BACKGROUND PAINTING: ADVANCED TECHNIQUES
The Background Painting: Advanced Techniques workshop at The Art Club is open to all intermediate to advanced-levels of students. This workshops is designed for artists who are ready to push their 2D background painting skills further, focusing on the work required in Television Animation. You will learn how to bring another layer of dimension through lighting, color and texture. While foundational aspects of background painting will be mentioned, the core of this lesson will hone in on the details of the process. Throughout the course, the focus will be on compelling lighting, surface textures and the final details to bring a background painting to production- ready quality.
Dates
COMING SOON
Time
COMING SOON
Location
The Art Club - Discord: <https://discord.gg/TZb8wK292j> Green Classroom
FORMAT
Class meets once a week on Discord
Recorded Access: Class recordings are provided after the course, viewable for one year.
Homework must be uploaded to Google Drive folder before the next class begins
The class enrollment is limited to a maximum of 10 students.
THE FACULTY
Michael Baillie Jr. is a seasoned designer with over 10 years of experience in television animation. He has contributed to a wide range of projects for studios such as Netflix, Warner Bros., Cartoon Network, A24, and Nickelodeon.
Outside of the animation industry, Michael has a strong fascination with interior design, architecture, graphic design and the culinary arts. When he is not working, Michael enjoys a good cup of coffee and spending some quality time outdoors with his wife and two children.
You can see more of his work at: https://mbailliejr.com/
Prerequisites
This is an Intermediate to Advanced-level workshop. In order to have a productive learning experience for all, prospective students need to fulfill the following requirements:
Intermediate Skill Level: Previous background painting/digital painting and software knowledge.
Software: Adobe Photoshop (preferred), Procreate
Computer with microphone (camera optional)
Access to Google Drive
Access to Discord
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Who is this Workshop for?
The Background Painting: Advanced Techniques workshop is designed for intermediate to advanced artists who want to elevate their background paintings to a production-ready level. This class focuses primarily on refining the advanced elements that make backgrounds feel dimensional and cinematic with the use of lighting, color design, material rendering, and surface texture. Students should already have a solid understanding of basic painting fundamentals and digital workflow.
Current College Students – looking to push their background paintings beyond foundational coursework by improving lighting, mood, and material rendering to meet industry expectations.
Professionals – who want to sharpen their visual polish, refine textural detail, and strengthen the advanced lighting and color decisions necessary for high-quality television animation work.
Hobbyists – who want to deepen their understanding of background painting in a structured, supportive environment while learning how to add depth, atmosphere, and refined detail to their artwork.
Outcomes
Have a clearer eye for detail and quality.
Add visual clarity and confidence to final works.
Develop enhanced application of lighting and brush techniques.
