Becoming a Better Artist – Critical knowledge and techniques for today’s artists

#381

So much to catch up! This forum is HUGE! I love this, many resources!

I think I have come to the decision to take the Photoshop “absolute beginner” class first just to make sure I have my bases covered more solidly, probably a little better than I could do on my own. I have started going through some tutorials online that I found, and it’s a slow but steady struggle so far :slight_smile:

I see that “becoming a better artist” was offered last summer? So I may hope to register in the next installment (any chance I know if it will be offered after this currently opened session?)

Thank you very much for the advice! I will be lurking and crossing my finger this class will be offered again soon!

#382

I’ll continue to teach this workshop for as long as there is a demand for it. The next run ends at the end of June, so the one after that would likely be sometime in July.

#383

Thank you, Robert. Looking forward to this course.

#384

You have no idea how eager I am to do this. I dont think I’ll be able to make this one. B/w finishing up school/job I am just training myself via Mr Loomis

#385

I have some students who told me that they had to wait a long time to take my workshop–sometimes for more than a year. Some of them were too busy with work or school, or needed to save up money, but when they finally did enroll, they all said the workshop exceeded their expectations in ways they couldn’t have anticipated. So don’t worry, as long as there’s still enough interest in the workshop, I’ll continue to teach it for as long as I could.

#386

Lunatique,

 I am very interested in your course and I know it is close to the deadline for enrollment but before I commit myself I have a couple questions. Can this course be done with the most basic of materials such as pencils, paper, markers, etc? I noticed in the course outline it made mention to 2D applications and brushes and currently I don't have any software and tablet for digital work. I am trying to set myself straight on that but it probably won't be until a couple of weeks into the course. Also, I don't have any work to upload or online portfolio to show my skill level due to a recent move but will a rough sketch this week fine? I know providing several images would be best but work is killing me on hours these days. This may have been asked in an earlier post and I might have overlooked it so my apologies in advance.[](http://forums.cgsociety.org/member.php?u=2652)
#387

The workshop does teach a lot of knowledge/skills/insights that are not medium-dependent, and majority of the assignments can be done with traditional tools. But, there are also a lot of digital workflow stuff that will be taught, and when it comes to reiterating/reworking your assignments, you’re going to wish you were using digital tools, because digital tools are far more flexible and powerful for making changes quickly and easily.

You don’t really have to show any work if you don’t have any. I will be able to assess your skill level as soon as you start handing in assignments.

#388

Thanks you for your response. I apologize for the delay in mine but it has been a busy time for me. I enrolled in the course and look forward to the first day of the course.

#389

Hello,
I am interested to attend these courses, but I would like to know what level should I be in order to follow the courses plus in which programs these courses are focusing on , what do I need in order to attend and how does it work? Is it like video tutorials? thank you.

#390

The course material consists of lecture notes (text & images) and are supplemented by videos. The assignments and discussions are the heart and soul of the workshop, because it is through them that the students really learn the lessons. All interaction are forum-based, so there’s no timezone issues.

Photoshop is the main program of choice by professional artists, and that’s what is often used for demonstrations, with a little bit of Painter and SAI as well. But the major lessons are all non-specific to any software or medium, as they can be applied to anything visual, no matter what medium or industry. It’s just like how grammar and be applied to any kind of writing, no matter if it’s screenplays, novels, non-fiction, magazine articles, blog posts, etc.

You can be an artist of any level and take this workshop. I’ve had total beginners as well as advanced artists already working as art directors.

You don’t really need anything specific, but if you plan on doing digital artwork, you really should have a tablet instead of using a mouse.

#391

I see now, thank you very much for your reply,I am going to take these courses then,looking forward to start! :slight_smile:

Thanks again!

#392

I’m a complete newbie in this entire thing. Drawing is fine but I really want to make my characters more dynamic or expressive. They often seem too stiff or boring. Color, Lighting, Values and Composition seem to escape me. But I am trying to understand it. I sincerely hope my shortcomings won’t be a problem if I take this course. I really want to improve and get better. :slight_smile:

#393

I’m a complete newbie in this entire thing. Drawing is fine but I wish I could somehow make my characters more dynamic or expressive. They often seem too stiff or boring. Color, Lighting, Values and Composition seem to escape me. But I am trying to understand it. I sincerely hope my shortcomings won’t be a problem if I take this course. I really want to improve and get better. :slight_smile:

#394

I’m a complete newbie in this entire thing. Drawing is fine but I really want to make my characters more dynamic or expressive. They often seem too stiff or boring. Color, Lighting, Values and Composition seem to escape me. But I am trying to understand it. I sincerely hope my shortcomings won’t be a problem if I do in fact take this course. I really want to improve and get better.

PS: Every time I post, it doesn’t seem to appear. So if I happen to triple post, I do apologize.

#395

Looks like your post came through fine.

All those areas you want to improve in are exactly the kind the lessons you will be learning in the workshop, plus a whole lot more.

It doesn’t matter what level you’re at. I’ve had students who could only draw stick figures, to students who were professional concept artists, art directors, illustrators, etc–they all learned so much from the workshop and gained precious insights that applied to their own specific industry/profession/medium/style. Different levels of artists will gain different kinds of insights from the workshop, but all will walk away from it with a sense of clarity and purpose that they have never felt before, as if the fog of confusion, insecurity, and frustration has suddenly lifted.

#396

That sounds perfect for me! Thank you for your encouraging reply, I just hit the enroll button and I look forward to the start of class. Cheers until then! :slight_smile:

#397

I just had an email from a creative who works in the advertising business ask about the workshop:

Hi Robert,

My name is (so-and-so) and I work as a creative for an ad agency. I found the “Becoming a Better Artist” course very interesting. However, I would like to ask you if it is geared towards a more artistic approach (digital painting) or if it doesn’t matter what media you use (as my interests are more in photography, video or 3D and not so much on digital painting or illustration).

Thank you very much!

All the best,

so-and-so

This was my reply to so-and-so:

The workshop is relevant to all visual communicators, not only the strict definition of a traditional " artist." it’s like a master-class on the critical foundation of visual art and visual communication, and you’ll learn precious lessons on things like creating emotional and intellectual resonance in your audience, as well as get your visual ideas across effectively-- be it a statement, an emotion, a narrative, or even an abstract idea. Isn’t that what all visual communicators want ultimately?

While there are lessons on drawing and painting and design, there are is just as much content that’s not specific to any medium, industry, or style.

I think if you are a visual person, then this workshop will be something of a mind-altering experience. Many past students have said that it changed their lives in ways they couldn’t have possibly imagined (you can read their testimonials in the workshop promo page).

#398

Doh! I totally forgot to actually mention that the next run of the workshop is now open for enrollment!

http://workshops.cgsociety.org/courseinfo.php?id=276

This will be the 12th run. The previous two runs were both sold out–in fact, we had to go over the limit last time in order to accommodate all the students who were on the waiting list.

The current run (11th–the one that kicked off in April) is in the fifth week right now, and this run, we have a lot of 3D artists in the class (more so than before). They are having such a good time learning about all the things that they didn’t know could make or break their work as visual artists, but now are fully aware of, and it’s made them even more determined and passionate as artists, as well as gave them more joy in creating art than they ever had before in the past.

#399

Hi Robert,
I am very interested, can you add me to your mail list please.

Thank you

#400

You’re automatically on the “mailing list” if you posted in this thread, as long as your forum settings are set to notify you whenever there’s a new reply in this thread. :slight_smile: