On the island of New Guinea in the South Pacific lives the most striking and diverse group of birds on the planet. Birds of paradise defy imagination. Covered in spectacular plumage, each species within the Paradisaeidae family is distinct. Some birds are patterned with feathers of bright yellow and green, some have flashy iridescent plumes that catch the light, while others have tails that extend three times the length of their body. Bizarre courtship displays by the male birds show off their exquisite assets, as they dance, puff out, vibrate, hang upside down, stretch their wings, and even contort their bodies into completely different shapes in order to impress a nearby female.

Tom Baxa's paintings are known for their energy and dramatic feel. His characters are powerfully gruesome and crackle with an "in-your-face" threat that is menacing and captivating at the same time. This kind of tension and drama is achieved through various design and color choices. In this DVD, you can watch Baxa create an oil painting from a prepared sketch as he discusses the key elements that create drama and action in his work. His lecture focuses on composition, lighting, color, character design, energy of stroke and more, as well as a discussion of his favorite materials and his painting techniques.

Modern humans have been around for some 200,000 years, which is peanuts compared to some of the species alive today: there are creatures that have been with us since the Cambrian age and trees that have barely changed in the last 300,000 years. Natural history palaeontologist Richard Fortey investigates why certain life forms endure..

This workshop will focus on digital painting and designing for animation (with an emphasis on storytelling). This includes designing practical backgrounds, characters and props using Photoshop. Erik will also cover some basic color theory, perspective and use of textures.

Learn how paint realistic eyes using Photoshop. No prior knowledge of the software is required. The videos are in real time and easy to follow, all source files are included.
• Full Resolution Videos
• Original PSD Files Included to follow along
• Bonus: Skin Painting Techniques