Steven Zapata

Workshop Info:

This workshop aims to help students with their personal work, career goals, and artistic vision. To do this we must focus not only on the work but on the artist's mind and spirit. We will emphasize project-based learning and students will have the freedom to choose their own direction. Detailed reviews of student work will be provided.

Things I can help with in this class:

• Drawing and painting techniques
• Design and illustration portfolios
• Personal IP development (graphic novels, games, film pitches, world building, etc.)
• Fine art
• Finding your personal voice
• Mental blockages
• General art angst

What we'll cover (subject to adjustment):

Week 1: How to understand projects and develop a schedule

Week 2: How to design your own process

Week 3: The elements of art (part 1)

Week 4: The elements of art (part 2)

Week 5: The principles of design (part 1)

Week 6: The principles of design (part 2)

Week 7: How to present your ideas

Week 8: Tips for self-teaching

Date and Time: Wednesdays starting Oct 2nd, 6pm-10pm ET, or Saturdays starting Oct 5th, 12pm-4pm ET.  All meeting dates are listed below. Note that there are no classes on Oct 9th, Oct 12th, Nov 27th, or Nov 30th.

Skill Level: This class is appropriate for all levels, as feedback will be personalized and all students will be working on different projects. Beginners will benefit from hearing the kind of feedback that more advanced students get, and advanced students will benefit from reanalyzing the fundamentals as we express them to beginners.

Number of Students: Limited to 10 students per class.

Class Format: Class is conducted over Discord. You will need to make a free Discord account and install the Discord app to attend class and participate in the community. Classes are 4 hours and include lectures, demos, and feedback.

What to Expect: After you reserve your spot, I will reach out to your purchase email to answer any questions you have before starting, get your "art life story", and gather a link to your artworks to familiarize myself with your work before class. In this correspondence we will start brainstorming what direction you can take in the workshop. A week before classes start, I will provide the Discord links and the server will be ready to use.

After each week's opening lecture, students will present work they've done over the previous week, and new work will be assigned based on their progress.

I will also be holding office hours in the Discord between classes. I make myself readily available to students between classes so they don't get stuck and maintain forward momentum. 

Classes will be recorded and these recordings will be provided to students once the workshop concludes.

The class Discord remains open after the workshop ends. Past workshop students have continued to work together and use their Discord to schedule hang-outs, work sessions, and catch-ups.

Materials: Any traditional or digital tools are welcome, just no AI (see below). You will have great freedom (and support) in deciding what you want to work on and how you will do it. If you choose to use traditional mediums, think ahead to how you will photograph or scan your work to share it clearly.

Other Info:

Use of AI image or text generators for any work in this class is prohibited. This workshop centers creative authenticity and the right artists have to protect their creations and determine how they are used.

Refund Policy: You can cancel for a full refund up until 11:59pm ET Sept 24rd, 2024. After that, your refund will decrease by $200 USD each day. No refunds after the first day of classes, Oct 2nd.

Payments are processed securely through Stripe.

If you have any questions, or you'd like to pay with PayPal, please email me with the subject "2024 Workshop" at: stevensketches@gmail.com