CHARACTER DESIGN AND COMPOSITION WORKSHOP
Hey everyone,
I’m excited to share that I’ll be teaching a 3-day workshop this summer in beautiful Morro Bay, California. I've been working as a concept artist in the entertainment industry for almost 40 years. Whether the project was in film, tv, gaming, publishing or toy design, my goal was always to create story-driven pieces that instantly connect with the viewer. In this workshop, I'm going to teach you the illustrative, industry-level techniques I've used over the years to design engaging characters and compositions. Whether you are an art student or a working professional, we all share the same goal: to establish connection and capture the audience's curiosity. I look forward to sharing what I've learned over the years and I hope to see you there.
Cheers,
Mike
Some of the topics that will be covered are:
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Conceptualizing
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Story-telling through facial expressions and body langauge
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How to make your character stand out
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Importance of line quality
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Using positive and negative space to create appealing compositions
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Composition do's and don'ts
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Using mixed-media to create interesting textures
This course will be a combination of lecture and demonstration. A live model will be there for part of the time to provide reference and inspiration. Students are welcome to draw along or simply observe.
Located in downtown Morro Bay, the Art Center is surrounded by restaurants, cafes and thrift shops.
A few of the hotels that are within walking distance:
- La Serena Inn - Inn at Rose's Landing
- Ascot Suites - The Landing at Morro Bay
- Sea Air Inn & Suites - Bay View Inn
Workshop Info
Where: Art Center Morro Bay
835 Main St.
Morro Bay, Ca. 93442
Date: 8/28/2026 - 8/30/2026
Time: 9:00am - 3:00pm (1hr lunch break included)
Price: $595
Please visit artcentermorrobay.org to register.
Materials: I will be using a range of materials which can include pens, colored pencils, markers, acrylic paint, gesso and goauche. Feel free to bring your preferred material. If you decide to bring an easel, please make sure it is small as space is limited.
Spots available: 24