Frequently Asked Questions

What is this workshop?

  • No simple answer here. It basically means meeting with talented artists from all over the world while having professional artists performing lessons, round-tables, demos and discussions. Beyond this, it means having a great time, finding or changing the way you see life and art, making great friends, developing your love for art, developing contacts in the industry and if you are like us... getting addicted to the CA workshops. We've done six so far: Amsterdam, Austin, Berlin, San Francisco, Prague, Montreal and now San Francisco again - so you can imagine, we're starting to get the hang of it.

Is it worth it?

  • Hell yes! I'll let others talk about it. People came all over the world no matter where the workshop was held. When we had it in Europe US crossed the ocean, when we had it in US - the world moved there from every corner of the rock. (France, Germany, Australia, Romania, Turkey, Australia, all the US, etc). The ones not on the same continent had to pay the trip almost twice and the tuition - they still consider it worth the expense. If there is anyone in the close to the place where the workshop will be held (meaning neighboring countries etc) who is still in doubt about coming - take my word for it - do not miss it!
    Here are some testimonials of what other people had to say…http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=68680

Will there be others?

  • We've had the luck that people still keep coming to them, so we'll keep doing them. They tend to alternate between North American and Europe, every 6-9 months or so. This depends on your participation though; we can't do them without you!

What's the location and when is it?

  • The dates are December 15-17 in San Francisco, California, Downtown, in the SOMA area of the city at the amazing venue owned by our collaborators at Obscura Digital. The venue is a huge, hundred year old warehouse, a fitting place to hold this memorable event. The schedule is going to be different this time around, as we're experimenting with night sessions this time. We've found that in our past events, the students often forego sleep to spend the night holed up in their hotel rooms drawing... we've decided this time around we're going to give them space in the venue to draw and paint, with models and music and instructors present. See the curriculum for a more detailed breakdown of the workshop schedule:

What hotels do you recommend?

  • We've chosen a few Hostel and Hotel options in the area of the venue where the students can stay together in shared accommodations. We found that Hostels were the most practical, economical and comfortable for the attendees, who otherwise spent their nights stuffed in little hotel rooms by the dozen drawing frantically till the early hours of morn. Shared dorm-style rooms mean more space for everybody to be comfortable, and a greatly reduced nightly expense. There are also Hotel options for those who wish to stay somewhere with more privacy and amenities. See the Hostel thread for more info: http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=78840

What about transportation from hotel to the workshop site?

  • Hotels will be close to the event and maps will be made. We like to keep things close together so you can walk to and from the event, usually less than a 20 minute walk.

How do I get there?

  • Depending on where you're coming from: Plane, Train, Bus, Car or Inter-dimensional Transporter..it's up to you, we're not responsible for your transportation. There are some carpooling and bus threads going on the forums, check them out and see what the others are doing.

How much money should I bring with me?

  • San Francisco is not a cheap city, but it is possible to live cheaply here. The area the workshop is in has many cheap food options available, and there will also be snacks available at the venue, especially for the night sessions where the neighborhood shuts down. We estimate you can get by on about $20-$30 a day or so for food and other small items. If you're looking to go shopping, eat lavishly well or spend a lot of money on going out, bring more. See Hotel info for accommodation costs: http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=78840

How and what do I pay?

  • Tuition is $330 US Dollars for the days of the workshop...lots of instruction, drawing, painting, and sharing knowledge. You can pay by credit card or check. Click on the "Tuition" button for more information.

Can I get a refund?

  • Yes - you can get a Full refund up until a month before the event, and 50% up to two weeks before it. After that, sorry.

Can I only go for part of the event and pay less?

  • Right now we are only offering tuition for the full event. You really don't want to miss any of it!

Who should attend? Is this for painters only?

  • The workshop will cover drawing/painting, sculpting, design, program tips and tricks, creativity courses, portfolio reviews and more. This is for anyone and everyone who is interested in the gaming/movie industry, concept art, illustration, drawing/painting and image making in general. We are also incorporating a 3D curriculum this time around, so animators, modelers, texture artists and other 3D intensive artists will benefit from the event as well.

