Information on the Fall 2018 Semester: COMING SOON
SUPERIOR, FULLY INTERACTIVE, ONLINE INSTRUCTION
Full Mentorships with Greg Ruth, Dan Dos Santos, Greg Manchess, Scott Fischer, Todd Lockwood, Donato Giancola and Figure Boot Camp Basics & Beginning Illustration with Marc Scheff. For more information and to enroll click here
NEW SPRING MENTORSHIP with GREG RUTH: GRAPHIC NOVELS AND COVER ART!
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Spring 2018 SPECIAL GUESTS
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DAWN MURIN
Dawn Murin has been art directing fantasy content for over 20 years with TSR and Wizards of the Coast and brings unparalleled experience into her collaborations with artists. Dawn has been instrumental in rebuilding and rebranding Dungeons & Dragons through her spearheading the visual identity of 3rd Edition and 3.5. She is currently the Senior Art Director on Magic: The Gathering working with scores of concept artists and freelancers to bring the worlds of Magic to millions of fans and players worldwide. It is an honor and pleasure to have her as our Art Director Guest in Donato’s class this Spring. |
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Freddye Miller
Freddye Miller (née Lins) is an editor and editorial coordinator for Dark Horse Comics. She currently edits books in the Joss Whedon universe, including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Serenity. In her time as part of Dark Horse’s editorial team, Freddye has worked on a variety of titles that include Star Wars, Aliens, Predator, Prometheus, The Umbrella Academy, Mike Mignola’s Hellboy and B.P.R.D., and Janet Evanovich’s Troublemaker. Freddye will join as the special guest for Scott's Class |
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Lauren Panepinto
After 11 years designing and art directing book covers, Lauren Panepinto has worked in every publishing genre and collaborated with artists of all disciplines. As the Creative Director of Orbit Books and Yen Press for the past five years, she has been trying to merge the worlds of genre and commercial publishing and figure out what SFF publishing looks like in the present world of mainstream "geek" media. Recently she also became the Creative Director of a new commercial fiction imprint, called Redhook. We're very happy Lauren will be a the special guest for Marc Scheff's Beginning Illustration Class. |
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CYNTHIA SHEPPARD
We are so proud to welcome Cynthia Sheppard to the SAS this semester. A Spectrum Gold Medal award winner, Cynthia has done illustration for books and games and has been working as an art director for Magic: The Gathering since February 2015. Cynthia will be a guest for Todd Lockwoods Class |
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Mark Chiarello,
Mark is an award-winning illustrator and vice president of art direction & design at DC Comics. We proudly welcome him as a guest for Greg Manchess this spring |
TBA SOON: Dan Dos Santos and Greg Ruth
OUR STUDENTS DO WORK THAT GETS NOTICED!
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"Many great artists now working regularly in the industry first came onto my radar through a SmArt School class, including Wylie Beckert, Kribi Fagan and Tommy Arnold( whom I've personally commissioned for three books recently...)"
Lauren Panepinto- Orbit Books |
Spring 2017 students featured:
ON @DARKHORSECOMICS
Christine Rhee
Chelsea Lang
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Ben Hill
Anna Christenson
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WHAT SMARTSCHOOL ALUM HAVE TO SAY
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SAS has given me an opportunity to learn from the best in the field. Rebecca is very supportive and she always pushed me to do better works that the last, giving inputs on how to elevate the works beyond just good. She readily shared her experience, and encouraged us students to put our works out there.
-Daria Theodora 
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My first Smart School class was in 2014 with Marc Scheff's Illustration Bootcamp.
Drawing and painting were passionate hobbies of mine at the time. My skills were limited and perception of "good" or "bad" art had been solidified by then, my mid twenties. This all dissolved after three months of Smart School. I learned to enjoy the challenge of capturing a figure's difficult pose. My draftsmanship improved and I found a reason to keep my hobby. Maybe even push it into a part time lifestyle. Rebecca's class, taken in fall 2016, is when I accepted myself as an artist. My identity before was "no one special, just a guy with a brush and some charcoal." Now, I am worth something and have a strong inner voice guiding each new painting. My work is more abstract, loose, and confident after taking Rebecca's class. The new portfolio has been accepted into international gallery shows, most notably Site:Brooklyn in New York. Smart School has instilled a hungry curiosity and discipline to explore visual art and step foot into the world of fine art with confidence and excitement. -John Kayrouz |
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SmArt School was exactly what I needed to bridge that gap from student portfolio to professional level work. The instructors are generous, knowledgeable, and passionate about art and are fierce advocates for your success as an artist. They push you out of your comfort zone and into new areas of growth like the best coaches -- firm, supportive, and providing you with the resources to get you there.
