From Traditional to Digital Drawing

Through this course you will learn how to transition step by step from the traditional way of drawing to the digital one. You will go through the following sections:

1. Phase I - First Transition (Scanning your drawings, creating a digital artboard)

   1. In this initial phase, you will discover how to convert your traditional artwork into a digital format. We will cover best practices for scanning your sketches and setting up your digital workspace, ensuring your files are ready for further editing and enhancement.

2. Phase II - The Lineart (Creating and optimising a digital Lineart)

   1. Next, we’ll guide you through the process of refining your scanned drawings by creating crisp, clean digital lineart. You’ll learn techniques for enhancing lines and making adjustments, helping your artwork achieve a polished, professional look.

3. Phase III - Colouring (Adding the solid colour foundation to the drawing)

   1. This stage introduces you to the fundamentals of digital colouring. You will explore various digital tools and brushes, and gain practical experience in laying down base colours, ensuring your artwork has a vibrant and consistent foundation.

4. Phase IV - Shadows and Highlights (Adding shadows and highlights components to the drawing)

   1. Building on your coloured artwork, you’ll learn how to add depth and dimension by applying shadows and highlights. We’ll demonstrate different lighting techniques and show you how subtle changes can dramatically improve the realism of your piece.

5. Phase V - Fancy Background (Create an abstract background from scratch for your drawing)

   1. In this creative phase, you’ll be encouraged to experiment with abstract backgrounds. We’ll provide tips for designing complementary backgrounds that enhance the subject of your drawing, using a range of textures and effects.

6. Phase VI - Exporting (Export your drawing as a highly resoluted image)

   1. Learn how to finalise your digital artwork by exporting it in various formats. You’ll understand the importance of resolution and file types, making sure your finished piece is suitable for sharing online or printing at high quality.

7. Bonus - Draw Digitally from the start (Create a digital draft/sketch)

   1. For those keen to dive straight into digital art, this bonus section covers the essentials of starting a drawing directly on your computer or tablet. We’ll introduce sketching software, helpful shortcuts, and techniques for quickly bringing your ideas to life.

8. Assignment (Create your very first digital drawings)

   1. To reinforce everything you’ve learned, you’ll complete an assignment that challenges you to produce your own digital artwork from start to finish. This hands-on project will help consolidate your new skills and boost your confidence as a digital artist.

The concept of LWP is to allow students to be operational as quickly as possible, while at the same time learning tools they have never previously used. We believe that it's by using a tool that you learn what it exactly does and not by simply describing its purpose.

This approach encourages active learning and experimentation, enabling you to gain practical experience from day one. By immersing yourself in the digital art process, you’ll rapidly develop proficiency and discover which techniques and tools suit your creative style.