Nathan Fowkes
Nathan Fowkes is a concept artist, painter, author, and Schoolism teacher who brings color, light, and visual storytelling to animated films and helps artists build those skills themselves.
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Latest
Nathan’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus his backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
SchoolismOverview
- Based in
- Los Angeles, California
- Work
- Concept art, painting, writing, and teaching
- Education
- ArtCenter College of Design; graduated in 1995
- Career turning point
- Joining DreamWorks to work on The Prince of Egypt
- Online classroom
- Schoolism
Mini bio
How it started.
Nathan grew up where California’s San Joaquin Valley meets the hills and canyons toward the coast. In an Etchr interview, he remembered how sunset transformed dry summer grasses into vivid reds and the shadows into yellow-green. Those changes in light helped shape the kind of emotion he wanted his paintings to carry.
Finding his place.
He entered ArtCenter expecting to pursue book covers and illustration, then graduated in 1995 as opportunities in entertainment art were opening up. His first work was in theme park show design. Two years later, seeing the painterly development art for The Prince of Egypt persuaded him to pursue a job at DreamWorks. He describes joining that production as the turning point of his career.
Worlds on screen.
His film résumé spans The Prince of Egypt, The Road to El Dorado, How to Train Your Dragon, Rio 2, Ferdinand, and Wonder Park. He also made early development art for Raya and the Last Dragon. His Wonder Park color script shows how he uses changes in color, light, and design to guide the audience’s feelings through a story.
Sharing the craft.
Alongside production work, Nathan teaches online at Schoolism and writes practical art books. His subjects range from charcoal portraits and outdoor landscape painting to designing imagined environments. His 2026 book Designing Imaginative Environments brings that last subject together through theory, demonstrations, and lessons from his career.
Creditschronological, newest first
Books
Animation
- 2021Raya and the Last DragonEarly concept development
- 2019Wonder ParkColor script
- 2010How to Train Your DragonConcept art
- 2000The Road to El DoradoBackground painting
- 1998The Prince of EgyptBackground painting
Awards
Quotes
Getting paid to do splashy, imaginative art? It’s exactly what I’d hoped to do.Nathan Fowkes, ImagineFX interview with Dominic Carter
Recalling his graduation in 1995 and the new opportunities opening up in entertainment art.
Trivia
- He keeps a journal of experiences that inspire him to paint and returns to it when he needs inspiration.
- After hours of digital painting for films, he likes to take breaks by drawing in charcoal or painting in watercolor and gouache.
- He compares a film’s color script to a musical score: both can guide the audience’s emotions through a story.
Find Nathan
Follow Nathan for paintings, process, books, and classes.
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