Archmaster Drelethyn Venim Redoran, Digital Illustration

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Sumerian Comic Books?, Digital Black and White Comic Page

Lilliah Campagna, A Tragedy in Two Parts, Digital Black and White Comic Page

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Kivrin, Age 21, Digital Character Design Sheet

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, The Central Republic of Rota, Digital Character Design Sheet

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, The Uruk, Digital Character Design Sheet

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Sendaya Neru, Age 21, Digital Character Design Sheet

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Ink Graphic Novel Page 1, Digital Black and White Panel

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Ink Graphic Novel Page 2, Digital Black and White Panel

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Ink Graphic Novel Page 3, Digital Black and White Panel

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Ink Graphic Novel Page 4, Digital Black and White Panel

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Iron Matron, Age 21, Digital Black and White Illustration

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Goddess 1, Digital Black and White Illustration

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Goddess 2, Age 21, Digital Black and White Illustration

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Blackmoon, Digital Black and White Illustration

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Shezade, Digital Graphic Novel Rough

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Graphic Novel Page 1, Digital Color Panel

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Graphic Novel Page 2, Digital Color Panel

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Graphic Novel Page 3, Digital Color Panel

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Fantasy Nude, Digital Painting

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, 20 Minute Gesture Drawing 1, Digital Life Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, 20 Minute Gesture Drawing 2, Digital Life Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, 20 Minute Gesture Drawing 3, Digital Life Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Lorkhan, Digital Character Design

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Creature Character Design, Digital Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Bringer of Light, Digital Blueline Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Half Length Portrait Study, Digital Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Adding Some Color…, Digital Painting

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Drift Doodle, Digital Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Male Portrait Drawing, Digital Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Male Portrait Painting, Digital Painting

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, The Hanging Gardens at Nchuleftingth, Digital Illustration

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Embrace, Digital Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Drift/Deadlock Holoform Design, Digital Clothing Design

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Kieran, Digital Blueline Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, You Don't Mess With The Queen, Digital Painting

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Mychen-Zel Doodle, Digital Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Handsome Robot God, Digital Portrait Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, "This is you last warning!", Digital Painting

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Aelinus and Daelenar, Digital Painting

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Spicy Sketch, Digital Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Couples Doodle, Digital Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Dwemer OC Cor Istec, Digital Painting

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Venthys, Digital Painting

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Birthday Sketch, digital Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Agony, Digital Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, "Remember he loves you!", Digital Painting Sketch

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Drift/Deadlock, Digital Painting

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Ryou Bakura, Digital Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, S'en in her later years, Digital Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, "Larkin is the Framemaker…" Digital Drawing

MICK KAUFER

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Portrait Study in Profile, Digital Bistre Drawing

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Portrait Study, Digital Bistre Drawing

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Two Lovers, Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Portrait Study, Digital Bistre Drawing

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Flying Raven, Digital Drawing

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Skull Cat, Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Standing Raven, Digital Drawing

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Skull Bat, Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Portrait Study, Digital Bistre Drawing

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, D&D Campaign Design 1, Digital Character Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, D&D Character Design 2, Digital Character Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Portrait Study, Digital Bistre Drawing

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, The Sacred and The Profane, Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Portrait Study, Digital Bistre Drawing

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Portrait Study, Digital Bistre Drawing

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Olivia and Lars, Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Heart was Breakin' Hands were Shakin', Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Skull Snake, Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Dragon Skeleton, Digital Drawing

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Skull Rat, Digital Drawing

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Evil Ways, Digital Illustration

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Face Studies, Digital Facial Expression Sheet

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Kerosene Eyes, Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Kill of The Night, Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Oh, And Down We Go, Age 21, Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Oh Mercy, Digital Preparatory Drawing

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Mercy, Age 22, Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Oh Mercy, Close-up

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Ghost Eyes 1, Digital Portrait

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Pain and Pyre, Digital Preparatory Drawing

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Pain and Pyre, Final Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Ghost Eyes 2, Digital Portrait

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Smile Studies, Digital Expression Studies

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Background Variation 1, Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Background Variation 2, Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Anger Studies, Digital Expression Studies

