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PAINT BACKGROUNDS THAT GET YOU HIRED

Introduction to background painting for animation

Learn to design and paint environments that work inside
professional animation pipelines - from thumbnails to final render,
with structure, intention, and industry-level thinking.

7+
HOURS OF CONTENT
20+
VIDEO LESSONS
6
MODULES
∞
LIFETIME ACCESS
Start building your portfolio →
PAINT BACKGROUNDS
THAT GET YOU HIRED

Introduction to background paintings for animation

Learn to design and paint environments that work inside professional animation pipelines — from thumbnails to final render, with structure, intention, and industry-level thinking.

7+
HOURS OF CONTENT
20+
VIDEO LESSONS
6
MODULES
∞
LIFETIME ACCESS
 
Start building your portfolio →
  Sound familiar?

You don't lack talent. You lack a clear path

These doubts are common and I know them well, because I faced them myself.

Starting with no prior experience and not knowing where to begin or what to practice first.
Wondering if your work is industry-ready  — or just good enough for personal projects.
Practicing in isolation with no feedback loop, no structure, and no one who's done it professionally.
Feeling overwhelmed by complex environments and struggling to turn references into cinematic backgrounds.
  Your Instructor

Milica Mastelica

Background Artist · Game Cinematics Specialist

14
Years in Industry
10+
Shipped Titles
0
Instagram Followers

I work as a background artist specializing in game cinematics. Recent projects include Apex Legends, Valorant, and Clash Royale, alongside many unannounced titles. Over 14 years I've developed a process that's both creatively rigorous and production-ready. This course exists because I wish I'd had it. A clear, structured path from beginner to production-level painter, taught by someone who still works in the industry every day.

Explore the Course
  Turn this skill into a career

Background painting is one of the most in-demand specializations in animation and game cinematics, and one of the least taught properly

Studios aren't looking for generalists. They're looking for artists who understand production
pipelines, can deliver under brief, and have a portfolio that proves it.

 

01

Production-ready work

Learn to design for animation pipelines — not just for portfolios. Every exercise mirrors how professional studios actually work.

 

02

A portfolio with depth

Environments that tell a story, control mood, and work for production pipeline. That's what gets you hired. You'll build exactly that across 6 structured modules.

03

The industry vocabulary 

Readable composition. Clear color scripts. Lighting that reads fast. These aren’t extras — they’re what get portfolios noticed.

 

  REAL LIFE RESULTS that YOU CAN ALSO ACHIEVE

What my students created during the course

See how students applied the course lessons to do exercises that strengthens their knowledge.
This gives confidence to tackle portfolio worthy work without fear. 

by Alex Panizzoli

Introduction to background paintings for animation

 

by Sarah Legras-Marie

Introduction to background paintings for animation

 

by Lilia Pilona

Introduction to background paintings for animation

 

Start creating your own projects →
  THE PROFESSIONAL PROCESS YOU'LL LEARN

From idea to final background — the exact workflow studios use

This isn't a step-by-step painting tutorial. It's a complete production method, the same one used on shipped game and animation titles, broken down so you can apply it to every piece you make from here on.

 

1
 

Research & story

Collect references from Google and Pinterest. Write a mini-story for the scene: who lives here, what happened, what should the viewer feel. Every strong background starts with a clear emotional intent before a single stroke.

2
 

Thumbnails & colorboards

Explore compositions and color palettes quickly through thumbnails and color boards. Lock in the mood, the light direction, and the key value relationships before committing to detail.

3
 

3D scene blocking in Blender

Build a rough 3D model of the scene to establish accurate perspective, spatial depth, and structure. This is how it is done in animation pipelines. 3D is especially useful if we have multiple scenes in some location. 

4
 

Detailed lineart over the 3D base

Draw clean, expressive lineart directly over the 3D render. The 3D model handles the structure; you bring the style, texture, and character to the scene.

5
 

Final painted background

Paint the final background using all the decisions made in previous steps: color, light, mood, and composition already locked in. The result is a production-ready piece you can put straight into your portfolio.

Take a step into your future →
  COURSE CONTENT

6 modules · 7+ hours · from beginner to production-ready

Designed to be taken in order. Each module builds naturally on the previous — from foundations to advanced technique. You can pause and replay each lesson as many times as you need, allowing you to learn at your own pace.

 

 
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  COURSE PLATFORM

Learn with a platform dedicated for you

A self-paced course with clear HD lessons, practical demonstrations, and community support so you can learn, practice, and grow at your own rhythm.

 
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  EVERYTHING INCLUDED

One enrollment, everything you will need

Everything included to help you learn at your own pace, with clear lessons, practical demos, and supportive guidance.

 

▶

7+ hours of lessons

20+ full HD video lessons. Pause, replay, and rewatch as many times as you need — no time pressure.

☯︎

Private community

Share work, get feedback, and learn alongside other students navigating the same path.

∞︎

Lifetime access

No expiry dates. Revisit any lesson whenever you need it — even years after enrolling.

 

◈

Any device, any time

Watch on desktop, tablet, or phone. Your progress syncs across every device automatically.

 

✦

Bonus: Milica's brush pack

The exact brushes used throughout the course. $25 — free with enrollment.

 

♢

Certificate of completion

A shareable certificate to add to your portfolio, LinkedIn, and professional profiles.

Get access now

REGISTRATIONS ARE CLOSING SOON!

Learn all the skills to launch your new career

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  ENROLLMENT

6 monthly payments offer 

With this option, you can split the cost over six months! You'll get the same course, same materials, same lifetime benefits, but more affordable. The price displayed below is in US dollars, but you can pay with any currency.



6 MONTHLY PAYMENTS

$77 / month

SPECIAL INSTALLMENTS OFFER


✓ 7+ hours of lessons
✓ 20+ video lessons
✓ 6 structured modules
✓ Private artist community
✓ Lifetime access
✓ Access on any device
✓ Certificate of completion
✓ 14-day money-back guarantee
✓ Brush pack $25 - FREE
Total Value $422
Special Price $77/month
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🛡️ 14-day money-back guarantee. Watch the first lessons and decide if this course is right for you. If you've watched less than 30% of the content and it's not the right fit, request a full refund within 14 days, no questions asked.

  FAQ

Frequently asked questions

 

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