Help With Concept Art Dissertation/Thesis?

[SpiritRaptor]

Hello everyone,

I'm currently doing a foundation degree in art college as an aspiring concept artist, and I'm currently writing a dissertation/thesis on conceptual art within the film and video game industries. I have a couple of questions for concept artists who have experience within these industries and it would be great if I could find some answers here!

1) How have you as a concept artist changed the direction/aesthetic of a project. Can you give any examples?

2) Based on your experiences in the industry, how do you see concept art changing in the future?

All replies are greatly appreciated!

-SpiritRaptor

[Storyboard Dave]

1) How have you as a concept artist changed the direction/aesthetic of a project. Can you give any examples?

As a concept person early on in a project, you're expected to have some different views. That's the primary reason you're hired to do a project; the employers want a diversity. They want your individual take on a project. A concept artist's job is to utilize his/her background, cultural history, visual aesthetic and whatever other metaphors are needed to bring some life to a project. At every step of development and refinement as a project gets closer to finished, more and more people are brought in to refine a project. Sometimes it can take a subtle turn and then at other times, it can do a complete 180˚. Prime examples of things getting changed are all of those Directors Cut movies out there. Each of those has subtle differences from the original film release and that's because the original director went back into the post production facility, stitched together his/her version of what should have been released and not necessarily what their studios originally. Sometimes new footage is even added or old scenes deleted. Again, a slight change of aesthetic.

2) Based on your experiences in the industry, how do you see concept art changing in the future?

I see more digital skills will be necessary but that being said, it just makes the traditional hand skills that much more important for aspiring people to learn. More and more companies will have proprietary software that people can't just pick up off the streets so traditional training of the eye will still be vital. I see many more people trying to emulate what Pixar has done visually but I'm not so sure they will value the writing and concepts that they have done. Well written games/ movies/ projects will still rise to the top because of their concepts and not because of the technology behind them. I know more and more people who've done traditional imagery and storytelling such as movie directors and print medium illustrators will be latching onboard the gaming industry. It's just a natural progression and flow of the work force; there's a money trail there.

For the people that refuse to step up to the new emerging media, they will probably see a steeper decline in their markets. Art has always evolved and will continue to do so. The markets will ebb and flow as well- what's hot today will fade and what was cold yesterday will suddenly have a new life again. Things are cyclical and in order for one to really stay on top of their game, they either have to ride it out until their cycle comes back or be ready to diversify.

[SpiritRaptor]

Thanks very much for that great reply Storyboard Dave! Just the kind of replys I was after :)

If I could get a few more replies from people that would be great!

-SpiritRaptor

[Storyboard Dave]

Thanks very much for that great reply Storyboard Dave! Just the kind of replys I was after :)

If I could get a few more replies from people that would be great!

-SpiritRaptor

Hmmm... this thread seems to have faded out. I tried my two bits worth for you at least.

[SpiritRaptor]

Hmmm... this thread seems to have faded out. I tried my two bits worth for you at least.

Does seem to of slid away. But I'm grateful for your comment, provided me with some great information to use, thank you :)

-SpiritRaptor