Some advice please!

[Twisted_and_Tainted]

Hi,

I'm 20 years old, living in London UK and I'm currently doing a BA in Philosophy. However, much of my spare time is spent drawing and writing. While at my 6th form college (in the final month) my A-Level fine art teacher casually suggested I should have done an illustration course and gave skipped my A-levels due to my obsession with drawing fantasy creatures and characters. It was something I was thinking about for some time but she really frustrated me with this late suggestion because I had already organised everything with my university. I have 1 1/2 years left doing Philosophy, of which I enjoy also and have otherwise planned to teach in later life, but I feel my heart lies with drawing.

All the skills I have are self taught and I'm highly ambitious, I'm trying to dabble in Photoshop and Illustrator but I dont really know where to begin or go from here. Looking at this site and the people's work on here, I am not disheartened at all, but I have an eagerness and drive to produce some professional masterpieces such as the ones I am seeing.

Any advice would be appreciated, this is my first day and my first post here.

The back of my notebook has been tortured with my birol pen long enough :(

Thanks in advance.

[Storyboard Dave]

Well I'm one to always say follow your passion.

But being able to scribble on the back of a notepad and being able to do it for a living are two entirely different things. Even if the drawings on the back of your notebook are gorgeous, there's still the business side of things if you plan on pursuing this as a career. It's great that you're dabbling in Illustrator and Photoshop but ultimately you've got to be able to get together a tight comprehensive portfolio of your work to present to prospective employers.

Now realize that this business isn't for everyone no matter how much talent you have. You literally have to want to want it bad enough because you're going to have to deal with deadlines, clients, tempermental superiors, and being a part of a team. It has its rewards but it also has its downside.

It can be something you do professionally if you want it bad enough and if not, it's still something to pursue as a hobby as well. It all depends solely on what you want out of it.

[Twisted_and_Tainted]

Thanks for the reply, I understand every successful career must involve plenty of hard work and determination. With what I have intended to do, teaching, it involves similar things, and not to mention the inevitable possibility of unruly children! :)

Anyway, I have to think about this matter more, but again I am thankful for your input. In regards to the education side of things, are there any qualifications one must have in order to increase their chances of even freelance work etc? I've seen Illustration courses/degrees at universities here that last for 3 years.. are they crucial? Or are there possibilities of taking shorter courses, or teaching yourself skills that can otherwise be illustrated in a portfolio, regardless of qualification?

Apoligies for the somewhat inane questions, but I dont really have any direction or people familiar in this field to talk to.

[Seedling]

Hi Twisted,
Try the link in my sig called "Concept Art 101". And good luck!

[edit] Also, which field or fields interest you? There are many represented here. If computer games interest you, there'a another link in my sig for you, too.

[Twisted_and_Tainted]

Thanks ever so much seedling, I'll see what you and the others think in that thread.

Oh and I'm open to lots of fields, I quite like bio-mechanics, very abstract stuff, all fantasy themes (warriors, dragons etc), and portraits/life. I'm quite influenced by and enjoy the Games Workshop style and the Baroque period of art.. the common contrast between the austre and the lush has always interested me.

Games wise, I've been playing board/computer games since I can remember. Especially RPG's and strategy sims on all platforms. I had early ambitions of being involved with game design.. but there was scant information and encouragement towards it for some reason.

Just reading the first assignment in your 101 thread, I think I'll enjoy it! Haha :) I'll read the other one now as well.

Thanks again.