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, 1920's Flapper, Digital Clothing Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, 1920s Singer, Digital Clothing Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, 1920s Gentleman, Digital Clothing Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, 1920s Gangster, Digital Clothing Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Murder of a Muse, Digital Painting Inspired by J. C. Leyendecker

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Songbird of the Blackwater, Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Nightclub Singer, Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, The Bootleg Blues, Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Spiderverse, Digital Character Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Outfit Design Lineup 1, Digital Clothing Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Outfit Design Lineup 2, Digital Clothing Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Nastia, Digital Clothing Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, The Boxer, Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, The Lovers, Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Redemption, Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Night Out, Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Change My Ways, Digital Preparatory Drawing

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Change My Ways, Digital Value Study

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Change My Ways, Final Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Office Work, Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, DA Character, Digital Costume Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Dress Design Stage 1, Digital Costume Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Dress Design Stage 2, Digital Costume Drawing

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Dress Design Final, Digital Costume Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Dress Design Variation 1, Digital Costume and Character Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Dress Design Variation 2, Digital Costume and Character Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Dress Design Variation 3, Digital Costume and Character Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Dress Design Variation 4, Digital Costume and Character Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, D & D Character Design Sheet With Height Comparisons, Digital Character Design Sheet

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Buccaneer Action Poses, Digital Warfare Study

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, 18th Century Dandy, Age 19, Digital Character Design Sheet

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, 18th Century Dandy, Digital Costume Design Variations

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, The Dishonorable Captain Vane, Digital Costume Design Closeup

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Pirate and Pursuer, Costume, and Pose Design, Digital Preparatory Drawing

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Pirate and Pursuer, Final Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, All Hail the Queen, Digital Portrait

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Female Warrior, Digital Character Study

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Medusa, Digital Costume Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Witchhunter, Digital Costume Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Historical Figure, Digital Costume and Character Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Portrait Eyes, Digital Portrait

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Body Eyes, Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Angel, Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, One of Swords, Digital Tarot Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Grey Warden, Age 20, Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Grey Warden, Closeup of Armor

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Grey Warden, Closeup of Facial Features

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, End Of Days, Digital Painting

ELIZA BAKER and SAM PETERSEN

Eliza Baker, Guest Instructor, Arinel, Age 21, Digital Painting

Eliza Baker, Guest Instructor, Jargo and the Pheonix, Age 21, Digital Painting

Sam Petersen, Guest Instructor, Stoop, Digital Painting

Sam Petersen, Guest Instructor, Kitchen, Digital Painting

Heroes and Monsters

Initially, students will select inspirational master works to copy and use to study traditional techniques. While developing these essential skills, they also maintain a sketchbook of original ideas for narratives, subjects, character designs, and settings. Advanced students culminate their experience by creating a finished, fully realized painting.

In this first sequence of pictures, students have created paintings to learn step-by-step procedures from masters of Fantasy, Comic, and Science Fiction art.

Liam Headrick, Age 11, Watercolor

Aidan Headrick, Age 13, Watercolor

David Lin, Age 12, Watercolor

Liam Headrick, Age 11, Watercolor

Johnny Barret, Age 16, Watercolor

Lilliah Campagna, RHUPA Clukerbug Chase, Age 18, Original Visual Development Watercolor Design

Mason Smith, Age 15, Watercolor

Iris Baurceanu, Age 15, Watercolor

Fina Mooney, Age 12, Watercolor

Joey Snippes, Age 12, Watercolor

State Fair Blue Ribbon Winner! Izzy Wexler-Mann, Age 14, Watercolor

State Fair Winner! Alex Pedersen, Age 14, Watercolor

Eliza Baker, Guest Instructor, Kindred Spirits, Age 19, Watercolor

Zach Clemens, Age 17, Oil on Canvas Board

Nils Lundgren, Age 17, Oil on Canvas Board

Daphne Welter, Age 19, Oil on Canvas Board

State Fair Winner! Alex Pederson, Age 16, Oil Painting on Canvas Board

David Alf, Age 17, Oil Painting on Canvas Board

Sam Eiken, Age 15, Oil Painting on Canvas Board

State Fair Blue Ribbon Winner! Alex Pederson, Age 15, Oil Painting on Canvas Board

Developing a Concept to Finish

In the following sequence of pictures we trace the thought process of one student at work on an original fantasy painting. Inspired by masterworks and sketchbook drawings, Alex used ink and wash to paint composition sketches. The cycle shows Alex's rough, initial concept as it develops into a complete visual expression through incremental studies.