All Digital? Traditional? Is this Photoshop only? Painter only? Do we draw/paint too or just watch & listen? What tools do we need?

  • We believe in traditionally developed skills but we demo lots of digital techniques too. Bring whatever keeps you mobile - you WILL draw and you will have to watch&listen too. This is not a conference, it is a workshop. Bring a sketchbook and drawing supplies at least. You'll beg for one of you don't bring them - especially in the night sessions! Many people bring laptops and Wacoms as well. security at the workshop is not rock solid, and we've had problems in the past, but if you keep an eye out, you should be fine bringing your expensive toys along.
    Also, the oil painting crew will be in full force again, so if you want to take a crack at learning from these modern masters, we recommend you bring a full set of oil paints as well! Traditional painting is not to everyone's taste, but if this is your thing, it's an opportunity you won't want to miss! We will be recommending art supply stores in the area where you can stock up on supplies if you don't want to drag them along with you.
    NOTE: bringing paints on airplanes can sometimes be problematic. We suggest you wrap them carefully in plastic and carry them on board with you. if they ask, it's a "painting kit", "art kit" or "vegetable oil paints" not OIL paints. cause everybody knows- that's a codeword for bomb!

Is there going to be any free materials like paint, paper, etc. at the workshop?

  • You are expected to bring your own art supplies, and we'll let you know where you can buy more locally if you run out.

I'm in art school - does it make up for the time I skip school?

  • You'll learn MUCH more and in a very different way. Again - those who have been to other workshops can give you input on the forums. We have instructors attending from several schools across the country and crews of students coming too. taking a few days out of your semester wont do much to put you behind on your classes, and what you learn over this weekend will send you back to school fully charged and raring to go.. Your teachers will love you for it! That said, we've tried to schedule this event for AFTER most peoples classes have ended for the semester. What better a way to reward yourself for a semesters hard work than to come inspire yourself at a workshop?

I'm a newbie in arts - do I find anything for me there? Is it worth it for me? Is this for professionals only?

  • We think this is the place to be no matter what your level is. If you want to get into art - come and see how it is. If you are a pro, come and you'll see how others are doing art. EVERYONE has tons to learn! As for the n00bs - please see MindCandyMan or Oblio’s progression threads - they have started from scratch here on conceptart.org forums and their dedication and progress have been inspirational to us all.. If you want to be a serious artist, or even think you might want to be, we want you there!
    MCM - http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=870
    Oblio - http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=29858

Am I too young/old/female to go?

  • Nonsense!! The majority of the workshop attendees are male, as we're focused on concepting for videogames, but we have been pleased to notice that there is a stronger female presence at each workshop as the girls come out of the woodwork to show the boys a thing or two.... Feeling like your outnumbered shouldn't ever be a worry, as, if anything, the girls get treated extra special cause there's so few of them in comparison, and who doesn't like a talented girl who draws monsters for fun? To encourage more female participation, we’ve just run Chicks Who Draw Chicks Thunderdome competition on the forums with the top 24 winners getting their entries printed in the first ever CA calendar! How's that for motivation to sharpen your pencils? See more info here: http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=79843

  • There are no age limits in either direction- our youngest attendee was a 14 year old girl and our oldest 60+ man. Everybody has something to learn and share. Parents are welcome to accompany their kids on the trip- the workshops are usually in active neighborhoods where there's lots to keep them busy while the workshop is going on, and there's always museums too! We even had one mother sign up with her son and join in! If your child is interested in being an artist, this will show them straight up what it takes to make it happen and will help them build a network of like-minded friends to support them. The life experience is invaluable too- we've had several attendees make it the first trip alone away from home, with fantastic results! We're all here to create and that's all that matters. If you're passionate about learning art, we want you to come!

