Mixed Media Illustration
“Gouache, acrylic, and colored pencil — illustration you can hold in your hands.”
Runs twice a year · 8 weeks · Traditional Paint
Runs twice a year · 8 weeks · Traditional Paint
Winter: Feb 1 – Mar 28 · Classroom opens Jan 25 · Midpoint Q&A Sat, Feb 27 · Wrap-up Q&A Sat, Apr 3 · Access closes Apr 18
Fall: Sep 27 – Nov 21 · Classroom opens Sep 20 · Midpoint Q&A Sat, Oct 23 · Wrap-up Q&A Sat, Dec 4 · Access closes Dec 12
Step away from the screen. In this course, you'll build one finished illustration the traditional way, layering gouache, acrylic, and colored pencil the way illustrators did for decades — and many still do. You'll learn what each medium does best, how to make them work together on one surface, and how to finish a piece with real texture and presence.
Who it's for: Digital artists who miss paint on paper, traditional artists who want to push their finish, and anyone curious about mixed media.
What you'll learn
Week 1 — Materials, surfaces and value thumbnails
Week 2 — Final drawing and transfer to board
Week 3 — Gouache: washes and blocking in
Week 4 — Gouache: opaque layers and edges
Week 5 — Acrylic: underpainting and glazing
Week 6 — Colored pencil: texture, detail and burnishing over paint
Week 7 — Pulling it together: focal point, contrast and finish
Week 8 — Final illustration, plus scanning and photographing your art
Bonus: Airbrush basics — setup, masking, smooth gradients and cleanup.
What you'll make: One finished mixed media illustration.
How this course works
Self-Paced · Released weekly · Prerecorded — not taught live
This course is pre-recorded. Robert isn't teaching it live. Instead, a new module unlocks every Monday, and the whole class moves through it together, one week at a time — so you can't jump ahead, but within each week, you watch and work whenever it fits your schedule.
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Early access. Your classroom opens one week before the start date. Meet your cohort, get your supply list and watch the welcome video.
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New module every Monday. One video lesson and one assignment.
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Post your homework by Saturday at 11:59 pm PT in the course thread.
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Feedback starts Sunday (With Pro Feedback). Your work is reviewed by Robert or one of his industry professionals, with thorough feedback back within 2–7 days — a recorded video critique, a draw-over on your image, or written notes in your thread.
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Two live Q&As with Robert on Zoom (With Pro Feedback). One at the midpoint and a wrap-up after the final week, held on Saturday mornings and recorded.
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Access closes 3 weeks after the course ends for everyone.
Who reviews your Work?
Every feedback seat is reviewed by Robert or one of his industry professionals — working artists Robert trained himself. Each one follows Robert's critique method, so the standard is the same, whoever reviews your piece. And every student gets Robert himself in both live Q&As.
Limited Enrollment
Limited Enrollment
Runs twice a year · 8 weeks ·
[Traditional Paint]
Winter: Feb 1 – Mar 28 Classroom opens: Jan 25 Midpoint Q&A: Sat, Feb 27 Wrap-up Q&A: Sat, Apr 3 Access closes: Apr 18
Winter
Lessons Only $197
With Pro Feedback $997 (20 seats)
Early access. Your classroom opens one week before the start date. Meet your cohort, get your supply list and watch the welcome video.
New module every Monday. One video lesson and one assignment.
Post your homework by Saturday at 11:59 pm PT in the course thread.
Feedback starts Sunday (With Pro Feedback). Your work is reviewed by Robert or one of his industry professionals, with thorough feedback back within 2–7 days — a recorded video critique, a draw-over on your image, or written notes in your thread.
Two live Q&As with Robert on Zoom (With Pro Feedback). One at the midpoint and a wrap-up after the final week, Saturday mornings, recorded.
Access closes 3 weeks after the course ends for everyone.
Fall: Sep 27 – Nov 21
Classroom: opens Sep 20 Midpoint Q&A: Sat, Oct 23 Wrap-up Q&A: Sat, Dec 4 Access closes: Dec 12
Fall
Lessons Only $197
With Pro Feedback $997 (20 seats)
Early access. Your classroom opens one week before the start date. Meet your cohort, get your supply list and watch the welcome video.
New module every Monday. One video lesson and one assignment.
Post your homework by Saturday at 11:59 pm PT in the course thread.
Feedback starts Sunday (With Pro Feedback). Your work is reviewed by Robert or one of his industry professionals, with thorough feedback back within 2–7 days — a recorded video critique, a draw-over on your image, or written notes in your thread.
Two live Q&As with Robert on Zoom (With Pro Feedback). One at the midpoint and a wrap-up after the final week, Saturday mornings, recorded.
Access closes 3 weeks after the course ends for everyone.
✺ Frequently asked questions ✺
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No. It's prerecorded, and a new module unlocks every Monday.
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Saturday at 11:59 pm PT each week.
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With Pro Feedback, Robert or one of his industry professionals reviews every assignment and replies within 2–7 days.
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Catch up anytime until access closes, 3 weeks after the course ends.
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Your full supply list is in the classroom, which opens one week before the start date.
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Yes — 20% off, applied automatically when you buy inside Nextgen.
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A finished piece you can be proud of — see "What you'll make" above.
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Full refund if you ask within the first week of the course — before Module 2 unlocks.