TAD Faculty Introduction: Brent Watkinson

[Brent Watkinson]

Hello, Everyone, my name is Brent Watkinson. I was an illustrator for 22 years, and then moved into the business of painting images for galleries. I have been with The Illustration Academy since its inception in 1995. John English, (the co-founder of The Illustration Academy), and I started spending more and more time working as administrators as we tried to develop a new kind of "hybrid" education.

We had to wait a few years for technology and communication to catch up with our plans, but it finally happened! The time has come for us to launch this new type of education with ConceptArt.org and Massive Black. Welcome to the future!

As a kid, I drew pictures and always "made" things from wood, paper, wire, metal, and even made collages from things I found in the cabinets of my house. I remember making a landscape collage using dried cereal, rice, beans, spaghetti, etc., gluing it all down on the piece of cardboard that came inside the folded package of my dad's new dress shirt. (Even then I liked working on a "toned surface.")

Recently I have been interested in computer programming as well. I think that is just an extension of always trying to learn things and challenge myself. Programming is just another way of making things.

I still love drawing more than anything else. I drive my wife nuts in restaurants because I love drawing the little "still lifes" on every table. The salt and pepper shakers, the bottle of oil or ketchup, what have you. As long as I can make or produce things, and pass the knowledge along to others and help them ignite their passion for learning, I think I will be happy in this world.

Here are a few of my images. My website is: http://brentwatkinson.com

[Hive_minD]

awesome

[George Pratt]

Brent! I love seeing the range of your work. Seriously, you are able to do whatever you think about! Programming is just adding insult to injury! I'm envious.

If you've been to the Academy then you know a few things right off the bat:
1.) You are Brent's favorite!
2.) Brent is too self deprecating for his own good.
3.) The Academy stays in sync thanks to Mamma Watkinson.

Brent's demos will blow you away. His lectures are so engaging and so full of information that it's a wonder we can retain half of it all. Brent is able to take some of the hardest material to teach and make it absolutely understandable. And he has you laughing through half of it. But don't be fooled. That's his way of getting you to enjoy the process of retention.

Get ready. Or as Brent would say, "Here we go..."

George

[Jason Manley]

Agreed George. Brent is who really sent me on a many year path of in depth study of composition. My first teachers got me primed and ready (thanks Mr. Garrison!) but Brent really got me focused. The Composition video for sale on this site would not be the same without that kick in the pants.

Sometimes that is all one needs..a good push.


Jason

[John English]

Brent has a great understanding of how things work, drawing, painting, technology, photography, history and science, he is crazy smart! He has also been a part of the Academy from day one.

As a teacher Brent is amazing, his wealth of information gives him the ability to analyze a students needs and offer a solution and explanation. The Illustration Academy would not be near as effective with out his involvement!

John

[anitakunz]

Brent's my favorite

[J Love]

Brent's knowledge base blows me away - his lectures at the Academy are one of the highlights of my experience there. Brent inspired me to learn more, to soak up as much as I can, and to take responsibility for my education.

GIGO!

[Fvallejo]

As mentioned, Brent is indeed one of the pillars of the Academy. His tireless work in every aspect of the program is incredibly appreciated. Personally, he always managed to give me the toughest, but beneficial critiques. One in particular really had a profound effect, on how I viewed my work. Thanks Brent!

[hherrick]

Agreed that Brent is also secretly my favorite. His lectures will totally kick the crap out of your brains and once you think you have a handle on what has been said or shown, you never look at a painting the same way again.

[treybryan]

Brent,

I thank you for your genuine honestly with my work, and showing me the tools of how to shape it to fit my needs. I am really excited to get started with the program, and to continue my friendship with the Academy favorite.

-Trey bryan

www.treybryan.com

[Montalvo Machado]

It is such a thrill to be a part of this community of great artists.

Hard to tell who is the nicest and smartest person I've ever met in my life, but Brent surely is one of them.

If I had to list my top 30 ever, 20 of them would be from the Academy Faculty, Brent being among top 5.

Actually I felt inside the closest possible thing to the Library of Alexandria, living and breathing illustration with people like Mark and John English, Brent, Chris Payne, Jon Foster, Gary Kelley, George Pratt, Francis Livingston, Barron Storey, Skip Liepke, Bart Forbes, Anita Kunz, John Collier, Sterling Hundley, Robin Eley, Robert Megank, Natalie Ascencios, Andrea Wicklund, Ted Kinsella, Terry Brown, Doug Chayka, Greg Spalenka... well, the list goes on and on, and I'm grateful for each moment I spent with those brilliant and friendly artists.

The Academy and Massive Black, each one with their own Masterminds, are known for bringing together some of the brightest minds as far as Art and Illustration is concerned. Having these legendary schools working together seem to materialize the natural attraction of minds who think likewise.

I'll be in the first row to see it all happen.

Cheers,

Montalvo
(A.K.A. Brent's favorite :-)

[Louise Smythe]

Getting a crit from Brent is hilarious and incredibly helpful. He'll point out important things you may have overlooked and he's 100% honest, all while making jokes, of course. But his honesty is refreshing and much needed for a young student trying to learn. He won't B.S. you. Trust me.

[DoubleD]

The Academy would not be what it is with out Brent. He is an exceptional teacher, an accomplished illustrator and incredibly intelligent guy. However, if there was one thing that Brent does better then anything else, its partying! The man is a riot!

Cheers Brent your my favorite!
-Dustin

[el coro]

your landscapes are absolutely amazing. not that the rest of your work isnt stellar, but man, i could stare at those landscapes all day. you pair the color and compositions like fine wine and food...they compliment each other perfectly. they blow my mind....
im really looking forward to sharing ideas and philosophies and learning from you man.


c36

[steak-tron]

Brent is my favorite

[John English]

Brent-

The Academy has come a long way in the last 15 years, I am positive that we would not exist without you!

Your support has been irreplaceable and I cannot image doing this without what you bring to the program.

Your the best!

John

[Brent Watkinson]

Thank you to everyone for the good words. John started the Academy 15 years ago and invited me to be part of it from day one. He and I felt guilty actually at some points, surrounding ourselves with these great artists and illustrators, so that we too could benefit from their teachings.

What a great idea John had, get all these amazing people to come and teach, while John and I were in the middle of our illustration careers. We were watching every slide show, every demo, listening to every word at the Illustration Academy.... soaking it all up!

Being around the students was just at amazing. We would come into The Illustration Academy worn out from the previous 12-hour days, but as soon as the students set about their tasks, all of us would get jazzed up and the energy would flow. It is / was a great environment to learn!!!!

I am feeling the same way with the online classes now. I am excited about the future.

[Brent Watkinson]

Check out page 3 of the Mark English Demo Practice thread. There are
three new reference images to work with.

John wanted to add a couple more this morning...take a look!

Brent

[Brent Watkinson]

Hey, everyone!

This is just a quick note to let you know how much I am enjoying meeting the people participating in the Discovery classes. You are a very attentive group, asking good questions and implementing what you are learning. I know you are because I am in the Forums critiquing and seeing your work being produced for the assignment(s).

The current assignment is the Conceptual Portrait give by the amazing Anita Kunz. Just listening to her and Sterling talk about how they work through the problems and challenges was incredibly valuable. Not to mention seeing their work, plus Foster's, plus George's, plus John's! You guys got hit with both barrels!

Keep thinking and drawing, and I'll see you in the Assignment Threads.

Brent