Concept Art vs Animation

[fenixx]

Hi. I have been going through lot of posts here through CA for inspiration and information, and the community has helped me more than any institute can. Lately I have been concerned about the direction of my efforts.

I am right now doing a course in B.sc (Bachelor of Science, I know SCIENCE ???) in Animation in Bangalore, India. The course was the closest that would come to providing me education for the career I wanted. My concern is that my interest are too varied and that I am not giving enough attention to them. I have always loved Concept Art... and I also love animation. I feel that I am capable of doing good in both of them... but I am just concerned about on what aspects I should really be putting my efforts in. I have given up on my college to provide me any valuable education... now all I can learn is by myself. So it is very important that I manage my time and efforts to the right direction.

I am not that good. Not yet. I can say that I have improved quite well in a year or two. I am sure that I can be really good if I put in the effort. But all I am concerned about is should I decide which one do I really need. I love animation because of its life, humour, expression and story telling. And I also love concept art... making concept ships, character designs.

Is it really important that I decide or let time tell me ?? Or should I try my hand at both or just decide now and specialize ?? I am 20 years old... and I have spent lot of money on tuition... and I really want to make use of the time I have and make the best of it.

Any kind of suggestion, guidance ??

Thank YOu :)

PS : My college course curriculum has 3D for me in the 2 years left now... and I am really not that into it... and it makes it harder for me to manage time to work on the stuff that I am interested in. I really don't care for grades, as long as I get to practice what I like.

[rusalka]

Hi! If you're "not that good" then you should probably pick one area and focus on it. Concept art and animation focus on two fairly separate areas of expertise. There is some overlap that would be useful, such as gesture, posing, staging, and composition but aside from that there isn't much technically.

This is only the case if you want to be really good - which would be required to for work in movie visual effects and animation. If you're more into games then your animation doesn't have to be as top notch and you may be able to sacrifice some of your animation skills to develop your concept art skills.

One area focuses on traditional, fine art skills while the other focuses on acting, weight and motion. To start off you really should choose one area and stick with it before trying to do both at the same time.

[thesinfulsaint]

I think a lot of people get very confused when it comes to differentiating between concept art and animation.

Here it is plain and simple: Animation is MOTION. If you are working as an animator professionally, especially a 3d animator, all you will do is move the characters. If you are a computer animator, this means that you DO NOT DRAW. Drawing and animating are two separate skill sets.

Concept Artists are essentially designers for video games, films, animation... There are a lot of styles. The really pushed designs that you see in Pixar Art-Of books and the nice spaceships and alien landscapes you see in the work of Art Center students are both examples of concept art. Lots of drawing. Lots of painting.

That being said, if you would decide to go back to school, the two fields would more than likely cross over. I am studying in an animation program, but have found that I am really more of a concept artist. Self study is all fine and good...but if I were you, I would really try to find my way into another program. You'll more than likely find your true calling by going through different types of assignments (that have definite deadlines ;))

[fenixx]

@ rusalka : Thanks for your input. I am more interested in the conceptualization stage in movies/games when it comes to concept. The real thing that appeals to me in animation is character animation... acting really. But I guess I kind of feel inclined more to Concept Art.

@ thesinfulsaint : Its not really a confusion between Animation and Concept Art. Its more like the confusion of which interest to pursue. I do realize they are varied. I have this keen interest for story telling that I feel animation is a good medium for me for making short films.

3D animation is not the only animation, although as a career choice it has to be I guess. But be it Pixar or any other company... their animators still do pencil tests.. keys... act stuff out... and then apply it on computer. Does it get too technical when it comes to actually getting it done in 3D ?

And I don't think I have an option of moving out or into another program. My parents have invested a lot of money on this course, and although I completely understand the fact that a degree is not important, they would feel much better if I actually graduate. I have already jumped from other course that were not at all helping me.

My only fear is that my course curriculum is slowly moving further away from my interests, and I have to find time to do assignments that I really don't have interest for like 3D modeling, texturing and visual effects and time to do my own thing, practice the basics. SHOULD HAVE REALLY FOCUSED ON THE FIRST YEAR OF ART... darn it !!

I am working on a short 2D film as a project in my college and I am working on it. But still I feel that I should divert my interest completely on concept art and just finish the project.