What to study?

[Little panda]

So,basically, what do you need to study to become a concept artist? Ive been doing some research (only through internet though), but I didnt find anything...
Im thinking about going on an art univesity (though I still have 2 years and something to go), but as I saw, there are so many possibilities what to study there....and I was confused.
And the schools in my country dont provide too much detailed info (and honestly, our art schools...suck :/ I talked with some students there and they said that if I could then I should go definately abroad....*sigh*)

But back to the question. What is the best thing to study?Illustartion, or graphic design? Or even animation? And what degrees are able (and preffered) to achieve there?

Thanks in advance

[Maxine Schacker]

The first thing you need are traditional fine art courses in perspective and structural drawing, life drawing, still life drawing, painting and design and composition.This will enable you to succeed at everything else. For more information look at our web site, www.maxthemutt.com. A concept art page should be up and running shortly after the New Year.

I'm surprised that you don't think your art schools are good. Some of the best concept artists around are from the former Yugoslavia.,, and several of them teach at Max the Mutt! The Eastern European countries seemed to hang onto traditional art training at a time when the west, on the whole, gave it up. Has this changed?

[Seedling]

To be a concept artist you need the drawing skills to be able to draw just about anything from imagination on demand. Graphic design is about text. Traditional animation will teach you how to draw, but the focus will likely be heavy on character poses and motion, and light on things like rendering, shading, and color. Concept art is a form of illustration, so an illustration program is likely the best ways to get what you need.

There are some links in my sig that might be of interest to you. . .

[Little panda]

Thanks, these were the answers I was looking for!

Maxine - I honestly dont know, this is only what I heard from students....(but I guess the blamings arent reasonable.....thanks, it kinda poured a new hope into my blood :D)

[Maxine Schacker]

Good luck to you! Please let me know how things go for you. There are several books that will help: The Natural Way to Draw by Kimon Nicolaides, Hawthorne On Painting (Dover press), Drawing Lessons from the Great Masters by Robert Beverly Hale, George Bridgman's Complete Guide to Drawing from Life.