Becoming A Better Artist
Course Details
- 18 Mar 2013 - 13 May 2013
- Active Weeks:8
- Fee: $599 USD
CGS Connect Members
Get 10% Discount- CGS Connect Membership is $79
Course Overview
Robert Chang’s “Becoming a Better Artist” has been one of the most popular courses we’ve ever run at CGWorkshops. Why? Because no matter what area you specialize in as a visual artist (3D, 2D, film, animation, comic books, games, illustration, visualization), this course will teach you the most critical knowledge, techniques, and creative approaches that today's artists working in highly competitive industries must know in order to function as a confident and authoritative creative force.
Have you been feeling frustrated and helpless in your artistic growth and career development, as if you’re stuck perpetually in one spot and cannot move forward? Has hoarding all kinds of instructional material been mostly unhelpful, because you don’t know how to utilize all that information, or which ones to trust? Were you disappointed by the past classes you took, because they didn’t teach you what you really needed to know to excel as a visual artist? Do you know a lot of theory and can critique other people’s work, but your own work doesn’t seem to be getting any better?
This workshop was designed to lead frustrated artists out of the dark, regardless if they are professionals or beginners. Past students ranged from working art directors, concept artists, technical directors, 3D production artists, animators, illustrators, fine artists, comic book artists, graphic designers, photographers, to aspiring artists, hobbyists and total beginners, and this course has helped them attain the kind of breakthrough they have struggled to achieve for years with no clear results. Many past students have described the workshop as an intense boot camp—one that trains you in creating artistically and technically excellent works, as well as teaches you how to develop a compelling creative vision that more than just entertains, but also evokes emotional and intellectual resonance. This course will also help troubled artists who are suffering from unhealthy biases and emotional/psychological baggage due to feeling lost and insecure for so long, and give them back the joy of creativity so they can enjoy their passions again.
Throughout the workshop, you will learn highly flexible and powerful techniques you can add to your creative arsenal, and the weekly assignments will push you to restructure your mind with eye-opening insights that will forever change the way you approach creative problem-solving in visual art. You will also learn to overcome insecurity and gain confidence in your abilities, break free of bad habits and develop positive ones, and learn how to separate effective, practical truths from time-wasting misinformation. You will learn exactly how and where you should be spending your time and energy in your artistic development, and how to avoid pitfalls and traps that will have devastating effects on your artistic growth.
A very special bonus perk unique to this workshop, is the Better Artist Lounge, created especially for the alumni students of the workshop. Once a student finishes the workshop, he'll be granted access to the private forum, where Rob will continue to mentor the students by answering questions, giving critiques, as well as continue to expand and update the workshop course material to the latest version that is being offered to future students. All of this is offered free of charge, and with permanent access. Alumni students will also enjoy the privacy of a small but tight-knit community of like-minded artists, and being away from the public eye of large open forums makes it a great place for intimate friendships, honest discussions, as well as mutual support. You will never be ignored the way you might be in large open forums.
In Rob's own words: "If you become a student of mine, I remain your mentor for as long as you still need me, even long after the workshop has ended. I have made this promise to all of my past students and I have kept that promise. There are students from the earliest runs of the workshop that I still help regularly today.”
Student Testimonials:
“I did not expect what I got in this workshop. I will be completely honest. I was expecting a workshop of advanced knowledge techniques that really got down to the knitty gritty. Instead I got my brain ripped out, organized and jammed back in with a comprehension of a world I had seen before but never truly understood.
Rob, you were not what I had expected. In addition to your educated and informed critique you gave support, constant day by day support at that, to each and every one of your students. Something that puts most college teachers to shame.”
- Abbey Termeer, student May - July 2011
"This course value just paid off, in my opinion, after the first week alone."
- Jacek Krzykowski, student June - August 2010
“I also really like and appreciate the way Robert put in a humane and spiritual edge to things, such as when he mentions how this course can stop people developing "unhealthy biases and emotional/psychological baggage due to feeling so lost and insecure for so long."
This is what had happened to me, and this course has given back to me the enjoyment and love of creating meaningful and beautiful art. You're a great guy Robert, coming straight from the heart, and giving such a great gift. Thank you. "
- Jason OHara, student July – September 2012
“I want you to know that I enjoyed every moment of this class. I am so grateful that I came across it and feel lucky to have taken the chance of enrolling in it. I have not had good experiences with online classes because they were so impersonal and never felt like I got anything out of them. This class was the total opposite. You can really tell that you care deeply about the course and all of your students. You gave us all your very best in constructive critique. I had mentioned in an earlier week that your critique alone was worth the price of the course. Week one alone was a mind blowing experience for me and will forever change the way I think about my work. "Becoming a Better Artist" has done exactly that, made me a better artist! Thank you very much Robert for an unforgettable experience.”