Alex then selected his best concepts and consulted photographic reference to produce a full-size compositional drawing. Next came his bistre and grisaille underpainting.

The gallery concludes with a pencil drawing by Eliza Baker. It is included to demonstrate the variety of techniques we encourage students to try as they work to harness their first creative impulse.

Alex Pederson, Age 17, Ink Wash Notan Study

Alex Pederson, Age 17, Ink Wash Notan Study

Alex Pederson, Age 17, Ink Wash Notan Study

Alex Pederson, Age 17, Ink Wash Notan Study Stage 1

Alex Pederson, Age 17, Ink Wash Notan Study Stage 2

Alex Pederson, Age 17, Thumbnail Gesture Studies

Alex Pederson, Age 17, Refined Thumbnail Gesture Study

Alex Pederson, Age 17, Refined Thumbnail Ink Wash Gesture Study

Alex Pederson, Age 17, Black & White Reference Photo taken of fellow student Zach Clemens dressed up in costumes from The Art Academy's collection

Alex Pederson, Age 17, Preparatory Charcoal Study

Alex Pederson, Age 17, Oil Underpainting Study on Canvas Board

Eliza Baker, Age 19, Come Take a Drink, Original Graphite on Paper

Character Design and Development

Proportion, anatomy, costume design, action, and character interaction are the focus of this class, taught by professional illustrators. Both instructor and student artwork are combined in this Gallery.

PLEASE NOTE: Instructors Mick Kaufer and Lilliah campagna head our Character Design and Development Classes. They have also been Art Academy students since they were teenagers. When you view their work you see how skills develop through our programs. The same is true of guest instructor Eliza Baker. When other students are showcased in this Gallery, their ages are always listed.

Pencil Starts

First lessons in Character Design are done in pencil, non-photo blue pencil, brown pencil, or red pencil. Some of the samples show the use of digital tablets.

Matt Wendt, Guest Instructor, Astrosaur Cybear, Pencil Study

Matt Wendt, Guest Instructor, Pet Triceratops, Pencil Study

Matt Wendt, Guest Instructor, Spaceasaurus, Pencil Study

Matt Wendt, Guest Instructor, Two Bunnies, Pencil Study

Matt Wendt, Guest Instructor, Terra the Teen Timetraveler, Pencil Study

Matt Wendt, Guest Instructor, Space Elf, Pencil Study

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Archmaster Drelethyn Character Design, Digital Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Bringer of Light, Digital Blueline Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Female Warrior Character Design, Digital Brownline Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Female Archer, Digital Redline Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Female Swordmaster, Digital Redline Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Instructor, Half Length Portrait Study of a Male Elf, Digital Drawing

Pen & Ink Character Studies

Developing Pen & Ink skills is essential to create dynamic characters. Our examples include traditional and digital inking methods.

David Witt, Instructor, Famous Last Words – Salvador Dali, Pen & Ink Drawing

Matt Wendt, Guest Instructor, Mutant Bunny, Pen & Ink Character Study

Matt Wendt, Guest Instructor, Batman, Pen & Ink Character Study

David Witt, Instructor, Famous Last Words – Josephine Baker, Pen & Ink Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Goddess 1, Digital Black and White Illustration

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Creature Character Design, Digital Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Blackmoon, Digital Black and White Illustration

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Goddess 2, Digital Black and White Illustration

Alex Pedersen, Age 14, Pen & Ink on Paper

Alex Carroll, Age 14, Pen & Ink on Paper

Stephanie Bai, Age 13, Pen & Ink on Paper

Mason Seller, Age 13, Pen & Ink on Paper

DWitt's Inktober

Throughout October, 2014, instructor David Witt created a Halloween tribute and spoofed many popular cartoon, comic, and film characters. We publish this homage as a celebration of David's commitment to perfect his inking skills, which he demonstrates to our students.

