Building Your Business as an Artist: Character Illustration to Merchandise [Coloso, Oretsuu]
- Publisher
- Coloso
- Product Type
- Video Course
- Author
- Oretsuu
- Language
- Korean, GBC Dub, English Official Subtitles
- Duration
- 35:01
- Release date
- Oct 29, 2024
- Skill level
- Project Files
- Yes
- Product Price
- $188
From Character Illustrations to Best-Selling Merchandise
Many say, “Making art isn’t profitable.” Oretsuu heard that too - but driven by passion and steady improvement, she proved it can be possible. Today she’s a full-time artist running an independent business and sharing her work with the world.What you’ll achieve
Start by mastering the fundamentals of human anatomy and illustration so your work becomes more impactful and emotive. Learn how lighting, realism, and mood transform your approach and produce two character designs that form the foundation for later chapters.Then, move on to merchandise production: create three types of merch based on your characters and learn every step of the process. With Oretsuu’s practical guidance, you’ll gain essential skills in marketing, running an online store, and selling at conventions - the building blocks to launch a business around your art.
Expert Illustrator — Oretsuu’s Portfolio
Why take this class?
The digital illustration + merchandising field is still young and there’s no single roadmap - many paths exist. If you want a career in illustration, strong fundamentals and the ability to make your work appealing are vital. Oretsuu covers both: technique, concept, and the business know-how needed to turn art into products people want to buy.People buy products that carry personal meaning - nostalgia, emotional attachment, admiration. Your job as an artist is to capture that meaning. When your art resonates, your audience and your business grow. Oretsuu shares years of practice and experimentation so you can find your path faster.
18 Class Exercises
- Drawing the Human Body
- Drawing the Head and Facial Expressions
- Drawing Hands
- Character Composition
- Practicing Perspective
- Finding References & Making a Mood Board
- Values
- Experimenting with Edges
- Intentional Colour Choice
- Lighting on the Face
- Rendering Character Features
- Clothing Folds & Textures
- Learning Colour Variations
- Creating an Illustration of Your Own - Male
- Creating an Illustration of Your Own - Female
- Chibi Creation
- Merchandise Creation
- Mock-up Preparation
Final Products
- Male Character Illustration
- Female Character Illustration
- Final Merchandise Files (print-ready)
Class Highlights
Plan and create illustrations from start to finishIllustration is a sequence of steps - planning, reference, composition, rendering. Oretsuu walks you through each stage so the process becomes repeatable and manageable.
Make your work more impactful with lighting and mood
Master lighting to guide the viewer’s eye, enhance emotion, and add depth. Learn how light and shadow shape atmosphere and bring your characters to life.
Turn characters into sellable merchandise
You’ll learn how to choose suitable products, design for production, prepare print files, and handle manufacturing logistics. Plus: practical tips for marketing and selling, including running an online store and showing at conventions.