I've been fortunate to be in mentorships with Rebecca and Scott. Rebecca forced me (in the best way) to buckle down and draw figures, sensitive faces, and hands. She teaches you how to incorporate your inspirations and emotions into your work so that you make more than clever or pretty pictures. I've learned to appreciate the face and hands as individual and expressive in their own right and to use compositional elements to imbue an overall authenticity, genuineness, and emotional punch into a piece. Scott injects so much energy, enthusiasm, and dynamic flow! He will drill shape language, silhouettes, and to consider how to push graphic elements to your storytelling. Digital painting is more like play with him, an attitude he carries over to his traditional work too. He will teach you to be a consummate tinkerer, embrace experimentation, and go for those "crazy" ideas! These mentorships go beyond just refining your craft. The instructors candidly discuss their own work and careers. We've had so many heartfelt, soul-searching discussions about why we make art, what your work means to you, overcoming your inner demons, imposter syndrome, blocks, and the creative process, as well as the business of being an artist. You get an invaluable window into what being a professional artist feels like, the pace, the mindset, how to regroup, and how and what to submit. Thank you so much! I've made great professional contacts, started getting into competition journals, and just sold my first piece! No joke... I would not have done it without you and Smart School. I'm convinced that mentorships with Smart School are the best way to supercharge your growth and move forward towards your goals! -Christine Rhee |
Before I began smart school, I had four years of college level art education that hadn't done much to allow me to summon the pictures I've always wanted to create from my head. No matter who I asked when I tried to improve, the only answer I received was, 'do more studies, do more studies, do more studies...' and so I copied picture after picture in a braindead fashion with paltry results to show for it. I didn't know why I was doing them or what information I was getting - until I started working with Greg Manchess.
Manchess surprised me with his calm rationale. Rather than other art teacher's vague instructions (now, capture the figure's essence why don't you), Greg started us off immediately with scientific, rational explanations for his ways of thinking, the growth of an artist and even the human psyche as it came to the ability to produce art over a lifetime. When we presented our work, he'd explain every stroke he made. Try to argue against him and he'd defeat you with pure logic. Try to make excuses for yourself and once again -
you'd be defeated rationally. Greg made it clear that, with enough hard work, any one of us could become exceptional
and expected nothing less from us. He gave us no magic tricks, but he did give solid strategies about everything from composition to visual communication, and even practical ways to address the overwhelming failures we all as artists experience. And on top of all of that, he's just about the sweetest guy you'll ever meet!
If you haven't taken his class and feel intimidated by his work or as if you're not good enough for him yet, I'd hope you'll change your mind. Greg is endlessly patient with students of all skill levels and not one of us has regretted our afternoons sharing art, our knowledge and laughs together.
-Ashley Lange
Manchess surprised me with his calm rationale. Rather than other art teacher's vague instructions (now, capture the figure's essence why don't you), Greg started us off immediately with scientific, rational explanations for his ways of thinking, the growth of an artist and even the human psyche as it came to the ability to produce art over a lifetime. When we presented our work, he'd explain every stroke he made. Try to argue against him and he'd defeat you with pure logic. Try to make excuses for yourself and once again -
you'd be defeated rationally. Greg made it clear that, with enough hard work, any one of us could become exceptional
and expected nothing less from us. He gave us no magic tricks, but he did give solid strategies about everything from composition to visual communication, and even practical ways to address the overwhelming failures we all as artists experience. And on top of all of that, he's just about the sweetest guy you'll ever meet!
If you haven't taken his class and feel intimidated by his work or as if you're not good enough for him yet, I'd hope you'll change your mind. Greg is endlessly patient with students of all skill levels and not one of us has regretted our afternoons sharing art, our knowledge and laughs together.
-Ashley Lange
My mentorship with Todd Lockwood was probably the biggest step up for me in several years, in terms of my art, and has stuck with me since. Even in the class setting, I was granted so much one-on-one advice and mentorship from Todd that it never felt like a traditional classroom.
I took a second mentorship with Iain McCaig, which unexpectedly pushed my storyboarding skills enough that I'm working full time in the animation industry.
I owe a lot to everyone - Rebecca, my mentors, and the other students in my classes, many of which I've kept close contact with since. Looking forward to taking another one soon!
-Britt-Lise Newstead
I took a second mentorship with Iain McCaig, which unexpectedly pushed my storyboarding skills enough that I'm working full time in the animation industry.
I owe a lot to everyone - Rebecca, my mentors, and the other students in my classes, many of which I've kept close contact with since. Looking forward to taking another one soon!
-Britt-Lise Newstead
It has been an amazing 3 months for me. The teachers are all very supportive, passionate, and so focused on what the students need.
