In this course, Robert Watts will show you how to execute a studio landscape painting with a focus on structures.. Watch as Robert explains the differences between plein air painting and studio landscapes, and learn the importance of color studies and how to properly utilize reference in the studio. Follow along as Robert demonstrates these disciplines and ultimately works up to a finished studio landscape piece.

Join Robert Watts, Jeff’s father, as he walks you through a variety of illustrative scenarios and visual problem-solving solutions, using one of his favorite mediums, Gouache. Robert will lend insight from his 40 plus years as a commercial illustrator and fine artist, and use his eclectic and masterful skill sets to demonstrate how to put all the fundamental lessons learned thus far to use, in order to create a dynamic, original image. As this class will cover the importance of value and and the immediate, visual read of an image, it is equally helpful to the illustrator, conceptual artist and fine artist. This class is easily adapted to digital media as well, making it a perfect course for the visual development student. You’ll be sure to enjoy not just the information in this course, but also Robert’s down to earth demeanor and whimsical sense of humor, as they help his lessons become more relatable and add a bit of lightheartedness to a very intense, information-packed subject.

These videos are a collection of useful tips and approaches for both design and the necessary tasks of perspective and shadowing for all ‘Tech’ genres. The solutions range from the rather involved, but carefully explained… to the very simple. Unlike previous courses, the workbook will actually expand upon what you see in the video with clear, defined steps and diagrams plus much new material and additional concepts along the way.

The goal of this class is to simplify the elements and procedures that produce excellent compositions…from motifs, overlap, linking and the monster power of shadows to the concept of contrasts and that mysterious thing called mood.

https://www.wattsatelier.com/course/costumed-figure-painting/

In this phase Jeff Watts, Erik Gist and Meadow Gist will guide you in the process of painting a draped figure. Jeff will start with 5 different costumed figure comprehensive sketches in gouache, with Erik and Meadow taking you through several figure paintings in oil.

This course showcases a longer-format still life painting. We will cover the tools necessary to embark on a more complicated scene. A cohesive theme can be formed with a basic arsenal of elements such as flowers, metals and glass. Other topics are discussed ranging from the supply of a still life “larder” to color comps. This course is a fifteen part exploration of a garden theme with roses, bird nests, and antique metal objects.

Join Erik Gist as he delves into the essentials of perspective. The goal of this course is more than simply learning the techniques and geometry for creating a convincing illusion of three- dimensional space; It is about dictating how an individual perceives your image, how they enter and interact with the scene you have created. Over the course of the following lessons you will learn to place the viewer into your scene anyway you wish. By doing this you can better communicate your narrative, and in the end, communication is what lies at the core of art.

One of the greatest gifts of sight is our ability to distinguish colors. The human eye can distinguish around 10,000,000 colors. This may be why the Impressionist movement had and continues to have a large following. The transition from black and white training can feel daunting.

When painting a cover for a comic book, less emphasis is put on narrative and more on creating an iconic image that jumps off the rack. In this series of lessons we will be going over the process often used in the generation and refinement of concepts. We will then continue, and spend a majority of the time, on to the materials and technique used to create the final, oil painted image.

This course will teach you some of the background and techniques that go into painting an illustration for card art. You will be walked through each phase of the illustration process that I use, starting with receiving the assignment all the way through the final painting. We will also talk about common ways to go about getting your first job and some of the best ways to increase your chances of getting work in the increasingly competitive job market.