Learn Concept Art for Animation (Udemy.com)
Animation Art and Concept Art Fundamentals, from Beginner to Pro
Created by: Siobhan Twomey
Last updated November 2025
What you will learn
- How to become a Background Artist for Animation
- Learn the Job Spec of a Professional Background Artist
- Draw a Background from Imagination
- Learn the Core Skillset of a Background Artist
- Learn the Best Practices, the Foundation Skills and the Principles of Good Design
- Learn the Role of a Background Artist in the Animation Studio
- Draw a Layout of a Background
- Paint a Final Background for a Scene in an Animated Movie
- Learn the Principles that govern good design for Background Art
- Define and Apply the exact Foundation Skillset that you need to be a Background Artist
How it compares
Against the other 545 rated Udemy courses in 3D Modeling on CourseDuck:
- Rating4.7 out of 5higher than 75% of them
- Reviews43#524 of 546 by number of reviews
- Length2.6 hoursshorter than 79% of them
- Last updatedNovember 2025more recently than 83% of them
Course Description
Digital Art, Concept Art, Digital Painting
All of these terms filter into one exciting career path: one where You become a Background Artist for Animation
Do you want to work in Animation? Do you want to be a Digital Artist creating imaginative worlds, backgrounds and environments? As a Digital Artist or Background Artist for Animation, you get to make awesome digital painting, concept art and illustrations for an animated film or a show. And the job is easy once you know the fundamentals of drawing and painting, and the core principles of good design. Join me in this course, and learn how Background Art for Animation is the most exciting sector in the Animation industry, the best job to land in an animation studio, and a career that is easily accessible to you with the right portfolio.
In this course you will learn:
• The exact job of a Background Artist: what you will be doing every day if you get hired in an animation studio
• The Design Principles that will ensure you ALWAYS make great looking Background Art
• The core skillset of a Digital Artist - visual development, drawing skills and painting skills
• Where Background Art fits in the Animation Production pipleine
• How to set up your files for professional industry standards in animation
And all of that is just in the first section. In the second section of this course, with all of that practical knowledge under your belt, you will put all of it to use and create a fully finished Background Art piece that you can have in your Portfolio! You'll get to draw a fully finished LAYOUT drawing based on the principles of design covered in the first section. Then, I'll walk you through the entire painting process and share the tips and techniques that I have used for over 15 years as a professional background artist.
By the end of this course you'll have two major, important pieces for your portfolio. You'll be able to show these to prospective clients or studios. My goal here is not just to teach you the skilset of a digital artist, but to support you along the next steps towards becoming a professional background artist for animation.
Instructor Details
- 4.7 Rating
43 Reviews
Siobhan Twomey
My background spans the disciplines of drawing, painting, filmmaking and animation. I studied Film in Dublin, and spent a semester on a scholarship at the Tisch School of the Arts, NYU in New York. I later studied drawing and animation. Since 2005, I have worked in studios in Vancouver and Dublin as a professional Background Designer and Environment Artist. I've also worked as a storyboard artist, concept artist, and I have directed a number of short animated films.
All in all, I've worked for over 15 years as an Artist, Illustrator and Animation Professional. I've provided artwork for studios whose clients include Disney UK, Sony Pictures Animation, HMH Publishing, to name a few.
I also have an ongoing painting and drawing practice, and I paint portraits on commission, and exhibit my work in galleries. My passion is to teach others the whole spectrum of art skills that I've learned and developed over the course of my career.
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Reviews
By Zoran Ivanovic on 5/28/2025
Excellent approach. Very detailed, interesting and educational.
By Noel S. Esperanza on 3/5/2025
Nice sketch, ma'am. I can't wait to start my background design!
By Farah Naaz on 9/14/2024
She is just an amazing tutor iam loving all her courses and learning a lot from her techniques.Thankyou so much for this course.
By Jordan Shotts on 11/27/2023
Quality content.
By Blake Marsee on 6/22/2023
She explains everything very well. The pacing is very good, not too fast but also not too slow. Excellent for beginners.
By Michael Smorynski on 3/30/2023
So far, so good.
By Dominika Hesounová on 1/12/2023
This is my second course I have taken with Siobhan and it was great! :) I got stuck in the sketching part during the painting and she was able to help me masterfully. I ended up with an amazing piece for my portfolio and more knowledge about the industry.
Quality Score
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Overall Score : 94 / 100












