Pet Illustration: weekend workshop
Time: 10:30 - 16:30
Location: Keeley Street
-
Take a deep dive into a specific process, media or tool, with our Visual Communication Workshops.
Workshops throw the spotlight onto niche areas of the visual communication field, enabling you to hone higher-level skills and gain deeper insights.
Workshops tend to have a practical focus, with little or no conceptual or contextual elements, although this varies by course.
Choose a start date
- Course Code: VZ156
- Dates: 12/04/25 - 13/04/25
- Time: 10:30 - 16:30
- Taught: Sat-Sun, Daytime
- Duration: 2 sessions
- Location: Keeley Street
Course Code: VZ156
Choose a start date
Duration: 2 sessions
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?
Armed with photos of the pet/s you wish to depict, explore a wide range of media to create compelling illustrations which capture not only their appearance, but also their character, and a sense of your relationship with them. You’ll step onto a of merry-go-round of mediums and techniques, from traditional (drawing and painting) to digital (manipulating photos in Photoshop), and then a mash-up of the two (e.g. collage). You’ll also explore table-top printing – through tetrapak or poly printing, and ‘kitchen’ lithography. Along the way, you’ll be learning to put your aesthetic evaluation skills into first-gear, deciding what to keep, cut-up, or discard – an essential skill for all illustrators.
What will we cover?
Practical skills
• Techniques for drawing from photographs
• Painting in various mediums (watercolour to acrylic)
• Colour palettes
• Basic Photoshop image manipulation
• Collage skills – including critical assessment of colour and composition
• Tetrapak and poly printing
• 'Kitchen lithography'
Conceptual Skills
• Critical evaluation of your own and others’ work will be facilitated throughout the course.
Context
• Examples of relevant works by historical and/or contemporary creatives will be drawn upon at strategic points throughout the course.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
Use the specific process, media or tool you have been studying – at least to a competent skill-level.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for intermediate learners; you do not need to have prior experience of illustration specifically, just of visual communications in general.
English-language competency is required: you should be able to follow verbal and written instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. You may need 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?
- Presentations
- Demonstrations
- Practical work
- Individual and group tutoring
- Group discussion
Additional/extension activities 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.
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 City Lit 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?
At City Lit, access to basic materials and resources are available as part of this course. We advise you to bring a A5/A4 sketchbook for the recording of ideas and an A3 folder and/or a USB drive to transport work to and from City Lit. Additional materials required as part of the course will be discussed by your tutor if required.
Need art supplies? Our partner London Graphic Centre has everything you need from pencils to printing services, at 15% off.
To get 15% LGC discount, you will need to show proof/ confirmation of enrolment and 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. 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 recommend looking at our range of workshops in graphic design, illustration, children’s book illustration and graphic novels to see what’s on offer.
In particular, you may be interested in our ‘Illustrating Animals’ workshops.
For more information about any of the courses on offer, please visit our website.