I want to work at Massive Black..but how?

[Frank the Ninja]

8) This is my dream job. 8)

Hello everyone! My name is Frank Wade and I'm an 18 year old artist who is a senior at a small high school. In Oklahoma, USA. In the country. :x :S
There are about 50 people in my Senior class, and needless to say, my art class SUCKS ASS. The teacher is a horrible, old, retired baseball coach who believes that you should only paint what people will buy. :dad: I have barely learned anything from him in the three years I have been there.

But! Practicing art is something I always do, it is my main passion! I strive to be the best I can be, but alas, I am also a very lazy person! I rarely finish any of my art, because I think I can do better and move on to another piece. I have never had any PROPER training, I am mainly self-tought and motivated.

So, now that my short background is out of the way, let me tell you about what I want.

My dream is to work at Massive Black. My favorite artists ever work there: Marko Djurdjevic and Wesley Burt. They are so amazing, and are always a huge inspiration to me. I tried to copy a painting of Wesley's in art class.....a guy with smoke coming out of his mouth. THe colors and strokes where beautiful, thats why I chose it, but my art "teacher" wouldn't let me paint the smoke. He said I can't paint a guy hacking on weed. -_- Sorry, I got off track.
The entire team at Massive Black are so amazingly talented and cool. I LONG to be around artists like this. I need to meet like-minded people!! All the people around me are hick-ass cowboys whose entire life plans revolve around a city-college and a farm! I want to do something BIG with my life, I want to grow as an artist and be apart of the amazing MASSIVE BLACK!

Here is what I have planned:

I have made an ACT score high enough to go to a state college. I plan on taking my basics there, but then I REALLY want to go to an amazing art college. I have no idea what schools are good ones? Please help?

Marko! Where did you go? Wesley? Did you guys go to state colleges only? How did you get to Massive Black?

After I graduate from an amazing art college, I plan on having my best work prepared and ...I don't know where to go then ?

I am very ignorant to how this whole process works, but I want it SO bad. I hear Sheridan is good? Is that in Canada?

So, please, CA, :yayca: , I need your help.

Thanks for everything,
-Frank

[Pixeldragoon]

I'm no expert, but I've picked up some neat facts. Marko Is completely Self taught, and Wesley went to CIA. He majored in DRawing with a minor in painting. Art college will only get you so far, and with the price, you should use it to it's full extent, try to bend the teachers to your will as best you can. Use every resource they offer. Good luck, we'll be chasing the same dream.

[Pixeldragoon]

I'm also gonna go off on my own tangent here...

Make sure you know what they are looking for. Look at what your idols got. Marko's lines are incredible, and he does them fast. They are correct in anatomy, and totally original. They have detail, but the emphasis is put mostly on the attitude of the character and what they were trying to acheive. (THis is all specualtion by the way.) Wes's are Really form defining. Simpler in detail, but more effecient at showing features. (not that either of these guys is more or less than the other- Just speculating here) So in a way, I think Marko tends to play more on attitude related to the fashion and look of the character, and Wes has a more Feature based, anatomical approach, while at the same time using value to bring out a mood. Manley, from what I've seen/heard, is very Mood oriented. That's what he tries to establish the most, and thats why his pieces are also very distinct. Andrew IMO, is very Design based. Look at the Samus suit- It's extremley clever, all those pics of it. It just Looks good. Sure this is a combination of the other stuff, but IMO the principles of Design play a much more evident role in his stuff. I can't really comment on any of the other guys/gals, because I haven't studied them as much.

From what I gather, the word "Character" is the best word to describe what people want. When I think of the MB style, I think of the individuals and how they develop it. That's what I consider style- So I think the most important part is developing a character in a clever and effecient way.

This is all speculation, again, not to be taken as official. It's all my opinion.



EDIT:
Okay, this next part might get just a leeeeeeeeetle bit harsh. But I am looking at it from a realistic point of view. But then again, I might be wrong on several parts. Please don't be mad... I will probably get ass holish in here...

IMHO, your work doesn't reflect any of the qualities of the Massive black team. It's not bad at all, but it looks like you have still quite a bit of soul searching and learning to do.
http://www.ninja.oceansend.com/images/art/positive.jpg
This image (Taken from your portfolio)

While it is nice to look at, and not bad by any means, think. What makes this girl unique? What unique features does she have? What kind of scene is she in? The only hints to who she is or where is her outfit and the music and the smile. It doesn't appear to have any story in it. Taking this piece to a more constructive (But still very ahrsh) point of view, the value is random. There is no definite light source, it's all just flat. Nothing comes at me, or goes away. It's just lines on paper. You have to be able to make it something MORE. Something special, in all 360 concepts for that few month period that you do.
Also, this is nice, but it is a very common subject, and you have executed it in no super special way. No extremley unique clothes, or anything happening. No super futuristic Headset, no rain or snow or sunlight- It's just kinda dull. I know it's just a sketch, but try to even make your sketches more than just that. Make it a piece of great sketchwork.

This is going to seem really arrogant of me, but I don't mean it like that. It's for the sake of example only.

This is one of my sketches done a few weeks ago:
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/7902/scan00053on.jpg
This is one I was never happy with, the anatomy was off, etc.- But look-
It's obvious that there is something going on. He has sort of a drastic expression on his face, and it's obvious he is struggling to walk in whatever direction. There is a brisk wind coming from behind, about to sweep him off of his feet. The character is extremley boring though. He's got a hoody and a bracelet, some shorts, and some converse. All you know is that he is an average teenager. But he is in a (somewhat) compelling scene. It's a struggle, which tells you something is troubling, or there is conflict. Other then that, nothing so good about this sketch.

