General Plan

Currently I have a little bit of artistic talent that needs to be honed. I'm going to focus my time on using Autodesk Maya, sharpening my skills using its interface and creating 3D models (focusing on organic models). However, I'd also like to increase my skill in 2D digital art, it will help if I can create my own character concepts. I like the idea that from start to finish I created 'that' character, it will be my baby.

So I've devised a schedule not unlike what one would have in college.

Currently I have the knowledge of some videos on youtube and a couple of chapters in a book.

I understand that to gain a professional level of knowledge will take more than a few months, a book, and the internet. I've reviewed some art schools programs for 3D modelers and hope to roughly follow the course load.


Here is a list of some books (some are just subjects) that I may or may not purchase. Each section of books is correspondent to what I believe a student at Gnomon would be studying in a particular semester. So, I'm in the first semester of study, but will be going at my pace, which will hopefully be rather fast. Wish me luck, a book can only teach so much. Learning is not about reading, it's about doing. I just need to do.

Semester 1 
Intro to Maya
Figure Drawing
Perspective
Visual Communications

Semester 2 
Mastering Maya
Anatomy  (Drawing on the right side of the brain and classic human anatomy)
How to Create Fantasy Art for Video Games
The artists guide to drawing the head
the artists guide to drawing facial expressions
D'artiste Character Design
D'artiste Fashion Design

Semester 3 
Drawing Wildlife
Directing the Story (Storyboarding)
Color and Light
Color Choices
Digital Modeling (William Vaughan)
How to Design: Concept design process, styling, inspiration, and methodology

Semester 4 
Beginners Guide to Digital Painting in Photoshop
Matte Painting Handbook
Z-Brush Creature Design (Scott Spencer)
Drawing Fantasy Landscapes and Cityscapes
How to Draw and Paint Fantasy Architecture
Non-Organic Surface Modeling

Semester 5
Texturing and Lighting
Sculpting Human Anatomy (Scott Spencer)
Photoshop for 3D Artists
Digital Painting (Gary tonge)
The Art and Science of Digital Compositing
Modeling the Environment: Techniques and Tools for the 3D Illustration of Dynamic Landscapes

Semester 6
Maya Techniques  Non-Organic Surface Modeling
Creating Motion Graphics with After Effects
Advanced Texturing and Lighting
Maya Visual Effects The Innovator's Guide
How to Cheat in Maya 2013
Drawing Hands & Feet: Form, Proportions, Gestures and Actions

Semester 7
3D Automotive Modeling: An Insider's Guide to 3D Car Modeling and Design for Games and Film
3ds Max Modeling for Games: Insider's Guide to Game Character, Vehicle, and Environment Modeling: Volume I
ZBrush Character Creation: Advanced Digital Sculpting
Realistic Architectural Visualization with 3ds Max and mental ray
ZBrush Character Sculpting: Volume 1
Character Development And Storytelling For Games

Semester 8
Character Modeling and Sculpting
ZBrush Hard Surface Techniques
Lighting and Rendering with V-Ray
Nuke 101: Professional Compositing and Visual Effects
The Visual Story: Creating the Visual Structure of Film, TV and Digital Media
Crafting 3D Photorealism: Lighting Workflows in 3ds Max, mental ray and V-Ray

Semester 9
Maya Techniques: Hyper-Real Creature Creation
Learning Autodesk Maya 2008, (Official Autodesk Training Guide, includes DVD): The Modeling & Animation Handbook
Game Art Complete: All-in-One: Learn Maya, 3ds Max, ZBrush, and Photoshop Winning Techniques
Advanced Video Compositing Using Multiple GPUs: An Introduction to Parallelized Real-Time Video Compositing

Semester 10 
ZBrush Studio Projects: Realistic Game Characters
Maya Studio Projects: Game Environments and Props
An Essential Introduction to Maya Character Rigging with DVD
Stop Staring: Facial Modeling and Animation Done Right


I'm also considering taking the Digital-Tutors online courses in place of the motherload of books I would otherwise have to buy. Video's are so much more helpful.