Create strong environment paintings
In this follow-up course to Environment Concept Design, students will be diving deeper into the elements that make up a good environment painting—from values, lighting, and design to composition and colors. The goal for this course is to gain a deeper understanding and mastery of the intricacies of environment painting and design, specifically for the video game and feature film genres. A longer-term project will include design tasks as exteriors, interiors, establishing shots, and design call-outs.
Course Format
Standard
Skills Level
Advanced
Duration
8 weeks
Q&A
Once a week
Feedback
Individual recordings
Lecture Type
Pre-recorded
Assignment
Due each week. Expect to spend 8-10 hrs/wk viewing lectures, Q&A, and time on assignments.
PREREQUISITES
Perspective, Environment Sketching, Fundamentals of Environment Design, Environment Sketching for Production, Fundamentals of Architecture Design, Environment Concept Design, OR advanced digital painting and environment design skills
MATERIALS
Photoshop (any), Wacom tablet or equivalent
The more you know, the better.
Week #1
Introduction and Values
Introduction to the class | Importance of drawing, values, vs colors | What is a value? (Value scale, Values vs colors, Value relativity, describing form) | Show hi-key paintings and low key (show on value scale) | Show concept with few details but great values | Value design (master paintings example) | Demo 1: Value design study of master’s painting | Demo 2: Low Key Painting | Demo 3: High Key Painting | Demo 4: Paint mid-tones first then extremes
Week #2
Composition
Classical rules of composition (theory) | Presentation of books | Master painting composition studies | Adding drama with cropping | Play with camera angle | Positive and negative shapes | Strong lines | Notion of contrast (shape, value, size etc) | Overlapping and tangents | Object/shape repetition in space | Demo 1: how to find interesting compositions with happy accidents | Demo 2: Refining a composition
Week #3
Lighting
How light behaves | Vocabulary of lighting and analyzing lighting references | Value relationships in ambient light vs angle of the plane | Demo: Painting light on simple buildings
Week #4
Color
Color wheel | Vocabulary | Harmony | Warm/Cool | Local color vs color of the light source | Demo: Paint simple colorful object with light & color, color & emotions | Presentation of my book “Art Fundamentals”
Week #5
Color Techniques
Color corrections over B&W values | Glazing over B&W | Finalizing B&W sketch and how to color it with different techniques | Painting from a color reference
Week #6
Interior Shot
Introduction about what the differences are from interior and an exterior shot | Demo: Painting (in color) an interior shot with at least 3 different light sources
Week #7
Edges
What are edges in paintings? | The four different types of edges | Show examples in master paintings | Edges in shadows | Edges for shadow form vs edges for cast shadows | First: Demo with the study of a movie screenshot with only one opaque, hard edged brush. Second: Reworking the edges to get a final painting and realize the power of edges
Week #8
Finalization of a Painting and Conclusion
Checklist (correct painting at the same time) | Demo: Blow up small part for details | Vary color temperatures and values for any plane | Add precision in form | Work on edges | How to get help from the use of photos.
STUDENT GALLERY
STUDENT INTERVIEWS
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.
3x Payments
$233
2x Payments
$349.50
Full payment
$699
Spring TERM REGISTRATION
Now Open
Jan 31, 2024 -
Apr 22, 2024
What makes this learning experience unique?
PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK
Receive personalized feedback on all assignments from the industry’s top professionals.
LIFETIME ACCESS
Enjoy lifetime access to the spectrum of course content, including lectures, live Q&As, and feedback sessions.
CERTIFICATION
Show off your Certification of Completion when you turn in 80% of course assignments.
FLEXIBLE LEARNING
Learn anywhere, anytime, and at your own pace with flexible, online course scheduling.
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