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/9168/scan00074na.jpg

This was just something I did thinking about spainish soldiers. You can tell it's spanish because of the helm. It's obviously a 15th century conquistador. You see that right off. The armor thing on his shoulder tells you that he is a warrior, expecting a battle, and his mopey expression lets you know he isn't exactly pleased with anything. He has that frilly thing on his arm too keep it out of the way, other than that, no good reason. He has a bandage, which could mean he was recently in a battle, and he has a bracelet, which can be a good luck charm, an heirloom, many things. But the scene is nothing spectacular.

I feel it's the ability to combine these 2 things into one, easily, many times, and with originality- to do something so totally out there, that people wonder why they didn't think of it.

AGAIN, I'm not trying to put myself above you, or saying I ahve what it takes or anything, I'm just doing what comes to mind to help show what I mean. If you want me to take your pic down, I will.

Hope I could help, and I hope I hit some good points.

[Frank the Ninja]

Yeah, thanks man. AGHRHGARHGR. I really need to get better. Can you tell me what some of the best art colleges are? Do I need to get a degree or something before?

[Pixeldragoon]

Degrees aren't terribley important (Or so I speculate), it's the portfolio and upbeaet attitude that will get you the job. Art schools are good for their resources and the people who teach you. Alot of it, even in art school, (Or so I have heard), is making it for yourself. Do what tailors to your needs.

[Storyboard Dave]

Yeah, thanks man. AGHRHGARHGR. I really need to get better. Can you tell me what some of the best art colleges are? Do I need to get a degree or something before?


So many people out there want the best art college, but so many fail to realize that what might be ideal for one person might totally be wrong for another. Mybest suggestion would be to start doing some research here at CA and also take a look at:

http://www.aicad.org/

And upon doing that bit of research, go talk to one of their reps. Ask them questions upon questions. Don't stop until you get the answers you need in order to make a sound judgment about the school.

Remember it's got to feel right for you. You should be challenged, scared and be motivated once you're on their campus.

If you want, you can also try to make it to a National Portfolio Day and see a bunch of these schools there and talk to them as well.

http://www.npda.org/

Whatever choice you make has got to be the right fit for you ultimately.

[Marko Djurdjevic]

Hey Frank,

there is a lot you gotta bear in mind, before thinking about applying anywhere.
Ask yourself, is your art good enough to compete with other industry professionals. If it's not, then you have to put all of your energy into the effort of achiving a higher skill level. When I read that you're lazy, then there is already something wrong. You need to be the biggest motivation for your art, you need to push yourself to create art on a daily basis. Not just two hours a day, but six or seven. You need to sacrifice your time. It's good to have high goals, but you have to work hard to achieve those. If you cannot motivate yourself enough to grasp for your dreams, no university or art college can teach you how to do it.
Remember, I am completly self taught. I never had any art education or a mentor to ask what is right and what is wrong. At the age of 17 I was already working professionally as an Illustrator in germany. There were no Forums around back then, no pros that I could have asked. I just did what I wanted to do, and that was to become an artist. 2006 marks my tenth year in my career as a professional. And it was my will that brought me this far. So you have to have the guts to go for what you want in life, but you also have to put the time into nurturing your skills.
Just my two cents
<M>

[SprayNation]

haha, Marko's right, and if there's anything an art school can show you, beyond the great source of knowledge provided by it's professors, is the total lack of self-discipline presented by all of the students that make up the school. At my school, I know maybe five people who are going to make it in the concept art industry. If any of you end up at an art school, remember it's all on you to go after it, cause the students at my school are notorious for believing that they'll get a job just from graduating from an "art school" (which is complete bullshit, cause half of them give two shits about art to begin with). Sorry for my ranting, but alot of my friends and professors at my school feel this way too. This was just a little forewarning for anyone interested in an art school (don't get me wrong, you just have to work for your education). Anyway, thought I might contribute to the thread. Take care bra's. SprayNation

[Frank the Ninja]

Thanks everyone for replying.

Marko: Thank you so much for this extra motivation. I have decided to stop pussy-footing around and draw, draw, draw as much as I can. I have been very lazy, but no more. Thank you!

WOW! Proffessionally at 17...

[Storyboard Dave]

Thanks everyone for replying.

Marko: Thank you so much for this extra motivation. I have decided to stop pussy-footing around and draw, draw, draw as much as I can. I have been very lazy, but no more. Thank you!

WOW! Proffessionally at 17...

Lazy WILL be the death of any career long before it even starts. When you think about it from an employer's point of view, they'd much rather take an eager less talented individual as opposed to a lazy talented one. You can teach an enthusiastic person to perform the skills necessary for the job (and succeed) whereas you can't teach motivation. So now is a damn good time to shake the lazy attitude- being lazy won't get you anywhere and there are hundreds, if not thousands of highly motivated AND talented people out there gunning for work. You'd better be prepared to compete!

Good luck!

[Main Loop]

hey marko, do you have any of those old illustrations you can show us?

[Frank the Ninja]

Oh yeah! I would love to see some of Marko's old work!!

[Vincent Hammet]

Yeah really is no need to assist to art schools in order to be a great artist. Is all about effort and passion. Nothing more.

Well maybe u need draw until your fingers bleed, but that´s all :)

[ogar555]

^
Was very inspired by what he read.

You guys rock! :D

[WhiteC]

just wanted to say that you got good potential from what i saw.
not that im a pro but im sure you can be as good as you want with practice.
no one can teach you talent, motivation or passion, they can only show you the tools.
peace