- John DeRosa, student February - April 2012
"I've had more "eureka!" moments in the last 6 weeks than I've had in the last 6 years. I'm not even joking. I came out of my public university art school degree knowing a little more than I knew when I went in, but not enough to have a good working process and definitely not enough to have a career. I was in a huge rut for at least the last year, filled with crippling self doubt because I wanted this so much, but all I could draw were girls floating in space and I didn't know how to make myself grow. I was considering dropping 60 grand on a master's degree at a private art school, but I really really didn't want to get into so much debt, and there was no guarantee I'd come out of that as a "master". I feel so much more confident now that I can teach myself and improve all on my own, it's great!
Robert, I can safely say that this one course has changed my life, and I'm filled with the utmost gratitude to you for that. The material in this course has been absolutely priceless. (Plus, the tuition fee was a drop in the bucket compared to what some of those art schools charge.) "
- Effie Rodriguez, student April – June 2012
“I was immediately taken aback by how very different this was to everything I was led to believe an art course was. The more class notes I read and the more videos I watched, the more I began to see just how very brazen this course is; it promises nothing it cannot deliver and it does so with an attitude not maintained as a formal facade, it's very honest and the language used is that of someone who is genuinely interested in what they do, trying their best to communicate to you how you can ultimately improve yourself.
...To everyone even glancing at this course, take it. Your expectations cannot be fully trusted, you have more to gain from this course than you can possibly know without already being a part of it. If you want to understand what it means to truly begin your journey to being a great artist, this is the best place to find that beginning. It doesn't matter how lowly or advanced you may consider yourself, there is much to be gained from starting anew here"
- James Filippone, student June - August 2011
Robert’s broad, multidisciplinary background makes him a great lecturer for this course, which approaches the essential foundations and advanced concepts of visual art from refreshing and unique perspectives unlike any you’ve seen, and show you how to utilize them in a rapidly changing professional environment.
Please Note: The heart and soul of this workshop is the mentoring of the students by the instructor, through direct interaction, in-depth critiques and discussions, answering of difficult and complex questions asked by students, and careful monitoring of the students’ growth and development so the mentoring can be catered to each student’s specific needs and personality. This is the most important aspect of the workshop, and it is what made this workshop so popular.
The lecture notes and videos are the two other aspects of the workshop, and they tackle different areas of each week's focus. The videos are mostly supplemental and aimed mainly at beginners, while the lecture notes are the main focus and contain the most sophisticated and advanced concepts. The interaction between students and instructor in the form of in-depth, thoughtful critiques for the assignments, is what takes the lessons from theory to execution, and in turn, allow the students to really absorb the knowledge and utilize them effectively.
Students will be given assignments each week that push them to think creatively, experiment, and try different approaches to solve problems and find the most effective way to communicate their visual ideas. Through extensive feedback and thoughtful critiques, the students will make great strides in ways they could not have on their own without a mentor to guide them through the journey.
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Robert Chang
Robert "Lunatique" Chang is an artist, writer / director, composer / songwriter, and photographer whose work has been featured in...
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What you'll learn
This workshop contains four main components:
1. Critical foundations of visual art
2. Advanced creative concepts
3. Common pitfalls, career development, and creative fulfillment
4. Powerfully flexible digital workflow and advanced techniques.
The foundation component will cover the essential foundations of visual art that all competent artists must grasp--such as composition, lighting, values, color, etc, and explores depths not easily found in other instructional materials/courses. Students will discover that what they thought they already knew from books and classes were merely the tip of the iceberg, and there’s so much still beyond their initial understanding. Other important topics include how to depict natural and expressive characters through psychological and physiological analysis, and an extensive section that covers a wide-range of drawing and painting techniques.
The advanced component tackles highly complex and sophisticated subjects that often confound even professional artists, and are rarely taught or properly explained in-depth by instructors and authors--subjects like the anatomy of visual vocabulary, the components of stylization, creating appropriate styles for specific intellectual properties, reconciling aesthetics and taste, adapting the techniques of good fiction writers for visual narratives, how to inject your emotions and intellect into your work even when doing commercial work for clients/companies, effective surface treatment for intended purpose, manipulating values for stylization, and more.
