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Game-art crash course taught by Blizzard’s offspring

January 27th, 2009, 11:33 am by

If you want to get face time with artists from Blizzard Entertainment but can’t get a job at the Irvine company or afford the $20,000 tuition to attend the Laguna College of Art + Design, then the school’s upcoming 2-day workshop is for you.

On the weekend of Feb. 7 and 8, the workshop will include presentations by two artists from Red 5 Studios, the Irvine game company started by former Blizzard employees (mentioned earlier HERE). Red 5′s Anthony Waters and Joe Peterson will present sessions on “Imagination as a Weapon,” and one on creature and character creation.

Also participating: Farzad Varahramyan, a founder of High Moon Studios who is now with Appy Entertainment, offering a session on concept demos; and Dean Deakyne, with 3D, game/cinematics workshop. 

Blizzard has been kind to the local college, offering employees as faculty and original art for gallery exhibits. The school’s game art program may be the only one in the world where students are taught by artists from Blizzard.  

The workshop is $235. A non-refundable $100 deposit can secure your place at the workshop. The balance of the fee is due Feb. 6. Proceeds will benefit the Game Art students at the school and help send them to the Game Developers Conference.

::details::

What: Laguna College’s 2-day Game workshop

When: Feb. 7-8, Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lunch is provided.

Where: Laguna College of Art + Design
2222 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach, CA  

Cost: $235

RSVP: Kerri Redeker at 949-376-6000, ext. 240 or kredeker@lagunacollege.edu

More details: HERE

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Posted in: Blizzard Art • • • • • • • • • • | Comments Off

Photos from Blizzard art show closing, Thavirat’s lecture

October 27th, 2008, 12:48 pm by

“Art/Studies From Blizzard Entertainment,” an art exhibit running at the Laguna College of Art & Design since the Oct. 1 closed last week. The art show offered a rare look at original pieces from Blizzard Entertainment in person. 

To end the show, Blizzard artist Justin Thavirat gave a lecture. We captured the last night with photos. Take a look at the slideshow:

Related posts:

 

Posted in: Blizzard Art • • • • • • | Comments Off

Students thisclose to Blizzard share favorite art

October 2nd, 2008, 5:43 am by

At the preview of “Art/Studies From Blizzard Entertainment” exhibit at the Laguna College of Art & Design, several game-art students showed up to get a sneak peek of the show. (Missed the slideshow or original work from Blizzard’s three unreleased games? Click HERE). I had them stand in front of the favorite Blizzard piece and explain why they liked it. The handful I interviewed all (surprise?) want to work at Blizzard. From their work, I’d say chances are good…

MARK CHMIELEWSKI:

Mark Chmielewski, a 22-year-old game-art senior, is a conceptual artist who would love to work on characters, like this piece from StarCraft II. He started his studies at the school as an animation and illustration major but switched the game-art when the school began offering it last year.

“Animation and illustration is not game design. This is the first time I felt like I’m learning something that I want to do,” said Chmielewski, who prefers playing WoW but adds, “StarCraft ain’t bad.”

Some of his work (click images for larger view):

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Blizzard Art • Latest game news • • • • | 1 Comment »

When art school and Blizzard converge

October 1st, 2008, 12:25 pm by

“Art/Studies From Blizzard Entertainment,” a new art exhibit opening today at the Laguna College of Art & Design is FANTASTIC! It’s even better if you’re a Blizzard fan.

I was stunned, shocked and exhilarated to see pieces from the unreleased games “World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King,” “StarCraft II” and “Diablo III.” Many pieces were dated 2007 and had familiar artist names, such as Peter Lee. Many pieces also weren’t signed, presumably because these came straight out of the sketch pads of Blizzard headquarters. (Click HERE for the slideshow)

Click on the image below for a slideshow by Register photographer Cindy Yamanaka.

I stopped by the college Tuesday to snap these photos and get a personal tour from curator Ed Thorell, who color-coded the exhibit — blue for StarCraft, red for Diablo and white for Warcraft. A projector and an iMac also played trailers from the games.

The show features original pieces from Blizzard artists. But this isn’t a show of just the final works of art. It includes the rough sketches and detailed drawings that led up to end result. The college wanted Blizzard to show the process it takes artists to create video game art.

“Even though there is so much high-concept art from Blizzard, we’re trying to reinforce (to students) that everything starts from a sketchpad,” said curator Ed Thorell, pictured on right.

[Note: I originally thought this was a dual show of student and Blizzard staff work. It's not. This is pure Blizzard art. I'll post later about game-art students talking about their favorite Blizzard pieces.]

How did the school get so lucky? Last year, the school started its video-game major and attracted faculty from Blizzard, Dreamworks Animation and Double Helix Games (a merger of Shiny Entertainment and The Collective). This year, Blizzard employees Ely Cannon and Wendy Vetter are on staff.

There are 28 students in the school’s game major, more than double from last year, said Sandy Appleoff (pictured on right), the college’s chair of the Game Art major. Showing the ‘process’ of creating art will hopefully drill into students the need to practice drawing daily.

“The initial concept stage of doing lots of little thumbnails is so important. When (students) see Blizzard artists doing it, this reinforces that drawing every day is important,” Appleoff said. ”When the show hits, they’ll all be clinging to their sketch pads.”

For all those heading to Anaheim next week for BlizzCon, take a short trip to Laguna Beach and visit the school’s gallery. The show runs through Oct. 27.

::details::

What: Art/Studies From Blizzard Entertainment 

When: Reception is Oct. 23, public is invited

Where: Laguna College Art & Design gallery, 2222 Laguna Canyon in Laguna Beach
Here’s a link to the Google Map. 

Web site: lagunacollege.edu

Exhibit hours: Exhibit runs Oct. 1 to 27.
Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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Posted in: Blizzard Art • Diablo • Events • Latest game news • Star Craft • World of Warcraft • • • • • • • • | 1 Comment »

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