Inside the Mind of a Concept Artist with Phil Dimitriadis
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comments 22 submissions
It’s fascinating to see the different processes and how various tools are used. I would have loved to see the entire workflow, from the thumbnail stage to the final Maya model.
Here are my notes from the lesson. One thing I want to research further is how to transform a 2D silhouette into something 3D. What should we consider when creating an interesting silhouette? For example, design principles like big, medium, and small shapes.
LESSON NOTES
What's in Premium?
In this premium lesson, I have a conversation with concept artist Phil Dimitriadis about his work in the entertainment industry. Phil explains his role in solving visual problems for animated features, videos, and TV shows. He shares how he blends traditional techniques like quick marker comps and freehand drawing with digital tools such as Photoshop and Maya. Phil emphasizes the importance of foundational perspective training and how it enhances creativity and problem-solving. We discuss his multi-stage design process, the value of continuous drawing practice, and advice for aspiring artists on building their skills and engaging with an artistic community.
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Phil Dimitriadis, a concept artist and former student of Marshall, talks about his career in the entertainment industry, focusing on his process of designing environments for animation. He shares how his experience with traditional drawing and perspective laid the foundation for his work with digital tools like Maya. Phil emphasizes the importance of solid draftsmanship and problem-solving skills, and how they help bring a script's vision to life. He also discusses how hanging around other artists can improve one's skills, as well as the collaborative nature of art education.
I wish my art teacher would have taught me more. I could pretty much copy anything but didn’t have a clue on how to draw. I done a portrait of my brother as a baby for my art exam and finished it within 2 hours. He said for me to put more detail in it and I went away and put as much detail in as I could see. I didn’t have a clue where to go next. So I asked if I could do another one. I didn’t have an and I was really proud of them. They were good! I ended getting a c and my friend who drew around her hands a few times and coloured them in received a B+. I didn’t understand. I gave up as I didn’t get into the college. I was not aware I could retake the exam. No one told me that. I started drawing again after having my kids. I am now at the stage where I really want to draw from my imagination. Hence taking this course.
Wonderful video, Phil and Marshall! It's great to see and hear from the artist himself, so I'm getting a lot from these different artists and how they even begin. By imagination? I'm there. LOL!
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Awesome vibe!)
hopefully education online also helps connecting with people 😅
Lovely lesson. Thank you for all the insights. It's motivating to see what he's able to create and where perspective can take us!
This was such a cool talk! Thanks for introducing me to Phil cause his work is amazing and definitely some of what I want to do!! It's cool to see it all out there! I bought this course as soon as it came out but I've been too nervous to start it but these lectures are super fun and im excited to learn more!
Thanks so much Marshall on bringing Phil onto us and get to chat about how he got to his job while learning Perspective. This was really insightful to listen to of how he got to where he is now. I am loving these type of videos with the special guests included in the course. They are tons of fun to listen to. Interview is so inspiring truly.
I'm really enjoying these special guest speakers/sessions. It is so helpful hearing how other artists think and how they have honed their process over time.
I'm all caught up!
yay i'm almost caught up myself slowly. I should be fully within 4 ish days tops. But I also highly enjoying this course.
Love how this course is touching on HOW and WHEN perspective is used to tackle creative challenges by professionals. I've always seen perspective as this unfathomable and secretive thing, but here it is slowly being revealed. Love love loved the insight into industry practice and pipeline.
Awesome this definitely something I would love to get into.
any tips on creating a animated pilot?
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1yr
Dennis - that is a whole world beyond learning perspective! Stories, characters, getting an audience, assembling a team, selling the pitch...
If that's your goal, here's a tip: get your characters and story ideas worked out first. Those are the concerns of other courses. Here we have a lot of drawing ahead, which will surely help if you are the one drawing your characters, settings, and scenes.
It’s fascinating to see the different processes and how various tools are used. I would have loved to see the entire workflow, from the thumbnail stage to the final Maya model.
Here are my notes from the lesson. One thing I want to research further is how to transform a 2D silhouette into something 3D. What should we consider when creating an interesting silhouette? For example, design principles like big, medium, and small shapes.
•
1yr
We will definitely work on transforming 2D to 3D, starting in lesson 4 by choosing simple objects to understand from various angles.
Regarding an "interesting silhouette", it's about what you deem interesting. There are several principles to consider, but start with collecting shapes that interest you.
In a composition course, I have students spend a few weeks collecting not only art, but images of natural and industrial forms that they find interesting, studying them, and abstracting their elements until they "ingest" their shape languages, then work them into their designs.
If you want more from me on this, the final section of my Bridgman Lecture #6 includes a bit about Metaphors from nature: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzJJ5b7kMvM
And of course, you can study with Phil and get his thoughts on this. We'll get him back to tell us more...
Great news! I’ve cut out all the drunks. Worse news! I haven’t replaced them with any new friends at all😅
•
1yr
Well, you got the first part right!
"Make friends who are artists."
Any proko courses on this? :) :(
also it helps if you dont know who you are talking to so conversation flows naturally. i think i just happen to meet people by accident because i step outside and draw attention by being invested in art. it happened more when i lived in the big city less in my small town. but i met some famous artists this way. but we started talking mostly because of their dog or outfit and the view or such. i chat with everyone nice on the street anyway. because old people chatted me up at bus stations all my life
rephrase this to how to network. how to make friends is a different topic. contacts are supposed to wash each others hands and only possible if you can provide value. friends are just happy to interact because you are a mood boost. however, taking advantage of friends is not nice. contacts can become friends and vise versa but it is more uncommon
Step one go outside...
step two realize artists don't go outside.
Hmm I see your point- HELP US PROKO!
A few years back, when i followed Marshall's first Perspective Course i also watched Phil's Videos on Youtube about drawing and constructing plants and environments. Didnt know you guys knew each other. I also watched Proko and Draw-a-Box ( Which was build by a Student of Peter Hans Workshops i think). Small world.
A long time ago i "downloaded" Maya and some videos from Alex Alvarez, because i saw some cool 3d images in a magazin. Alex is an awesome instructor but what i learned was setting up maya, pushing buttons and nudging vector points and to hate my small 15" Monitor. Maya was completly useless to me. I should've focused on perspective and composition and shape language because that was what i liked in those images.
This interview is truly inspiring, thank you ✨
And if your friends don't let you study, dump them !
