Concept Art: How To Break In and Stay In

Legendary Disney artist Armand Serrano told me: "They hire you for your art, but they keep you because of your ideas."

There are a million concept art portfolios out there...

...and very few compelling concepts.

A professional concept artist designs the future. They don't simply copy current trends.

They envision environments, props, characters, costumes, color palettes and compositions that audiences have never seen before.

A professional concept artist is collaborative and infinitely curious.

A professional concept artist has an inexhaustible visual library.

A professional concept artist is a master of the fundamentals and knows numerous efficient, focused techniques.

Here's a collection of my best interviews and articles to help you stay focused on what really matters to concept artists who are serious about breaking-in, staying-in or getting a better gig...

Interview With ‘Ender’s Game’ & ‘Spider-Man’ Concept Artist Robert Simons (Part 1) :: ArtCast #79

By Chris Oatley

Whether you’re into concept art, illustration, character design, comics or storyboards, I’m constantly pushing you to create personal projects and pursue amazing collaborations.

Why?

The success of concept artist Robert Simons is why.

Previously, on the ArtCast, I interviewed the director and composer of Project Arbiter – an indie sci-fi short film with a big-budget look.

Robert Simons’ concept work on Project Arbiter demonstrated a surprising level of maturity (He was only 19 years old at the time). Unsuprisingly, his career now includes concept work on huge films like Ender’s Game and The Amazing Spider-man 2.

In this interview, we hear how Robert’s career evolved, his attitude toward criticism, obsession and creating art with meaning.

…and in the Q&A segment, my good friend Matt Kohr joins me to respond to a listener question about whether you need to move to the west coast of the United States in order to become a concept artist…

[Transcript] Interview With ‘Ender’s Game’ & ‘Spider-Man’ Concept Artist Robert Simons (Part 1) :: ArtCast #79

By Chris Oatley

This is the transcript for the podcast episode Interview With ‘Ender’s Game’ & ‘Spider-Man’ Concept Artist Robert Simons (Part 1) :: ArtCast #79 To listen to the podcast click here.

Chris: Chris Oatley’s Artcast, episode 79 – an interview with Robert Simons, concept artist for Ender’s Game and The Amazing Spiderman 2, part 1!

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5

An Indie Sci-Fi Short Film With A Big-Budget Look: The Making Of ‘Project Arbiter’ :: ArtCast #78

By Chris Oatley

For many visual storytellers, technology means “equality.”

Equal tools, equal teams, equal attention.

…a creative meritocracy where the Internet decides to reward only the best and most beloved work.

Of course, the mythical future I’m describing isn’t significantly different from our present reality.

Ideas like Webcomics, Podcasts, Patreon and Spotify have been erected from the rubble of the traditional publishing and music industries. Mobile and indie games erupted into the mainstream, claiming a huge share of the existing market and expanding it even further.

Movies are different. Not safe, but different.

Independent film and mainstream movies have co-existed since the early twentieth century.

Mainstream movies thrived because the Indies never really got in their way.

Most independent filmmakers embrace limitations and leave the spectacle to the studios.

Today, mainstream movies survive on spectacle. …almost exclusively. They are being destabilized by a global competition for attention, not by independent film.

…yet.

In this interview, Director Michael Chance and Composer Ryan Leach take us behind the scenes of Project Arbiter, an indie sci-fi short film with a big-budget look.

What will happen when technology offers Hollywood spectacle to aspiring independent filmmakers everywhere?

‘Project Arbiter’ is proof that we’ll all find out very soon…

[Transcript] An Indie Sci-Fi Short Film With A Big-Budget Look: The Making Of ‘Project Arbiter’ :: ArtCast #78

By Chris Oatley

This is the transcript for the podcast episode An Indie Sci-Fi Short Film With A Big-Budget Look: The Making Of ‘Project Arbiter’ :: ArtCast #78 To listen to the podcast click here.

Chris: This is Chris Oatley’s artcast, episode 78 – The Making of Project Arbiter, an independent sci-fi short film with a big budget look, an interview with director Michael Chance and composer Ryan Leach.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5

Why Your Concept Art Portfolio Is Being Ignored (Part 3) :: ArtCast #73

By Chris Oatley

My friend Matt Kohr is a professional concept artist and the creator of the best digital painting tutorial site on the Internet.

So it’s safe to say that he appreciates digital tools and flashy Photoshop tricks as much as anyone.

But in the following interview, you’ll hear him say this:

“I get a lot of e-mails from beginners asking, “What Photoshop technique do I start with?” And I say: “Get a sketchbook and a pencil.”

I’ve never met a successful concept artist who feels like she has outgrown the basic fundamentals of anatomy, perspective, composition and color theory.

…but most aspiring concept artists get so focused on tech and techniques that they forget the fundamentals.

Three of the most inspiring art-gurus on the Internet – Noah Bradley, Matt Kohr, and Darren Yeow – join me for the epic conclusion of a three-part series designed to help artists gain attention in the fields of concept art and illustration…

Concept Art: How To Break In and Stay In

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