Professional Tips for Illustration, Fine Arts, and Character Design

Weekly roundup of the latest visual arts news, exhibitions, and artistic events from Visual Arts Passage. Stay updated on contemporary art trends and cultural highlights.

The Weekly Roundup – 5/28/21

We’re all about creating the most creative and motivating space this week. We gathered our favorite interactive museums and moments from #illustrationisolation perfect for this long holiday weekend.

Vibrant artwork of a warrior woman in colorful attire, blending fantasy and modern art styles, emphasizing creativity and artistic expression.

How to Design a Video Game Character

Want to start working on your video game characters? Take a look at some of our favorite ways to design video game characters easily. Now is the perfect time to create a portfolio that will jump-start your career in the entertainment and concept art industry!

Close-up of two women with intertwined foreheads, expressing deep emotional connection, in an impressionistic digital art style; vibrant colors and textured brushstrokes emphasize intimacy and human bond.

Guide to Storytelling for Illustrators

Storytelling is an essential skill for all illustrators. Whether you’re planning a children’s book, or an editorial illustration for a major publication, you’ll need to tell a story.

Pastel chalks arranged in colorful sets for art and drawing supplies at Visual Arts Passage.

Illustration Isolation: Episode 36

About the episode: This episode features an all star collection of artists including Montalvo Machado, Bill Koeb, John English, Raymond Bonilla, Dale Stephanos, and C. F. Payne. This week, we share conversations about self-improvement, staying sane during quarantine, and making better art. We also discussed our latest announcement regarding Studio Bridge, a groundbreaking platform, officially available for beta users this month. If you subscribe now, you will gain access to a 30 day free trial.

Sunset over a peaceful countryside landscape painting with a house, trees, and vibrant sky colors, capturing serene natural beauty and artistic expression.

Professional Development for Artists

It doesn’t matter if you have been a professional artist for six months or sixty years! Everyone agrees that constant practice and education improves your work and portfolio. Working within a visual arts field means you are constantly adjusting to new information and techniques. The best way to learn is from educators who are industry experts!

Silhouette fairy and elf characters for fantasy art, character design, and animation, featuring detailed costume and hair concepts for creative projects.

Creating Storyboards for Animation

Creating Storyboards for Animation Cultivating story-boarding skills begins with drawing, and ends with a lively career helping animators bring their stories to life through storyboard panels. Find out how to create a portfolio tailored for the animation industry.

Detailed black and white illustration of a distressed man with long hair and beard, featured in a contemporary art piece by Visual Arts Passage.

Illustration Isolation: Episode 35, Underdogs in Fiction

About the episode: This episode features illustrators such as Raymond Bonilla, John English, Don Kilpatrick, Dale Stephanos, Audrey Benjaminsen, Vanesa R. Del Rey, and Bill Koeb. The theme for tonight’s drawing event was Underdogs from Fiction. Also don’t miss this very short-term offer to try out the Studio Bridge Beta offer.

Bold portrait of a woman with a sleek black bob hairstyle, dramatic black lipstick, and striking red feather accents on her shoulders, showcasing contemporary fashion and avant-garde art influences.

Jon Neimeister

Concept Artists vs. Concept Designers

Concept artists and concept designers share so many similarities, but there is a difference! Let’s dive into the world of entertainment art, animation, video games, and graphic design to explore the different roles concept artists and concept designers inhabit.

Vivid illustration of Tuskegee Airmen pilots in military gear with a WWII aircraft, emphasizing historical military aviation moments; artwork by Raymond Bonilla.

Illustration Isolation: Episode 32, Figure Drawing The Tuskegee Airmen

About the episode: This episode features illustrators such as Raymond Bonilla, John English, Don Kilpatrick, Dale Stephanos, C. F. Payne, Bill Koeb, and a brief presentation by former director of the Society of Illustrators, Terry Brown. This week marks the first installment of our month of ‘Underdogs’. For this first episode, we featured photo reference of some of the most admirable and courageous underdogs in history, The Tuskegee Airmen.

Art News, Techniques, & Education