Schoolism - Understanding Textures with Jonathan Hardesty
https://schoolism.com/courses/concept-art/understanding-textures-jonathan-hardesty
- Master the art of surface rendering with Understanding Textures by Jonathan Hardesty, an advanced-level course offered through Schoolism. Designed for concept artists, illustrators, and digital painters, this comprehensive program bridge the gap between "generic" rendering and true, tactile realism. Whether you are struggling to differentiate the sheen of polished chrome from the dull glow of weathered iron, or you want to understand the physical properties that make a surface look wet, slimy, or rough, Hardesty provides a systematic framework to deconstruct and recreate any material imaginable.
- The course is structured around an ambitious 21-week curriculum featuring over 11 hours of video instruction. Jonathan Hardesty, a veteran artist and educator known for his "Texture Project"—a personal challenge involving 500 individual studies—brings his obsession with light and form to the digital canvas. He introduces students to his unique "8 aspects of textures," a classification system that allows artists to rate surfaces based on gloss level, reflectivity, and edge breakup. This analytical approach ensures that you aren't just memorizing how to paint one specific object, but learning the universal principles of how light interacts with different physical properties.
- Each lesson is built around three distinct texture studies. Students are guided through a series of "paint-along" demonstrations where Hardesty analyzes the material's characteristics before executing the render. The curriculum covers a massive range of materials, starting with metals like iron, gold, and chrome, and moving into complex organic surfaces such as dew, slime, and various types of skin. Beyond just the "what" and "how," the course also includes bonus tutorials on Photoshop commands and custom brush settings. However, the philosophy remains tool-agnostic; Hardesty emphasizes that once you understand what makes a texture visually unique, you can achieve world-class results using even the most basic standard brushes.
- By the end of the 21 lessons, you will have moved beyond guesswork to a place of technical confidence. This course is an essential investment for any artist looking to add a layer of professional polish and convincing realism to their portfolio. With Jonathan Hardesty’s expert guidance, you will transform your work from flat digital paintings into tangible, immersive environments that feel real to the touch.
