Dynamic Lighting & The Figure with Aaron Blaise

Understand the suggested prerequisites and preview the main topics you’ll explore in the course.

Learn to create expressive poses through gesture exercises and discover how storytelling influences visual impact.

Discover how light interacts with basic forms. Identify how light direction, shadows, and reflected light shape the perception of form.

Develop figure drawing skills by focusing on gesture, shading, and lighting. Apply these techniques to various body types and explore how light affects mood and form.

Explore how to draw large figures with attention to shape, pose, lighting, and shadow. Practice illuminating the body from different angles.

Understand body forms and proportions while progressing from sketch to refined lines, local color, shadows and light. Experiment with various light sources to enhance form and depth.

Recognize the value of refining rough sketches to build strong, detailed figures. Use lighting to transform simple poses into dramatic compositions.

Apply anatomy knowledge to design an exaggerated figure and explore dual light sources to enhance form and impact.

Build a human figure using two-point perspective. Add color and a cast shadow to enhance depth and drama in your final artwork.

Explore rim lighting techniques using a white background. Apply color and tone to reveal how background color influences value perception.

Experience the beauty of painting darker skin tones by exploring lighting, color layering, and highlights that capture their richness.

Illustrate dark skin tones with dynamic lighting, expressive poses, and strong silhouettes to enhance depth and movement.

Recognize the importance of prior anatomy knowledge for effective figure and lighting work. Focus on color exploration, reflected light, and final touches that add warmth and glow to your illustration.

Sketch a dramatic Spider-Man pose with foreshortening and muscle detail. Enhance the scene with atmospheric lighting, fog effects, and depth through adjusted shadows.

Use complementary colors and defined light sources to enhance dynamic poses and strengthen visual impact.

Cast shadows from various body parts and apply skin tones to add depth and realism to your figure drawings.

Paint a dynamic boxer using dramatic lighting, accurate anatomy, and rich shadows to enhance depth and motion.

Create strong silhouettes using clear poses and rim lighting. Emphasize proportions, muscle definition, and fabric effects while using minimal detail to convey form and drama.

Draw expressive portraits using dramatic lighting, accurate facial structure, and layered color to create depth and realism.