    More here: http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=60210

English is not my first language; will I be able to communicate?

  • We've had workshops in four cities in Europe and had people attend from all over the world. Many of our instructors and attendees speak more than one language and there is usually someone around who can speak to you if you're lost or can't understand something. Also, a lot of the workshop revolves around visual communication (we are visual artists after all) and some instructors (Nox and HPX come to mind) do a whole lot of talking without ever saying a word....

Are there other price alternatives than $330 for entrance and tuition? Like, if you want to bring a friend or two what does it cost for them?

  • The tuition must be paid individually, per person and a pass cannot be shared. We make a big effort to keep these events cost effective for those of you on a tight budget- we were all art students once too! Feel free to bring your friends along for the trip, and they are welcome to stay with you at the hostels, but they have to pay tuition to get into the workshop- it wouldn't be fair to the others otherwise.

Can I bring a video or still camera?

  • Yes, you can, but we ask that you clear filming with us on the first day of the workshop and send us copies of the footage after words. Bring digicams along too and take as many pictures as you want! We will have you sign video releases at the door.

Can everybody go to every single course/instructor, or does everybody have to choose let's say the 6 favorite instructors and only attend their "lessons"? How is that planned?

  • Most Instructors will give multiple demos. It is a bit of a smorgasboard of cool stuff to see. However, what you will find I think is that you will want to watch an artist for a bit and then sit in on a longer class and then wander a bit....The workshop is very open like that. We are providing a schedule for you as well- see the Curriculum for more info.
    The workshop is structured much like a music festival...there are multiple stages staggered in order to allow you to see who you want. Our solution is to have more than one demo by each artist so that you are able to spend the time with the people you most want to see as well as be spontaneous. You may find that an artist you least expect will have the most impact on you. We try to allow for that as well.
    The previous workshops have been a bit loose on the structure side and we are bringing more balance to this one. However, many of the best things of the previous workshop happened out of that openness and because of the spontaneous nature of inspiration. We want to keep this a casual and fluid event, with the instructors approachable and open to improvisation. Each demo is structured like a conversation- we encourage audience participation and lots of questions! Be pro-active about your learning experience, for we have done our best to immerse you in a creative and educational environment. We are not here to spoon feed you or pound knowledge through your head, but we are more than happy to help you with any questions!

Is there any limit to the number of workshop attendants?

  • Each workshop has a limited capacity, but we've got quite a lot of space this time around. We'll announce on the forums when it looks like we're getting booked up so you can sign up before it's too late. We DO encourage early sign ups though.

When is the last date to confirm my coming?

  • You can pay at the door if you notifiy us of it FIRST, but we do like to know how many people are coming ahead of time if possible, so early sign ups are appreciated. We are a non-profit organization and the more money we have to work with up front, the more we can put into the event, so early sign ups = better workshop!

Coming from Europe or the US, is there anything I should know about special border entry requirements for the US?

  • It depends what country you're coming from. If you're coming from an EU country you'll automatically get a 3 month tourist visa upon entry (please see also that your passport doesn't expire in less then 6 months after your return date - not sure if this applies to every country but worth checking)
    Important - please tell them that you're coming to a graphics conference or community gathering or if you want say you're visiting - the word workshop seems to bother them since they believe you'll be there to WORK and that will require extra papers. Also, it doesn't help if you say you know Marko…
    If you're from a non EU country - but still from the old continent - then you should check your US embassy and apply for a visa. Hurry - those things take months.

Do we get any kind of certificate or diploma saying we've attended the workshop?

  • We're going to be giving out Certificates of Attendance at the end of the workshop. NOTE: we are not a certified teaching institution, so this certificate may not be eligible for school credit or other such "official" qualifications, but seeing what a good reputation CA has in the industry, it may come in useful for something....

What happens after the workshop day is over?

