Nick Jainschigg

Associate Professor
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RISD faculty member Nick Jainschigg
BFA, Rhode Island School of Design

on sabbatical academic year 2023–24

Nick Jainschigg was born in New York City and grew up near the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History. The two influences of art and natural science have been with him ever since. After graduating with a BFA in illustration, he pursued a career in science fiction and fantasy illustration, producing hundreds of covers and interiors for most of the major (and many minor) publishers. He discovered the computer as a means of expression in the late 1990s and hasn’t had a decent night’s sleep since. In addition to teaching at RISD, Jainschigg continues to work on animations, interactive illustration and painting in oils.

Jainschigg’s work has been featured in or written about in publications from Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Ballantine Books, PBS Interactive, The New York Times, Wizards of the Coast, Tor Books, Scholastic Inc., MacMillan Publishing, Domino Magazine, Paramount and Viacom. His digital paleontological reconstructions have been featured on the Discovery Channel and at the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Maastricht Natural History Museum and the University of California Museum of Paleontology.

Courses

Spring 2024 Courses

ILLUS 3328-01 - CHARACTER AND ENVIRONMENT DESIGN FOR 3D GAMING
Level Undergraduate
Unit Illustration
Subject Illustration
Period Spring 2024
Credits 3
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date

ILLUS 3328-01

CHARACTER AND ENVIRONMENT DESIGN FOR 3D GAMING

Level Undergraduate
Unit Illustration
Subject Illustration
Period Spring 2024
Credits 3
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start and End 2024-02-15 to 2024-05-24
Times: TH | 1:10 PM - 6:10 PM Instructor(s): Nick Jainschigg Location(s): Washington Place, Room 001 Enrolled / Capacity: 15 Status: Open

SECTION DESCRIPTION

This course offers an introduction to the many artistic and technical aspects of designing and producing characters, environments and props for 3D games. Among the topics we will explore are the design of effective low-polygon characters and scenes, texturing and UV mapping, simple character rigging and effective collaborative design and execution. Software used: Photoshop and Maya (PLE). Knowledge of Photoshop, basic computer skills. Some familiarity with 3D computer modeling is helpful, but not essential.

This course fulfills the Computer Literacy requirement for Illustration majors.

Open to Junior or Senior Illustration Students.

Elective

ILLUS 3748-01 - PEN, INK & SCRATCHBOARD
Level Undergraduate
Unit Illustration
Subject Illustration
Period Spring 2024
Credits 3
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date

ILLUS 3748-01

PEN, INK & SCRATCHBOARD

Level Undergraduate
Unit Illustration
Subject Illustration
Period Spring 2024
Credits 3
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start and End 2024-02-15 to 2024-05-24
Times: T | 1:10 PM - 6:10 PM Instructor(s): Nick Jainschigg Location(s): Illustration Studies Building, Room 411 Enrolled / Capacity: 15 Status: Closed

SECTION DESCRIPTION

This course introduces students to a variety of pen and scratchboard styles through a series of assignments which include drawing from life and executing well-defined illustrative problems. A variety of pen tips and their effect on pen handling are explored. Other aspects of pen drawing to be considered: Intelligent design of page with subject, the compositional impact of the arrangement of tone, and the sensitive selection of appropriate pen and scratchboard styles for a given problem.

Open to Junior or Senior Illustration Students.

Elective

ILLUS 4402-01 - WKSHP: MAYA BASICS
Level Undergraduate
Unit Illustration
Subject Illustration
Period Spring 2024
Credits 1
Format Workshop
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date

ILLUS 4402-01

WKSHP: MAYA BASICS

Level Undergraduate
Unit Illustration
Subject Illustration
Period Spring 2024
Credits 1
Format Workshop
Mode In-Person
Start and End 2024-02-16 to 2024-03-08
Times: F | 1:10 PM - 6:10 PM Instructor(s): Nick Jainschigg Location(s): Washington Place, Room 001 Enrolled / Capacity: 15 Status: Closed

SECTION DESCRIPTION

A one month basic introduction to Maya for 3D image-making. The class will introduce polygonal modeling, UV-mapping and normal-map generation, texturing, lighting, and advanced shader options, the Mental Ray renderer, and some particle, fluid and atmospheric simulators. Animation will not be taught beyond basics required for particle and other effects.

Students must register for workshops during the registration period and add/drop regardless of start date of class.

Preference is given to Junior, Senior or Graduate Illustration Students. Second preference given to Graphic Design and Industrial Design Students.

Elective

ILLUS 4404-01 - WKSHP: ZBRUSH SCULPTING AND ILLUSTRATION
Level Undergraduate
Unit Illustration
Subject Illustration
Period Spring 2024
Credits 1
Format Workshop
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date

ILLUS 4404-01

WKSHP: ZBRUSH SCULPTING AND ILLUSTRATION

Level Undergraduate
Unit Illustration
Subject Illustration
Period Spring 2024
Credits 1
Format Workshop
Mode In-Person
Start and End 2024-03-15 to 2024-04-12
Times: F | 1:10 PM - 6:10 PM Instructor(s): Nick Jainschigg Location(s): Washington Place, Room 001 Enrolled / Capacity: 15 Status: Closed

SECTION DESCRIPTION

This one-month workshop will explore the creative potential of ZBrush, the 3-D sculpting application from Pixologic. With so many uses, it's difficult to cover ZBrush completely, but by the end of the class you will have a solid understanding of the program, all its component tools and how to customize them and use them in your workflow, whether it's sculpting for game detail, animation, visualization, or rapid-prototyping. This workshop is a one-credit course that emphasizes skills and techniques. This class is part of a group of offerings by the departments of Illustration, Industrial Design and Graphic Design that are offered on Friday afternoons and are open to all students to facilitate cross-departmental enrollment.

Students must register for workshops during the registration period and add/drop regardless of start date of class.

Preference is given to Junior, Senior or Graduate Illustration Students. Second preference given to Graphic Design and Industrial Design Students.

Elective

ILLUS 4406-01 - WKSHP: INTRODUCTION TO GAME ENGINES
Level Undergraduate
Unit Illustration
Subject Illustration
Period Spring 2024
Credits 1
Format Workshop
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date

ILLUS 4406-01

WKSHP: INTRODUCTION TO GAME ENGINES

Level Undergraduate
Unit Illustration
Subject Illustration
Period Spring 2024
Credits 1
Format Workshop
Mode In-Person
Start and End 2024-04-19 to 2024-05-10
Times: F | 1:10 PM - 6:10 PM Instructor(s): Nick Jainschigg Location(s): Washington Place, Room 001 Enrolled / Capacity: 15 Status: Closed

SECTION DESCRIPTION

This course is a short introduction to the use of game engines for the production of realistic interactive environments-- whether for architecture, industrial design, VR, or animation. The class is intended for people who are already comfortable with 3D modeling and texturing and will cover the basics of scene creation, modeling, the particular requirements of PBR texturing, animation, and simple interactivity through the use of blueprints. Topics will include basic setup; import of 3D assets, including materials, animations, polygonal models, and custom hit-detection meshes; setup of input methods, lighting, sky-boxes, and atmospherics; and output to various devices. Professional workflow considerations and naming conventions will be covered, as well as an overview of useful third-party software for modeling and texturing.

Students must register for workshops during the registration period and add/drop regardless of start date of class.

Open to Junior, Senior or Graduate Illustration Students.

Elective

Image
RISD faculty member Nick Jainschigg
BFA, Rhode Island School of Design