Posted at April 18, 2006, 4:40 pm:
feel free to post more questions, ill do my best to answer them... thanks!
MONTREAL WORKSHOP FAQ
Q: What is this workshop?
A: No simple answer here. It basically means getting around with talented artists from all over the world while having professionals performing lessons, round-tables, demos and discussions. Beyond this, it means having a great time, finding or changing the way you see life and art, making great friends, developing your love for art, developing contacts in the industry and if you are like us... getting addicted to the CA workshops. We’ve done five so far: Amsterdam, Austin, Berlin, San Francisco, Prague and now Montreal- so you can imagine, we’re starting to get the hang of it.
Q: Is it worth it?
A: Hell yes! I'll let others talk about it. People came all over the world no matter where the workshop was held. When we had it in Europe US crossed the ocean, when we had it in US - the world moved there from every corner of the rock. (France, Germany, Australia, Romania, Turkey, Australia, all the US, etc). The ones not on the same continent had to pay the trip almost twice and the tuition - they still consider it worth the expense. If there is anyone in the close to the place where the workshop will be held (meaning neighboring countries etc) who is still in doubt about coming - take my word for it - do not miss it!!!
Q: Will there be others?
A: We’ve had the luck that people still keep coming to them, so we’ll keep doing them. They tend to alternate between North American and Europe, every 6-9 months or so. This depends on your participation though, we can’t do them without you!
Q: What's the location and when is it?
A: The dates are June 9-12, 2006 in Montreal, Canada, Downtown, in the old neighborhood at the beautiful Darling Foundry. The schedule is roughly 11ish – 8ish everyday, give or take… see the curriculum thread for more info here: http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=65836
Q: Who are the instructors this time around?
A: A full instructor list can be found here: http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=60128
Q: What hotels do you recommend?
A: We’ve chosen a few Hostel and Hotel options in the area of the venue where the students can stay together in shared accommodations. We found that Hostels were the most practical, economical and comfortable for the attendees, who otherwise spent their nights stuffed in little hotel rooms by the dozen drawing frantically till the early hours of morn. Shared dorm-style rooms mean more space for everybody to be comfortable, and a greatly reduced nightly expense. There are also Hotel options for those who wish to stay somewhere with more privacy and amenities. See the Hostel thread for more info: http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=61410
Q: What about transportation from hotel to the workshop site?
A: Hotels will be close to the event and maps will be made. We like to keep things close together so you can walk to and from the event, usually less than a 20 minute walk. Paragliding is also an option
Q: How do I get there?
A: Depending on where you’re coming from: Plane, Train, Bus, Car or Inter-dimensional Transporter….it’s up to you, we’re not responsible for your transportation. There are some carpooling and bus threads going on the forums, check them out and see what the others are doing.
Q: How much money should I bring with me?
A: Montreal is fairly well priced- we’ve been told you can get by on $20 a day if your live simply… if you’re looking to go shopping, eat lavishly well or spend a lot of money on going out, bring more. See Hotel info for accommodation costs.
Q: How and what do I pay?
A: Tuition is 550 US Dollars for the four days of the workshop...lots of instruction, drawing, painting, and sharing knowledge. You can pay by credit card or check. Write to Melissa@conceptart.org for more information.
Q: Can I get a refund?
A: Yes - you can get a Full refund up until a month before the event, and 50% up to two weeks before it.
Q: Can I only go for part of the event and pay less?
A: Right now we are only offering tuition for the full 4 days of the event. You really don’t want to miss any of it!
Q: Who should attend? Is this for painters only?
A: The workshop will cover drawing/painting, sculpting, design, program tips and tricks, creativity courses, portfolio reviews and more. This is for anyone and everyone who is interested in the gaming/movie industry, concept art, illustration, drawing/painting and image making in general.
Q: All Digital? Traditional? Is this Photoshop only? Painter only? Do we draw/paint too or just watch&listen? What tools do we need?
