Creature Design with Aaron Blaise

Gain an overview of the course as Aaron introduces key topics and inspires you to creatively distort anatomical knowledge to design original creatures.

Learn Aaron’s method for breaking down animal anatomy into six key sections, starting with four-legged mammals. Understand the differences between plantigrade, digitigrade, and unguligrade feet.

Apply a solid foundation in animal anatomy to your creature designs by considering how the environment influences form. Develop its anatomy and create dynamic poses to bring it to life.

Design a creature suited for a new environment, exploring how color and texture choices enhance believability. Learn how thoughtful details contribute to a compelling final design.

Explore a playful approach to creature design using silhouette drawing to inspire character and emotion. Combine creativity with anatomical principles and develop unique, expressive creatures.

Create unique creature designs by exploring silhouettes and shapes. Add details, apply color, shadows, and highlights.

Study the structure and mechanics of bird wings to design believable flying creatures, using real-world anatomy to enhance accuracy and creativity.

Design a dragon-like creature. Refine features like feathers and wings, and develop a strong final design through iteration and rendering.

Refine a previous silhouette into a bird-lizard hybrid by adding feather details and color variations to create a polished final design.

Learn the key anatomical features of insects. Apply this knowledge to design insect-like creatures with accurate structure and texture.

Explore insect anatomy while designing a humanoid insect creature. Focus on silhouette, symmetry, and real-life references, using lighting, texture, and background color to enhance realism.

Learn the photo bashing technique by blending photographic textures with digital painting. Use tools like exposure, hue, and saturation adjustments to create rich, visually engaging creature designs.

Use a fun, shape-driven approach to design creatures digitally, exploring tools like symmetry brushes, clipping masks, and rim lighting to boost creativity.

Design imaginative plant-based creatures inspired by alien worlds and symbiotic relationships. Explore biology concepts like nutrient exchange, light sensing, and energy use to fuel creative ideas.