In this lesson, you will learn how instructor Mike Butkus begins the final drawing stage of the movie poster. Mike works on a toned gessoed surface and builds a drawing that can support the later painting process. He discusses the importance of a fully developed drawing before painting, then begins organizing the poster through placement, scale, background structure, crowd shapes, and the first major value relationships.

This lesson belongs to the course Entertainment Poster Design Part I: Concept to Drawing. In this 7-week course, instructor Mike Butkus teaches you how to develop a movie poster from concept to final drawing. Working from a fictional action-horror brief, Mike demonstrates how story, composition, reference, character design, projection, and light-and-shadow organization come together to create a paint-ready poster illustration. This course focuses on the drawing and design stages of the poster process, laying the groundwork for Entertainment Poster Design Part II: Final Painting (coming soon).

Throughout this course, you’ll have access to the NMA community for feedback and critiques to improve your work as you progress.