HS Illustration Course Descriptions

Broaden your artistic skills as you investigate illustration careers with advertising agencies, publishing companies, design studios, and in-house graphics departments.

HIL 011 Sketch a Model: Fashion Illustration for Beginners
Imagine sketching a live model fashionably dressed from head to toe. This course will help you use basic media to explore your own approach to fashion illustration. HIL 011 Gallery

HIL 012 Drawing for Illustration
Get a feel for what it takes to become a professional illustrator while you improve your drawing skills, learn about materials and techniques, and build your portfolio. In this course, you will draw from live models and still-life arrangements and work on specific projects such as magazine covers, posters, and book and editorial illustrations. HIL 012 Gallery

HIL 013 Introduction to the Illustration Process
Use your imagination and photographic references to create exciting and fun illustrations, while learning about the illustration process and methods used in the field. In this class, you will be encouraged to explore and to bring your own creative concepts to life, from initial thumbnail sketches to complete illustration projects. HIL 013 Gallery

HIL 015 Learn the Art of Comic Book Drawing
Do you dream of creating your own superhero comic or graphic novel? This course teaches you to use pencil and ink to develop your own comic-book style. You will also get an overview of the industry and explore comic-art career options. HIL 015 Gallery

HIL 100 Illustration: Basics
Learn how to visualize and create like a professional illustrator by combining imagination with real-life visual reference. You'll experiment with a variety of drawing techniques while working from live models and still life arrangements. You'll develop drawings for commercial applications such as magazine covers, posters, and book illustrations. (You can skip this summer class if you've already taken HIL 012)

HIL 102 Illustration: Drawing Comics
Turn your unique story concepts into dynamic comics. You'll learn the elements necessary to create a compelling comic, including point of view, composition, character development, and story arcs. Using pen-and-ink techniques, you'll develop your own character and storyline and sketch out your story panels. Learn about the industry and explore exciting comic art careers while you cultivate your artistic abilities. (You can skip this summer class if you've already taken HIL 015)

HIL 103 Illustration: Anatomical Drawing
Improve your life drawing skills by focusing on human anatomy, with an emphasis on illustrating the skeletal and muscular systems. You'll work from plaster casts, medical charts, videos, and direct model observation (nude models may be used in this class) while you develop this essential skill for emerging artists and illustrators. (You can skip this summer class if you've already taken HIL 163)

HIL 104 Illustration: Process and Concepts
Learn professional approaches to the illustration process, including the best references and resources, approaches to combining imagination and reality, and for elevating your concepts. Develop the techniques used by professionals to create the perfect combination of concept and execution. (You can skip this summer class if you've already taken HIL 013)

HIL 160 Illustration Rendering Techniques
Students learn to produce a range of colors and tones from a minimum of three primary colors to create paintings with lighting, harmony, and depth as an introduction to realism. Mixing, matching, and applying paint from reference brings real understanding of how colors work together. Students learn to create and use the color wheel and to recognize the arrangement of colors as well as the effect of complimentary colors. These color skills serve as the basics for all visual mediums and disciplines.

HIL 163 Anatomy for Artists
This introductory course focuses on drawing the human body, skeleton, and related muscular systems. You will use plaster casts, medical charts, videos, and direct model drawing to improve your skills. Please note: nude models may be used in this course. For students interested in art and design, science, and pre-med college majors. HIL 163 Gallery