  • Go, eat and drink with your new friends, come out with the instructors and hit up some of the nightlife. We're going all night this time, so the bulk of your time will be spent at the workshop venue. Don't expect to get a whole lot of sleep, there's gonna be way too much stuff going on. Most people choose to stay a day or two extra and go museum hopping and sightseeing. It's a pretty tight knit bunch, so you won't be left alone unless you want to be!

Is this all? I need more info.

  • Feel free to dig around in the workshop sub forums on www.conceptart.org and if you STILL have more questions, drop an email to Layil @ conceptart.org.

Hostel / Hotel Info

We have adopted the practice of offering hostel/dorm room style accommodations for our workshop attendees. After doing several workshops and seeing how the students liked to stay up all night drawing together, we started looking up cheap (but nice) hostels in the workshop area where they can rent group rooms with other workshop attendees. This is the most comfortable and economical for our participants, many of which are still students, while offering private rooms for those who choose to have a bit more privacy.

Here you see the featured hostels and hotels we’ve chosen in San Francisco. The contacts at these venues are aware of the event and are most willing to help attendees book their stay, with discounts offered for groups.

Groups for the hostels are forming on the forums, the threads of which can be read here:
http://www.obscuradigital.com/index.html

We highly suggest attendees spend some time getting to know the other participants on the forums, as well as finding out more about previous events and what to expect. Attendees are friendly and willing to help with info and advice.

NOTE: ConceptArt.org and Massive Black are NOT responsible for workshop attendee’s accommodations. You are not required to stay at the following venues, but we highly recommend staying with other workshop attendees, as it will greatly enhance the workshop experience. Parents sending kids, or accompanying them, and couples are welcome to stay at the hostels as well, and private rooms are available for those liking more privacy.

Also check out the Hostel and Hotel discussion on Conceptart.org:
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=78840

  • Hostelling International DOWNTOWN:
  • 312 Mason St Union Square
    San Francisco CA 94102
    google map
  • Tel. 1-415-7885604
    Fax. 1-415-7883023
    dtinfo@sfhostels.com
    google map

  • "Please inform your group that the rate is $23 per person/per night. This includes tax, continental breakfast, linens and towels. All they have to do is go online to www.SFHostels.com and choose a hostel and enter the promo code. The code for all three hostels (HI-SF Downtown, HI-SF City Center & HI-SF Fisherman's Wharf) is SOMA.
    the City Center hostel is also near enough should the Downtown one sell out.

    Contact:
    Nannette Mickle
    Group Sales Manager
    Hostelling International
    San Francisco
    1-877-GO HOSTEL / 1-877-464-6783
    1-415-771-1468 fax
    groupsales@sfhostels.com
  • Adelaide Hostel
  • 5 Isadora Duncan Lane (formerly Adelaide Place)
    San Francisco, CA 94102
    tel: 1-887-359- 1915
    Fax: 415-359-1940
    info@adelaidehostel.com
    google map

  • "4 bed and 6 bed rooms available , The best group rate I can provide on those dates is $24 per person per night. to receive this rate have the guests book online at www.adelaidehostel.com and in the special instruction box put the promotion name conceptart group. We always try to place groups in rooms with their friends. All rates include free breakfast, free use of our multi media computers and free use of our wifi. "

  • Contact:
    Gerard - Gerard@adelaidehostel.com
  • Hotel Nikko
  • Hotel Nikko San Francisco
    222 Mason St.
    San Francisco, CA 94102
    Direct Fax: 415-421-0455
    Direct Phone: 415-394-1131
    JRachal@HotelNikkoSF.com
    google map

  • For those looking for a little more privacy and comfort, we're pleased to announce a special deal with the beautiful Hotel Nikko for $139 single/double, with queen beds in the double rooms.
  • The Nikko is one of SF's premier hotels, featuring ammenities such as:
    - a 24 hour health club with an indoor pool, spa and sauna,
    - plasma screen tvs in the rooms,
    - 24 hour room service,
    - in room honor bars with complementary coffee maker
    - high speed internet access, speakerphones and free local calls.

