Designing Rocks and Plants by SVS Learn

SVS Designing Rocks and Plants is an online class from the School of Visual Storytelling, taught by illustrator Shane Hunt. It teaches you to draw an endless variety of rocks, trees and plants by applying the elements and principles of design: line, shape, value and texture, contrast, balance, and unity with variety. The class has 16 lessons with about two and a half hours of video and six assignments, closing with demonstrations of an old tree and a group of pine trees. It is included in the SVS Learn membership.

Rocks and plants are easy to treat as filler, yet they do a lot to set the mood of a scene. Shane's approach is to design them with the same care as characters, so that natural elements add personality instead of repeating the same lollipop tree.

What You Will Learn

• The elements of design: line, shape, value and texture
• The principles of design: contrast, balance, and unity with variety
• Capturing and exaggerating the gesture of rocks and plants
• Abstracting and simplifying the natural world
• Seeing with your mind rather than only with your eyes
• Bending the laws of physics to give nature more character
• Using natural patterns in non-natural forms

Who Is SVS Designing Rocks and Plants For?

The class suits illustrators whose backgrounds feel generic, and anyone who draws outdoor scenes for picture books, comics, games or animation. Because it is built on design principles rather than a particular style, it works for realistic and fantastical work alike.

It is approachable for beginners, though some basic drawing experience helps.

How the Class Works

Each design element or principle is explained in a short video and followed by an assignment that applies it to rocks and plants, six in total. The two demonstrations at the end, an old tree and pine trees, show all the ideas working together in a finished drawing. Doing the assignments in order builds a small library of natural shapes you can reuse in your own environments.

Course Structure

• Introduction: introduction to the course
• Elements: line and shape (Assignment 1), value and texture (Assignment 2)
• Principles: contrast (Assignment 3), balance (Assignment 4), unity with variety (Assignment 5)
• Using natural patterns in non-natural forms (Assignment 6)
• Conclusion: final thoughts
• Demos: an old tree and pine trees

Price and Access

The class is included in the SVS Learn membership. SVS lists its Studio membership at $29.95 a month, with a $300 annual option shown on class pages, and a 14-day free trial that needs a card and becomes a paid subscription unless cancelled. Membership includes live events and a monthly art challenge.

About the Instructor

Shane Hunt has worked as a professional illustrator and graphic artist for more than a decade, with work in video games, books, animated films and apparel for international brands. He lives in Payson, Utah, and also teaches Effective Vehicle Design at SVS.

How It Fits the SVS Curriculum

Designing Rocks and Plants is part of Level 3 of SVS Essentials, the environment level. With Effective Vehicle Design and the exterior and interior environment classes, it gives you the pieces to build complete worlds. The natural elements you design here are put to use in Exterior Environment Design.

Things to Consider

• Time: two and a half hours of video and six assignments.
• Observation: sketch real rocks and trees outdoors alongside the class.
• Medium: any drawing or painting medium works.
• Next steps: Exterior Environment Design.
• Feedback: post your studies in the SVS community.

Start the Course

Interested in learning with SVS Learn?

Start Designing Rocks and Plants

For the full curriculum and membership options, visit the official SVS Learn website.

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Last verified: October 26, 2026