Illustrator and educator Sam Gillett has mastered the art of creating entire worlds from his imagination, bringing them to life through distinctive drawings that captivate viewers with their atmospheric depth and energy. His artwork stands out through a compelling combination of strong compositions, technical precision, and meticulous attention to detail, utilizing intuitive perspective techniques to transform space into engaging places that draw viewers deep into his artistic vision.
Gillett has now launched his latest educational offering, "Freehand Perspective Drawing for Beginners: Architecture and Landscapes," as My Modern Met Academy's newest course. This comprehensive program teaches the fundamentals of intuitive perspective drawing, with a particular emphasis on working without reference images or rulers to achieve realistic scenes with remarkable depth and complexity. Students learn to progress from a blank page to create final landscape drawings that are both organic and compelling.
The course systematically breaks down the often intimidating concept of perspective drawing into manageable, bite-sized lessons. Beginning with a thorough overview of important terminology and the essential components of perspective, Gillett proves to be an exceptional instructor who uses relatable anecdotes and practical examples to explain complex concepts. He then guides students through the process of establishing compelling compositions using proper guidelines and framing techniques, before demonstrating how to build up landscapes by incorporating various textures and shading throughout different sections of the drawing.
Currently available for immediate purchase at $34.95 for just under two hours of comprehensive instruction, this course represents essential learning for any artist interested in rendering realistic scenes and subjects. Gillett specifically designed this class with beginners in mind, ensuring that the lessons are not only accessible but also applicable to other creative projects that may involve similar intuitive artistic choices.
In an exclusive interview commemorating the course launch, Gillett shared insights into his artistic journey and what drives his passion for creating stunning and fantastical landscapes. He revealed that his artistic journey began at ages 5 to 6, inspired by his father who drew with him during his childhood. As a young adult, he rediscovered drawing as a means to relax and process the challenges of his difficult first year at university, eventually finding the techniques and world-building elements of art to be endlessly engaging.
Regarding his attraction to illustration and freehand perspective drawing specifically, Gillett explained that freehand drawing challenges artists to see both the world and their art in entirely new ways. "You have to become adept at observing the way scenes look from different angles and viewpoints: it's a fun challenge!" he noted. He particularly loves how art empowers individuals to become world builders, creating new things and interpreting the world in unique ways through simple pencil marks on paper.
Gillett draws inspiration from several notable artists, particularly those who have shaped the visual landscape of fantasy art. He has always been attracted to the world of Middle-earth, specifically citing John Howe and Alan Lee as major influences. These two artists, responsible for the visual design of The Lord of the Rings films, have informed countless fantasy worlds that followed. Gillett particularly admires their sketching style, which masterfully balances precision with a richly textured approach.
When discussing the challenges he faced when starting with perspective drawing, Gillett acknowledged the frustration of being able to visualize something but not being able to draw it effectively. He emphasized that drawing circles and other organic shapes in perspective can be particularly difficult, noting that practice truly is the key to learning how to intuitively draw these complex forms. Currently, he finds similar challenges in drawing characters, describing learning faces and human figures as "a whole other world."
Gillett's favorite aspect of his artistic process occurs when a vision for a drawing truly clicks. He describes the initial stage with a blank page as sometimes being "a slog," but when he decides on a subject that genuinely captivates his imagination and compels him to draw, that becomes "a special feeling." His teaching career began during the pandemic in 2020 as a way to challenge himself, and creating resources for other artists helped him learn new things about his own drawing process and artistic perspective.
For aspiring landscape artists and those tackling complicated perspective compositions, Gillett offers practical advice emphasizing the importance of regular drawing practice. While this may seem obvious, he acknowledges that it can be intimidating to bring a sketchbook to cafes, street corners, or parks. However, he stresses that drawing real spaces regularly is the best way to develop a feel for how we perceive three-dimensional spaces, as drawing from photographs restricts one's view to how someone else or a camera sees a scene.
Gillett encourages artists to think critically about their observations: what appears larger, and how does distance impact the perception of detail? Being physically present in the space is critical for absorbing these fundamental lessons about spatial relationships and perspective.
Regarding his hopes for students taking his My Modern Met Academy class, Gillett defines success as encouraging people to draw consistently. He believes that if students are drawing regularly, they're building a consistent drawing practice, which is where true improvement lies. "Hopefully this class encourages folks to draw and find joy in the process," he concluded, emphasizing that the ultimate goal is fostering both skill development and genuine enjoyment in artistic creation.