    The rooms are for 2 people per double room. anybody extra you get caught having sleeping in your room is your responsiblity.

    Contact Jaques directly and mention you are with the Conceptart.org / Massive Black group and he will be more than happy to assist you with your reservations. the cut-off date for this special workshop rate is NOV 30th. You can either find a roommate here on the forums or ask Jaques to put you in a room with another CA attendee. book your rooms asap!

    Contact:
    Jacques Rachal
    Sales Manager
    JRachal@HotelNikkoSF.com



WHO IS MASSIVE BLACK?

Next generation game development now demonstrates the same pedigree of art as seen in the film industry. Massive Black's adroit culture supports this awareness, and adds exceptional style to the quality of our products rendered. Emotionally gripping visuals and value on all layers of production are an absolute must in today's marketplace. If you want to push your title to the highest level of merit and excellence, Massive Black is the most qualified collective team existing in the industry to assist your company. We work on everything from basic in-game assets to in-game characters, creatures, bosses, and monsters. We are a full service 2d/3d/texture/animation studio.

Massive Black Inc. is a premier game development and outsourcing studio that has contributed to over 37 Next-Generation titles as a team. Our high profile talent, with a proven track record in both film and games, has worked with an impressive group of clients. This is the largest number of AAA and next-gen titles contributed to by any development studio in the industry over the past three years. Massive Black has experienced awareness and exceptional adaptability proven by having successfully helped so many publishers and developers to receive funding, push their title to gold, develop pre-production, and more.

Massive Black assists the games industry with New IP Development, animation, high-end 2D/3D illustration, marketing materials, concept design, 3D asset creation, texture work, art consulting, pitch creation, pre-vis, pipeline consultation, and look development. These important clients do business with Massive Black Inc. because we provide next-generation assets and aesthetics that are unparalleled, within current industry budgets.

Conceptart.org Inspiration Thread


Portfolio PDF
21mb PDF file



Demo Reel
18.5mb WMV file

 


ABOUT CONCEPTART.ORG
WEBSITE ▪ FORUMS

We are a web community of artists whom are here for one purpose. We want to help each other learn about art, provide the best place to showcase work, further our art educations, and to meet other artists from around the world. We are a community funded from within and with the support of our sponsors and professionals on the site.

We have lofty goals. We want a place which we can all learn and share our work. We want to improve the quality of art education on the internet. We do not believe that the information about art should be only for those who can afford the expensive private schools. We want to help those with talent, regardless of income. We want to even be able to offer scholarships to a select few with need and talent. The latter is one of our biggest goals and we are currently seeking corporate sponsorships in order to make this happen. It will happen.

We also want to assist those who are ready for the employment world with that often difficult task. There are members and guests from nearly every professional company in the entertainment industry visiting this site. The list of studios who visit is long and impressive indeed. Whether it be the people at LucasFilm, ILM, Tippett Studios, Massive Black Inc, Nintendo, Acclaim, Escape, Vivendi-Universal, Ubisoft, Blur, id, Flagship Studios, Blizzard Entertainment, Activision, and dozens more, there are some of the best people in the industry viewing and participating on this site. This is an elite group that is without elitism. You are as welcome here as anyone. We would not be here without everyone.

Please make yourself at home. Please share your talent or wisdom or information. Feel free to be inspired and to inspire others. We are all better off if we do that. We want you to be a part of the community as well. Join us for Art!

SPONSORS

Proud Sponsors of this event include:

 

WORKSHOP TUITION

ConceptArt.org is a non profit organization and has made an effort to keep attendee costs down for the workshops. We understand that many of the attendees are students and are on a budget, so we have structured the workshops to be as accommodating to both their pockets and their class schedules. The instructors donate their time to come to these events; they are not paid to participate. All proceeds from the events go to production costs, and when there is money left over it is reinvested back into future workshops, the Conceptart.org website, the ConceptArt Scholarship Fund, The Concept art School Project, and other events and web applications for the community. By supporting the International Workshops, you are supporting the online ConceptArt community and future projects sponsored by the ConceptArt team.

