I created a Skillshare class

For years I’ve taken Skillshare classes to learn specific creative skills. You can learn various bits and pieces through youtube, but there’s so much you have to sort through to find the good ones. While Skillshare is very specific in the classes and allows you to learn specific skills as if you were taking a class with modules to break down the skills and a class project to show your understanding or application.

This post and the photos within it contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link, I may receive a commission at no extra charge to you. Full disclosure here.

I’ve learned:

bounce lettering

I created my logo using this class — see above logo

surface pattern design

I have created lots of digital patterns/paper for my shops like these…

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and more. Check out my Whimsical Digitals ETSY shop for more digital patterns and clipart.

brushed up on photoshop

Taking these classes has helped me tremendously on many things related to my shops and improved my workflow and what I’m able to offer.

learned some new Adobe Illustrator tips

Again improving the two skills have helped me create logos like these…

Toile Patterns

I can know more about Toile patterns and the history behind the design. I have so many ideas for my own modern Toile patterns that I hope to create soon.

digital painting on Procreate

Getting an iPad and Apple Pencil and learning Procreate was a game changer. It has helped me with my clip art shop Whimsical Digitals. See below for some examples of designs I created using Procreate.

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creating characters

Creating cute characters is something I struggle with so I was happy to learn more about building characters. Below are some examples of the character illustrations I made for my clip art shop…

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gcs_WD_WhimsyDoll_style_Best Day Ever.png

fashion illustration

I have always thought fashion illustrations were so beautiful and glamorous. The classes I took helped break down the steps and I was able to create this bridal invitation design.

about art licensing

I’m still learning about this complicated subject from people in the business.

poster design

I have so many ideas for creating a few series and can’t wait to dive into this niche.

about social media

Instagram and Pinterest continues to be something I struggle with but having classes help make it more relatable and the step by step process helps make actions feasible.

content planning for blogs

Once I decided to start I blog, the classes have helped planning.

creating video content with a smartphone

This helped me create my youtube videos. :-) Still learning.

As you can see, I’ve learned so much from those classes that have helped my business. Inspired by these classes, every year I had “create a Skillshare class” line on my things to do list.

Every. Year. I love teaching my face-to-face classes so wanted to try at least.

But each year went by and as a single mom with three mermaids, there was never enough time in the day to tackle the creation of the class. Y’all know how it goes, don’t you? All the best intentions but somehow with so many fires to put out, it just didn’t get done.

One of the few positive things resulting from our quarantine is the additional time to learn or finesse new skills. Initially, I learned the making of videos to supplement my classes with my job as an Interior Design adjunct professor. Previously I’d dabbled in the making of a video…shooting on my iPhone, editing using iMovie and publishing onto Youtube time lapsed videos for students who needed to slow down the process from the comfort of their home. They weren’t award winning and frankly I cringe when I play them back but they did the job.

With the school’s Online class transition, I’ve really had to step up my game. I learned to edit faster, streamline my work flow, batch jobs, create better thumbnail cover images, etc. While I added videos for my design students, I decided to finally create a Skillshare class.

I’m so excited! I did it! {Insert visual of me doing a Snoopy happy dance here.} :-)

My class is about how I create a themed collection from start to finish—sketching, painting, scanning, editing in Photoshop and how you can use the design elements. Check out my trailer for the class below…