How Do You Turn a Memory
Into a Dreamy Scene?
illustrator,zell Details
Intro
A dreamy scene is more than a well-rendered character. Light, atmosphere, and environment shape the story around them.
Zell breaks down his process from the ground up, starting with form, perspective, gesture, value, and color, then reinforcing each concept through Beginner and Basic-level exercises. From there, you’ll move into composition, background studies, foliage simplification, references, and atmospheric lighting.
From reference gathering and thumbnails to background and character rendering, paintover, and post-processing, you’ll follow Zell’s full workflow and see how soft lighting, dense foliage, and environmental composition create the dreamy, nostalgic atmosphere his work is known for. Rather than learning each skill in isolation, you’ll learn how to bring them together into one cohesive, story-driven illustration. A bonus section also shares Zell’s firsthand experience with commissions, self-promotion, and community building.
From reference gathering and thumbnails to background and character rendering, paintover, and post-processing, you’ll follow Zell’s full workflow and see how soft lighting, dense foliage, and environmental composition create the dreamy, nostalgic atmosphere his work is known for. Rather than learning each skill in isolation, you’ll learn how to bring them together into one cohesive, story-driven illustration. A bonus section also shares Zell’s firsthand experience with commissions, self-promotion, and community building.
Class Perks
Special Gift from Zell
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Coloso-Exclusive Bonus ArtworkWatch a New Piece Come to Life -
Class Working FilesStudy the Process Up Close -
Custom Brush SetPaint With Zell’s Go-To Tools
Class Material Details
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Bonus Artwork PSD and Full Recording- Explore an exclusive artwork created separately from the class final illustration.
- Follow Zell’s complete process through the full recording.
- Access the finished artwork as a layered PSD file. -
Full Class PSD Files- Explore the PSD files used throughout the class.
- Review layers, painting decisions, and different stages of the workflow.
- Use the files as references while practicing independently. -
Frequently Used Painting Brushes- Practice with the custom brushes Zell regularly uses in his work.
- Use the same tools while following along with class demonstrations.
- Provided as downloadable ABR files.
Recommendation
Who should take this class?
Beginner Artists & Hobbyists
who want to build a stronger foundation in form, composition, value, and color before moving into more complex illustration workflows.
Intermediate Artists
who understand the basics but struggle with atmospheric lighting, nature rendering, and background composition, and want to create richer, more cohesive scenes.
Growth-Oriented Independent Creators
who want to share their work more confidently, grow an engaged audience, and explore how an art practice can expand into freelance work, community building, and other creative opportunities.
Expert Illustrator Zell's Portfolio
Why Take This Class?
Beyond the Dreamy Look
Zell’s dreamy atmosphere is not created through a single rendering trick. It comes from the way soft lighting, environmental color, foliage, and composition work together to shape the mood of a scene. In this class, he breaks down two of the most requested aspects of his work, signature lighting and foliage rendering, showing how he simplifies dense natural forms, creates the illusion of detail, and uses light and color to give characters a stronger sense of place, depth, and emotion.
But the class does not end with the finished illustration. In a dedicated bonus section, Zell draws from his own journey from self-taught hobbyist to full-time freelance illustrator to share what happens beyond the artwork itself. From commissions and client communication to self-promotion, conventions, content creation, and community building, you’ll gain a firsthand look at how he expanded his art practice into a growing creative career and audience.
Together, these two sides of the class offer more than a breakdown of Zell’s signature style. You’ll learn both how he creates the dreamy, nostalgic worlds his work is known for and how he has built a broader creative practice around them.
Get Ready for the Real-World
Class Exercises
Part 01. Build Form, Figure, and Gesture
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Form Rotation PracticeBeginner: Draw 5–10 simple forms in different positions to practice thinking in 3D.
Basic: Draw 10–20 simple forms in different positions to strengthen your spatial understanding. -
Perspective Box PracticeBeginner: Draw 20 boxes in perspective to practice depth and spatial awareness.
Basic: Draw 20–50 boxes in perspective to strengthen your control of depth and angle. -
Figure Form BreakdownBeginner: Trace over 10 figure references and break each pose down into simple 3D forms.
Basic: Trace over 10–20 figure references and break each pose down into simple 3D forms. -
Figure ConstructionBeginner: Draw 10 poses using simplified forms while keeping the proportions accurate.
Basic: Draw 10–20 poses using simplified forms while keeping the proportions accurate. -
Gesture Drawing PracticeBeginner: Complete 50 30-second gesture drawings to practice flow and movement.
Basic: Complete 100 gesture drawings at 15–30 seconds each to push speed and fluidity.
Part 02. Strengthen Workflow, Value, and Color
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Photobashing ApplicationApply the photobashing techniques from class to the provided image or an image of your choice. -
3D Pose StudyBeginner: Draw 10 poses using a posed 3D model as reference.
Basic: Draw 20 poses using a posed 3D model as reference. -
Value StudyBeginner: Complete 10 value studies to practice simplifying light and dark relationships.
Basic: Complete 20 value studies to strengthen your understanding of value. -
Color Theory CheckComplete a short color theory exercise to review the principles covered in class. -
Color StudyBeginner: Complete 5 color studies to practice applying color relationships and temperature.
Basic: Complete 10 color studies to strengthen your color decisions across different scenes.
Part 03. Build Composition, Backgrounds, and Foliage
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Composition BreakdownBeginner: Break down 5 illustrations to study framing, focal points, and composition.
Basic: Break down 10 illustrations to explore a wider range of compositional approaches. -
Background StudyGather photo references that interest you and paint a background study to build your visual library. -
Foliage Simplification StudyBeginner: Photograph or find plant references and paint 5 foliage studies using simplified forms.
Basic: Paint 10 foliage studies using simplified forms to practice breaking down more complex plant life. -
Creating the Illusion of DetailContinue your foliage study by adding detail while practicing how to suggest complexity without rendering every element equally.
Part 04. Plan Your Artist Path and Final Illustration
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Artist Growth Action PlanDefine what type of artist you want to become, list what you want to set up after the class, and outline how you plan to promote your work moving forward. -
Reference GatheringGather references that will support the upcoming illustration exercises. -
Reference OrganizationGroup your references into useful categories so you can navigate and apply them more effectively. -
Reference-Based ThumbnailsCreate thumbnails using your gathered references to explore possible scene and composition ideas. -
Final Illustration PlanningGather references for your final illustration and turn them into thumbnails while planning the composition, shadows, lighting, and contrast.
Part 05. Complete the Final Illustration
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Background PaintingDevelop and paint the background for your final illustration. -
Character PaintingDevelop and paint the character within your final scene. -
Paintover and CleanupRefine the illustration through paintover and cleanup before the final finishing stage. -
Post-Processing and Signature LightingComplete your illustration with final post-processing and Zell’s signature lighting approach.
Final Product Examples
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Dreamy Character Illustration -
Foliage Rendering Study -
Atmospheric Background Study
*The above images are sample images for a better understanding.
Highlights
Class Highlights
Create Dreamy, Atmospheric Lighting
Learn how Zell uses soft light and environmental color to build a dreamy, nostalgic mood, and see how lighting interacts with both characters and foliage to shape the atmosphere of a scene.
Tell a Story Through Composition
Break complex foliage down into simple forms, then build up detail step by step to create dense, natural environments without getting lost in every leaf.
Simplify and Render Lush Foliage
Learn Zell’s approach to framing, focal points, and environmental placement to create stronger compositions that guide the viewer’s eye and support the story behind the illustration.
