Illustration tutorial by Roman Muradov

Expressive Illustration: From Ideas to Execution

Join artist Roman Muradov for an in-depth look at the creative method he uses for creating narrative and conceptual illustrations. Inspired by his work for The New Yorker, the New York Times, Penguin Random House, Google, and the classes he teaches at California College of Art, this 75-minute class is perfect for helping visual artists of every discipline generate ideas, expand their visual vocabulary, and create sophisticated work.

Covering both concept and aesthetics, Roman shows you every stage of an illustration coming to life. From generating ideas and drawing with ink and graphite, to collaging and coloring the piece digitally, each step shows how a chance combination of words can lead to a beautiful illustration.

This class is ideal for illustrators, visual artists, and everyone who wants to explore the way inspiration works. Most importantly, you’ll leave with a smart method you can use again and again.

Illustrating with Ink: Techniques for Brush and Pen

Master the art of ink with illustrator Roman Muradov’s in-depth, step-by-step guide to drawing with brushes, nibs and other tools!

Even if you don’t normally draw with brush and ink, there’s hardly a better way to hone your skills—once you master this delicate and subtle tool, all the other ones will seem easy in comparison. This class offers a detailed study of the various ink techniques, starting with the very basics for those who’ve never held a brush or a nib before, and ending with advanced and mixed techniques.

Key lessons include:

Essential materials and tools
Warm-up exercises with brushes and nibs
Experimental techniques
Combining techniques into a complete composition
Brushes and dip pens are excellent lie detectors—they immediately expose the artist’s insecurities and strengths. Whether you’re a beginning inker or a seasoned artist, you’ll gain an arsenal of tools that will allow you to experiment with illustration, develop a personal style, and create works that are completely your own.

Improvised Illustration: Style and Technique

Follow award-winning artist Roman Muradov in his improvisation on the theme “Before and After” and try your own.

This inspiring 90-minute class reveals every step of the artistic process, including:

Exploring the theme and coming up with multiple ideas
Experimenting with various tools and making several variations
Finishing the pieces digitally and picking the one that works best
Along the way, Roman shares unique tips for drawing with brushes and pens, developing your personal style, and using the barest resources to come up with ideas that will benefit artists of any skill level and background.

All students are encouraged to explore the prompt, share their own interpretations, and exchange feedback to deepen their understanding and technique.