We give you heartfelt thanks for your contribution and know that you will find the workshop an unforgettable experience. Thank you for coming!

The tuition for this workshop is $330 USD.
This includes tuition for the 3 days and 2 nights of the workshop- December 15-16-17, 2006.

It does not include accommodation, transportation, food or art supplies.

If you’re paying by credit card we will need the following information:

  • Credit Card Type
    Credit Card #
    Billing Address
    Name on Card
    Expiration Date
    Email
    Forum Handle (if applicable)

Please use our merchandise site at www.conceptartstore.com to process your tuition payment. Under WORKSHOP, you will find a "Buy Now" button for the SF Insomania workshop. Please enter your information and save or print a copy of the confirmation. Please keep it, as you will need it with a photo ID when checking in. We accept Visa or Mastercard.

If you are paying by check, please make it out to ConceptArt.Org and send to:

  • 842 Folsom Street
    2nd Floor
    San Francisco, CA 94107

Refund Policy
We offer a 100% tuition reimbursement up to a calendar month before the event, November 15th, in this case. You can get a 50% refund up to 2 weeks before the event date, December 1st of this year. After that, barring hell, high water or some other unlikely event, sorry.

Please contact Layil @ conceptart.org with any questions.

Thanks again and see you in SAN FRANCISCO!

Venue Info

Obscura Digital is an advanced digital video production facility focused on developing high-impact immersive content and providing the systems to display it. Utilizing proprietary software and working with industry standard video packages, Obscura provides world class immersive content and displays for global industry leaders.

We have been so fortunate that they have provided us with their incredible 3 level, 100 year old warehouse in the heart of San Francisco’s SOMA area… filled with incredible gear and an ambiance to die for, this venue will truly live up to the aesthetic our attendees have learned to expect from the Conceptart.org workshops.

Come be part of this unforgettable immersive experience!

  • The venue address:
    57 Stillman Street @ 3rd Street, San Francisco, CA 94107

    Workshop map

INSOMANIA MANIFESTO

Working and living as a professional artist or promising art student can mean being holed away in a studio or office working away where ones work can stagnate, or plateau. Artists have always found inspiration from surrounding themselves with others of equal or even greater talent. When creative people are kept in the routine of professional and student life, long term inspiration can be hard to come by. Insomania has been created to be the stimulus artists require to grow and learn at accelerated rates beyond what the normal working and learning environments allow. It is also here to help artists of all levels learn and improve in ways never thought possible.

Insomania will motivate, inspire, teach, and guide students and professionals from the field of entertainment, video games, film as well as Fine Art and illustration. We have brought together a large group of top talent from the traditional and digital art fields.

Insomania combines these huge talents with music, creative culture, cutting edge technology and a venue which allows it all to happen comfortably and openly. Insomania gives everyone a place to create. This event is an artist oasis in today’s busy world where one can drink in enough inspiration to keep motivated for months to come. The experience will be intense and extremely stimulating. Expect a sensory overload…expect to learn…expect to change…expect to meet new contacts and friends from around the world. Insomania is drawing students and professionals from around the globe for the purpose of learning techniques, improving skills, sharing artwork, and creating together under the guidance of major professional artists. It is the only event of this caliber where all participants will have opportunity to create with hands on instruction from some of the highest-profile artists on the planet. Get first hand input on your work as you create. Create in an environment more inspiring than any you have ever worked within.

Insomania will change you for the better. Come learn with us.



Workshop Schedule

Here is a breakdown of what we're looking at for the event days. Instead of a curriculum, were structuring the days by activities.

