[DrLoomDoom]

Watts has a new class schedule out this winter. Anyone is free to sign up regardless of skill level. Each class can be picked individually to fit your own time frame. I will keep this thread updated for whenever a new term begins for those who may be interested. Thank you for looking.

[DrLoomDoom]

The Christmas party was great, each instructor worked on a single painting, taking turns and passing it on throughout the party, and this is how it turned out! Thanks for looking.

Erik Gist


Stan Prokopenko


Ben Young


Lucas Graciano


Meadow Gist


Jeff Watts

[Ikage]

A video walk-around of the school.

It's a great place really, just had my first term and I am not interested in any other school. I feel this place will teach me everything I need to know.

The teaching process is so great you are guaranteed results for the first term. They usually let you warm up for about 20 minutes. Then sit down and do a demo and go over the process of gesture, Reilly rhythms, shadow mapping and toning. Then the rest of the duration of the class you can respectfully ask for the teacher to work on your piece or do a trace over. You learn so so so much from this teaching method.

Best of all, the students and teachers are all really great people and are charming and helpful. The classes are limited to 15 people each so the teachers can pay special attention to everyone. So it makes it easy to get to know people and make good connections. And it always has this nice cozy and inviting feel, and at the same time very inspiring with everyone working towards the same goal of getting better at their craft.

[Ikage]

Heads from Friday uninstructed workshops- Both done in 40 minutes. I wanted to show what my skill level is on my own and how I evolved dramatically with this school.

And I'm not even done with my 2nd term year haha, I'll probably update this when I am. For those who are concerned about improving and moving ahead with their drawing skills I would highly suggest this school.

[DrLoomDoom]

The school definitely makes progress on the first day you come in. I've been at watts for a year and a half now, while where at it i'll post a few of my progress.

20 minute lay ins from my first term to now



Friday uninstructed workshop from first term to now



Also, the current term will be ending in 3 weeks followed by a 3 week break. Robert Watts will be teaching this upcoming term how to create traditional tech illustrations. Which is a extremely rare opportunity, as much as this sounds like a sale pitch it is true that he often only really runs classes once in a while when he feels like it.

[Ikage]

Also Caricature Artist Court Jones will be doing a 10 week class for $375!

[ICEcoldART]

Hey Ikage i remmember you from CA.org!

Could you post some photos from the illustration classes?

Thank you.

[Ikage]

Originally Posted by ICEcoldART

Hey Ikage i remmember you from CA.org!

Could you post some photos from the illustration classes?

Thank you.

Here's the rest of the pamphlet if this will help! I will post up the Instructors work as well.

[Ikage]

But just to showcase how incredibly talented these teachers are here they are.

Jeffery R Watts
Founder
Jeff Watts studied at The California Art Institute where he was soon invited to teach as he began his illustration career in the movie industry. However, Jeff’s desire to become an easel painter would draw him back to San Diego where he started a small life drawing and painting studio which has evolved into Watts Atelier of the Arts now managed by Jeff and his wife, Krista.

Jeff's oil paintings have won numerous awards including First Place Portrait category and Second Place Landscape category from the Artist's Magazine, two consecutive Second Place Awards at the Salon International Exhibition, three Honor Awards from the Portrait Society of America, 3 Awards of Excellence from Oil Painters of America and 3 Top 100 Awards from Arts for the Parks. Watts's work has been featured in Southwest Art , American Artist, Art of the West, Western Art Collector, American Art Collector, Drawing and Workshop magazines. He holds Master Signature member status from the Oil Painters of America and is a Signature member of the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association and an artist member of the California Art Club. Jeff participates in the prestigious Prix de West Invitational at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City and was recently honored with a Solo Exhibition at the Taos Art Museum and Fechin House. He is represented by Trailside Galleries in Scottsdale, AZ and Jacksonhole, WY and Greenhouse Gallery in San Antonio, Texas.




Erik Gist
Instructor-
Erik M. Gist received his B.A. from SDSU in 1998. He began studying with Jeff Watts in 1996, three years later he began to teach and has done so for the last seven years. Erik has worked in the video game industry as a concept designer and 3-D artist and is now working as a freelance illustrator. Erik's clients include Wizards of the Coast, Upperdeck, DC Comics, Boom! Studios, Palladium Books, Blizzard Entertainment, Viking Childrens Books, Monkey Brain Books, Quart Publishing, and Chiat-Day. His work can be seen in Spectrum: the best in fantastic art for the last four years and Aphrodesia: art of the female form 1 .



