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Xiaofan is a concept artist and illustrator known for her horror/sci-fi-themed artwork in a semi-realistic, cinematic style.
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Nail simple techniques to give your art depth and volume with lightingMaster 13 different lighting scenarios, including: sunlight, moonlight, candlelight, and dappled lightFollow a clear, step-by-step process from rough sketch to polished resultChoose beautiful colors confidently to tell a story with your artDraw accurate proportions of human faces and bodies at various anglesPractice painting with grayscale values and adding color after (A foolproof method!)Draw digital portraits with natural skin tones, highlights, and shadowsRender realistic-looking metal, glass, hair, and matte surfaces like a proRecreate cinematic moods using golden hour, horror glows, and sci-fi neon lightingLearn common lighting setups used in photography and filmGrasp essential color theory concepts for vibrant artworkBalance 2+ light sources to create a 3D effect and avoid flatness Imagine painting sunlight that looks so real you can almost feel the warmth, or moonlight, cold and mystical—like a spotlight from another world.
If you want your artwork to pop with realistic lighting, this course is your golden ticket! Xiaofan walks you through her exact process of transforming a basic portrait into 13 realistic lighting setups, from warm sunset glows to eerie neon vibes.
By using her proven method, working with just TWO simple layer masks and blend modes, you’ll be shocked at how effortless painting light and shadows can be.
Xiaofan also breaks down how light works—reflections, interactions with color, surface texture, and transparency—in a way that actually makes sense and finally clicks.
On top of that, you’ll learn a foolproof way to paint from scratch, starting with grayscale values and then adding color.—Vibrant results guaranteed!
Plus, you’ll have access to all her custom brushes and layered PSD files to follow along and build your skills in real time. You’ll even discover fun cinematic lighting tricks (think The Batman’s moody shadows or Barbie’s dreamy pastels) and master realistic skin tones, hair, metal, and glass.
Whether you’re just starting or looking to level up, this course will give you the skills and know-how to boost your artistic confidence and creativity like never before!
6+ Hours of on-demand videos
Downloadable brushes
Layered Photoshop files
Bonus video content
19 Reference images
3 Cheat sheets/guides
Certificate of Completion
Get ready to observe the world like an artist! It’s fascinating how color and light work together to shape what our eyes see.
Understanding this is crucial to making your art pop with life! You’ll learn about the direction of light and how it reflects off surfaces using hands-on exercises.
Xiao will show you how to study references and direct the viewer’s eye. You will also learn how to master techniques like painting hair, skin tones, and translucent surfaces.
Dive deep into discovering how light plays with different materials—shiny metals, soft skin, or transparent glass. You’ll explore how to paint these surfaces, master reflections, and break down lighting using tricks from modern 3D rendering.
With hands-on demos and easy-to-follow techniques, you’ll create lifelike surfaces that grab attention!
Understand real-world lighting, like direct sunlight and rainy settings, that you can use in your illustrations to create your desired mood!
Xiao will also walk you through creating a digital portrait from scratch, starting with grayscale values. You’ll pick up a ton of tips for creating realistic depth, adding colors, refining the hair and skin, and even applying digital makeup!
This is where the magic happens! Completely transform a digital portrait using five stunning lighting scenarios found in nature.
Using Photoshop tools like blending modes and masks, you’ll master the steps to painting golden hour glows to moody moonlight—all on the same face! Xiao’s techniques are so easy to use, it’s like having a lighting studio at your fingertips!
Let’s shift gears into man-made lighting setups—from the 3D depth of three-point lighting, to the cozy vibes of warm incandescent bulbs, to eerie fluorescent glows (perfect for creepy or sci-fi scenes!).
And because we’re extra, let’s throw in some neon effects too! You’ll be turning flat portraits into studio-worthy masterpieces in no time!
Want to mimic lighting from a movie scene? Let’s tackle that in this lesson! Xiao breaks down cinematic lighting tricks—from practical and motivated lighting (hello, Star Trek and The Batman!) to warm/cool shifts and far/near side lighting (looking at you, Barbie).
You’ll learn how to make your artwork feel immersive and dynamic, applying your new skills right away on a beautiful digital portrait that Xiao created just for you!
Explore the magic of color! Xiao will guide you into making intentional color choices with core principles every artist should know, such as color schemes, primary mixes, tints, shades and saturation.
No more muddy chaos—you’ll learn when to go bold (and when to tone it down), how to make colors pop without clashing, and create gorgeous combos to make your art instantly more striking.
To kick things off, Xiao will show you how to construct a character starting from a basic sketch. Line art and flats first—Rendering later!
She’ll also cover perspective tips, reference hacks, and proportion guides. By the end, you’ll have clean line work and flat colors ready for the next stage of your masterpiece.
Time to bring your painting to life with lighting! We’ll combine everything we’ve learned so far to create realistic depth and atmosphere in your illustration.
Using Multiply layers for shadows, Overlay layers for lighting, you’ll learn how to add cozy lamp glows and cool natural lighting, plus reflected light and much more!
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Xiaofan is a concept artist and illustrator based in Toronto, Canada. She is known for her horror/sci-fi-themed illustrations in a cinematic style with a heavy emphasis on narrative.
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