Creating Stylized Game Assets

A 10-week course for creating finished props and environment assets with hand-painted textures for a stylized game

OVERVIEW

VIDEO

INSTRUCTORS

COURSE OVERVIEW

From concept to finished assets

Students learn how to make stylized, hand-painted 3D art for video games. The course will cover the whole process from concept, model, texture, to completed asset. Students will create a variety of smaller projects, and one larger scene for their portfolio that targets their individual career goals. In the last week, there will be a stylized art test to give students a feel for what it takes to apply for a job on a stylized game! Students will be painting textures in Photoshop and mapping their textures onto 3D assets. Some assets will be provided, but students are encouraged to create their own.

Course Format:

Standard

Duration:

10 weeks

Materials:

Photoshop, 3D-Coat, and a 3D modeling program (3ds Max preferred)

Lecture Type:

Pre-recorded

Assignment:

Deadlines each week

Skills Level:

Intermediate

Feedback:

Individual recordings

Q&A:

Once a week

Prerequisites:

Basic painting and modeling skill. Course pre-req's: Intro to Production Modeling, Zbrush for Concept & Iteration & Digital Painting

Course Format:

Standard

Duration:

10 weeks

Materials:

Photoshop, 3D-Coat, and a 3D modeling program (3ds Max preferred)

Lecture Type:

Pre-recorded

Assignment:

Deadlines each week

Skills Level:

Intermediate

Feedback:

Individual recordings

Q&A:

Once a week

Prerequisites:

Basic painting and modeling skill. Course pre-req's: Intro to Production Modeling, Zbrush for Concept & Iteration & Digital Painting

Course Format:

Standard

Duration:

10 weeks

Materials:

Photoshop, 3D-Coat, and a 3D modeling program (3ds Max preferred)

Lecture Type:

Pre-recorded

Assignment:

Deadlines each week

Skills Level:

Intermediate

Feedback:

Individual recordings

Q&A:

Once a week

Prerequisites:

Basic painting and modeling skill. Course pre-req's: Intro to Production Modeling, Zbrush for Concept & Iteration & Digital Painting

COURSE OVERVIEW

Course Trailer

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

EXPAND ALL COLLAPSE ALL

The more you know, the better.

Week 1 | Intro to Stylized Game Art and Painting a Cube

Lecture: Introduction to different types of stylized art from different studios and artists | Demo: Model, UV, and paint a cube

Week 2 | 2.5D Plant Set

Lecture: Fixed camera angles in different games and 2.5D techniques | Demo: 2.5D plant demo

Week 3 | Sci-Fi Prop: Part 1 / Planning, Reference, Concepting, Blockout Modeling, and Paintovers

Lecture: Focus on story and readability, purpose should be clear | Demo: Rough sketch, blockout model, paintover

Week 4 | Sci-Fi Prop: Part 2 / Modeling, UVs and Texturing

Lecture: Symmetry, instances, and references | Demo: Modeling, UVs in 3ds Max and 3D Coat, painting metal, and painting emissive textures

Week 5 | Environment Scene: Part 1 / Concepting a Scene

Lecture: Composition and color theory | Demo: Concept sketching and painting

Week 6 | Environment Scene: Part 2 / Tiling Textures and Painting Terrain

Lecture: Why and how to use tiling textures | Demo: Painting grass, dirt, and stone, tiling in Photoshop and 3D Coat, and blending terrain

Week 7 | Environment Scene: Part 3 / Plants and Alphas and Painting Plants, Wood and Metal

Lecture: Cards and alpha textures | Demo: Painting plants, wood, and metal

Week 8 | Environment Scene: Part 4 / Hero Prop or Small Structure and Painting Stone and Water

Lecture: Hierarchy and Gameplay | Demo: Painting water and stone

Week 9 | Environment Scene: Part 5 / Supporting Props, Painting Cloth and Leather, and Polish

Lecture: Refining and final value, color, and composition tweaks | Demo: Painting cloth and leather, and polish

Week 10 | Art Tests and Online Presentation

Lecture: Art tests and online presentation | Demo: Matching the style of a specific game (Fallout style Dieselpunk as an example)

Creating Stylized Game Assets

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

Instructor

Igniting your imagination

Ashleigh Warner

/Blizzard Entertainment

LECTURES BY Ashleigh Warner

Ashleigh is a prop artist with seven years of experience in the game industry making stylized 3D art. She is currently at Blizzard Entertainment working on the World of Warcraft team, and has worked on five expansions: Mists of Pandaria, Warlords of Draenor, Legion, Battle for Azeroth, and Shadowlands. Her expertise is in hand-painting low poly game art, focusing on creating cultures and storytelling through objects--like a virtual set decorator. Ashleigh got her start with a traditional art education—a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication Arts (Illustration) from Virginia Commonwealth University—and then moved into game art with a Master of Interactive Technology from The Guildhall at SMU. Now in addition to making WoW she instructs students, does portfolio reviews, and mentors new artists at Blizzard.

INSTRUCTOR'S GALLERY:

REQUEST SYLLABUS

STUDENT GALLERY

Jane Stolyarova Desina

Creating Stylized Game Assets

Student Gallery

STUDENT INTERVIEWS

Creating Hand-Painted Dioramas

Interview with Dawnson Chen

Creating Hand-Painted Dioramas

Interview with Dawnson Chen

Hand-Painted Interior of Cat's Bakery

Interview with Joanna Lin

Hand-Painted Interior of Cat's Bakery

Interview with Joanna Lin

Creating a Hand-Painted Dwarven Feast Hall

Interview with Angus McMeekin

Creating a Hand-Painted Dwarven Feast Hall

Interview with Angus McMeekin

Creating a Revendreth-Inspired Scene in Maya and Photoshop

Interview with Pat Klisiewicz

Creating a Revendreth-Inspired Scene in Maya and Photoshop

Interview with Pat Klisiewicz

Naga Shrine of Rejuvenation: Texturing Game Assets in Substance Painter

Interview with Alexander Nguyen

Naga Shrine of Rejuvenation: Texturing Game Assets in Substance Painter

Interview with Alexander Nguyen

Hand-Painted Witch Cafe: Texturing a Stylized Scene

Interview with Finn Stevens-Lock

Hand-Painted Witch Cafe: Texturing a Stylized Scene

Interview with Finn Stevens-Lock

SUMMER TERM REGISTRATION

Apr 29, 2021 - Jul 19, 2021

ONLY

$998

COURSE BEGINS

July 12th

PRICING SCHEDULE

Even though our courses are the most affordable for the quality of education.

These FINANCE OPTIONS allow you to focus on your goals instead of the barriers that keep you from reaching them.

EMPLOYER
REIMBURSEMENT

ANIMATION GUILD
CSATTF

PAYMENT
PLAN

”

Shelby Merrill

I already knew how to use Photoshop but seeing how Ashleigh did things and having her brushes and seeing her process helped me better understand how to paint. I learned so much about how to properly paint, effective painting processes, and I even feel more confident in my concepting abilities.

”

Michael Barrington

I feel more confident with my skills and have learned quite a bit from taking this course.

”

Leigh-Ann Johnson

I learned a lot of new skills such as becoming more efficient in 3DS max, design, color theory, UVing trees, etc.

”

Lizabeth Leers

I improved a lot with designing my own concepts and got a lot faster with painting textures but still maintaining a high quality. Really impressed with the growth I’ve seen in 10 weeks!

”

Nicole Zedan

Taught me new ways to break down a task and brainstorm my ideas. Helped solidify my methods and create better concepts that read well.

COMPANIES THAT HIRE OUR STUDENTS