Overview
Lessons
Reviews
Instructor
Black Week Sale!   Save 75% AND get 2 Memberships for the Price of 1!  
Sign in
Preview course

Environment Design

with Michael Bills & Kenneth Anderson
4.4 (42)
Learn the basics of how to create an environment as used in illustration and concept design for creative industries. Over 8 hours of lessons, theory and practical assignments!
English English, French, 1 more Spanish
7+
hours
22
lessons
Intermediate to Advanced
level
Michael BillsKenneth Anderson

Your Instructors

Kenneth & Michael are professional illustrators & character designers with 14+ and 8+ years of work experience under their belt, respectively.

All Courses
Get access to this course and 55+ more
$59 / year
$235 / year
left at this price!Save 75%
+
Gift an annual membership (Free)
Get Started
  • Cancel Anytime
  • 30-Day Money-back Guarantee

Only this course
$50 USD
Get Single Course
  • 30-Day Money-back Guarantee
Explore the course
7+
hours
22
lessons
Intermediate to Advanced
level
English
English, French , 1 more
Subtitles
  • Spanish

What you’ll learn

  • Learn from the pros the process of designing awesome environments
  • Create depth and interest with tone, value and atmospheric perspective
  • Improve your design skills by looking at two different artistic approaches
  • Understand why composition, balance and rule of thirds are important⁠
  • Use blend modes to create cool effects much faster⁠
  • Design a polished image starting with thumbnails, color comps and sketching
+ See more

Description

In this course you’ll learn the basic of how to create an environment as used in illustration and concept design for creative industries. You’ll learn how to create a polished image starting with thumbnailing and ending with a final illustration. You’ll also learn about composition, perspective and digital painting techniques in Photoshop.

But the best part is that you’ll get to follow along with both Michael Bills & Kenneth Anderson as they create a Utopian City as part of a specific real world design brief. This will allow you to compare their individual approaches to the brief. This course will improve your environment design skills x 10!

In the course with Kenneth Anderson you’ll get to follow along as he completes a brief to design a futuristic Utopian city. You learn about composition, tone and atmospheric perspective as they apply to a real world brief. There are no assignments in this particular course and it is very focused on the practical aspects of the brief.

+ See more

This course includes

  • 7+ Hours of on-demand videos
  • Certificate of Completion
+ See more

Used in course

+ See more

What you'll need

  • Digital drawing software such as Photoshop or similar (see examplesAffinity Photo, ArtRage, Artweaver, Astropad, Clip Studio Paint, Corel Painter, Krita, Inkscape, IbisPaint, GIMP, Rebelle 4, Photoshop, Paintstorm Studio, Procreate, MediBang Paint, SketchPad, SketchBook, TwistedBrush, Vectr...)
  • Some drawing experience recommended
+ See more

Lesson Plan

with Kenneth Anderson
Expand all sections
01

Introduction

02:08

Start your Subscription to continue watching
Start your subscription to get access to this class and 55+ more on 21 Draw
Get Started

Welcome to the tutorial!

02

The brief

01:07

Start your Subscription to continue watching
Start your subscription to get access to this class and 55+ more on 21 Draw
Get Started

A look at the brief which ultimately defined this concept.

03

Brushes

03:12

Start your Subscription to continue watching
Start your subscription to get access to this class and 55+ more on 21 Draw
Get Started

An overview of the brushes I use for this piece.

04

Layers

09:44

Start your Subscription to continue watching
Start your subscription to get access to this class and 55+ more on 21 Draw
Get Started

A quick run down of how I use layers, blending modes and masks.

05

Composition

06:01

Start your Subscription to continue watching
Start your subscription to get access to this class and 55+ more on 21 Draw
Get Started

Some general composition concepts which I will be thinking about throughout my process.

06

Detail

02:07

Start your Subscription to continue watching
Start your subscription to get access to this class and 55+ more on 21 Draw
Get Started

Using selective detail to lead the eye.

07

Tone & value

04:56

Start your Subscription to continue watching
Start your subscription to get access to this class and 55+ more on 21 Draw
Get Started

The importance of tone/value as a composition tool.

08

Atmospheric perspective

05:31

A basic overview of this natural phenomenon which will bring realism to this piece and can be used to your advantage.

09

Colour

06:48

A few of the main colour ideas which feature in this process.

10

Reference

08:43

Using reference to come up with new ideas and to kick start the design process.

11

Thumbnailing

28:37

Being creative and pushing your ideas by doing quick thumbnails.

12

Process

01:56:13

With a thumbnail decided upon, it’s time to start painting!

13

Work in progress review

15:20

I take a step back and evaluate the work in progress.

14

Process continues

40:27

Back to painting, making changes to improve the image based on the previous review.

15

Final thoughts

13:46

Reflecting on the whole process and how I used the concepts discussed at the start to come up with the final image.