Meadow Gist
Instructor
Meadow Gist has studied at Watts Atelier for the past six years, and has taught there for the last three. She began her art career in the corporate field painting displays and murals for a major retail chain. Her work has been exhibited as a finalist in the International Artist Magazine's Still Lifes and Florals Competition 2006 and as a "Top 50" selection at Salon International 2007. Meadow is represented by Willow Gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona.




Lucas Graciano
Instructor
Lucas has been attending the Watts Atelier since 2001. He has worked in the video game industry working in Visual Development. Some of his game credits include: SOCOM 2 and 3, God of War, Alien Hominid, and Twisted

Metal: HO. Lucas now freelances as an illustrator, some of his clients include: Sony Computer Entertainment, SOE, Wizards of the Coast, Reef, Upper Deck, Blizzard, White Wolf, and Quarto Publishing. His work can be seen in “Spectrum 15: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art”, “The Art of World of Warcraft TCG” as well as “Drawing and Painting the Undead”. Lucas was also a finalist in the 2008 Cover Competition for "American Artist Drawing" magazine.




Stanislav Prokopenko
Instructor
Stan Prokopenko has studied at Watts Atelier for the past seven
years. He was awarded the National Foundation of Advancement in the Arts, Level 1 Award and later became a Presidential Scholar in the Arts. In addition, Stan wrote an article on animation for Imagine Magazine at Johns Hopkins University and created an animated short film, “A Game of Pool”, which was featured on all American Airlines flights September through December of 2004. He is now focusing on his fine art career.




Jim Hahn
Instructor
Jim has studied at Watts Atelier since 2004. He is currently one of a handful of artists in the student teacher program who is working towards a full-time career as an artist and teacher. He has worked in the sign and outdoor advertising industry for more than 25 years as a journeyman painter and graphic designer. Jim has done a number of large commissioned murals including the one that currently displays above the entrance to to our own San Diego Zoo.




Ben Young
Instructor
Ben Young has studied at Watts Atelier for the past six years. He has worked as a freelance illustrator and conceptual designer. Clients include Sony Entertainment, Reflexive Entertainment, Upper Deck and Blizzard.



Kelly Mellos
Instructor
Kelly Mellos is an emerging representational artist, specializing in portrait and figurative work. She has studied art and art history throughout her life, and has committed to training professionally over the last three years, after a course of events led her back to pursuing her childhood passion as a career. She has traveled extensively and has been artistically inspired through her personal journeys around the world. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, with minors in German and International Business from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a Master’s degree in Marketing from San Diego State University, and thirteen years of marketing and development experience with the San Diego Symphony, Arts Center Foundation, and motivational speaker Tony Robbins. Kelly is an Associate Artist Member of the California Art Club, a member of Oil Painters of America, a member of the Portrait Society of America and a volunteer for the San Diego Visual Arts Network.



Robert Watts
Instructor
Robert is the consumate professional. His credits include lead illustrator for Ryan Aeronautical, Navy Combat Artist during Vietnam, founding President of the Society of Illustrators of San Diego.

His awards include, but are not limited to, 'Best of Show' and Franklin Mint Awards at the American Society of Aviation Artist exhibitions in 1992-93.

Mr. Watts attended both Pratt Institute and Art Center. With over 30 years of experience, Robert Watts has worked for varied clients including NASA, American Airlines, General Dynamics, and the U.S. Navy.

Mr. Watts is currently one of the premiere architectural illustrators in San Diego and a signature member of the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association.





Doug Stambaugh
Instructor
Doug Stambaugh began training at Watts Atelier of the Arts in 2000 he began working professionally soon after. He has worked for such clients as Sony Cinematic Solutions, Hyundai, Millar Lite, Walmart, Frontline, White Wolf Publishing and IPulp Fiction. Doug has just finished writing and painting his first original graphic novel The Cobweb Detective Club.

[Ikage]

Here are also some past progressions of students who took classes at Watts Atelier.

[DrLoomDoom]

aaanddd.. You are doing a much better job at this then me.

[Ikage]

Hahahah nah.

[Ikage]

Watts Atelier has a new class schedule out this Summer!



Uploading the brochure when it's out.

I'm glad the people who have taken one class due to my suggestion are taking more. Quite a magical place isn't it?

[Ikage]

Also brochure artwork!

[mc2mc2]

Anyone thinking about studying at Watts don't hesitate!!
Best school ever!

I studied there for 2 terms and learnt sooo much. Pretty much life changing
Great instructors, great students, great atmosphere, excellent school.