Wizards of the Coast

[Riiroi]

Hi guys,

I apologize if this belongs in the wrong section. I was surfing the web a few months back and decided to check out the list of jobs that were open in Wizards as I'd noticed that there were quite a number of people working as illustrators for their card games, especially Magic The Gathering. However, I was surprised to see that there weren't any illustrator jobs available. I decided to try again a few days back, but to no avail. So I'm curious, does this mean that they are currently not hiring illustrators.
If not, could it be that the only way to be an illustrator(freelance or not) for Wizards is to have contacts within the company?

Thanks.

[Elwell]

WotC has a few in-house illustrators, but they use a ton of freelancers. Here's their submission info, from this page (http://ww2.wizards.com/Company/Submissions/):
Art Portfolios

Wizards of the Coast makes games that plunge deep into the limitless realms of fantasy, science fiction, and adventure. We use art in product covers, interior illustrations, novel covers, card art, packaging, and advertising in print and on the web. We have an ongoing demand for talented artists like you.
Wizards provides a competitive pay scale and an environment of artistic freedom and exploration.
Our company uses and will review samples of all forms of illustration with a distinct emphasis on:

Fantasy art (contemporary and traditional/medieval)
Science fiction art (space opera and cybertech)
Concept illustration (concept development, architecture, environments, vehicles/equipment)
Cartography (2D, 3D and isometric)Digital Submission Only
Wizards accepts only digital forms of sample artwork to review -- specifically, anything that can be submitted by email. Emails can include jpegs, pdfs, and links to web pages.
Hard copy art submissions will not be reviewed.
Submit portfolio information for review to artdrop@wizards.com.

[CCThrom]

I believe WoTC uses both freelance and staff artists. No job openings probably just means they have enough artists to cover what they're doing right now. That doesn't mean you can't send a submission package though (unless they say not to on their site). I'm sure they get a lot of submissions though, so they probably don't need to open job postings very often.

Having a contact is always a plus.

[DavePalumbo]

could it be that the only way to be an illustrator(freelance or not) for Wizards is to have contacts within the company?

not at all. They're always actively reviewing portfolios at conventions (at least Gencon and SDCC) and reviewing unsolicited online submissions looking for new freelancers. Because there's so much interest in working for them, they can afford to be very picky about taking new people on, but I've seen it happen for someone (with a really tight portfolio and good timing) to apply cold and get work right away. If you don't get anything, be persistent and follow up from time to time. Get out to shows and meet the ADs. Face-to-face reviews at shows are best because you can find out what your work is missing that they want to see.

[Eric Lofgren]

I was surprised to see that they no longer accept hard copy ports now. And that the only way to see them is at a con. I actually don't live all that far away from them and I wanted to make appointments at their office and go for some interviews. But alas, they too have succumbed to the electronic opiate of the internets :)

Out of curiousity, does anyone know if they make it too SDCC? Indy Gen Con is just too far away for me.

[cmalidore]

I met them through Emerald City ComiCon up here in Seattle years back and they had me working fairly quickly. That was some time ago and it's hard to keep consistent work with them if you're not one of the top few artists (lets face it, they have more artists to choose from than CA here haha). But yeah, they hunt for artists about as much as artists hunt for them from what I've seen.


Out of curiousity, does anyone know if they make it too SDCC? Indy Gen Con is just too far away for me.

They usually do to my knowledge. Don't quote me on that but I believe I've heard from quite a few people who've gotten reviews from them over the years.

[smugbug]

They were at this last (and the year before and before that), SDCC. Every single day, they were reviewing portfolios.

[rpace]

They were in Chicago at Wizardworld last month - -I saw a few portfolio reviews going on. Felt a little bad for the guy since it looked like lots of superhero and manga wannabes were in the line.

Must have been like a liver version of a job posting on deviantART --

"We're looking for cutting edge fantasy artists for Magic: the Gathering and Dungeons and Dragons, show me your work."

"Hi -- I like drawing Naruto pin-ups, look at my work. K-thnx-bye!"

~R

[Elwell]

Yeah, Wizards has a presence at all the major cons.

[Black Spot]

They were in Chicago at Wizardworld last month - -I saw a few portfolio reviews going on. Felt a little bad for the guy since it looked like lots of superhero and manga wannabes were in the line.

Must have been like a liver version of a job posting on deviantART --

"We're looking for cutting edge fantasy artists for Magic: the Gathering and Dungeons and Dragons, show me your work."

"Hi -- I like drawing Naruto pin-ups, look at my work. K-thnx-bye!"

~R

I’d be so tempted to ask for a trap door to be installed that leads to vat of gunge, but that would probably go over their heads as well.

[Jasonwclark]

Sometimes I miss the old TSR style; back when e-mail was some sort of electricity resistant armor, and the job went to the man with the fiercest mullet. :)

I guess the Wizards are cool too though. Who's running the show for WotC art direction these days anyway?
Back when I was little, this was one of my all time favorite books...

447718

That and the "Masters of" one they put out in paperback.
Do they still do things like that for the new guys?

[Elwell]

Sometimes I miss the old TSR style

Dragonlance, HAH! I miss Dave Trampier and Erol Otus!

[DSillustration]

Hey, look at this, PERFECT TIMING!

From the horse's mouth:
http://deadoftheday.blogspot.com/2008/08/art-direction.html

[Riiroi]

Thanks guys! No wonder i couldn't find it haha....only clicked on the jobs section. Once again, thanks for the fast replies.

[Eric Lofgren]

Dragonlance, HAH! I miss Dave Trampier and Erol Otus!


And Jeff Dee :)