Prepare the right surface
Use a clear cel sheet rather than ordinary paper. Transparency, paint adhesion, and optical evenness are important because the finished work is viewed through the front of the sheet.
Cel Painting Guide
How to make cel art with ArtCel materials
Cel painting begins with a line drawing and a transparent sheet. Trace the lines, paint from the back, dry the colors, and combine the cel with a background.
Paint from the reverse side
The line art remains visible on the front while color is applied from the back. This protects the line and gives cel artwork its crisp, layered appearance.
Finish as a physical artwork
After drying, the cel can be layered with a background, framed, photographed, or used as a study of traditional animation workflow.
1
Prepare tools and line art
Gather a blank cel sheet, cel paints, brushes, a line drawing, cleaning cloth, and animation pegs if you want accurate alignment.
2
Trace the line art
Fix the line drawing and cel sheet together, then transfer the lines carefully to the front side. Let the line work dry before handling.
3
Paint from the back
Turn the cel over and apply color on the reverse side. Paint small details first and larger color areas later to keep the front view clean.
4
Dry and check opacity
Let the paint dry flat. If a color looks too thin or uneven from the front, add another layer from the back after the first layer has set.
5
Combine with a background
Place the finished cel over a background to see the animation-cel effect. You can swap backgrounds or photograph the piece as a physical artwork.
Prefer learning in person?
The Shibuya workshop lets beginners try the tracing, back-painting, and finishing process with prepared materials.
View Tokyo workshopFrequently asked questions
What tools do I need first?
Start with a blank cel sheet, cel paints, a fine brush, and line art. Animation pegs and peg-punched sheets help if you want a workflow closer to animation production.
Why paint on the back side?
Back painting keeps the front line art clean and lets the color appear through the transparent sheet, which is one of the defining qualities of cel artwork.
How long does a beginner piece take?
A simple piece can take about one to two hours, depending on tracing detail, paint thickness, and drying time.