BigRock is a CGI school based in the north of Italy, close to Treviso.
Here I did a four months intensive course about concept art, studying all the digital art techniques and working day by day with a CINTIQ 27QHD creative pen&touch display-

During the first week of training, we analyzed all the basic photoshop tools doing some exercises. Working on greyscale canvas, we studied and designed lights, shadows and textures of simple and complex items.
Then we focused our attention on the artistic side, starting a new painting using only brushes, always in greyscale, having a reference image on the side.  Here it is, my realistic skull!

Digital Painting
Digital Painting