The third component of the course will guide students through the methodologies and creative approaches of advanced artists and visual storytellers, important career development tips, the quest for creative and personal fulfillment, and steer students away from all the common pitfalls that both advanced and novice artists often fall into--pitfalls that can sometimes destroy careers and the passion to create. Learn how to face insecurity, self-loathing, lack of discipline and motivation, lack of focus and decisiveness in your creative choices, loss of proper perspective in the relationship between your dreams and your life, and emotional baggage that can cripple you and prevent a fulfilling life of creativity and passion.
The fourth component of the course is a full arsenal of secret weapons that advanced professionals use on a daily basis; Workflow that allows them amazing flexibility, astounding speed, and absolute control. These are highly practical and productive techniques that once the students learn them, will never want to live without ever again.
In Rob's own words: "While putting together the material for this workshop, I came to the realization that the entire course is essentially the absolute distillation of the most essential things I have ever learned as an artist to date, and if I could travel back in time and spend eight weeks with my younger self, these are the very things I'd want him to learn."
Related Links
Robert Chang's Official Website
Robert Chang's Portfolio
CGNetworks feature article from January 2003
D'artiste Digital PaintingAbout Robert Chang >>
Testimonials#1 - 2010 March - May
Bradley Machamer
The way that you talk about what you do, and how you teach; the energy and the effort that you have put into this workshop, and into all of us is incredible - your teaching is far beyond anything I have ever seen before, and I feel so blessed to be one of your students, and to be able to interact and learn with everyone.
Won Suk Heo
It has been said already, but I want to say again that Robert has inspired me to be more than just a better artist, but to be a better human being as well. He showed by example the kind of person I want to be: totally dedicated and helpful to others, strive for excellence yet remain humble, and have a broad vision and enjoy everything life has to offer. So thank you Robert. I had very high expectations for this workshop, and it surpassed them in ways I didn't even think of.
Trevor Crandall
Really, I think I could ramble on for quite a few pages about how much I got out of this workshop. But instead I will say this. I've spent a ton of time and money on learning and getting to where want to be artistically and professionally over the last 8 years. In doing so, I've developed a very low tolerance for bullshit when it comes to people wasting my precious time or taking advantage of my hard earned money. That being said, this class was probably one of the best investments of my time and money thus far, and it will be paying dividends for many years to come.
Del Melchionda
I think Rob has a very unique, very holistic approach to art and creativity, one I've never really seen or heard before from a teacher or professor. He makes you think about the why, not just the how. And this is something that often gets shunted aside with the heavy focus digital art has on technique and tools.
#2 - 2010 June - August
Denise Gross
I can tell you that I already, just from last week's videos, feel that I have learned more about painting than I have from any other course I have taken. And I have taken alot. This is by far the best painting and process instruction I have ever had. Thank you so much for not only putting the time into this but also for actually allowing us to see the process of every step. It is great!!!!
#3 - 2010 August - October
Ricardo Roberto van Duuren
The workshop met all my expectations and more. I had already heard about it and from the posts you wrote on cgtalk I already knew you are knowledgable and have excellent teaching skills. The combination is rare I think. At least, most teachers I met either didn't knew enough to answer any question I had, or lacked the teaching skills to explain things to someone who's as stubborn as me. I don't believe people unless they can convince me with facts and adequate information. I (and many others) aren't convinced by 'I'm the teacher, so just believe me on this'. The fact that you managed to convince me on matters I thought otherwise about says enough I think.
If I haven't said it before (I'm known to be sparse with compliments and 'thank you's'): Thank you! I will forever remember this workshop as a turning point in my life.
#4 - 2010 October - December
Philipp Otterbach
What i can say for sure, is, that i definitely got what i had come for and that was a refresher on the essential principles that are the foundation of good artwork and a roadmap on how to improve. This and your personal insights in what being a creative person means, the techniques you use and the structured way of how you tackle creative endeavors was so incredibly interesting and inspiring. This is the third CGSociety workshop i participated in and all three were great learning experiences, that were well worth the money they cost, but this one really sticks out, because of how essential and meaningful the stuff taught here is to all kinds of creative processes.
#5 - 2011 January - March
Mauricio Flores
Through these eight weeks I almost felt like a little boy inside a toy store, the majority of the material provided resulted fresh and fascinating, I always thought of myself as an intermediate level artist but this workshop pulled my pants down leaving me in a shameful but also exciting position, because the moment I started to apply the concepts learned, my worked began to improve, and hell did I loved that smile on my face.
Hector Eduardo
I wanna thank you so much Rob for your always caring and delightful teaching. You really have known how to keep us motivated throughout out this awesome ride. Thank you for being such a passionate teacher. Now, I'm more than happy to join the others as saying this workshop met and far exceeded my expectations. I can't thank you enough Rob for your passionate way of teaching and your honest caring for our growth.
