Brand: Coloso.
Price: 180 USD
Availability: InStock

Instructor

Yuhong Ding

Concept Artist

Yuhong Ding is a concept artist and illustrator currently employed at Sony Pictures Animation, bringing expertise across character design, environment art, creature design, and illustration.

A graduate of the School of Visual Arts in New York, Ding has contributed to high-profile entertainment properties including League of Legends, Magic: The Gathering, and Dungeons & Dragons. Their work demonstrates a sophisticated balance of realistic detail and imaginative world-building, establishing them as a versatile talent within the animation and gaming industries.

Beyond studio production, Ding serves as an instructor at Brainstorm School and actively engages with the art community through educational content and process demonstrations. Their approach emphasizes traditional digital painting techniques over photobashing or AI-assisted workflows, offering transparent insights into professional-level concept art and illustration.

Through platforms including ArtStation, Instagram, and Twitch, Ding maintains an accessible presence for both industry professionals and aspiring artists, positioning themselves as both a skilled practitioner and dedicated educator within the concept art field.

Interview

Meet the Instructor

Question 01

What led you to choose this topic or theme?

I’ve seen so many artists — and I was once one of them — who can paint amazing portraits or photo studies, but when it comes to creating something original, everything suddenly feels much harder. The painting doesn’t look as good as you imagined, and it’s frustrating. Or some one have great design ideas, but struggle to show them in a visually conviencing way.
This course was built to solve that exact problem. It’s for artists who already have foundational painting and design skill, but want to take the next step — learning how to paint original characters from their imagination with confidence and control.

Question 02

What makes your class different from other classes?

Most illustration courses only touch on character painting briefly — just a few lessons in a large bundle. This course is different. It’s fully dedicated to character painting, built from the ground up to dive deep into what really makes a character believable and beautifully painted.

You’ll also learn a clear, efficient process for refining details — from sharp observation to final polish. After this course, you’ll have a concrete direction when refining your work, and the confidence to bring original character to life

Question 03

What are some essential skills or "must-have" tools in this industry,
and why?

In my opinion, there are two essential elements every artist should master — regardless of personal style.

1. A solid foundation in painting fundamentals.
No matter what subject we work in, as long as it connects to the real world rather than pure abstraction, strong fundamentals are what make your artwork convincing and visually appealing. The better your understanding of shape, color, and value, the more control you’ll have over your final result.

2. An efficient, personalized workflow.
A workflow is not just a routine — it’s the way we apply our knowledge at the right time, in the right order, to create consistent results. Without a clear process, even skilled artists can feel lost when producing professional work. A good workflow should be universal and repeatable, so it can serve you well both in personal projects and in a professional production environment.

In this course, I focus on exactly these two aspects — building strong fundamentals and establishing an effective workflow. My goal is to share the methods and insights that have helped me create confident, believable character paintings throughout my career.

Question 04

What are some common misconceptions about this industry, and how would you debunk them?

One of the most common misconceptions about this industry is the idea that one style is better than another. I think that’s completely untrue. There’s no such thing as a superior style — art is simply a way for each artist to express themselves.

In the professional world, an artist’s style usually depends on the needs of the project. For instance, Baldur’s Gate 3, League of Legends, and Persona 5 all have completely different visual directions — yet each is perfect for its own world and audience. You might prefer one over another, but that’s a matter of personal taste, not quality
So no matter which style you pursue, trust yourself and stay on your path. Don’t let others’ opinions make you doubt your direction — and equally, don’t dismiss someone else’s. Every style has its own purpose and beauty.

Class Details

You'll Learn

Efficient Workflow for Character Painting

Efficient Workflow for Character Painting
From initial sketch to the final polished artwork, Yuhong will guide you step-by-step through a professional and efficient workflow, to help you achieve impressive, industry-ready results

Strategies for Complex Light Sources

Master how to use light to define form, volume, and personality. Painting with multiple light sources can be challenging, but Yuhong will break it down into clear, practical strategies you can apply immediately.

Designing Values and Shapes

Learn how to simplify the overwhelming details in your references, and transform them into strong, intentional value and shape designs, with your own artistic taste and visual appeal.

Observation and Detail Rendering

Refine your character to the highest result possible. With keen observation and execution, Yuhong will show you how to make your designs more convincing, alive, and emotionally engaging to your audience.

Realism-Based Color Theory

While color choice is subjective, this class focuses on the theories and logic behind realistic color application — teaching you how to achieve lifelike skin tones, accurate lighting and believable materials.

Career Insights and Professional Advice

Yuhong shares his personal journey from student to professional artist, offering guidance on navigating the entertainment art industry. Learn what it takes to build a sustainable creative career, overcome challenges, and grow as an artist.

Curriculum

In-Depth Look

**Class release dates and content are subject to change without prior notice.