Lesson Plan

with Michael Bills
Expand all sections
01

Introduction

06:50

Start your Subscription to continue watching
Start your subscription to get access to this class and 55+ more on 21 Draw
Get Started

After a quick introduction, we go over the work brief and then talk about how to effectively gather reference for the topic you are going to explore.

02

Developing Ideas

24:37

Start your Subscription to continue watching
Start your subscription to get access to this class and 55+ more on 21 Draw
Get Started

A short overview of thumbnailing and an introduction to a few composition basics that are worth keeping in mind when developing your environment. I’ll go over how to quickly create a seamless tiling pattern, and different ways you can create some custom brushes. I also give a brush pack recommendation.

03

Thumbnails

35:52

We set up a document for generating thumbnails, and then go through the process of using the reference we gathered to develop some environment ideas.

04

Refinining your idea

40:36

After choosing a thumbnail, we begin the process of refining the idea, breaking it up into more manageable groups, (foreground, middle ground, background) and give ourselves a more solid foundation to build from.

05

Colors & Lighting

33:05

Using the same layout as the thumbnails, this lesson is about taking our refined thumbnail and developing different color schemes/lighting ideas that we will eventually choose from and use as reference during the final rendering process.

06

Rendering

54:36

In this lesson, using everything we have developed so far, we begin to render out our final environment in grayscale. After we come to a good stopping point, we move onto colorizing the image, using one of our color comps as reference.

07

Final image

15:18

This is all about finishing touches and final polish such as adding some additional environment fx, color tweaks, and any additional detailing that might be needed.

Student Feedback

42 customer reviews & ratings

4.4

Course rating

Log in to leave a review or rating.
5 star
74 %
4 star
12 %
3 star
3 %
2 star
5 %
1 star
8 %
Best Suited for
Intermediate
The level is determined by a majority opinion of students who have reviewed this class. The teacher's recommendation is shown until at least 5 student responses are collected.

(Based on 42 reviews)

Most Liked
Great step-by-step process 24
Helpful Examples 23
Clarity of Instruction 22
Showing 10 reviews of
42
reviews & ratings
Z
Zuheb

4 years ago

Verified Purchase
All the course are very straightforward and I mean it in a good way. Theres a simple step by step process which is easy to follow and it really helps especially if you want your workflow to be very smooth without making many errors which is what I tend to do. Oh and they are very in depth and I'm no
+ Show more
t joking. You really get to explore deeply - at least that's how I see it. It has subtitles because I asked for it, and they uploaded it. Big help since I'm hard of hearing and need full access!
2 people found this helpful
J
Jason

3 years ago

Verified Purchase
It’s cool seeing this process. From start to finish and everything that needs to be given the time and attention to make a completed work. I also like that Kenneth Anderson has a very small cache of brushes. Michael Bill’s course seemed more like he was following the Kenneth Anderson course and just
+ Show more
happened to put it on video. It’s good, but not as in depth. Both were helpful and interesting.
I recommend it for Intermediate
1 person found this helpful
R
Rebecca

3 years ago

Verified Purchase
This course is a treasure trove of information regarding composition, work flow, and step by step processes for creating an environment. There are hours of instruction, and I like that there is no soundtrack. Michael is well spoken and sometimes doesn't talk while he works, but instead, he makes a d
+ Show more
ecision or action, and then he describes what went through his decision making process. This is like looking over an illustrator's shoulder as they complete an entire landscape.
I recommend it for Intermediate
I
Isabel

4 years ago

Verified Purchase
I got this course after owing two 21Draw books that I love, and I am loving the course too. It is great, full of information, clear explanations , lovely art... and from 2 different great artists and points of view. I am very pleased with it. Thanks!
K
Korneliusz

4 years ago

Verified Purchase
A lot of very useful information for the course itself and for day to day work. I really enjoy the way Kenneth makes his courses, even the things I knew already I never skipped. Great course :)
SA
Shanita A.

3 years ago

Verified Purchase
i really appreciated the clarity of how to gain ideas and i was engaged the entire time
I recommend it for Intermediate
N
Natalia

3 years ago

Verified Purchase
Thank you very much for all the good information!
I recommend it for All levels
1 person found this helpful
DM
Daniel M.

3 years ago

Verified Purchase
Good for advanced.
I recommend it for Advanced
1 person found this helpful
AA
Annisa A.

3 years ago

Verified Purchase
amazing
I recommend it for All levels
PK
Polina K.

2 years ago

Verified Purchase
There is something wrong with the length of the lessons - there are 8 hours, not 6. And the video quality is not as good as wanted.
I recommend it for Intermediate
1 person found this helpful
See more reviews

About the Instructors

Michael Bills
Character Designer & Concept Artist 1 course

Michael Bills is an incredible Concept Artist and Illustrator from the US who has predominately been working on mobile games for more than 8 years. We’ve been working with him for a long time and he always provides exciting and fun contributions! His impressive character and environment design abilities make him a real treasure.


