18-Month Master’s Program
Concept Art
An 18-month master’s program dedicated to concept art, blending traditional drawing with the most advanced 3D techniques. Students learn to design worlds, characters, and environments for film, video games, and animation, combining artistic sensibility with technical mastery.
A course designed for those who wish to transform their drawing skills into a professional competency through an approach that integrates art, technology, and vision.
Course Description
The Master’s Program to Become a Concept Artist in Film, Animation, and Video Games
Side Academy’s Master’s Program in Concept Art is a highly specialized, 18-month professional training program designed to train concept artists capable of working in the film,animation, and video game industries.
Among the courses designed to train concept artists, this master’s program stands out for its comprehensive approach, which combines traditional drawing, visual culture, narrative design, and the use of the most advanced digital and 3D techniques. The goal is to train professionals capable of conceiving and developing characters, environments, creatures, props, and visual worlds for contemporary creative productions.
It’s not just about learning to draw well. It’s about turning drawing into a professional skill that can be applied within real production pipelines, where the concept artist is tasked with giving visual form to ideas, atmospheres, and narrative worlds.
Key Competencies
Traditional Drawing and Artistic Anatomy: A Study of the Human Body, Form, and Movement from Life
Composition and Color Theory: Visual Balance, Perspective, and Color Harmony
Digital Painting: Rendering, Textures, Materials, and Lighting in 2D
Concept design: creation of characters, creatures, environments, and props
Digital Sculpting: Using ZBrush to Create and Refine Shapes
3D Concepting with Blender: Blocking, Lighting, and Setting Up Visual References
Texturing with Substance Painter for Concept Art and Realistic Visuals
Compositing and Post-Production: Integrating Digital Painting and 3D Rendering
Professional Use of Procreate and ZBrush for iPad for Sketching and Rapid Iteration
Portfolio Presentation and Visual Storytelling: Creating Professional Spreads, Layouts, and Pitches
How to participate: In-person or hybrid? Choose the option that's right for you!
In-person
The traditional format involves daily attendance in the classroom: the instructor is always present, and each class takes place in one of the academy’s classrooms, featuring theoretical sessions, labs, and real-time practical reviews.
This format fosters direct collaboration with classmates and faculty, provides immediate access to equipment, and offers an immersive experience in professional study environments.
Hybrid
To offer greater flexibility, a hybrid track is also available that combines online learning with in-person participation: There will be workshops with guest speakers or specialized labs that can be attended in person. This model allows participants to take part in some of the activities remotely while still attending in-person classroom and lab sessions on-site.
ALL LESSONS AND WORKSHOPS ARE RECORDED AND MADE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS.
Silvia Pasqualetto
COURSE DIRECTOR
At Side Academy, she delved into the world of 3D and developed a comprehensive artistic vision to become a concept artist,
Thanks to the skills she acquired, she entered the video game industry as a Concept Artist at Supermassive Games.
Her career then led her to fulfill a dream: joining Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), the historic studio founded by George Lucas, the creator of legendary sagas such as Star Wars and Jurassic Park.
His most recent projects include: *Jurassic World: Rebirth*, *Fantastic 4 – First Steps*, *Predator – Badlands*, and *
* He currently serves as a Senior Concept Artist at ILM and teaches at Side Academy.
Laboratories and Technologies
Life drawing class with models and lighting setups for the study of anatomy and volume
Painting and digital art workshop featuring professional graphics tablets and calibrated monitors
iPad Pro workstations with Procreate and ZBrush for iPad for sketching and rapid iteration
3D workshops focused on using Blender and ZBrush for concept modeling and lighting
Texturing Workstations with Substance Painter and PBR Workflow
Compositing and Color Suite for image refinement and the final presentation of concepts
AI Lab to explore visual generation tools and dynamic references
Thematic workshops with artists from international concept art, VFX, and video game studios
The course takes place in spaces dedicated to visual experimentation, where traditional art and digital tools coexist within a contemporary workflow.
Students alternate between drawing and painting classes and sessions on digital sculpture and 3D concept art, learning to use technology as a natural extension of the creative process.
Experience and Awards
The Rookies – Concept Art
Every year, students in the program participate in the Rookie Awards, one of the most prestigious international competitions dedicated to young talent in digital art.
The concept art and illustration projects developed over the three-year program are submitted in the Concept Art category, where they receive evaluations and feedback from professionals at studios such as ILM, Weta FX, Blizzard, and Riot Games.
This is a unique opportunity to measure up against international standards and build a portfolio recognized by the industry.
The Night of the Golden Dragons
The best visual projects and final artwork are presented during La Notte dei Draghi d’Oro, Side Academy’s annual event held during the Venice Film Festival.
A prestigious award that celebrates the students’ creativity and artistic quality, offering them a direct opportunity to engage with professionals in the visual arts and entertainment industries.
International Collaborations and Workshops
The course works in synergy with the CGI + AI and Videogame Design tracks to create characters, environments, and visual keys for film or interactive projects.
These collaborations allow students to understand the actual role of the concept artist within a production pipeline, from the initial sketch to the 3D model or the final scene.
JUDGES OF THE ROOKIES
Each year, the projects developed by Side Academy students are evaluated by an international jury from The Rookies, composed of high-profile professionals from leading animation, VFX, and motion graphics studios.
The judges include supervisors, lead artists, and senior artists from companies such as Weta FX, Framestore, Industrial Light & Magic, DreamWorks, and DNEG, who draw on their expertise to evaluate entries in the 3D Animation, VFX, and Film of the Year categories.
