The Gnomon Workshop has partnered with Design Studio Press in the production of analog training DVDs. Leading concept designers from the film, game and industrial design industries will share their techniques in an effort to inspire and educate artists around the world.
Launched in 2000, the Gnomon Workshop has become the premier Maya training resource for digital artists, with a library of 48 DVDs authored by industry professionals. In 2003, Gnomon expanded the scope of the library by introducing six analog titles by concept designer Feng Zhu and character sculptor John Brown. The term analog refers to traditional skills training in areas such as drawing, painting, sculpture and design.
Design Studio Press (DSP) was launched in the spring of 2002. With an ever-growing network of industry leading conceptual designers and educators, DSP's primary goal is to inspire artists and designers through the creation of high quality books and educational DVDs. Their first book, CONCEPT DESIGN 1, features the personal artwork of seven top Los Angeles designers, and received high praise from industry icons such as Syd Mead, Doug Chiang and Alex McDowell. CONCEPT DESIGN 2, currently in production, welcomes 16 new guest artists, including Zhu, Ryan Church and Christian Lorenz Sheurer.
"This is an unprecedented opportunity for artists such as myself," states Alex Alvarez, founder of the Gnomon Workshop and the Gnomon School of Visual Effects. "Scott Robertson, the founder of Design Studio Press, has created something very special - a collaborative spirit amongst some of the industry's top artists. Together we have found ourselves in the privileged position of bringing these artist's designs, thoughts and techniques to the world."
"The opportunity to deliver high quality educational design, drawing and rendering DVDs to the rest of the world through our partnership with The Gnomon Workshop is the source of [great] enthusiasm," Robertson adds. "I firmly believe by partnering the technical expertise of The Gnomon Workshop and the creative educational skills of Design Studio Press and its network of talented designers and educators we will be able to offer to you the finest DVDs of this genre."
Since their first meeting last October, GW and DSP have already co-produced 15 training DVDs to be released over the next two months. Instructors include Church, conceptual art supervisor for STAR WARS EPISODE III; Carlos Huante, art director at Industrial Light & Magic; Harald Belker, vehicle designer whose credits include BATMAN & ROBIN, MINORITY REPORT and ARMAGEDDON; and new DVDs by John Brown and Zhu. Future titles to be released spring/summer 2004 include designers James Clyne, Neville Page, Mark Goerner and Scott Robertson, among others.
DVDs by Church will be released Jan. 5, 2004. While executed digitally, these painting DVDs focus not on software, but on the fundamentals of design, composition, lighting, material indication, storytelling and workflow.
DVDs by Huante, Belker, Brown and Zhu will be released early February 2004.
Gnomon Workshop DVDs are priced at $69 and can be purchased online at www.thegnomonworkshop.com. Academic pricing is available. Each title includes 120 minutes of instruction, lecture notes and bonus material.
The Gnomon Workshop is an outgrowth of the Gnomon School of Visual Effects, a professional institute specializing in training for the high-end visual effects community. This on-line resource for the Maya community produces training DVDs and free tutorials which are available exclusively online at www.thegnomonworkshop.com.
Design Studio Press is a specialty publisher that focuses primarily on original artistic works and educational books. For more information, visit www.designstudiopress.com.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
