The Essential Art Department

Follow along with your own Architecture template of a fantasy castle as art director and concept designer, Andy Sklar demonstrates techniques in rendering and design for fantasy concept illustration. 

This is a two-part series, with (2) Live, instructor-led webinar sessions. (4) hours for the complete series. 

Tools Needed (You Provide):   

• Access to Zoom application
• Adobe Photoshop program (current version if accessible*) 

Templates Provided for you (designed specifically for this course):  

• Fantasy Architecture Composition Template (Downloadable PSD Template)
• or work from your own Fantasy Architecture design from another project
• Downloadable, layered scenic elements to use with your template / PSD
• Downloadable textures to use with your template / PSD and PDF

*If you don't have access to the current version of Adobe Photoshop, follow along with any version, but know that some of the tools and menus may be slightly different between all versions. There are some trial versions out there that you can look into! 

Part 1 / Fantasy Architecture Design and Rendering

Student Outcomes: 

Students will receive a castle gate and bridge entry template and are invited to follow along and learn rendering skills using color, texture techniques and lighting value in Photoshop. 

Narrative ideas will be explored through layers and different design details to explore how various design details can impact and inform your design concept’s story.

This course is a Pre-Requisite to the companion Part 2 course.

Student Outcomes: 

In Part 2 of the series, students will revisit their previously created castle architecture, bringing the castle design into an environment template, where techniques in composition and rendering are applied for a fully formed environmental illustration. 

Students will follow along as demonstration continues with the exploration of rendering skills. Developing color and textures, while introducing highlighting and shadowing techniques, which will help to create the mood and further enhance the narrative for your castle environment.

We want you to have a fully realized portfolio piece that will highlight your art department skillsets within Photoshop! Use it to show potential employers how you can develop design details within your concept's story, and how you create mood and texture to fully encompass the design intent of an environmental piece.

Student Access:

Live Webinar session link for this 2-hour course, will be provided within the course platform. During the Live session you will have access to follow along with the instructor, as they share their screen while working through Photoshop with the castle template that they created specifically for this course! 

During the Live session you will also have an opportunity to ask your instructor questions during their specified question and answer time. 

You may have an opportunity to share your work. Your instructor will give you more information on sharing options. 

Access to the Fantasy Castle Architecture, PSD file, downloadable template, created specifically for this course.

As well as access to the downloadable, layered scenic elements and several texture files to make your design complete!

This is the first part of a multi-series course, and is a Pre-Requisite to continue into Part 2, Fantasy Theme Concept Rendering course. Take one part or both! The choice is yours. But you don't want to miss out on the valuable insight and resources that are offered in both sessions. 

Complete both courses within the Essential Up! Series and receive your certificate!  

Check out the ESSENTIAL UP! SERIES for package discounts!

Taught by industry professionals you will be given rare insight into the inner workings of some of the most famous Entertainment projects around town. And you will get to hear some amazing, funny, sad and true stories from behind the scenes as well!

Our resident Art Department course hero, "Crash" himself will pop in from time to time to say hi and see how you are doing, tell art department antidotes and just remind you to HAVE FUN with this course! 

All students will have until one week before course start to cancel their registration and receive a full refund. Cancellations requested within one week of class started will not be refunded. Please see our Terms & Conditions for any questions.

Check out a preview of the course curriculum below and check back often for another cool Essential Up! series course to be offered. Follow your passion for all things Art Department.