Help me become a professional concept artist!

[M-Croft]

Here's the lowdown-

I'm a college student, getting my AA in graphic arts, and I'm still young, about 18 years old. I want to be a concept artist. It's my dream job. I'm starting this sketchbook to fortify my strengths, and to patch up my weaknesses, all the while developing my style. Be harsh with the critiques- I like it rough!

To anyone in the industry, please, tell me if I have a chance, and what I need to improve on to become a concept artist. Alternately, tell me about art related jobs you think I would presently be qualified for, and how I'd go about looking for them. I really want to get my hand in the art world, professionally. It's just something I love to do.

Below are some digital painting in microsoft Paint (done with the mouse) and assorted pencil sketches.
Digital painting in photoshop coming soon, as soon as I get my hands on a tablet.

[DARAF]

Youn got a shot fer sure, just keep on going. Draw and paint daily.

[Dile_]

instead of trying to become 'the' best.. try for a start to be 'your' best.. :)

good stuff.. spend more time at your drawings !!

[M-Croft]

Some more sketches from today. I plan on doing this every single day. I'm trying lots of life drawings with animals. I also did a little on vehicles. I'm planning on some digitally colored images soon.

[M-Croft]

Moving on to pen work. Trying to build my line confidence, and make images more appealing. I've decided to show my crap as well as my good stuff, so critics can really pinpoint my weaknesses.

[M-Croft]

Here's some more work, done in the last couple days. I've began a bit of coloring experimentation, and found that digital coloring with a touch pad sucks. I colored a couple of pieces quickly.

[SEVANS]

Great imagination and fun loose sketches.
Would love to see some more realistic or referenced pics, just to see your weaknesses/skill level etc, but still some fun images.

Love the pencil page with all the robot concepts.

[Nettle_Mountain]

very big props for using ms-painter for those digitals :D

drawing style i really nice, loose and expressive! do you sketch a lot?

more!

[Niku]

haha, you got some funny and interesting drawings, especially the goat drawing the star, my advice may not be as good as any, but try puting a story into play, It gives more life than the type of style your on... post some more, I'd like to see the good stuff...

[M-Croft]

@Sevan: Thanks! I've been trying to do a lot more life drawings, but looking back, I haven't done nearly enough. I'm all about posemaniacs.com right now, though.
@Nettle Mountain: Yeah, I've had a lot of practice with MS Paint. But it's pretty much the only program I know how to use (shh!). I like to use it for pixel art, too. I sketch loads, on and off, of course.
@Niku: Putting a story into play is a good idea, it sounds like it'd add more substance to an art piece (And maybe I'll think twice about taking shortcuts or getting lazy with the details). I will try that!

An old drawing, and a bunch of new ones. I'm using graphite and a q-tip to blend. It's a really cool trick. Some of these are requests from an artist friend.

Enjoy!

[AustenFM]

Great stuff man, Ive already told you though. Try using more blacks in your drawings, try experimenting with contrast and shadows. And do some landscape/environment studies as well! We've gotta make believable environments for our creations.

Keep it up C

[M-Croft]

A quick page. Next time I'll do something fresh- I promise!

[M-Croft]

@AustenFM- Sorry, Austen! I guess inks'll have to wait. I got sidetracked by those Loomis Books you shared with me.

I finally learned how to do faces (the real way, not just bullshitting them)! I'm glad I found these books. The following are faces and skulls constructed from scratch- the Andrew Loomis way, and some poses from posemaniacs.com.

[M-Croft]

A few drawings, nothing revolutionary.

[M-Croft]

More sketches, actually for concepting.

[M-Croft]

More sci-fi stuff.

[AustenFM]

Say maaannnnn, sorry i havent seen you around much, nice updates though! Your stuff is coming together great! Don't stop posting either, lets see some more landscapes and monsters, i am in love with your creature designs, always have been.

Looking at your work always re-inspires me to do better, i hope to see some new stuff from you soon!

[Strassenpenner08]

Wow dude .... your stuff is amazing °_° your pencils are very good ... I also like your ms paint stuff and the coloured sketches :P

Go on like this ... an you may will get the best :)