Contemporary Print Design: Scale, Color, and Composition

Begin the course by getting to know designer Anna Glover. She talks through the journey that led her to found her own award-winning design studio. Discover the influences that inspire her work, from fellow artists to museum collections.

Take a look at the materials needed for this course, and find out Anna’s tips for getting the most out of them. Learn how to paint with gouache to build layers, create washes, and add texture. Collect design references and use them to create a concept board. Anna then guides you through how to build a visual story and create original design ideas. Sketch your motifs and select the ones you want to paint.

Paint the motifs and backgrounds for your three designs using gouache. Then learn how to scan your artwork and use the Photomerge Tool in Photoshop to scan larger artwork. Remove the background of your painting before learning how to create multiple botanical compositions from the same plant or flower.

Design your three products; a gift card, a silk scarf, and a wallpaper panel, experimenting with composition, color, and scale in Photoshop. Then explore your target market and how it can influence the decisions you make about your design. Discover how to use the same paintings in different ways to design a variety of products.

Anna guides you through how to work with online print websites before diving into the environmental impact of the materials you use. To finish the course, discover how to build your professional network, sell your designs, and create opportunities for collaborations.