Illustration techniques
Choose a starting date
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
- Start Date: 22 May 2025End Date: 03 Jul 2025Thu (Evening): 18:30 - 21:30OnlineFull fee £319.00 Senior fee £255.00 Concession £207.00
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
Developing illustration techniques, takes you on a creative journey of experimentation and exploration with the intention of building some substantial projects. You will expand your visual repertoire by being taught how to use a wide variety of media, materials, process, and techniques.
Each session will involve an illustrated talk on the latest illustration techniques, which you will then explore in a practical way. You will be encouraged to build a unique and identifiable visual language and style by exploring a variety of image-making techniques. You will be helped to discover ways of working that enable you to build a substantial body of work.
What will we cover?
• Contemporary illustration in practice
• Media and materials
• Illustration techniques and image making processes
• How to develop your own unique style
• Developing an illustration project and outcome.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Illustrate a narrative text
• Produce illustrations using a variety of media, materials and techniques
• Demonstrate confidence in developing an illustration project
• Explain your own visual style and the characteristics of this.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course builds on from the ‘introduction to illustration’ course and some previous experience in illustration will enable you to get the most out of the course.
You should be able to follow verbal and written instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. You will be encouraged to take short written notes for your own use and take part in group discussions.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Each session will have a different theme which will be introduced through a series of short illustrated talks followed by practical exercises. You will be guided through a variety of image-making exercises and techniques to achieve the best outcomes. Additional / extension tasks may be set for you to complete at home or outside of the course hours. Completion of additional tasks is encouraged to help you get the most out of the course. Where required your tutor will discuss these with you during each session.
This course is supported by Google Classroom as a Virtual Learning Environment. When you log on you will be able to access course material, presentations and handouts etc. and may be asked to complete learner progress records. You can find help via the student help centre on the Citylit website.
Please note it is important that you sign up and log in to your course Google classroom prior to the first session. Joining detail will be sent to you via email (check your junk/spam folder).
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
For the first session, please have a sketchbook (A5/A4) and a variety of basic pens/pencils.
Other materials and equipment required as part of the course will be discussed by your tutor during the first session.
Need art supplies? Our partner London Graphic Centre has everything you need from pencil to printing services, at 15% off.
To get 15% LGC discount, students will need to show proof/ confirmation of enrolment of them being a student at City Lit. You can apply in-store or by simply emailing info@londongraphics.co.uk with a scan or photo of relevant confirmation. The student discount does not apply to products that are already discounted or on offer. More information can be found here- https://www.londongraphics.co.uk/student-discounts/.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
We offer a wide range of specialist workshops and courses within graphic design, illustration and animation. For more information and a full list of courses available, please visit our website.
Rod Judkins is an artist and writer. He gained an MA at the Royal College of Art and has had numerous one man exhibitions across the world. He has also exhibited at Tate Britain, The National Portrait Gallery and The Royal Academy. He lectures on the subject of creativity at universities and to businesses around the world. His first book, Change Your Mind: 57 Ways to Unlock Your Creative Self and his second book, The Art of Creative Thinking, were international best sellers, with sales in hundreds of thousands and have been translated into over fifteen languages. He has delivered creative thinking workshops and talks to some of the worlds top companies such as Apple, Google, Bombay Sapphire and Samsung and to Medical Science students at University College London in The Royal Free Hospital for the last few years.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.