A: We believe in traditionally developed skills but we demo lots of digital techniques too. Bring whatever keeps you mobile - you WILL draw and you will have to watch&listen too. This is not a conference, it is a workshop. Bring a sketchbook and drawing supplies at least. You'll beg for one of you don't bring them - especially in the night sessions! Many people bring laptops and Wacoms as well… security at the workshop is not rock solid, and we’ve had problems in the past, but if you keep an eye out, you should be fine bringing your expensive toys along.
Also, the oil painting crew will be in full force this time around, so if you want to take a crack at learning from these modern masters, we recommend you bring a full set of oil paints as well! Traditional painting is not to everyone’s taste, but if this is your thing, it’s an opportunity you won’t want to miss! We will be recommending art supply stores in the area where you can stock up on supplies if you don’t want to drag them along with you.
NOTE: bringing paints on airplanes can sometimes be problematic. We suggest you wrap them carefully in plastic and carry them on board with you… and if they ask, it’s a “painting kit” or “art kit” not OIL paints… cause everybody knows- that’s a codeword for bomb!
Q: Is there going to be any free materials like paint, paper, etc. at the workshop?
A: You are expected to bring your own art supplies, and we’ll let you know where you can buy more locally if you run out.
Q: I'm in art school - does it make up for the time I skip school?
A: You'll learn MUCH more and in a very different way. Again - those who have been to other workshops can give you input on the forums. We have instructors attending from several schools across the country and crews of students coming too… taking 4 days out of your semester wont do much to put you behind on your classes, and what you learn over this weekend will send you back to school fully charged and raring to go…. Your teachers will love you for it!
Q: I'm a noob in arts - do I find anything for me there? Is it worth it for me? Is this for professionals only?
A: We think this is the place to be no matter what your level is. If you want to get into art - come and see how it is. If you are a pro, come and you'll see how others are doing art. EVERYONE has tons to learn! As for the noobs - please see MindCandyMan's or Oblio progression threads - they have started from scratch here on conceptart.org forums and their dedication and progress have been inspirational to us all…. If you want to be a serious artist, or even think you might want to be, we want you there!
MCM - http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=870
Oblio - http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=29858
Q: Am I too young/old/female to go?
A: Nonsense!! The majority of the workshop attendees are male, as we’re focused on concepting for videogames, but we have been pleased to notice that there is a stronger female presence at each workshop as the girls come out of the woodwork to show the boys a thing or two.... Feeling like your outnumbered shouldn’t ever be a worry, as, if anything, the girls get treated extra special cause there’s so few of them in comparison, and who doesn’t like a talented girl who draws monsters for fun? To encourage more female participation, were running a Girl Only Thunderdome competition on the forums with the top ten winners getting free entry into the workshop! How’s that for motivation to sharpen your pencils? See more info here: http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=64285
There are no age limits in either direction- our youngest attendee was a 14 year old girl and our oldest 60+ man… Everybody has something to learn and share. Parents are welcome to accompany their kids on the trip- the workshops are usually in active neighborhoods where there’s lots to keep them busy while the workshop is going on, and there’s always museums too! We even had one mother sign up with her son and join in! If your child is interested in being an artist, this will show them straight up what it takes to make it happen and will help them build a network of like-minded friends to support them. The life experience is invaluable too- we’ve had several attendees make it the first trip alone away from home, with fantastic results! We’re all here to create and that's all that matters. If you’re passionate about learning art, we want you to come!
More here: http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=60210
Q: English is not my first language; will I be able to communicate?
A: Our French brothers are some of the most beloved instructors on the workshop list, and they’ll be there in full effect this time around, especially in a bilingual city as Montreal... we’ve had workshops in four cities in Europe and had people attend from all over the world. Many of our instructors speak more than one language and there is usually someone around who can speak to you if you’re lost or can’t understand something. Also, a lot of the workshop revolves around visual communication (we are visual artists after all) and some instructors (Nox and HPX come to mind) do a whole lot of talking without ever saying a word....
Q: Are there other price alternatives than 550 for entrance and tuition? Like, if you want to bring a friend or two what does it cost for them?