Follow Michael on

Full bio
Kenneth Anderson
Illustrator & Character Designer 6 courses

Kenneth is a professional freelance character designer with 14+ years experience. Based in the UK, he has worked with companies like the BBC, Disney, Tandem films and Axis Animation. He also worked on Sylvain Chomet’s Oscar nominated film “The Illusionist” and the French feature Titeuf: Le film.  His specialties are story-driven character-based illustration and design for a variety of mediums, in particular children’s television. In his spare time, he enjoys creating characters, illustrating magazines and making games.


Follow Kenneth on

Full bio

Bonus Offer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 21 Draw?

21 Draw is an online learning community where students of all skill levels can learn how to be a better artist. Our contributing artists and instructors are the best in the world.

Our streaming platform on www.21-draw.com makes it possible for anyone to watch hundreds of video lessons by industry legends who have worked for Disney, Marvel, DC, Dreamworks, Pixar & more. A membership gives full access to our streaming platform.

On books.21-draw.com you can buy our popular learn-to-draw ebooks and physical books, separate from the courses, and they too are also delivered to you by the heavyweights of the art industry.

158 people found this helpful
Was this answer helpful?
Yes
No

What is included in the membership?

Membership includes unlimited access to all 55+ courses taught by the world’s best artists PLUS new courses as they are released.

Each class includes 10-20 video lessons that are 7 minutes long on average. Most classes include exercise sheets, assignments, and layered PSD or PNG files.

Some classes include the ability to chat with the instructor in a public forum, e.g. if you want feedback on your artwork.

224 people found this helpful
Was this answer helpful?
Yes
No

Do I receive a certificate after I complete a course?

Yes! When you complete a 21 Draw course, you will receive a certificate of completion, which you can download and share with your friends, relatives, co-workers, and potential employers!

170 people found this helpful
Was this answer helpful?
Yes
No

Are these online or offline courses?

21 Draw courses are on-demand (pre-recorded) video tutorials that you can watch online with any digital devices anytime and for an unlimited number of times! This means you can easily watch (and rewatch) them at your own pace and convenience.

431 people found this helpful
Was this answer helpful?
Yes
No

Can a beginner follow along?

We have classes for all levels, even for those with zero drawing experience. In general, artists at all levels can benefit from these courses—whether beginner, intermediate or advanced.

306 people found this helpful
Was this answer helpful?
Yes
No

Do the courses teach digital or traditional art?

Many lessons in our courses apply to both digital and traditional art. In a few tutorials, digital drawing software, e.g. Photoshop or Procreate for iPad is required. However, for the majority of lessons it is more about the underlying concepts and all that is needed is a pen and paper.

273 people found this helpful
Was this answer helpful?
Yes
No

Can I download the course videos?

You can download the course resources (exercise sheets, assignments, PSD files, etc.) from the site, but you cannot download the video lessons to your computer.

281 people found this helpful
Was this answer helpful?
Yes
No

How much does a membership cost?

Normally it costs $235/year. However, there is a special sale running now for a limited time: Save 75%! This means you can get an annual membership for just $59 USD/year.

If you purchase the annual membership at a discounted price, it will remain at that price for each consecutive year, so long as your membership is not cancelled.

498 people found this helpful
Was this answer helpful?
Yes
No

How does the 30-day guarantee work?

If for any reason at all you are unhappy with our courses or feel it isn’t what you are looking for—then just fill out this form or email us at [email protected]. We’ll be more than happy to give you a full refund within 30 days of your first purchase. No questions asked. Just a guarantee you can trust.

236 people found this helpful
Was this answer helpful?
Yes
No

How do I cancel my membership?

You can easily cancel your membership renewal on your My Account page. Follow the prompts to cancel (Billing > Change Plan > Cancel Membership) and your membership will immediately be terminated. Please note: Refunds ONLY possible within 30 days after the date of purchase.

If you have more questions, please check out our Knowledge base or write to us here. We’re happy to assist in any way we can!

202 people found this helpful
Was this answer helpful?
Yes
No

More from 21 Draw

About 21 Draw

21 Draw offers online courses and books on how to be a better artist for students of all skill levels. Our contributing artists and instructors are the best in the world.
Explore Courses & Books
Preview course
Watch the trailer
Access to all courses
Get access to this course and 55+ more
$59 / year
$235/ year
left at this price!Save 75%
+
Gift an annual membership (Free)
Get Started
(including this course)
OR
$50 USD $100 Single Course
Lifetime access
No commitments
Cancel Anytime
30-Day Money-back Guarantee
Still not sure?
Check out our FAQ
Start your Subscription to continue watching
Start your subscription to get access to this class and 55+ more on 21 Draw
Get Started
Michael Bills Environment Design
Get all-access
Save 75% on annual membership + Give one for FREE. Get started