my dream to work for valve, Im british in U.K

[InfinityBaklash]

Hi there,

ever since i was born i seemed to adapt to a pencil and i have been drawing ever since and i have never looked back, its my pation as well as an amazing hobby. My real dream all my life has to become aconcept artist for a gaming company scene as i love games as well.

But my serious dream has always been to work for valve as a concept artist.

Now ive just finished my G.C.S.E exams in England, and im awaiting my results hoping to get an A. I really have no clue what to do now i seriously have no clue where to go from here.

Please could somebody help me out.

Thanks a lot,
lewis.

[Shantih]

Take art a-level, and then after that an art foundation course (which is a year long). The second especially will help you narrow down what you want to do as you'll be exploring a lot of different areas and media.

[InfinityBaklash]

Oh thanks a lot for the help :D, would it be sensible to also take graphic design as an a level as well as art?

cheers,
lewis.

[Zazerzs]

Become a great/really good artist. Try to find the best instruction that you can, classical drawing and painting will never let you down. There are plenty of places that "teach art" but are really just a waste of time and money.

Graphic Design ?, I wouldn't suggest it. People use that term all the time but unless you want to do magazine text layout or packaging I'd steer clear of it, most graphic designers i know cant draw to save their lives, not all but the ones i know. You'll learn design from your drawing and painting classes and if your not you are in the wrong place.

[InfinityBaklash]

Hey thanks a hell of a lot for the help :) its greatly greatly appriciated:)

cheers,
lewis.

[dcorc]

Post your work here - start a sketchbook for constructive critique. Read here at CA, and at other online art forums. Realise there's a lot of serious info on how to draw and paint, freely available out on the net, if you just go in search of it. Use these resources, as well as planning for more formal education (there are people posting online, here and elsewhere, that could match/beat hollow any faculty assembled anywhere at a single art-school).

Dave

[Ramon Hurtado]

go to the national gallery, look at all the sargents there and don't come out for three years. Seriously, start taking a serious look at the amazing paintings you have in London, you'll learn many important lessons that way. While you're at it, look up the Loomis books online, and stuff by bridgman, if you can look up a copy of Glenn Vilppu's drawing manual and learn to draw from your head as well as observation. Work every day and try to challenge yourself as much as possible. Stay away from graphic design, it's usually a load of bullshit like Zazerzs said.

[Shantih]

Oh thanks a lot for the help :D, would it be sensible to also take graphic design as an a level as well as art?

cheers,
lewis.

Unless you really want to go into graphic design and are good at producing a lot of work pretty fast, I wouldn't advise it. Art and graphics require a lot of coursework and a few people in my year tried to take both and wound up having to pick between the two.

If you're planning to go into illustration and are any good at it, think about taking English Lit, because a lot of the places I looked at wanted evidence of being able to produce written work (also, you'll have to write an essay for art foundation, but that doesn't have to be fantastically well done), and it helps you be more able to translate sections of writing into something else. If you don't like english I wouldn't worry about it though, it's just something extra to think about.

Plus what these other guys have said - I wound up improving tons during my a-levels because I started studying art in my own time. If you live near London then definately start visiting the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery and the Tate Britain, even the Tate Modern (those are all free) has some good stuff sometimes and even drawing the installations can be really interesting.

[steve kim]

why set your goals so low?

[Saturns Gate]

If you want to work for valve, I think the best thing to do is to do the A level in art, and then go for a course specific in Games Art, which covers modeling, texturing etc. The thing about Valve is they dont usually have specific roles in the company, just check out the credits to the game, there is no real 3D modelers, or concept artists. Its good to know a bit more than just concept art anyway. Good luck.

[TZA]

go to the national gallery, look at all the sargents there and don't come out for three years. Seriously, start taking a serious look at the amazing paintings you have in London, you'll learn many important lessons that way. While you're at it, look up the Loomis books online, and stuff by bridgman, if you can look up a copy of Glenn Vilppu's drawing manual and learn to draw from your head as well as observation. Work every day and try to challenge yourself as much as possible. Stay away from graphic design, it's usually a load of bullshit like Zazerzs said.

i'm pretty much echoing what panchosimpson said, i recently went to both the national gallery and tate britain, it completely floored me, i dont know why i didnt go sooner and i can't wait to go back again! - go.

also, I did graphic design for my gcses, most boring piece of shit i've ever done. for half the course i kid you not we'd out teacher would talk about fucking boxes in his monotonal voice for hours. but hey, thats just my experience.