Vert Count Collective: Game Art Workshops and Events

🖊️ Sunday Sketchgroup for Game Artists - Vert Count Collective

📍 Tecolote Shores – Public Gazebo by the Water, San Diego

🕛 Every Sunday | 12 PM – 2 PM
Join us for a relaxed outdoor sketch session geared toward aspiring and practicing game artists. We’ll be sketching fundamentals, character concepts, creatures, weapons, environments — or anything you feel inspired to draw.

✅ This is an open invitation so feel free to come even if the rsvp is full .Meetup limits the amount of people who can rsvp. You can search this event on Luma as well.

🎮 Hosted by Joseph Peña, a veteran Character Artist with 17 years in the AAA game industry (Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, Killzone 3).

🔗 View Joseph’s public facing portfolio:
https://joesolo.artstation.com/

We’ll meet at the large gazebo by the water at Tecolote Shores. Expect a chill, creative atmosphere with no formal instruction — just community, sketching, and insights from someone who's worked in the field.

🧰 What to bring:
– Sketchbook or tablet
– Drawing tools
– Water/snacks/sunscreen
– Any references you like to work from
– Your creative energy

Joseph will also bring a selection of art references to help inspire your work — but you're welcome to sketch your own projects.

🎨 Open to all skill levels. Come to draw, share, and grow.

Let’s sketch every Sunday right by the bay.

🎨 Vertex Count Collective: Free In-Person Portfolio Review
🗓 Wednesday, August 13th | 🕐 1pm–4pm | 📍Tecolote Shores Gazebo

This is a free, in-person portfolio review led by Joseph Peña, a 17-year professional Character Artist who has worked on AAA games for publishers including 2K, Activision, and Skydance. His credits include the award-winning Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, NBA 2K, and The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners – Chapter 2.

If you're working toward a career in game art — or refining your portfolio to apply to studios — this is a chance to receive direct, constructive feedback from someone with deep industry experience.

View portfolio: https://www.artstation.com/joesolo
More info: https://jpena.carrd.co

💼 What to Expect:

– 5–10 minutes of one-on-one portfolio feedback per person

– Space is limited to 10–15 participants for portfolio reviews

– The first 2 to 2.5 hours will be focused on individual portfolio reviews

– The final 30 minutes will be a group Q&A session, open to everyone

– If Joseph can’t get to your portfolio during this session, you’ll be given priority at September’s free in-person review

Note: Meetup currently limits RSVPs to 10 attendees, but this session is open to everyone. If the RSVP list is full, you're still welcome to attend — you just may not receive a portfolio review this time.

🧰 What to Bring:

– A laptop, tablet, or iPad to display your digital work

– Phone screens are too small — your images should be clearly viewable

– Make sure your portfolio is saved to your device (not on Instagram or behind a website login)

– You may also bring a physical printed portfolio if you prefer

💬 Additional Information:
Donations are welcome but not required. If you’re interested in working together beyond this session, Joseph offers in-person portfolio reviews, mock interviews, resume support, and career guidance at inexpensive rates.

This session is geared toward aspiring game artists — students, self-taught creatives, or anyone looking to get into the field.