Digital Art Academy
Windows 8, the newest incarnation of Microsoft Windows, will officially be released to the masses on October 26, 2012. For those unfamiliar with the new operating system, Windows 8 is a reimagining of Windows and comes with a brand new user interface, Metro Modern UI that is, in Microsoft’s terms, “fast and fluid” and “authentically digital.” It is the first time Windows has seen a major redesign since Windows 95, and it is MAJOR! Check out this video to see a preview:
Ahead of the Windows 8 release, Ratio Interactive, a design agency in Seattle, WA launched a design contest for Windows 8 apps. It gave me the perfect excuse to begin exploring the design possibilities of the new operating system. For my entry, I chose to design an app for Digital Art Academy.
ā¦ or more than one apple for teacher! This is one of the pieces of art created for my newest class at Digital Art Academy, the Painter X Idea Lab. This week, we’re talking texture!
Painter Lab is the only “built as we go” class at Digital Art Academy where the course develops as a direct result of what students are creating and what the students want to learn about. We start with a set of resources and create! Along the way, tutorials and videos are created based totally on what is happening organically in the classroom.
Along with the normal classroom stuff, we have weekly challenges where students are given a specific task to perform. So far, we’ve drawn and painted sketches in the challenges this session. All of the created pieces from the challenges are added into the pool of resources to create even more!
The apple painting above started as a sketch from a student. Using different resources, and while creating a tutorial for the class on using photographic texture, the painting sprang from the canvas!
What else is being produced in the lab?
Here is a selection of images from students currently enrolled in the lab:
Artwork used with students’ permission.
How do I get in on the fun?
Digital Art Academy registration for Session 5, the Fall Session opened today! Join DAA and enroll in the next session of Painter Lab. The next class begins on August 30th.
How do I sign up for a course?
- First register at DAA to create your general user account. Your information is private and will not be sold or shared with anyone. DAA takes your privacy very seriously.
- After you have registered, sign in and find the class you are interested in joining.
- If the class is open for registration you will see a PayPal icon located towards the bottom of the page. Simply click on it to enroll into that class.
General Information:
Take some time to read the Student Fact sheet located on the front page. It will get you off to a great start at DAA. You may also register and enroll in more than one class at a time. DAA’s website will keep track of all of your class information for you!
I know some of you have been waiting on this, so I won’t make you wait any longer… I am pleased to announce my first Painter class at DAA — the Corel Painter X Idea Lab!
Class Description:
Step into the lab and experience a completely new way to learn! The Painter Idea Lab is not a standard, run-of-the-mill class, but instead a completely organic, social learning experience. To put it in simpler terms – there is no set lesson plan. The class evolves week to week based on the needs of the students (with a few surprises added in to keep it interesting, of course).
This course is all about creativity and applying that creativity in Painter to learn the software “as you go.” The course is participation driven, so for the class to be a success, students must be willing to contribute questions, share their work with everyone, and HAVE FUN!
It is that time once again. My Illustrator I – Introduction to Adobe Illustrator – course is open for registration over at Digital Art Academy. Registration runs through May 9, 2008, with the first day of class being May 11, 2008.
The course has received rave reviews from past students. Come in and see for yourself!
Here’s what students have been saying about the first session of Illustrator I over at Digital Art Academy:
Your Illustrator class has been so good that you could have skipped week 4 and I still would have been more than satisfied!
You let us delve right into interesting creative projects rather than a whole bunch of boring little steps with each tool.
Chris’s clear explanations covered more ground than you would think possible in an introductory 4-week class. The stimulating homework assignments created results worth keeping and showing family & friends.
The lessons were just right – easy enough for a beginner, but challenging enough to make you think. I’ve had some prior training (years ago) with Illustrator, but still learned a LOT of new things/techniques I’d have never thought of otherwise!
Speaking for the one class I’ve taken so far (Illustrator CS3 Core) – I am eagerly looking forward to the next round of classes! The instructor for this class (Chris Price) is a genial artist whose enthusiasm for and knowledge of the program comes through very well, and his ability to convey a technique or a basic principle is outstanding. Best use of $32 I’ve had in a while. š
I have never learned more in an online class! Please have Chris teach Illustrator 2!
Registration is currently OPEN for Session 2! Don’t miss your chance to join in the fun! $32 and packed full of info.
Coming in early 2008, Digital Art Academy promises to be “The Next Generation in Digital Art Training.” Through a forum-based online classroom, you’ll be able to learn all things digital art related from some very well-known digital artists and designers. I won’t give out too much information on who to expect as instructors, but you will see ME there!
I will be making my formal teaching debut when the Academy opens with a 4-week introductory course for AdobeĀ® IllustratorĀ® CS3 and possibly three more levels of Illustrator for those of you who may have experience with the software. The enrollment fee for the first level will be a steal at around $35 for the entire 4-week program (enrollment info to come later).
These classes are going to be packed full of great information and fun lessons! By the end of the course, students will be able to move into vector creation and editing and bring a whole new dimension to their work.
Illustrator is a very versatile program suited to all sorts of digital art and design. For instance, all of my web design and commercial art projects start in Illustrator. I’ve mixed it with Photoshop and Painter and I’ve even created traditional paintings in acrylic that start life on Illustrator’s Artboard! Being such a versatile and powerful application, I believe everyone involved in digital art should have some experience with it. It opens so many opportunities.
Of course, my Illustrator classes only touch the tip of the iceberg with everything planned. The opening of Digital Art Academy is going to be an exciting event! Don’t miss the grand opening; save those gifted holiday dollars to invest in your art education with all of us at Digital Art Academy — are you going to be there?