6-Month Short-Term Master’s Program
Foundations of Concept Art
An introductory course focused on concept art, which blends 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.
Course Description
During the master’s program, students learn how to create characters, environments, and atmospheres, progressing from freehand drawing to 3D modeling and on to the final composition of the image.
The classes alternate between traditional life drawing, artistic anatomy, digital painting, and 3D concept art using Blender and ZBrush, allowing students to speed up the design phase and visualize complex ideas within professional timeframes.
Software such as Procreate for iPad, Photoshop, and Substance Painter is also introduced to integrate sketching, texturing, and lighting into a comprehensive workflow.
Learning Objectives:
Traditional Drawing and Artistic Anatomy
Composition and Color Theory
Digital painting
Concept Design
Digital Sculpture
3D Concept Art with Blender
Texturing with Substance Painter
Compositing and Post-Production
Professional Use of Procreate and ZBrush for iPad
Portfolio Presentation and Visual Storytelling
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 legendary studio founded by George Lucas, the creator of iconic franchises 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.
How to participate: In-person or hybrid? Choose the option that's right for you!
In-person
The traditional format involves daily in-person attendance in the classroom: the instructor is always present, leading 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 specific hands-on sessions that can be attended in person.
ALL LESSONS AND WORKSHOPS ARE RECORDED AND MADE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS.
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.
Final Project
Specialization
In the final phase of the course, students complete a comprehensive project that integrates all the skills they have acquired and is designed to be included in their personal portfolio as their first structured work in the field of concept art.
FOUNDATION – 6 Months
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
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
Objective: To build a solid artistic foundation and a thoughtful visual approach by combining observation, drawing, and color sensitivity with digital tools.
OPPORTUNITY to continue with another 12 months of advanced classes
At the end of the 6-month basic Concept Art course, students who wish to further their studies in these disciplines can continue their education by enrolling in the advanced courses of the Studio Production Master’s program. This allows them to complete a comprehensive 18-month program designed to train Concept Art professionals.
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
ANNUAL EVENTS
The Rookies for Concept Art
Students in the program take part in the Rookie Awards every year, one of the world’s most prestigious international competitions.
The concept art projects developed during the master’s program are submitted in the Concept Art category, receiving evaluations and feedback from professionals at studios such as ILM, Weta FX, Blizzard, and Riot Games.
The Night of the Golden Dragons
An exclusive event held during the Venice International Film Festival, celebrating the best final projects and productions created by students.
An evening dedicated to creativity, featuring screenings, awards, and opportunities to connect with guests from the VFX industry.
International Collaborations and Workshops
The program works in synergy with the CGI & VFX and Videogame Design & Dev. programs to create characters, environments, and key visuals for projects developed as final thesis projects.
These collaborations allow students to understand the role of a concept artist within the production pipeline of a video game or a CGI short film.
JUDGES OF THE ROOKIES
Every 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 video game studios.
The judges include supervisors, lead artists, and senior artists from companies such as Weta FX, Framestore, Industrial Light & Magic, DreamWorks, Blizzard, Riot Games, and Naughty Dog, who bring their expertise to bear in evaluating the entries in the 3D Animation, VFX, Film of the Year, and Concept Art categories.
Software & Tools
Classrooms equipped for life drawing with models and professional lighting setups
Monitors EIZO Professional Monitors: color calibration for maximum color accuracy
Wacom graphics tablets and iPad Pro with Procreate and ZBrush for iPad
Dedicated 3D labs with high-performance workstations
Exhibition space for illustrations, concepts, and in-house exhibitions
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
FAQ:
Absolutely, all courses start from the basics, so no artistic or programming skills are required. We want to train new artists regardless of their educational background.
With the HYBRID mode, we allow those who need it to take the course ON-LINE, but to have the opportunity to attend certain labs, workshops or in-person events.
We recommend having a PC or Mac at home that can run professional 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. A webcam is optional.