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

#121

I want to get a feel for what you guys prefer in terms of classroom structure. CGWorkshop has a set way of doing things, and I personally prefer something a bit different. I’m working on trying to convince the staff of CGWorkshop to alter their forum structure a bit, but I want to know how you guys feel about it.

Which one of these two structures do you prefer:

  1. The students each week has their own individual work thread, where they upload their assignments. All critiques and discussions will take place in each student’s own thread. This means if you want to see other students’ work and read critiques for them or to discuss them, you’d have to go to their threads to do it. The discussion of each week’s course material will take place in another separate thread as well.

  2. Everything is put into one thread–be it discussions for that week’s topics or critiques for students’ work, so it’s like one big classroom where people interact easily instead of having to jump between lots of separate threads. This could potentially be a bit more noisy and chaotic, but it’s also more social and intimate, as everyone is talking in one place to each other, instead of in separate threads.

Even if the second option is possible, I think the students may still have to upload their work in their own threads, as that might be how the server technically works, but the discussion and critique can still take place in one big thread each week.

Let me know what you think.

#122

mmmh the two options are working for me, but i prefer the second : it will provide more social interactions and i love chaotics things :stuck_out_tongue:

i second that we have to upload our assignments in our own thread, but maybe that will be a bit “heavy” to look pictures in one thread and answer in another, anyway that sound great :slight_smile: and i’m agreed with this ^^

that my opinion :slight_smile:

#123

I’m for the first option, but of course the second it’s not a bad idea because with a big thread, we can see the work of everybody. Two options are good for me.

#124

I’ve talked about it some more with the CGS staff, and this is what I’m going to do–it’ll be like a hybrid of the two options:

The discussions/questions for each week’s lessons will take place in a main weekly thread, which will be located in the Class Discussions section of the forum. In that section, you are free to start any thread you want about anything, but if it’s related to the weekly course material, I’d prefer they take place in the main weekly threads–this way it’s a more festive yet intimate atmosphere, where we can easily talk to each other instead of being fractured between many threads.

You post your assignments in your own individual work thread, and any discussions and critiques about your work will happen in your own work threads. So if you want to discuss the work of other classmates, you go into their threads.

Just 4 more days. I’m all excited to get started! :buttrock:This whole workshop thing started for me a few years ago (I was one of the very first instructors CGS asked to teach a workshop way back when), and now it’s finally happening!

#125

That sounds good to me. I think having every single thing in one thread would feel too chaotic to me, like you can never keep track of who’s talking about what, but I also like the idea of having more things joined together - then you dont’ get as many dead threads or posts that you feel like no one ever looks at. Having people’s work in their own thread and generic class discussion in another sounds good to me.

A thought for when we start, I think perhaps we should make a point of having everyone look at everyone else’s new work each week. It’s just that I can imagine the noobs feeling small and insignificant, with few people ever talking about their stuff, while those who have more practice at this point get all the comments because it looks better. Of course some stuff just naturally gets more discussion than others because of interesting content or whatnot, but I just wouldn’t want anyone to feel left out because their skill level is not up yet. :slight_smile:

#126

I wonder how many novice artists understand that when you review/comment/critique other people’s work, you are actually learning from doing so, because it forces you to use your critical judgment on a variety of different people’s idiosyncrasies, and you will notice patterns emerge–one sthat will serve as cautionary tales, encouragements, inspirations, challenges…etc.

I’ll make a point to remind everyone to be more social and participate in each others’ threads, but at the very least, I will be critiquing and commenting on each students work, so no one will feel lonely or left out, cuz they gots big love from the Lunatique. :wink:

#127

:applause:This workshop is going to be brilliant!

#128

Seems like It will be an awesome workshop !
Is it possible to see some work from the workshop, so that those of us who were unable to participate this time around can get a sense of what to expect next time this Workshop is held ?

#129

The way this workshop is structured is very different from other workshops. It does not really have a “graduating piece” that the students work on during the duration of the course. There really isn’t a piece that “proves” to the world that they took the workshop and graduated. The structure of this workshop is so that each week, the students are give carefully designed exercises that challenges them to push themselves to be more creative, and to apply the lessons they have learned that week in their own way. Over the course of the workshop, there will be lots of such assignments–all designed to challenge the students to experiment and try new things and new techniques, and to apply newly acquired knowledge. Since the assignments are carefully designed to reflect each week’s course material, in a way, to give away what the assignments are would be to also give away the actual course material.