David Witt, Instructor, DWitt's Inktober – 2014, Pen & Ink Book Cover

David Witt, Instructor, DWitt's Inktober – 2014, Book Illustration, Pen & Ink Drawing

David Witt, Instructor, DWitt's Inktober – 2014, Book Illustration, Pen & Ink Drawing

David Witt, Instructor, DWitt's Inktober – 2014, Book Illustration, Pen & Ink Drawing

David Witt, Instructor, DWitt's Inktober – 2014, Book Illustration, Pen & Ink Drawing

David Witt, Instructor, DWitt's Inktober – 2014, Book Illustration, Pen & Ink Drawing

David Witt, Instructor, DWitt's Inktober – 2014, Book Illustration, Pen & Ink Drawing

David Witt, Instructor, DWitt's Inktober – 2014, Book Illustration, Pen & Ink Drawing

David Witt, Instructor, DWitt's Inktober – 2014, Book Illustration, Pen & Ink Drawing

David Witt, Instructor, DWitt's Inktober – 2014, Book Illustration, Pen & Ink Drawing

David Witt, Instructor, DWitt's Inktober – 2014, Book Illustration, Pen & Ink Drawing

David Witt, Instructor, DWitt's Inktober – 2014, Book Illustration, Pen & Ink Drawing

David Witt, Instructor, DWitt's Inktober – 2014, Book Illustration, Pen & Ink Drawing

David Witt, Instructor, DWitt's Inktober – 2014, Book Illustration, Pen & Ink Drawing

David Witt, Instructor, DWitt's Inktober – 2014, Book Illustration, Pen & Ink Drawing

David Witt, Instructor, DWitt's Inktober – 2014, Book Illustration, Pen & Ink Drawing

David Witt, Instructor, DWitt's Inktober – 2014, Book Illustration, Pen & Ink Drawing

David Witt, Instructor, DWitt's Inktober – 2014, Book Illustration, Pen & Ink Drawing

David Witt, Instructor, DWitt's Inktober – 2014, Book Illustration, Pen & Ink Drawing

David Witt, Instructor, You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch!, Pen & Ink Drawing. This was not a part of David's 2014 Inktober series, but what a fun portrait of Dr. Suess' antagonist

Color Character Studies

After students learn how to create characters in black & white they are encouraged to explore designs in color.

Becky Grutzik, Guest Instructor, Me!, Digital Self-Portrait

Becky Grutzik, Guest Instructor, Peep Light!, Digital Character Study

Becky Grutzik, Guest Instructor, Batty, Digital Character Study

Becky Grutzik, Guest Instructor, Blond Boy Hipster, Digital Character Study

Becky Grutzik, Guest Instructor, Magic Reika, Digital Character Study

Becky Grutzik, Guest Instructor, Happy Girl, Digital Character Study

Becky Grutzik, Guest Instructor, Mallet Girl, Digital Character Study

Becky Grutzik, Guest Instructor, Lazerboy, Digital Character Study

Matt Wendt, Guest Instructor, Kid Anarchy, Digital Character Study

Matt Wendt, Guest Instructor, Robot 1, Digital Character Study

Matt Wendt, Guest Instructor, Robot 2, Digital Character Study

Matt Wendt, Guest Instructor, Big Brute, Digital Character Study

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Female Warrior, Digital Character Study

Eliza Baker, Guest Instructor, Blue Mage, Age 20, Digital Character Design

Eliza Baker, Guest Instructor, Zouch, Digital Character Study

Eliza Baker, Guest Instructor, Rockasaurus, Age 20, Digital Character Study

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Roan, Digital Character Study

David Witt, Instructor, Beanbug – Bikes!, Screenprint

David Witt, Instructor, Beanbug – Books!, Screenprint

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Tindlewick, Age 18, Digital Costume and Character Study

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, The Boxer, Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Kerosene Eyes, Digital Painting

Becky Grutzik, Guest Instructor, Girl With Flowing Hair, Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Redemption, Digital Painting

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Color Costume Design, Digital Character Study Painting

Bill Hauser, Instructor, Four Chiaroscuro Character Studies 1, Ink and Acrylic on Chipboard

Bill Hauser, Instructor, Four Chiaroscuro Character Studies 2, Ink and Acrylic on Chipboard

Bill Hauser, Instructor, Electric Raven, Digital Painting

Character Design – Portraits

First we teach students to draw the rudimentary features of the human head; then they learn to manipulate those shapes to produce a variety of characters.