  • FRIDAY 15
  • 1PM - FIELD TRIP! to the Legions of Honor with William Whitaker
    6 PM - Doors open, sign-ins begin
    8 PM - INSPIRATIONAL KICK OFF: Live music, art, and performances.
    10 PM - Professional Demonstrations and hands-on instruction
    Dawn - We have to sleep sometime!
  • SATURDAY 16
  • This is the main day of the workshop, featuring the bulk of the demos and lectures. We will be running all day and into the night.
    1 PM - Doors open, figure drawing and sketchbooks
    4 PM     - Demos begin again, life painting starts 10 PM - Food available 11 PM - More demos, models, lectures, etc etc
    4 AM – CLOSING PARTY till dawn again.
  • SUNDAY 17
  • This day will be light on the demoing, but features portfolio reviews/ business talks and recruiting by local gaming studios.
    12 - 4 PM - Major Companies recruiting / portfolio reviews / some demos and open life drawing
    5 PM - CLOSE, start clean up...
    10 PM - Gather with new friends at a number of great spots around the city...if you want...others will wish great goodbyes and off we go into the night.

Demo Content

Jason Felix
Bomba will be walking us through a demo of one of his Star Wars covers, showing us his Photoshop techniques and talking about his experiences as a freelance illustrator. Topics will include how to take art direction and professional working process, and a demo of his photo manipulation techniques where he combines reference material with digital painting to create original pieces of art.

El Coro
Mirroring his studio pipeline, watch this Photoshop guru develop a series of unique concepts, exploring the use of design, functionality and aesthetics. Chock full of useful tricks and unconventional ideas; pay attention, cause you’ll be doing this later! His famous sketchbook collection will also be available for viewing. Be inspired by his use of traditional methods to create full color illustrations using the “Coro Technique.” As if that weren’t enough, Coro also knows a thing or two about Oil Paint, so be sure to stop by the Insomania Atelier and watch him roll, old school.

Wes Burt
Concept artist Wesley Burt will be demoing his 2d characters, discussing his pencil techniques and design methods, while giving in depth one-on-one feedback on attendee sketchbooks.

Andrew Jones
Known for his mastery of Painter, Andrew will be demoing his unconventional creative processes, showing us how he creates unique and intensely moody concepts using a combination of zbrush, painter and photoshop. Learn a whole new approach to image making!

Kemp Remillard
Kemp is up on the big screen this time, with a step by step pipeline lecture demonstrating his efficient techniques for creating tech designs. Learn his photoshop tricks, as well as working methods and design.

Jason Chan
Jason will be flexing his versatility, showing off his character designs and illustrations, going from rough sketch to seamlessly polished finish.

Rich Doble
Creepy crawlies are an essential part of the gaming world. Watch how this MB concept artist uses his imagination to create believable, functional creatures and robots.

Nick Constantine
Nick is known for his detailed and highly imaginative environment designs. He will be showing us his approach, using photoshop as his medium, to create a range of concept pieces reflecting different applications and moods.

James Kei
James will walk you through his image making process, creating characters, environments and tech in his unmistakable painterly style. Get a taste of the upcoming Conceptart.org Atelier from one of its two main instructors!

Marko Djurdjevic
Marko is one of our resident character guys… He’ll share his thoughts with you about his character making process, elements of design, graphic placement, compositional strategies and using an intimate knowledge of anatomy and perspective to create dynamic forms. Also covered, digital illustrations and pencil drawing techniques you’ll be sure to want to try out!

Jason Manley
Effective techniques for understanding color in an easy-to-use fashion will be shared in this demo. Participants will leave Jason’s lecture with a better understanding of light and how to use it in their images...whether they are 3d artists, texture painters, lighters, or concept artists, they’re sure to benefit from the talk, and take plenty of notes! Jason will also be giving an extensive lecture on his experience running the premier concepting team in the industry today, with humorous advice and stories about the rise of Massive Black and what its like to work in the gaming industry today.

Carl Dobsky
The other half of the Conceptart.org Atelier, Carl will be taking us back in time to show us how the old masters approached their work. Even if your thing is drawing monsters digitally, you’ll stand to benefit from his insights and advice, and sure to learn techniques that can be applied to any kind of drawing. Both Oil Paint and Drawing demos will be shown, and students are encouraged to bring their paints and work along side instructors for real time feedback!

