In this lesson, Gary Meyer introduces light logic and rendering from imagination through a monochrome acrylic study of geometric forms. You’ll start by sketching a box, sphere, cone, and cylinder under a single light source, carefully plotting their cast shadows. Gary will demonstrate a structured painting process, beginning with a mid-tone background and gradually building up core shadows, highlights, and reflected light to create smooth transitions between planes. By the end of this lesson, you’ll have a solid foundation in acrylic painting techniques and a clear approach to creating realistic lighting in your illustrations.

This lesson belongs to the course Classic Illustration Crash Course. In this 11-week course, master illustrator Gary Meyer guides you through the essential principles of classic illustration, focusing on perspective, light, and form to create dynamic, fully realized compositions. Designed for students looking to build believable illustrations without reliance on reference, this course emphasizes logical, procedural approaches to drawing and painting in acrylic. You’ll begin with foundational exercises in linear perspective, applying these principles to construct buildings, vehicles, and street scenes. As the course progresses, Gary will guide you through painting landscapes and natural environments with atmospheric lighting, as well as man-made environments, cars, and airplanes with reflective surfaces, all while maintaining a structured and efficient workflow. By the end of this course, you will have developed a diverse skill set to create original, professional-quality illustrations from imagination.

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