Illustrator From The Ground Up - Part 4: Advanced Composition with Jason Hoppe

Subscribers Only Seminar

This session is exclusively available to CreativeLive subscribers. If you're not yet a subscriber, you can subscribe here.

Part 4 is where Illustrator starts to feel like a creative playground. Jason Hoppe introduces the tools that let you build rich, complex compositions without drawing every element by hand. You'll use the Blend tool to create smooth transitions between shapes and colors, and symbols to place and update repeated artwork across a design.

Jason then shows you how to design seamless patterns for backgrounds, textiles, and packaging. You'll turn sketches and photos into editable vector art with Image Trace, then fill them with color using Live Paint. Finally, you'll create and apply custom brushes that add hand-drawn character to your work.

By the end of this class, you'll have a toolkit of time-saving techniques for creating detailed illustrations, patterns, and textures.

This class includes a dedicated 30 minutes of Q&A directly with Jason Hoppe.

What You'll Learn

  • Create smooth transitions between shapes and colors with the Blend tool
  • Save time and keep files lean with reusable symbols
  • Design seamless, repeating patterns
  • Turn sketches and photos into vector art with Image Trace, then color them with Live Paint
  • Create and apply custom brushes

Who It's For

  • Students who completed Parts 1–3 of the series
  • Illustrators who want to add texture, depth, and detail to their work
  • Surface, textile, and packaging designers who create repeating patterns
  • Artists who want to turn hand-drawn sketches into vector artwork

How to Join

  • The class will be delivered via Zoom Webinars. You'll need access to Zoom through a web browser or the Zoom app in order to participate.
  • This class is exclusively available to CreativeLive subscribers. If you're not yet a subscriber, you can subscribe here.
  • To reserve your spot, register using the Sign Up form and button above. Space is limited.
  • A unique Zoom join link will be sent to registered subscribers, up to the maximum number of participants per class. You'll receive this link one hour before the class start time.

About the Instructor

Jason Hoppe is an Adobe Certified Expert and Adobe Certified Instructor with a graphic design background. For 19 years he has taught Adobe software, including Illustrator, at Seattle's School of Visual Concepts, Luminous Works, and Seattle Central College, and he is the founding instructor at CreativeLive. He breaks complex tools down into clear, practical steps, which helps students of every level build confident vector illustration, logo, and layout skills they can put to work right away.

Jason's teaching draws on 20 years of real production work. He has led electronic production departments at Seattle agencies such as Hornall Anderson and Bozell/FCB, and has built design workflows for clients like Costco and Cascade Designs. That experience means his Illustrator lessons go beyond what each tool does: he teaches how professionals use it to work efficiently, avoid production problems, and deliver polished, print- and digital-ready artwork.