This direct exposure to industry standards allows students to measure themselves against real professional criteria and gain international visibility.
Short stories published in *The Rookies*
Green/Blue Screen Set
Art Workshop: Sculpture and Life Drawing
Course Structure
FORM
FIELD OF STUDY
OBJECTIVES AND RESULTS
Foundations – 6 months
Fundamentals of Drawing and Visual Art
An introduction to the basics of drawing, anatomy, and composition. Students learn techniques in observation, perspective, and color theory, working both on paper and digitally. The goal is to develop a solid artistic foundation and a personal visual sensibility, integrating traditional drawing with basic digital and 3D painting tools.
Advanced – 12 months
Concept Design and Visual Production
An in-depth exploration of the visual design process for characters, creatures, environments, and props. Students use Blender and ZBrush to develop 3D concepts, manage lighting, and gather reference material. During this phase, they complete full-scale projects in collaboration with the CGI + AI, Compositing, and Video Game courses, simulating professional workflows. The program concludes with the creation of a portfolio and final concepts intended for submission to international studios and competitions.
COURSE SYLLABUS
Traditional and life drawing: anatomy, proportions, gesture drawing, and the study of natural light
Composition and Perspective: The Construction of Space, Volumes, and Dynamic Framing
Color Theory and Digital Painting: Color Harmonies, Light, and Shadow as Narrative Tools
Introduction to Procreate and Photoshop: Sketching, Shape Blocks, and First Digital Illustrations
Traditional Sculpture and Volumetric Sketching: Modeling Clay and Basic Modeling Techniques
Fundamentals of 3D with Blender: Shapes, Lighting, and Materials to Support Design
History of Art and Visual Design: An Analysis of Styles, Masters, and Visual Trends in Film and Illustration
Life Drawing Workshop: Sessions with Models and Lit Sets
Objective: To build a solid artistic foundation and a thoughtful visual approach by combining observation, drawing, and color sensitivity with digital tools.
Character and Creature Design: Functional Anatomy, Silhouettes, Materials, and Visual Believability
Environment and Prop Design: Architecture, Ambient Lighting, and Narrative Atmosphere
Digital Sculpting with ZBrush: 3D Concepts and Form Refinement
Rendering and Lighting with Blender: Composition and Visual Mood
Color Key and Visual Storytelling: Visual Sequences and Narrative for Film and Video Games
Compositing and Post-Production: Photoshop and After Effects for Final Integration
Art Direction and Visual Development: Stylistic Consistency and Artistic Direction for the Project
Interdisciplinary collaboration: working with students in CGI, video games, and compositing on concepts for short films and cutscenes
Building a Professional Portfolio: Layout, Storytelling, and Project Presentation
Internships or mentorship programs with external firms
Final Presentation: Participation in The Rookies and The Night of the Golden Dragons
Objective: To master the 2D/3D pipeline and develop a comprehensive artistic vision, preparing students for careers in concept art, illustration, and visual pre-production.
Software & Tools
Classrooms equipped for life drawing with models and professional lighting setups
Wacom graphics tablets and iPad Pro with Procreate and ZBrush for iPad
Calibrated graphics workstations for digital painting and color grading
Dedicated 3D labs with high-performance workstations
Exhibition space for illustrations, concepts, and in-house exhibitions
Procreate (iPad Pro) – Sketching, Digital Painting, and Rapid Visual Prototyping
Adobe Photoshop – Advanced Painting, Compositing, and Post-Production
ZBrush / ZBrush for iPad – sculpting and creating highly detailed 3D concepts
Blender – Lighting, Materials, Rendering, and 3D Previsualization
Substance 3D Painter – Texturing and Materials for Realistic Concepts
DaVinci Resolve / Lightroom – Color Management and Finalizing the Panels
Career Opportunities
The course prepares artists to work in the pre-production and visual development departments of the creative industry, where a project’s style, identity, and visual atmosphere are defined.
Thanks to a combination of a solid artistic foundation and digital technical skills, students develop a well-rounded and competitive profile on the international stage.
Concept Artist (characters, creatures, environments, and props)
Visual Development Artist for Film, Animation, and Video Games
Illustrator / Key Art Artist
Character Designer
Environment Artist / Matte Painter
Lookdev Artist / Lighting Concept Designer
3D Concept Artist / Sculptor
Freelance Artist / Art Director
Previs Artist for Film and Video Game Productions
Registration
Registration opens: March 2026
Course start date: November 9, 2026
Requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
Admission: Interview and creative portfolio review
The course is also available in a hybrid format: synchronous online classes and intensive on-site workshops.
FAQ:
Absolutely! All courses start with the basics, so no artistic or programming skills are required. We want to train new artists regardless of their educational background.
With the HYBRID format, we allow those who need to take the course ONLINE to also have the opportunity to participate in certain in-person labs, workshops, or events.
We recommend having a PC or Mac at home that can run 3D software, so that students can continue working on their projects from home. For those taking the online course, you’ll also need: an internet connection, a graphics tablet, a microphone to communicate with instructors, and headphones. The webcam, on the other hand, is optional.
Yes, all students will be given access to the classrooms during the afternoon. There will also always be a teacher present to help the students if they have any questions or encounter any problems with their projects.
Every software program has a special student version; simply log in using the credentials provided by Side Academy, and you’ll be able to download and install the software on your computer. This allows every student to continue working on projects and assignments even when they’re at home or taking online courses.