Develop your artistic and technical skills with a comprehensive 3-year course combining theoretical and practical learning. As an Illustrator, the Illustration Concept Art Professional Cycle will give you the keys to creating worlds in different areas of entertainment, from Video Games to Animated Film and Comics.
Location
Montpellier
Duration
3 years of training
Target audience
People in initial training with student status
Prerequisites and admission requirements
Entry requirements: High school diploma or equivalent Level 4 qualification specializing in applied arts (such as STD2A)
Or one year of postsecondary education (such as preparatory classes in design)
Professional Certification
Title RNCP40590 – Illustrator, Level 6 (Bac+3/4), registered in the National Directory of Professional Certifications, by decision of 04/30/2025.
Certifiers: Ecoles Créatives Montpellier
Rythm
Full-time on-site
Internship(s) lasting a minimum of 8 weeks in total
Fees
Taking part in a wide range of artistic projects in publishing (children’s, leisure, comics), communications (graphic design, motion design) and the audiovisual industry (film, animation, video games, etc.) is the daily routine for students on our Illustration Concept Art course.
Their objective? To develop a keen sense of aesthetics and detail, to bring to life worlds that are as vibrant as they are complete.
Their solid grounding in the fundamentals of the applied arts begins in the Design preparatory year.
The teaching program alternates between theoretical lessons, workshops, and masterclasses. It is through this diversity of methods and project-based learning
that students’ learning is reinforced. A team of permanent professional instructors, committed to a coherent and progressive teaching approach, monitors students and their projects throughout the program.
The equipment and software made available to students and used intensively throughout their studies (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Blender) enable them to adapt perfectly to the needs and practices of the market.
The training program is validated by professional certification RNCP40590 – Illustrator, Level 6 (Bac+3/4), registered in the National Directory of Professional Certifications, dated 04/30/2025.
Certifiers: Ecoles Créatives Montpellier.
Professional certification is obtained by validating the following skills, including one option:
Possibility of validating one or more skill sets.
Certification is also available through VAE. (Validation of Acquired Experience)
Teaching and assessment methods may be adapted if necessary to compensate for disability, in accordance with the RNCP (French National Register of Professional Certifications) standards.
Find out more about Disability and accessibility.
99% success rate* for certification (class of 2024) *Consolidated results from the Creative Schools Network certifiers
75% Overall employment rate after 6 months (2022) *Inclusion is calculated based on respondents, in accordance with the methodology defined by France Compétences.
62% Rate of entry into the target occupation in 2 years (2022)
Character design work (character creation), props (objects of all types) through universe creation and specific orders
Use paint (acrylic and gouache) and various painting techniques (thickness, flat areas, colored washes, transparency).
Observational drawing (proportions, volume, textures, etc.) and work on perspective.
Perfect your drawing skills, sense of framing, and storytelling by exploring the conventions of comic books.
Developing a graphic universe (character design, environment, finalized image) based on a theme or text, while adhering to specific specifications. Working on projects with various targets (youth, adults, advertising, etc.) to develop graphic styles adapted to different requests.
Teaching the basics of modeling and rendering using Blender 3D software.
Thematic workshops, resume and portfolio design.
Introduction to digital drawing, learning Photoshop and Illustrator software. Concepts of target audience, tone, relevance, storytelling, deadlines, and technical rigor depending on how the illustration will be used.
Learning the basics of graphic design: creation, layout, typography, and printing techniques.
Découverte et compréhension des différentes parties du corps du squelette aux muscles et son fonctionnement pour dessiner le corps humain.
The image culture course offers an introduction to image analysis through the broad field of art history.
Introduction to visual reading: how to look at a painting, construct an image, tell a story without words. In-depth study of image construction, the relationship between text and images, shared readings, narrative exercises, and project development.
Deepening understanding of anatomy, painting, and texture through various scenarios.
In-depth study of perspective and creation of narrative scenes. Cinematic use of light and color.
Students develop their ability to communicate in writing and orally, interact in English, and understand English-speaking culture. Translation of texts related to the world of illustration and simulations of real-life situations.
Find out the tuition fees for joining the Concept Art Illustration course at ESMA.
For one year
€6,380
200 € per year
For anyone who wants to turn their passion into a career and develop their graphic design skills
The first year of the Illustration Concept Art professional program can be taken after:
A three-year program in drawing, traditional and digital illustration, and concept art. Students can specialize in world and character creation and enter fields such as video games, animated films, comic books, children’s illustration, board games, and more.
Full-time on-site attendance throughout the academic year with a mix of theoretical classes, workshops, and masterclasses.
Numerous meetings with recognized professionals in the fields of illustration, concept art, writing, and publishing.
In-depth study of drawing in all its forms: observational and analytical drawing, sketching in workshops, exploration of digital tools, scriptwriting, and storytelling.
Development of management and project management skills to broaden career prospects.
Increasingly demanding projects over the years and English language training to enable students to consider a career abroad.
Sectors of activity:
Illustrators work in publishing (children’s books, illustration, comic books), video games, animation, visual communication/advertising, and teaching/education.
Types of jobs available:
Illustrators most often work as freelancers/independent contractors/artists.
Illustrator, children’s illustrator, comic book illustrator, comic book artist, comic book author, colorist
Concept artist, graphic designer, character designer, props & character designer, environment artist, background artist, visual development artist, 2D illustrator
Other available jobs: muralist, line artist, tattoo artist, drawing teacher.
Concept art: definition
06.16.2025
Concept Art Illustration : a workshop with a talented artist : Poupi Von Craft
07.09.2024
A recent graduate lands a partnership with a publishing house
02.28.2024
ICA 2023 Jury : Exceptional quality again hailed by professionals
10.12.2023
Workshop Concept Art with Morgan Prost
05.10.2023
Workshop with Yohan Colombié-Vivès : embark on a artistic adventure !
04.11.2023
Comics workshop with cartoonist Cédric Ghorbani
03.17.2023