NoxizMad
Nox is back and ready to cruise with the other Frenchmen in the Euro Style Speed Painting Marathon… get ready to watch our French brothers pump out more incredible art than you thought could be produced in such a short time! Nox is a master highly rendered illustrations, pick his brain and see how he does it!

Petey Konig
Petey will be demoing the new Mudbox and showing us his monster collection… 3d artists stand to learn a thing or two from this seasoned hand.

Biff Wingard
Biff will be taking you through the process of creating a highly rendered marketing image using 3D digital techniques. Learn the step by step it takes to get to that glossy cover illustration.

Shawn Barber
A freelance illustrator and fine artist, Shawn is going to give you a peak into his life. Working primarily from photo reference in oils, Shawn will have a station set up where he will be demoing and sharing his painting and referencing techniques, and discussing the trials and triumphs of art directors, galleries and winging it on his own.

Jon Foster
For the last year, we’ve been watching a steady trickle of amazing work coming out of Fosters hideaway. Now he’s emerged to share his thoughts and working process with us. Working on original illustrations in Oils, he will share his methods in a detailed demo.

Mike Hussar
Mike emerges once more to share his dark creations with us. One of our favorite oil painters, with over 10 years teaching experience under his belt, he’ll be working from life to create portraits that are both uncanny and masterful. Join him in the Insomania Atelier!

HPX
See this digital maverick do his thing on the big screen. HPX is possibly the fastest painter we’ve ever seen, with an unorthodox method that is sure to make you rethink your image making process. Covering concept environments and editorial illustration in Photoshop, HPX doesn’t talk much but his images speak volumes. Watch closely and learn a thing or two!

Kevin Llewellyn
Llewellyn is back, joining the other fine artists in the Insomania Atelier for a session of figure drawing and oil painting. Known for his delicate pencil figure work, Kevin will share his techniques and anatomy knowledge in a live-model demo.

Marc Holmes
A seasoned Art director and concept artist, Marc will be speaking about his experience working in a pipeline and concepting characters and environments for major gaming titles.

Dan Milligan
The initial development of an idea can sometimes be the hardest part. Watch Dan talk about his methods for breaking through that blank page, how to avoid clichés and create something truly original. He will cover his idea development techniques, Photoshop methods and Storyboarding process in his entertaining and informative demo.

John Mueller
Known for his contributions to Comics covers and gaming, John will walk us through his illustration process, sharing his techniques and advice with us as he goes.

Ron Lemen
Another addition to the Insomania Atelier, Ron Lemen will be painting live, showcasing his traditional oil techniques and sharing extensive teaching experience. He will be going step by step through his methods, in 4 painting blocks throughout the day as he explains every aspect of his process. He will also be covering color theory, portrait figure drawing and building a character from live reference. Don’t miss it!

Vanessa Lemen
Vanessa joins husband and fellow teacher Ron Lemen at the Insomania Atelier, where she demonstrates her portrait painting skills and shares her methods with us. Join us for real-time feedback during live model painting sessions!

Aleksi Briclot
Graphic design is an often-overlooked element in production illustration. See this design master put his skills to use in his concepts, creating dynamism and style with placement and contrast on a page. Dramatic Composition and use of graphics in illustration will be discussed, as well Aleksi’s unique and innovative use of reference material and photo manipulation to create futuristic worlds out of seemingly mundane imagery.

William Whitaker
William will be sharing his extensive knowledge of oil painting with us, focusing especially on the beginning steps, ensuring that even a total beginner will walk away with enough to continue experimenting on his own. His demos will cover materials and use, blending, color use, paint handling and step by step how to’s on his whole process. In addition, William is treating us to a very special field trip to the Legion of Honor, for a painters take on some of the finer pieces in the museum. You don’t want to miss it!