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Elfen Portrait Study, Digital Black and White Illustration

Sam Petersen, Guest Instructor, Goatee Portrait Side, Pen & Ink Study

Sam Petersen, Guest Instructor, Goatee Portrait Front, Pen & Ink Study

Sam Petersen, Guest Instructor, Portrait of a Skateboarder, Pen & Ink Study

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Pain and Pyre, Digital Preparatory Drawing

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Pain and Pyre, Final Digital Painting

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Digital Sketchbook Page, Digital Redline Portrait Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Mychen Zel, Digital Portrait

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, All Hail the Queen, Digital Portrait

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Ghost Eyes 1, Digital Portrait

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Ghost Eyes 2, Digital Portrait

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Portrait Studies, Digital Facial Expression Sheet

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Drelethyn, Digital Portrait

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Velsi, Digital Portrait

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Asher-Ren, Digital Portrait

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, S'en, Digital Portrait

Creative Anatomy

Character Design demands that artists have fun with anatomic forms. Then new and exciting creatures develop.

David Witt, Instructor, Skeksis, Pencil Portrait

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Flying Raven, Digital Drawing

Mick Kaufer, Dragon Skeleton, Digital Drawing

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Standing Raven, Digital Drawing

David Witt, Instructor, Funskull, Screenprint

David Witt, Instructor, Roboskull, Screenprint

David Witt, Instructor, Scribbleskull, Screenprint

David Witt, Instructor, Trippple-Eyeskull, Pencil Drawing

Character Design Sheets

Characterization all comes together when students create Character Design Sheets.

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Reven Serthi, Digital Character Design Sheet

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, D & D Character Design Sheet With Height Comparisons, Digital Character Design Sheet

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, 18th Century Dandy, Digital Character Design Sheet

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Enchantress, Digital Character Design Sheet

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Kivrin, Age 21, Digital Character Design Sheet

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, The Central Republic of Rota, Digital Character Design Sheet

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, The Uruk, Digital Character Design Sheet

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Sendaya Neru, Age 21, Digital Character Design Sheet

Costume Design and Costume Variations

After students create a Character Design Sheet they also learn how to use reference material to model costume and clothing pattern changes.

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Winged Warrior, Digital Costume Design

Sam Petersen, Guest Instructor, Dark Age Warrior Costume Design, Pen & Ink Study

Eliza Baker, Guest Instructor, Renfest Costume Design, Age 20, Digital Self-Portrait

Eliza Baker, Guest Instructor, Gidget, Age 20, Digital Costume Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, DA Character, Digital Costume Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Dress Design Stage 1, Digital Costume Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Dress Design Stage 2, Digital Costume Drawing

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Dress Design Final, Digital Costume Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Dress Design Variation 1, Digital Costume and Character Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Dress Design Variation 2, Digital Costume and Character Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Dress Design Variation 3, Digital Costume and Character Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Dress Design Variation 4, Digital Costume and Character Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, 1920's Flapper, Digital Clothing Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, 1920s Singer, Digital Clothing Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, 1920s Gentleman, Digital Clothing Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, 1920s Gangster, Digital Clothing Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Spiderverse, Digital Character Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Outfit Design Lineup 1, Digital Clothing Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Outfit Design Lineup 2, Digital Clothing Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Nastia, Digital Clothing Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, The Dishonorable Captain Vane, Digital Costume Design Closeup

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, 18th Century Dandy, Digital Costume Design Variations

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Medusa, Digital Costume Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Witchhunter, Digital Costume Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Pant Design Variation 1, Digital Costume Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Pant Design Variation 2, Digital Costume Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Pant Design Variation 3, Digital Costume Design

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Pant Design Variation 4, Digital Costume Design

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Fashion Variations, Digital Costume Design

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Color Costume Design 1, Age 20, Digital Costume and Character Design

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Color Character Design 2, Closeup

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Armor Design, Digital Costume Design

Emotion and Expression Studies

It is one thing to create a character. It is another to give LIFE to that creation. That's where emotion and expression comes into play.

