Week 1: Visual Communication Principles

Key Concepts: Composition Depth & scale Proportion Perspective

Objective:

Learn how to create interesting focal points and bring environments to life.

Week 2: Ideation 1: Design Principles & Sketching

Key Concepts:

Entertainment design principles Mixing keywords for ideation Various sketching methods

Objective: Develop interesting concepts and sketch them out.

Week 3: Ideation 2: Composition & Staging

Key Concepts: Archetypical lighting scenarios (direct, ambient, artificial)Staging techniques

Week 4: Color & Mood

Key Concepts: Relationship between color and value Creating mood with color

Week 5: 3D Part 1: The Blockout

Key Concepts:

Creating a simple blockout in 3D Modeling props to populate scenes Drawing and painting over renders

Week 6: 3D Part 2: The Concept Key Concepts: Refinement of 3D models Texturing and lighting Final render and paint-over in Photoshop

Week 7: Painting & Photobashing Techniques

Key Concepts: Painting over 3D renders in Photoshop Using photos and brushes artistically

Objective: Create a detailed and cohesive concept image.

Week 8: Creating a Valuable Portfolio & Final Review

Key Concepts: Making images valuable to clients Presentation techniques

Week 1: Introduction to Art Disciplines and Medium Mastery

Understanding the Distinction Between Concept Art and Illustration

Overview of Essential Tools and Materials

Introduction to Design Theory and its Application

Week 2: Grasping Perspective and Basic Shapes

Delving into Basic Shapes and Their Symbolic Meanings

Exploring Shape Combinations and Complexity

Practical Application: Drawing Primitives from Various Angles (e.g., Trees, Buildings, Rocks, Clouds)

Week 3: Understanding Basic Forms

Differentiating Between Organic and Geometric Forms

Hands-On Exercises: Manipulating and Modifying Simple Primitives (e.g., Push, Pull, Stretch, Squish, Intersect)

Exploring Additive and Subtractive Techniques

Week 4: Mastering Basic Lighting

Learning to Convey Depth and Volume Through Lighting

Understanding the Impact of Lighting on Form and Composition

Week 5: Thumbnails and Value Studies

Utilizing Thumbnails to Explore Composition and Design Options

Introduction to Simple Value Studies for Depth and Dimensionality

Week 6: Composition Essentials

Exploring Basic Composition Tools, Including the Rule of Thirds and Tangents

Understanding Perspective Choice and Its Influence on Composition

Week 7: Unveiling Artistic Style

Recognizing Elements of Design Through Observation and Study

Transitioning from Observational Drawing to Conceptualization

Week 8: Drawing Inspiration from Masters

Analyzing and Learning from Artistic Masters

Fostering Personal Growth and Development as an Artist

Week 1: Introduction to Illustration Basics

Overview of illustration as a form of visual communication

Introduction to fundamental concepts such as line, shape, form, and composition

Basic drawing exercises to warm up and practice hand-eye coordination

Week 2: Digital Illustration Tools and Techniques

Introduction to digital illustration software and tools (e.g., Adobe Photoshop, Procreate)

Hands-on tutorials for digital drawing, painting, and editing techniques

Exploration of digital brushes, layers, and effects to enhance illustrations and streamline workflow

Week 3: Exploring Perspective and Proportions

Overview of perspective drawing techniques, including one-point, two-point, and three-point perspective

Exercises to understand how to create depth and spatial relationships in illustrations

Practice drawing objects and environments in perspective to create realistic scenes

Week 4: Developing Your Style and Visual Language

Discussion on the importance of developing a unique artistic style and visual identity

Exploration of different illustration styles, techniques, and media

Experimentation with various mark-making techniques and stylistic elements to find your personal voice as an illustrator

Week 5: Color Theory and Rendering Techniques

Introduction to color theory principles, including hue, value, saturation, and color harmonies

Practice exercises for mixing colors, creating gradients, and rendering textures

Exploration of digital and traditional rendering techniques to add depth and dimension to illustrations

Week 6: Storytelling and Narrative Illustration

Overview of narrative illustration and its role in storytelling

Analysis of narrative techniques such as composition, pacing, and visual storytelling

Development of a short narrative project or storyboard incorporating illustrations to convey a story or concept

Week 7: 2D for 3D

Overview of modern techniques to create advanced illustrations

Blender, posing, software, to VR workflow overview

Use 3d to practice combining 2d and 3d as a short project

Week 8: Portfolio Development and Final Project

Guidance on assembling a professional illustration portfolio showcasing your best work

Review and critique of student portfolios, with feedback on strengths and areas for improvement

Completion of a final illustration project or series demonstrating mastery of fundamental skills and personal style

Week #1: The Design Process

Introduction to the design process, emphasizing the relationship between form and function.

Exploring the concept of unity in design to achieve cohesive compositions.

Deconstructing complex designs and rebuilding them through simplification.

Week #2: Shape Design

Defining design parameters and applying labels to understand basic shape concepts.

Using additive and subtractive transformations to create various props.

Applying core concepts of shape design to develop a series of designs based on primitive shapes.

Week #3: Form Language

Integrating the lessons of basic form manipulation (Week 1) and problem-solving techniques (Week 2) to create unique designs.

Extracting form language from everyday objects to inspire new design concepts.

Demonstrating how to use extracted forms to design a space freighter based on vacuum parts.

Week #4: Style Guides: Foliage Design

Exploring style guides and their role in designing for specific projects.

Understanding balance and rhythm in composition and sequence arrangement.

Applying proportion techniques to create environment props for the world designed in Week 3.

Week #5: Architecture Design Basics

Introduction to structure and architectural design principles.

Tasking each participant to design a singular dwelling for their respective projects.

Week #6: Composition and Environment Design Basics

Integrating geographical props and structures into composition exercises.

Creating comprehensive scenes to showcase the developed designs.

Week #7: Sketching for Production: Interiors

Employing mind mapping techniques to organize design details based on function and narrative cues.

Exploring patterns and textures to enhance interior design concepts.

Practicing sketching techniques for production to design detailed interior settings.

Week #8: Line & Shape: Prop & Vehicle Design

Comprehensive review of design techniques.

Applying design principles to vehicle and prop design, focusing on shape, silhouette, proportion, and line work.

Experimenting with precision, spontaneity, and gesture lines to refine designs.