CONCEPT ARTIST wannabe. Need help.

[jason500]

These are my opinions:
(If you mean 2D concept art, as in drawing)

1) The main focus of your portfolio should be concept art. If you are doing characters, you need a front, side view, and one with the character in a cool pose.
But you should also add good work that you have done in the past. Anything that shows your talents and personality.

2) Robots, dragons, etc are cliche. Stay away from them, unless you can make them really good or have an original take on them.

3) I'm not sure if they test you. I think your porfolio is enough. You can' really prepare if they DO test you anyway, because you don't know what they will ask you do.

4) All those things can help you get the job, especially the illustrations. Include your best stuff in your porfolio.

5) If your a concept artist, it's not essential to know a 3D program, it may be an advantage but not essential. I'd focus on a concept art portfolio to start with.
It's very important that you know how to use photoshop though, and maybe some other painting programs.

[ahbeejieh]

Thanks jason 500! That's big help. I'm off to buy the cd's and books that'll help me with this. Thanks for your time man :thumbsup:

[Bonedaddy]

Um, did you mean to post this on conceptart.org instead of here? o_o

[hightillidie]

Since I dont want to be a mischievious little creature and make a new thread I will ask in this one.


Ive got these amazing ideas(to me they are) in my head but Im not that good with the pencil... or the digital pen so I was wondering whats would my job be called in the graphics world? Idea thinker? lol its a really stupid question and Im sorry to brin it up but Im really intrested in working for movies and short clips and would I be able to work as a concept artist without having the ability to draw out what I think or will I have to learn( I know I will so this is just rhethorical)

[paperclip]

Well, you need some way of showing people what your ideas are. :D

[yann22]

wondering whats would my job be called in the graphics world?

"boss" :applause:

[fenko]

Since I dont want to be a mischievious little creature and make a new thread I will ask in this one.


Ive got these amazing ideas(to me they are) in my head but Im not that good with the pencil... or the digital pen so I was wondering whats would my job be called in the graphics world? Idea thinker? lol its a really stupid question and Im sorry to brin it up but Im really intrested in working for movies and short clips and would I be able to work as a concept artist without having the ability to draw out what I think or will I have to learn( I know I will so this is just rhethorical)

well, if u have exellence communication skills and storytelling.. may be it will help presenting ur ideas

[ahbeejieh]

Bonedaddy:
I meant to post this here and in CA.org man. Need all the help I can get. Hope I didnt break any rules in doing that.

hightillidie:
Nice username. Rabbit Run's right, I think you're looking for the position of "boss" here. But as cliches go, you can't be a leader until you've learned to be a follower. As Paperclip said, you need to be able to present your ideas not only thru creative words but thru clear visual presentations too. I think it comes with the package if you're looking to be a concept artist. and c'mon man, learning all the stuff that a concept artist can do is the fun part... Why take that away? Mile Dream's right, great ideas are the root of great concepts not skilled hands... But still, great ideas are only half the battle. Work on your execution skills, coz you're only gonna be overshadowed by someone who's got both great ideas and a skilled hand to present those ideas clearly to a client. There are things that you pick up along the way when you start at the bottom (like maybe a draftsman) that will help you when you reach the top (creative director). The foundation is a neccesity.

On the other hand, I'm not sure if there is a position for the gaming world wherein you just give out ideas without the need of having to show them. Is there a game concept "writer" or something like that? I dont really know. But you need the "hand skills" to be a concept artist man.

I got this link from "mycham" of CA.org on how to prepare your portfolio if you want to be a concept artist. Might be interesting to you guys looking to be one.
Check it out: PORTFOLIO TIPS from jaymz and Jason Manley (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=119&goto=nextnewest)

If you guys got anymore links like this, help me out. Thanks!

[hightillidie]

Bonedaddy:
I meant to post this here and in CA.org man. Need all the help I can get. Hope I didnt break any rules in doing that.

hightillidie:
Nice username. Rabbit Run's right, I think you're looking for the position of "boss" here. But as cliches go, you can't be a leader until you've learned to be a follower. As Paperclip said, you need to be able to present your ideas not only thru creative words but thru clear visual presentations too. I think it comes with the package if you're looking to be a concept artist. and c'mon man, learning all the stuff that a concept artist can do is the fun part... Why take that away? Mile Dream's right, great ideas are the root of great concepts not skilled hands... But still, great ideas are only half the battle. Work on your execution skills, coz you're only gonna be overshadowed by someone who's got both great ideas and a skilled hand to present those ideas clearly to a client. There are things that you pick up along the way when you start at the bottom (like maybe a draftsman) that will help you when you reach the top (creative director). The foundation is a neccesity.

On the other hand, I'm not sure if there is a position for the gaming world wherein you just give out ideas without the need of having to show them. Is there a game concept "writer" or something like that? I dont really know. But you need the "hand skills" to be a concept artist man.

I got this link from "mycham" of CA.org on how to prepare your portfolio if you want to be a concept artist. Might be interesting to you guys looking to be one.
Check it out: PORTFOLIO TIPS from jaymz and Jason Manley (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=119&goto=nextnewest)

If you guys got anymore links like this, help me out. Thanks!

Sorry for the late reply but thank you for your elaborate answer. I will look more into this.

