Art degree...check...what next?

[jeremymoore]

Hi all,

[rossipoo]

paragraphs..

[Zazerzs]

Yes there are concept artists who get to do just environments.

Can concept artists be picky? no not really. You are told what to do by an Art Director,

take-what-you-can-get industry? yes

Degrees don't mean anything,(or very much it seems these days) its knowledge and what is in your portfolio.

Look at the concept artists that post here, are you better than them yet?, if not then keep at it and improve your work till it is.

It can take a few years to assimilate and put to use art school instruction, and who knows what kind of information you received since it can vary greatly.

[Eric Young]

Get this book: 2010 Artist's and Graphic Designer's Market (http://www.amazon.com/2010-Artists-Graphic-Designers-Market/dp/1582975833/ref=pd_sim_b_2)

[Sebastard]

The only advice i can give you, stemming from my dialogue with concept artists i know both domestically and internationally - forget the degrees. Well, i mean degrees are nice and all. "He went to a fancy university and studied under a few mentors, yay", but you're not a doctor or a lawyer. What matters is the quality of your work, your portfolio.

The best artists i know are self-taught. Not saying a degree is a bad thing, it's definitely positive, but it's not nearly as important as your actual work is. Pursue what you want to do artistically, be it creature, character or enviromental design/illustration, but remember to keep your mind open to all avenues of artistic practice. There is no such thing as irrelevant artistic knowledge, all practice is good practice even if, for example character/creature illustration isn't what you prefer to do. Being flexible isn't just beneficial in today's market, i'd say it's a requirement.

[Xeon_OND]

A degree is a very good thing to have. If you have two guys of equal calibre and one of them is self-taught and the other has a degree from LAAFA or similar top-notch art school under the guidance of world-renowned artists, well....the latter is gonna triump anyday.

Come to think of it, Loomis and Nicoladies studied under the famous figurative artist George Bridgman.

[Arshes Nei]

A degree is a very good thing to have. If you have two guys of equal calibre and one of them is self-taught and the other has a degree from LAAFA or similar top-notch art school under the guidance of world-renowned artists, well....the latter is gonna triump anyday.


Not really. The guy whose portfolio appeals to the art director (who is going to hire one or the other) the most will triumph.

"Equal calibre" is subjective. You might have two guys equally good, and the art director realizes there is something he/she likes or wants from one portfolio or the other. Since good artists have their own individual mark, this scenario is far more likely to happen than yours.

Adding on, there are advantages of going to art school, but a degree isn't necessarily one of them.

[Sebastard]

Adding on, there are advantages of going to art school, but a degree isn't necessarily one of them.

Indeed. Pretty much the only reasons i want in are the weekly life-drawing classes and the access to a monthly student benefit/loan which would eliminate my need for any other employment/work for the coming 2 years :P.

I think Mr. Manley himself said that not one of the employers he spoke with about art/etc asked him where he had attended school...can't remember the phrasing exactly :P. When it comes to art, it seems that the portfolio is the beginning and end of your application...and, you know. Not being a gibbering nut ;).

[Vatsel]

To put it in a simple way:

There is no how-to get your foot in the door, except an amazing portfolio.

[FactorZero]

To put it in a simple way:

There is no how-to get your foot in the door, except an amazing portfolio.

There's more to it than that, and there's plenty of books that describe how to do it, like the one mentioned above. You need to know how to make a portfolio that appeals to your target field of employment, where and how to submit it for review, getting work experience, self promotion, ect.

[jeremymoore]

You need to know how to make a portfolio that appeals to your target field of employment, where and how to submit it for review, getting work experience, self promotion, ect.

Thanks FactorZero,
This is more along the lines of what I'm inquiring about. In fact I've read a couple of the books for artists on how to promote ones artwork and they were pretty vague and encompassed too large of a spectrum of careers from fine artists to window painters. I appreciate all the advice so far but maybe someone who has landed a gig could offer some of their experience about the important factors related to their target audience and how they went through the application process. For example, is there a place that has job listings posted for concept artists? Thanks again all for being sooooo helpful. This is great!

[fresuk]

Maybe try exhibiting ur artwork on sites that offer a chance of exhibiting/sponsored shows...? Ive just signed up to Where Angels Fear Ltd (www.whereangelsfear.org.uk) I have exhibited with the people that run the organisation before and sold some work at the show. Its free to sign up at the mo! Check it out.

[Ninjerk]

For example, is there a place that has job listings posted for concept artists?

I haven't ever gotten a freelance gig or anything like that, but the last place I would look is in a subforum on a website dedicated to conceptart (especially one with "conceptart" in the URL!).

[Vatsel]

There's more to it than that, and there's plenty of books that describe how to do it, like the one mentioned above. You need to know how to make a portfolio that appeals to your target field of employment, where and how to submit it for review, getting work experience, self promotion, ect.

Ah yes, sure.

I was simplifying on purpose