May 2025: Concept Art Events

We’ve lined up an awesome month for our community—kicking off with our monthly challenge, and then keeping you consistent with focused weekly sessions to help you level up your skills.

Join our Discord community and get started!

​

COMMUNITY CHALLENGE:DUNGEON DWELLERS

Challenge Brief: Create a common enemy character for a Dungeon Crawler RPG.

This is no towering boss or endgame nemesis—we’re talking about the rank-and-file threats that populate dark corridors and hidden chambers. The kind of foes players face often, underestimate at their peril, and slowly learn to respect.

Rules of the Realm:

• Must be humanoid. That includes goblins, cursed knights, cultists, mutants.

• No bosses. This is about common enemies. Think: cannon fodder with flavor.

Key Elements to Define:

• Armor Type: Cloth, Leather, Plate? Give us a sense of their defense and role.

• Damage Type: Physical, Elemental, Magic, Curse, Poison—what kind of hurt do they bring?

• Enemy Type: Human, Undead, Goblin, etc. Set the tone of your world.

• Resistances & Vulnerabilities: What are they strong against? What takes them down fast?

Pro Tip: These aren't just stat blocks—they're world-building tools. A good common enemy reflects the dungeon's history, the culture above it, or the evil infecting it. Why are they here? What drives them? A great enemy tells a silent story the player senses before the fight even begins.

Submission Deadline: Please submit your entries by Tuesday, May 27 at 12PM EST / 9AM PST. After the deadline, the community will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite design.​

Prizes: The winner, determined through community voting, will have the option to choose one of the following prizes:​

• Three free months of Digital Art Fundamentals​

• One free month of Skillbuilder​

• A Project Kit of your choice​

• A 30-minute consultation call with me​

• A full portfolio review from me​

✨ Plus, all monthly winners are entered into a drawing for a year-long scholarship to Concept Art Academy.​

This challenge is an excellent opportunity to push your creative boundaries and develop a piece that could enhance your portfolio. I look forward to seeing the innovative safe houses you design.

WEEKLY STUDY SESSIONS

This month’s study series is designed to strengthen your character design fundamentals through focused, hands-on practice. Each week explores a different element of visual storytelling—from armor and weapons to posing and anatomy—giving you the tools to create more believable, expressive, and dynamic characters.

Whether you’re building a portfolio, developing your style, or just want to stay sharp, these sessions are built to inspire and push your work forward.

May 9 — 3PM (EST): Armor
Take a look at the various parts and forms that make up a suit of armor. Study real-world examples and fantasy interpretations to understand how materials, coverage, and silhouette communicate protection, mobility, and character.

May 16 — 3PM (EST): Weaponry
Study historical weapons or invent your own. Focus on form, function, and how a weapon’s design supports the story of its wielder—be they noble knight, wandering rogue, or corrupted cultist.

May 23 — 3PM (EST): Combat Poses
Observe the energy in action poses—especially the windup, release, and recovery phases of an attack. This session will help you capture weight, momentum, and intent in your figures.

May 30 — 3PM (EST): Figure Study
End the month with a community favorite: timed gestures and focused anatomy studies. These sessions are great for sharpening fundamentals and keeping your lines confident and expressive.