Mile Dream @ :) Thank you.
RabbitRun @ lol :)


Sorry to bring this thread back up, I believe it will help some other people too.

[aeres]

Late post, but for what its worth:

ahbeejieh: just look through your Journey Begins challenge thread, you skills are pretty solid so I think most probably the problem lies in the presentation of your portfolio, refer to jason500's post. Keep it up I'm sure you'll get what you want.:thumbsup:

[JIII]

Ive got these amazing ideas(to me they are) in my head but Im not that good with the pencil... or the digital pen so I was wondering whats would my job be called in the graphics world? Idea thinker? lol its a really stupid question and Im sorry to brin it up but Im really intrested in working for movies and short clips and would I be able to work as a concept artist without having the ability to draw out what I think or will I have to learn( I know I will so this is just rhethorical)

If you are on this site it means you are sadly, lazy. However, you could be a screenwriter. But after all this is a society for digital artists, and it's hard to be a digital, or visual, artist without some kind of skill, drawing, modelling, animating etc. I mean sure alot of film directors don't know shit about 3D but they know cameras inside and out, and they know everything there is to know about that subject. Basically, if you aren't skilled at creating SOMETHING visually, be it film, paper, or a model, you are going to have problems. Unless you want to be a writer, which is a totally cool profession, this just isn't really a writer's forum :-P.

Also, I feel that you are going to see fewer and fewere directors who don't speak in 3D, and understand how it is created. All the young directors coming up in the industry right now, in film school right now, probably have some degree of exposure to 3D or 2D in a very big way, as it's become so important in the creation of movies.

My advice to you dude, buckle down, and learn how to draw, sculpt, and model in 2D and 3D. It's hard work, and it will make your head want to explode, but anyone can do it if they try hard enough, and even if you do get a job as a director or screenwriter etc. where yo udon't have to actually MAKE the art, it will gain you respect and allow your vision to be communicated clearly and effectively.

Good luck dude,

J3.

Oh and to the dude makin' his portfolio, I highly doubt you are going to get "tested". The real test is can you make and do the work under pressure, if you can't, you get fired. The test isn't getting the job, trust me, it's keeping it.

[ahbeejieh]

aeres:
Didnt think this thread was still breathing :) That's a big thanks to you aeres for taking the time to tell me this. Boosts me up in pursuing this career even more. And you're right, I've got a big problem with my portfolio at the moment. But will try to change that in the future.

As of now, doing a lot of studying of the techniques of a concept artist, and doing my best to widen the kind of subjects I can visualize and render. It's more about the books and training dvds for now. And of course, these small but nonetheless important tips I can get from experienced pips like you is the way to go till I can get comfortable with my own skills.

Thanks again :buttrock:


JIII: Never looked at the whole thing at that point of view. It's all about maintaining discipline on yourself and being consistent with your work when you get there. Still need to work on my speed. But I guess that'll come with time. Important thing is for me to get started as soon as possible to get those experience points running. Thanks J3 :)

[JIII]

Think about it like this, is the real test getting INTO a school, or graduating with honors? While it is difficult to get accepted, with a few months of annoying applications etc. etc., the four or more years you spend studying and working your ass off for good marks are alot more difficult, and speak to your abilites alot more than an admissions interview and essay or exam etc.

That's how I look at the art business, you gotta show you are good and have what it takes to get the job, but once you have that job, it's going to get alot more difficult.

[aeres]

aeres:
Didnt think this thread was still breathing :) That's a big thanks to you aeres for taking the time to tell me this. Boosts me up in pursuing this career even more. And you're right, I've got a big problem with my portfolio at the moment. But will try to change that in the future.

As of now, doing a lot of studying of the techniques of a concept artist, and doing my best to widen the kind of subjects I can visualize and render. It's more about the books and training dvds for now. And of course, these small but nonetheless important tips I can get from experienced pips like you is the way to go till I can get comfortable with my own skills.

Thanks again :buttrock:



:thumbsup:

Glad to hear that ;)

[ahbeejieh]

Think about it like this, is the real test getting INTO a school, or graduating with honors? While it is difficult to get accepted, with a few months of annoying applications etc. etc., the four or more years you spend studying and working your ass off for good marks are alot more difficult, and speak to your abilites alot more than an admissions interview and essay or exam etc.

That's how I look at the art business, you gotta show you are good and have what it takes to get the job, but once you have that job, it's going to get alot more difficult.


Ok. Point taken. It's not easy. But that's what makes it so awesome too. It's a never ending battle to improve upon what's already been conceived, and come up with something that hasnt existed in anyone's imagination yet. That is a lot to think about. Thanks for these reality checks J3. You put things into perspective for me.

[JIII]

The only way you know it's for you is if you ENJOY it once you are stuck doing it from 6 AM to 2 AM everyday :-P. I personally find that quite fun, just so long as it doesn't go on for more then 2-3 weeks, then it's not healthy.

-J3

[ahbeejieh]

Yeh I know what you mean. There are times when I wish people didnt need to sleep, and we'd just have all the time to conceptualize and draw and learn new programs and stuff. I dont see myself getting tired of a job as a concept artist in a game industry or movie setting. I'd be in heaven if I got a job like that :P So I consider you guys lucky for being a part of that industry already. I'm still trying to get there :)

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