We took Scott’s art class on character design, normally taught online to kids 8-14 on Outschool, to a group of writers. What’s it like to teach character design concepts to adults who have never tried to draw anything more sophisticated than a stick figure? A lot more fun than anyone expected!
Scott Ball, an artist with a background from the Savannah College of Art and Design, offers classes on Outschool that focus on visual storytelling through illustration and sequential art. Here’s a general overview based on typical offerings by artists of his caliber on platforms like Outschool:
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Introduction to Comics and Sequential Art: This class would likely cover the basics of storytelling through comics. Students might learn about panel layout, character design, dialogue, and how to convey a narrative visually. Scott might share insights from his 20+ years in the industry, focusing on how pictures can tell stories more than words.
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Character Design Workshop: Here, participants could expect lessons on creating characters from concept to completion. This might include character development, designing for different media (like comics, animation, or games), and understanding how to make characters visually appealing and expressive.
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Digital Painting for Beginners: Given his background in computer art, Scott might offer a course on digital painting techniques. This could involve software tutorials, understanding color theory, texture, and light in digital environments, aimed at both beginners and those looking to refine their skills.
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Advanced Illustration Techniques: For more advanced students, this class might delve into complex compositions, advanced inking techniques, or specialized styles like black and white illustration, focusing on lineart, hatching, and inking which are crucial for comics and graphic novels.
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Storyboarding for Animation or Film: If Scott’s interests extend into animation or film, he might teach how to storyboard effectively, translating scripts into visual sequences, which is crucial for pre-visualization in any visual storytelling medium.
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Workshops on Specific Genres or Styles: Depending on interest, there could be specialized workshops on genres like sci-fi, fantasy, or realistic portraiture, where students learn specific techniques or styles relevant to those genres.
Each of these classes would typically include:
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Live Demonstrations: Where Scott might illustrate concepts live, showing techniques in real-time.
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Homework and Projects: Assignments that allow students to practice what they’ve learned, often with feedback from Scott.
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Interactive Q&A: Sessions where students can ask questions about their work or general advice on pursuing art professionally.
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Use of Technology: Classes might utilize tools like Zoom for live interaction, and platforms like Procreate or Adobe Photoshop for digital art lessons.
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Community Building: Encouraging a community feel where students share their work, critique each other, and build a network of like-minded artists.