#130

Just a quick update–there’s a chance that I might be able to repeat the workshop in June, but it’s not written in stone. I just wanted to give those of you who couldn’t make it this time around a heads up so you know what could be coming. At this point I’m 50% sure I could do June. I’ll update if that 50% changes either way.

We’re just ending the week one portion of the workshop now, and I’ve very pleased with how the students are responding. They are having so much fun interacting, sharing thoughts and critiques, and so far the consensus is that the opening week was “absolutely mind-blowing” according to the students. I’m sure everyone’s minds will continue to get blown week after week (ooh, that sounded kinky). :smiley:

#131

Thats a good thing to hear! I’ll surely join this time.

#132

Hey

I’m currently taking this course and can safely say it is worth every penny (and probably worth a lot more than this). If you would like to benefit from Robert’s broad experience then you should consider taking his June course.

Edward

#133

If there should be another course in June… and a list is started for it, I’d love to be on it…

email4deborah@gmail.com

#134

Well… I had a choice, I could either treat myself to a new Wacom Intuos 4, or go on Robert’s art course.

I think I made the right decision. =)

#135

Just wanted to let everyone know that the second run of my workshop will be starting on June 14, so if you missed the first run, now’s your chance to enroll for the second run. I have no idea if/when there will be more runs since my life is anything but predictable, so don’t take it for granted that there will be more. The details for the workshop are here:
http://workshops.cgsociety.org/courses/000139/

The first maiden voyage of the workshop went very well, and it was very rewarding to see the students having all these exciting and mind-blowing “aha!” moments where the realities of their artistic world were forever changed. This next run of the workshop will be even more in-depth and complete due to all the things we expanded on in the first run, and I’ve updated the course with a lot of new additional material, so you guys are definitely in for a treat. :slight_smile:

#136

Im only new to drawing would this course be beyond me? Should i already have the basics in place?

#137

I was pretty excited when I got the email notification about the workshop earlier today. Signed up immediately! Thanks for doing this again. I missed this the first time around and have been kicking myself for it ever since!

My career started out as a sculptor (actual clay) for an animatronics shop and I’ve had to try and learn the basics of painting/illustration on my own. So naturally, I’ve been flailing in the dark and occasionally bumping into something useful. It will be good to really get down to brass tacks. I can’t wait!

#138

hello,

I was just wondering if the images for the submission needed to be 2D or they can also be 3D.

#139

Steve - The course will be different things to different people. In the last class, I had beginner, intermediate, and advanced artists, and they all got different things out of the workshop. The beginners had their minds blown wide open by many of the core and essential foundations, plus all the advanced concepts they never even knew existed or had ever thought of. The intermediate artists were surprised by how the stuff they thought they had already learned and knew pretty well were in fact just the tip of the ice berg, and they had no idea there was so much more they didn’t know. The advanced artists learned the advanced concepts like effective visual narrative and storytelling techniques, the complex matter of stylization, advanced brushwork, expressive characters, difficult aesthetic decisions, personal growth and career advancement strategies…etc. What was cool was that everyone did the same assignments and they all brought different things to the table, and sometimes the beginners surprised everyone with their creativity and unique approach, while other times their lack of skill and knowledge made it more challenging for them to execute certain assignments satisfactorily, but it was always fun and they always learned a ton from trying hard and giving their best shot. It’s not a pass or fail kind of workshop–it’s all about helping your learn and improve in giant leaps within a short amount of time, and then providing you with all the necessary knowledge and creative tools in your arsenal so that you’ll be well-equipped to handle wherever your artistic journey will take you after the workshop ends.

#140

I see Robert has the opportunity to teach this class again :slight_smile: I was in the first go-round that just wrapped up a few weeks ago, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone who’s thinking about it. Lots of good stuff covered, and most of all, you will find yourself thinking about your art not just a technical level, but a much deeper philosophical one. Robert is very passionate about what he teaches and gives 100% to his students (and wish I could have given 100% to the class! :slight_smile: )