Erik Gist

E. M. Gist began his study of art with Jeff Watts in 1996. Three years later, Erik’s training developed into teaching where he is now one of the lead instructors at Watts Atelier of the Arts. Gist began his career as a professional artist in 1998, eventually transitioning into genre illustration, and he painted his first comic cover in 2007. Erik’s clients include Dark Horse Comics, Marvel Comics, DC Comics, BOOM! Studios, Disney Entertainment, TOR Publishing, Wizards of the Coast, Upperdeck, and Palladium Books. Erik has been a finalist for 2024 Eisner Awards, Chesley Award, Rondo Award, and Pulp Ark Award.

Ben Young

Ben Young was born and raised in southern California. He started drawing when he was two years old and has always known he wanted to pursue a career in art. At nineteen he found Watts Atelier of the Arts, which taught him the fundamentals of drawing and painting. After three years as a student Ben was asked to teach there. His original goal was to be an Illustrator but soon learned that fine art was a better fit for him. Ben paints a variety of subjects from landscapes and animals to the figure. Ben is influenced by the figurative artists of nineteenth century Europe and Russia and illustrators from the “Golden Age of American Illustration” like Howard Pyle, Dean Cornwell and Norman Rockwell.

Course Materials

This course will use charcoal drawing materials. For a list of all materials used in this course, visit the materials page.