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Smile Studies, Digital Expression Studies

David Witt, Instructor, Brooding Batman, Pen & Ink Character Study

David Witt, Instructor, Cackling Joker, Pen & Ink Character Study

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Anger Studies, Digital Expression Studies

David Witt, Instructor, Grumpy Ape, Screen Print

David Witt, Instructor, Shrieking Black Cat, Screenprint

David Witt, Instructor, Screaming Were-Elf, Pen & Ink Character Study

David Witt, Instructor, Angry Mummy, Screenprint

Action

A personality is not filled with life merely through facial expression. Rather, It flows through every movement of a characters body.

David Witt, Instructor, Guitar Solos, Screenprint

Becky Grutzik, Guest Instructor, Power Girl, Digital Painting

David Witt, Instructor, Universe Cruiser, Screenprint

Becky Grutzik, Guest Instructor, Girl Pointing Left, Digital Painting

Becky Grutzik, Guest Instructor, Martial Arts Girl, Digital Painting

Bill Hauser, Instructor, Grim Reaper, Pen & Ink Character Study

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Buccaneer Action Poses, Digital Warfare Study

Becky Grutzik, Guest Instructor, Forest Defender, Digital Painting

Character Interaction 

Finally, there is the challenge to create multiple characters and weave scenarios so they interact in convincing ways. Then it becomes easy for students to compose captivating pictures. View examples of those compositions in our Visual Storytelling through Comics and Graphic Novels and Digital Art and Composition Galleries.

Rick Bernal, Illustrator, Dino and Bird. This Ballpoint ink drawing was done by our dear friend Rick Bernal to illustrate key pricipals of character interaction, composition, and lighting for our school

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Archmaster Drelethyn Venim Redoran, Digital Illustration

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Council Meeting, Digital Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, S'en, Digital Illustration

Matt Wendt, Guest Instructor, Baby Ninjas 1, Digital Painting

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Dance, Digital Redline Drawing

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Couple Interacting, Digital Drawing

Matt Wendt, Baby Ninjas 2, Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Pirate and Pursuer, Costume, and Pose Design, Digital Preparatory Drawing

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Defenders, Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Couple Relaxing, Digital Drawing

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, 2 friends, Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Change My Ways, Digital Preparatory Drawing

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Change My Ways, Final Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, The Lovers, Digital Painting

Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Affection, Age 21, Digital Painting

Books and Paintings

In our 5-8 program we don't burden children students with pedantic exercises. Instead, we focus on teaching the joy of picture making, with increased emphasis on cultivating each student's drawing and painting skills as they progress from term to term.

Book illustration teaches drawing, coloring, and design. Acrylic painting improves students color mixing abilities, color temperature understanding, and reinforces composition skills.

Savmya Chandra, Age 6

Amanda Rapacz, Age 6

Stephanie Park, Age 8

State Fair Winner! Sage Kelner, Age 7

Jacob Smith, Age 7

Allie Fan, Age 8

State Fair Winner! Malcolm Kelner, Age 7

Frederick Heaser, Age 8

Max Shaffer, Age 6

Andres Jimenez, Age 8

State Fair Winner! Maggie Enestvedt, Age 7
Acrylic

Alexandra Kingsley, Age 7

Elsa Bildsten, Age 6

Jullina Darkazanli, Age 6

Lucas Granucci, Age 6

Abby Dumond, Age 8

Zoe Huestler, Age 7

Liam Clift, Age 8

Ava French, Age 7

Annika Clift, Age 6

Sophia Wang, Age 8

Tad Williamson, Age 7

Bridget Schaber, Age 8

Soffie Netteberg, Age 7

Maggie Dumond, Age 8

Megan Rapacz, Age 6

Versai Knight, Age 8

Sophie Comnik, Age 8

Mimi Shore, Age 6

Cecilia Palambo, Age 8

Ellie Chandler, Age 7

Norah Herring, Age 5