Cubebrush Art School Term 1 By Marc Brunet ⭐

The course is software-agnostic. Marc uses Photoshop and a Wacom Cintiq, but he explicitly states you can use:

Note: Marc does not recommend using a mouse.

This is where many aspiring artists quit. It’s math-heavy and technical. Marc handles this well, breaking down 1-point, 2-point, and 3-point perspective into digestible chunks.

Pros:

Cons:

Verdict: If you’re a beginner who feels lost watching random YouTube tutorials, Term 1 is one of the best investments you can make – often compared to Proko’s figure course but more condensed and focused on digital art.

Marc Brunet (formerly of Blizzard Entertainment) designed this course to mimic a semester of a top-tier art college. Term 1 is the foundation. It is not just a collection of "how to draw" videos; it is a curriculum. It assumes you know nothing about digital art fundamentals and builds you up week by week. cubebrush art school term 1 by marc brunet

The course is currently hosted on the Cubebrush platform, which allows for a cohesive experience including video lectures, assets, and a community hub.

Students must complete a "Final Illustration" that includes a fully rendered character in a simple background, demonstrating all 9 previous weeks of knowledge. Marc offers a brutal but fair critique (often video format). You do not "pass" Term 1 until he says you have demonstrated the minimum viable skill.

If you’ve spent any time in the digital art community on YouTube, you’ve likely stumbled across Marc Brunet. Formerly a senior artist at Blizzard Entertainment, Marc has built a massive following by demystifying the art pipeline. The course is software-agnostic

For years, the holy grail for aspiring concept artists was ArtCenter or similar brick-and-mortar schools—costing tens of thousands of dollars. Marc’s answer to this barrier to entry is the Cubebrush Art School, a comprehensive curriculum designed to rival a college education at a fraction of the price.

Today, I’m reviewing the starting line: Term 1.

Is it the right place to start your journey? Is it too basic, or is it overwhelming? Let’s break it down. Note: Marc does not recommend using a mouse

You put it all together. You learn "Gesture drawing" (the flow/curve of the body) vs. "Construction" (the boxes/cylinders). Marc teaches you the "15-minute figure" workflow: 1 minute for gesture, 4 minutes for construction, 10 minutes for rendering.

Here is where Term 1 separates the hobbyists from the future pros. You learn the "4 Value System" (Shadow, Midtone, Light, Highlight). Marc teaches you to forget blending for now; focus on hard edges. You will render spheres, cubes, and cylinders using only a hard round brush. If you learn this, you will never fear shading again.