ILL 209: Commercial Illustration
Explore exciting projects for professional illustrators
Explore business applications for your illustration work, from editorial and commercial to advertising and marketing. In this online commercial illustration course, you will explore different genres of project work, learning how contracts and copyright work and how to represent yourself professionally and effectively.
Student work by Helen Portzer. Visit the Student Gallery.
About This Course
Project-Based Learning
Engaging, advanced illustration projects in this course include: influence research, editorial design, pattern design, character design, children's book cover, and promotional poster.
What Skills Will I Develop?
Students in this course can expect to learn to:
- Apply a drawing practice to your workflow and balance traditional and digital tools.
- Develop time management, business, and communication skills for freelance illustration.
- Construct editorial illustrations that reflect an understanding of the genre's history and function.
- Work with an art director and develop an invoice for an editorial illustration assignment.
- Navigate the surface design market for illustrators, including licensing.
- Turn an illustration into a pattern for product design in Photosohp.
- Develop and draw unique characters that reflect an understanding of the history and application of character illustration.
- Develop a physical installation with a character design.
- Work with rights for character designs.
- Navigate the market for illustrated children's book cover design.
- Develop a workflow for working with editors on book cover illustration, including adapting to different styles and concepts.
- Apply strategies for developing a personal commercial illustration brand.
- Develop promotional collateral for commercial illustration branding.
What Software and Supplies Do I Need?
- Computer with Internet connection.
- Adobe Illustrator CS6 or CC.
- Basic experience in drawing and the above software.
Course Outline
Who Are You as an Illustrator?
You can find the creations of illustrators everywhere. In this first lecture, we'll start you on your path to developing your personal illustration style. You'll explore different fields of illustration and learn how to apply a drawing practice to your workflow.
Editorial Illustration
You're in the dentist's office, waiting. You pick up a magazine and start flipping through, not really reading, passing the time. Suddenly, a great illustration catches your eye. That's editorial illustration. In this lecture, you'll learn about the history and present landscape of editorial illustration and learn how to work with an art director's assignment.
Surface Design
Designing for things can be fun for illustrators. In this lesson, we'll learn about the surface design market for illustrators, including licensing. We'll study examples of effective surface and product illustration.
Character Design
Characters are an enduring subject. In this lesson, we will study the history and commercial applications of character illustration and learn methods for developing and drawing unique characters.
Children's Books
In this lecture, we're going to take a short trip through the history of children's books, examine some different styles currently popular in this thriving market, explore my own story of how I illustrated a book called The Hole in the Middle, and close out with some resources for children's book illustrators.
Self Promotion
Self promotion is one of the most challenging but important things as a commercial illustrator. You can be making beautiful and powerful images, but if you don't have any outlet to let the world know, you won't be discovered. In this final lecture, I'm going to show you some tips and tricks for getting your work out there: on the Web, in illustration communities, and elsewhere. Don't be afraid to be proud of yourself and your work! That's the final step in embracing yourself and a true illustration lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How Do The Courses Work?
Our courses are project-based and instructor-led. In each course you’ll complete a series of lectures, projects, discussions, and critiques designed to stretch your creative skills. Weekly assignment deadlines keep you on track, and with no set-logins or Zoom meetings, you can build your studies around your schedule.
Who Are The Instructors?
Our courses are developed and taught by our industry-leading faculty of creative professionals. This means that you’ll learn in-demand skills, get feedback on your work, and build a portfolio of creative work. View our Student Gallery for featured student projects.
When Can I Start?
Classes start January, April, and August, and this course is completed in a 15-week term. College credit from this course can be applied to a range of Degree and Certificate programs at Sessions College. You can enroll in this course on an individual basis or as part of a program.
Explore our Programs: Bachelor's Degree | Associate Degree | Undergraduate Certificate
How Do I Register?
To register for a program, complete our program application. To register for this course on an individual basis, please contact our admissions team at admissions@sessions.edu. An Admissions Advisor will contact you to setup your enrollment.
| Course Tuition and Fees | |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $510/credit |
| Registration Fee* | $200 |
| Total Course Price | $1730 |
Registration fees are nonrefundable after 5 days from enrollment.
Is Sessions College accredited?
Yes. Since 2001, Sessions College has been accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). The Distance Education Accrediting Commission is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency and is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).