#6 - 2011 May - July
Suresh V. Selvaraj
You've now set an impossibly high bar for all my future teachers. Early in my career, I learnt the difference between someone who is very knowledgeable and someone who is both very knowledgeable and capable of imparting that knowledge. Most people consider anyone knowledgeable can teach, but teaching is a completely different skill and its crucial from a student's PoV. You're one of the rare few who has both. And because of your storytelling background, you also seem to know how to have a good flow through the whole course. But more importantly, you seem to actually *care* about the students, which definitely comes through in your comments and critiques. So, hats off to that!
Luis Gama
You know those times in life when you think about your choices at a given time, were they good, were they bad? Who would i be if turned left on that road instead of right? Well, now i look back and i`m so happy that i make the turn into this workshop. I was lost. Without any clue of how to achieve my goals, overwhelmed with information, overwhelmed by amazing work being posted everyday, and absolutely no idea how to get there. Every Monday morning i felt like a kid unwrapping the Christmas presents while i was reading through the notes, even the anticipation " New notes tomorrow...sweeet!". Everything was so well organized, written and exemplified for our needs as an artist, the assignments so well planned to push you further, step, by step, with precise feedback.
Enric Guillem
Truth be told, the contents of this workshop are something far from my early expectations and my happiness goes beyond my wildest imagination. Why? Because this course doesn't teach, this course is a testimony of wisdom passed to the students by a kind and hard working soul. During my school and university days, I was able to notice improvements by little bits but here it's the first time that I've experienced such a brutal change in a very short time. The best way I find to explain is comparing to Matrix as I finally can understand Neo when he claims: I know Kungfu =)
Know that I'm not an ass-kisser and that I mean what I say, so get ready: you're one of the best teachers I've ever had. Period. Your dedication, generosity and kindness are amazing and there's not a day where I felt that you failed us. Are you sure you're human and not an angel?
Nele Klumpe
Before I enrolled in this workshop I felt like I needed to get to the next level. I was improving, yes, but not as fast as I would have liked to. But the problem was more that I had immense problems in the process of creating an image as well as several problems with self doubts. Now I think that I'm ready to take the next step. It's like someone showed me the direction, where to go, whereas before I couldn't see through the fog.
Sarah Bloch
I can't tell you enough how lucky I feel that I could be part of this workshop. It's truely a blessing and it just crossed my path when I needed it more than anything. That was one of my best decisions to participate in this course! One of those decisions that – when thinking back – you just think "wow, that really changed something in my life!".
#7 - 2011 June - August
Hassan Javaid
This workshop has changed me, in a very significant way. I appreciate the wealth of knowledge that I've received in it, and honestly, I've learned more in these few weeks than I have in 2 years at college, so yeah, its amazing...
Either way, Thank you Robert, I really mean it, this workshop was probably one of the best things that have happened to me, and the knowledge alone is worth more than I could ever wish for.
#8 - 2011 September - November
Leandro Reis
I can tell you, I've seen a lot of tutorials, seen a lot of works, but your workshop helped me see exactly the process needed in order to develop and grow as an artist. It's not about the technical skills, that, every single tutorial tries to teach you, it's all about the vision and the challenge. It's how you perceive and find new things, the way you deconstruct and try to understand them and to connect the dots on all that you've seen and try to create rules and destilate what you know into the canvas. The discoveries have been, simply put, magical.
#9 - 2011 November - 2012 January
David Coacci
Like Charles said, the past few months have gone by way too quickly, and I can say they've been some of the most memorable of my life. I can't recall the last time I actually wanted to do homework. Crazy.
#11 - 2012 April - June
LeRoy Corbie
Previously I have invested time and money in many art courses, however, none of then offered the scope that I already see in this workshop. I now realize how little I really learnt from all those courses and tutorials.
Click here for more Testimonials
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Week by week outline
Please Note: The heart and soul of this workshop is the mentoring of the students by the instructor, through direct interaction, in-depth critiques and discussions, answering of difficult and complex questions asked by students, and careful monitoring of the students’ growth and development so the mentoring can be catered to each student’s specific needs and personality. This is the most important aspect of the workshop, and it is what made this workshop so popular.
The lecture notes and videos are the two other aspects of the workshop, and they tackle different areas of each week's focus. The videos are mostly supplemental and aimed mainly at beginners, while the lecture notes are the main focus and contain the most sophisticated and advanced concepts. The interaction between students and instructor in the form of in-depth, thoughtful critiques for the assignments, is what takes the lessons from theory to execution, and in turn, allow the students to really absorb the knowledge and utilize them effectively.
Students will be give