Illusions of Depth: Layer-art in Illustrator

Rich Armstrong, Product Designer

9 Videos (23m)

- Intro
  
  0:42
- The First Layer
  
  3:18
- Shadows Now or Later?
  
  0:58
- Repetition With a Twist
  
  4:05
- To Work Up or Down?
  
  0:58
- Shadows and Light
  
  3:01
- Coloring Your Layers
  
  5:30
- Finishing Touches
  
  3:49
- The Last Video
  
  0:41

About This Class

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In this class we’re going to learn how to get going with layer-art in Adobe Illustrator. You’ll learn how to add depth to your artwork – and you’ll be able to use it for organic forms, layered illustrations, geometric artwork and for prototyping real-world layer-art.

Adobe Illustrator is an amazing layer-art tool since you don’t need real paper or cutting tools, yet you can create illusions of depth really easily. It can be a precursor for getting into 3D and real world layer-art, but it can also be in it’s coolest and most powerful form right in Illustrator – you can easily manipulate shapes and take them into interactive and moving forms!

The class is short, fun and accessible.

Checkout some more classes that include layer-art:

Class Projects 84 See All

Create an abstract or organic piece of art, a layered illustration or work with layered typography. I’ll be taking you through a piece of abstract/organic art – much like a cavern. ASSIGNMENTProduce your own layer-art by creating an artwork or illustration using the techniques in the videos. DELIVERABLESUpload screenshots of your layer-art piece to your project gallery. Include some of the following elements, from the video lessons: The layers in grayscale (without shadows) The layers all in white, but with a drop-shadow The layers in their chosen colors The final exported piece A FEW THINGS Here's the layer-art process for Illustrator in Google Doc format. Here's a layer-art tag list for sharing your work – you're welcome to suggest more. Here's the Coolors website – the best for generating cool colors! I made a 10 min bonus video on creating vector drop-shadows, if you're interested.

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316 of 322 students recommendSee All

Fast paced, but brilliant. Lots of fun.

Gail McKeating

Really easy tutorial and great instructor, would Recommend!

Louise Cole

Realy good, and easy to do!

Windson Fonseca

2,991

Students

Projects

316

Reviews (322)

Rich Armstrong

Product Designer

Rich's title is Product Designer but he's more of a jack-of-all-trades / generalist / unicorn. He designs, animates and codes. He's studied multimedia design and graphic design, and is a self-taught programmer. He's freelanced, worked for agencies and startups, and now runs Studio Armstrong, an Amsterdam-based creation company, with his wife. He also doodles all the time, has super ginger-powers and can touch his nose with his tongue!

He spends most of his working day researching and experimenting, much like his hero, Lucius Fox, does. Rich likes to think he's a minimalist, but he's fooling himself – he's as messy and unorganised as the any other creative genius.

Rich has been teaching online classes on Skillshare since late 2015 – and he likes it a lot :) He's since created the weirdly named Tap Tap Kaboom brand that showcases his experiments, designs and classes. Follow him on Dribbble, Instagram, Ello and YouTube. He also has a newsletter type thing that you can subscribe to.

Skills in this Class:

Design Art Illustration Adobe Illustrator Graphic Design Creative Craft