I have got assignments that pushed me beyond my comfort zone, trying out new approaches, Improving areas where I am lacking and I really feel that I have improved during my study here. Every time I approach a new painting now , the voices of the instructors just kept echoing
in my head XD and it is a very good thing to keep having questioning
your piece what is important and what is not.
Smart school has been one of my smartest choices in life. Thank you.
-Lie setiawan
I have got assignments that pushed me beyond my comfort zone, trying out new approaches, Improving areas where I am lacking and I really feel that I have improved during my study here. Every time I approach a new painting now , the voices of the instructors just kept echoing
in my head XD and it is a very good thing to keep having questioning
your piece what is important and what is not.
Smart school has been one of my smartest choices in life. Thank you.
-Lie setiawan
After I graduated with my BFA, I fell into a slump and lost direction with my work. I decided to take Illustration 102 with Marc Scheff and I am so happy that I did! I feel like I have made a huge step forward in finding my specific, artistic voice. Marc was very helpful to all the members in our class, helping us on an individual basis with each of our specific goals.
I also sat in on Donato's lecture series, which was fantastic! How do you boil down 20+ years of experience in to 12 weeks? He has somehow managed to do this! It truly was jam-packed with high quality content.
-Allison Langston_
I also sat in on Donato's lecture series, which was fantastic! How do you boil down 20+ years of experience in to 12 weeks? He has somehow managed to do this! It truly was jam-packed with high quality content.
-Allison Langston_
The difference Donato Giancola made for me is incredible. He would open doors of knowledge and experiences to help us grow tremendously. With a painting I worked on during his Spring class 2014, I was accepted as a finalist within the ARC International Salon Competition. For me, that is a great achievement. Thank you SmArt School, thank you Donato!
-Nik Anikis Skusek
-Nik Anikis Skusek
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My experience working with Dan was amazing. I feel to have received a major upgrade in my image making abilities. It was an experience akin to ninja training and I feel to have acquired skills and information that will potentially launch me into creative realms previously unreachable. I am SO glad I stumbled upon smART School and hope to return in the future!
-Karen MacKenzie |
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Faculty Clients, Awards, Honors, Gallery Shows, Accolades:
The United Nations, LucasArts, Marvel Comics, Carus Publishing, Topps, Houghton Mifflin, MTV, Easton Press, Dark Horse Comics, The Science Fiction Book Club, Barefoot Books, Farrar Strauss&Giroux, National Geographic, Scientific American, CNN, DC Comics, Microsoft, The Village Voice, Playboy Magazine, US Postal Service, Wizards of the Coast, Blizzard, Scholastic, Simon&Schuster, Tor Books, Random House, Time/Warner, The Scifi Channel, OMNI, Newsweek, Rolling Stone, The Smithsonian, Time, Federal Express, Paramount, Columbia, Disney, Milton-Bradley, Hasbro, Atlantic Monthly, Hamilton King Award from the Society of Illustrators, Nineteen Chesley Awards, 2 Chesley Nominations, 2 Eisner nominations, 1 Caldicott nomination, Three Artist Hugo Awards, Gold and Silver Medals from the Society of Illustrators, notable awards from the Art Renewal Center, and multiple silver and gold medals among all faculty from the juried annual Spectrum: The Best of Contemporary Fantastic Art, The Roq la Rue Gallery,The R. Michelson Gallery, The Allentown Museum of Art, The Eric Carle Museum of Picturebook Art, Jonathan Levine Gallery, LeBasse Projects, The American Museum of Illustration.......and more
The United Nations, LucasArts, Marvel Comics, Carus Publishing, Topps, Houghton Mifflin, MTV, Easton Press, Dark Horse Comics, The Science Fiction Book Club, Barefoot Books, Farrar Strauss&Giroux, National Geographic, Scientific American, CNN, DC Comics, Microsoft, The Village Voice, Playboy Magazine, US Postal Service, Wizards of the Coast, Blizzard, Scholastic, Simon&Schuster, Tor Books, Random House, Time/Warner, The Scifi Channel, OMNI, Newsweek, Rolling Stone, The Smithsonian, Time, Federal Express, Paramount, Columbia, Disney, Milton-Bradley, Hasbro, Atlantic Monthly, Hamilton King Award from the Society of Illustrators, Nineteen Chesley Awards, 2 Chesley Nominations, 2 Eisner nominations, 1 Caldicott nomination, Three Artist Hugo Awards, Gold and Silver Medals from the Society of Illustrators, notable awards from the Art Renewal Center, and multiple silver and gold medals among all faculty from the juried annual Spectrum: The Best of Contemporary Fantastic Art, The Roq la Rue Gallery,The R. Michelson Gallery, The Allentown Museum of Art, The Eric Carle Museum of Picturebook Art, Jonathan Levine Gallery, LeBasse Projects, The American Museum of Illustration.......and more