A: The tuition must be paid individually, per person and a pass cannot be shared. We make a big effort to keep these events cost effective for those of you on a tight budget- we were all art students once too! Feel free to bring your friends along for the trip, and they are welcome to stay with you at the hostels, but they have to pay tuition to get into the workshop- it wouldn’t be fair to the others otherwise.
Q: Can I bring a video or still camera?
A: Yes, you can, but we ask that you clear filming with us on the first day of the workshop and send us copies of the footage after words. Bring digicams along too and take as many pictures as you want!
Q: Can everybody go to every single course/instructor, or does everybody have to choose let's say the 6 favorite instructors and only attend their "lessons"? How is that planned?
A: Most Instructors will give multiple demos. It is a bit of a smorgasboard of cool stuff to see. However, what you will find I think is that you will want to watch an artist for a bit and then sit in on a longer class and then wander a bit....The workshop is very open like that. We are providing a schedule for you as well- see the Curriculum for more info.
I don't know if you have ever been to Coachella Music Festival but it is structured like that as well...there are multiple stages staggered in order to allow you to see who you want. Our solution is to have more than one demo by each artist so that you are able to spend the time with the people you most want to see as well as be spontaneous. You may find that an artist you least expect will have the most impact on you. We try to allow for that as well.
The previous workshops have been a bit loose on the structure side and we are bringing more balance to this one. However, many of the best things of the previous workshop happened out of that openness and because of the spontaneous nature of inspiration. We want to keep this a casual and fluid event, with the instructors approachable and open to improvisation. Each demo is structured like a conversation- we encourage audience participation and lots of questions!
Q: Is there any limit to the number of workshop attendants?
A: Each workshop has a limited capacity, but we’ve got quite a lot of space this time around. We’ll announce on the forums when it looks like we’re getting booked up so you can sign up before it’s too late. We DO encourage early sign ups though….
Q: When is the last date to confirm my coming?
A: You can pay at the door if you like, but we do like to know how many people are coming ahead of time if possible, so early sign ups are appreciated. We are a non-profit organization and the more money we have to work with up front, the more we can put into the event, so early sign ups = better workshop!
Q: Coming from Europe or the US, is there anything I should know about special border entry requirements for CANADA?
A: It depends what country you’re coming from. If you're coming from a EU country you'll automatically get a 3 month tourist visa upon entry (please see also that your passport doesn’t expire in less then 6 months after your return date - not sure if this applies to every country but worth checking)
Important - please tell them that you're coming to a graphics conference or community gathering or if you want say you're visiting - the word workshop seems to bother them since they believe you'll be there to WORK and that will require extra papers. Also, it doesn't help if you say you know Marko
If you're from a non EU country - but still from the old continent - then you should check your CANADIAN embassy and apply for a visa. Hurry - those things take months.
Americans can cross into Canada with just a valid state ID if they’re DRIVING- if you’re FLYING, you’ll need a passport.
Q: I heard something about non-Canadians getting a tax refund on their travel expenses?
A: Yep, all the info on that is here: http://www.canadiantaxrefund.com
Q: What happens after the workshop day is over?
A: Go, eat and drink with your new friends, come out with the instructors and hit up some of the Montreal nightlife… don’t get too hammered though, we need you in one piece for the next day! There are also regular sketch nights at the Hostels for those of you not into partying or too young to drink. Don’t expect to get a whole lot of sleep, there’s gonna be way too much stuff going on… Most people choose to stay a day or two extra and go museum hopping and sightseeing. It’s a pretty tight knit bunch, so you won’t be left alone unless you want to be!
Q: Is this all? I need more info
A: Feel free to dig around in the workshop sub forums on www.conceptart.org or the workshop site at http://www.conceptart.org/workshopand if you STILL have more questions, drop an email to Melissa@conceptart.org or Layil@conceptart.org
Original of the message was taken from http://www.conceptart.org/forums/
Replies:
Here's a very helpful link regarding air travel and carrying your anal...thanks dude.
Q: Do we get any kind of certificate or diploma saying weve attended t...
Layil.
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