by Eliott Lilly | Sep 28, 2015 | Words of Wisdom
Sebastian Gromann is a freelance Concept Designer working in the entertainment industry currently living in Berlin, Germany.
Portfolio: www.sebastiangromann.com
Art Station: http://www.artstation.com/artist/SebastianGromann
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sebastian.gromann
Educational background: Mostly Self-taught, later at University of Applied Sciences (HTW), Berlin, Germany. (Majored in Game Design (BA), March 2015)
Number of years in industry: 3+
Shipped titles/ Projects worked on: A few “AAA” game projects with KARAKTER Design Studio, but sadly they are still under NDA
Current portfolio examples:
WHAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE(S) OF ADVICE YOU CAN OFFER STUDENTS THAT YOU WISH THEY HAD TOLD YOU IN ART SCHOOL?
One important thing I frequently remind myself of is to balance my creative workday and my social life. I, for instance, love to play sports in order to keep absorbing new influences. It seems like a strange comparison at first but since our creative passion is totally driven by heavy thinking, there needs to be an element that requires different abilities to keep things balanced. So, playing sports (like soccer) is so valuable to me, because I get to focus on cognitive demands and prevent myself from getting creatively stagnated.
ASSUMING THAT THERE ARE NO SPACE-TIME PARADOX’S INVOLVED… IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME 10 YEARS (KNOWING WHAT YOU KNOW NOW), WHAT WOULD YOU TELL YOUR YOUNGER SELF TO DO DIFFERENTLY IN YOUR CAREER AS AN ARTIST?
“Do not doubt, man!“ – Especially in the beginning of my creative path I wasn’t even sure if working hard would be enough to break into the industry and If I would be able to make a living from being an artist. As cheesy as it sounds, even if my heart said “for sure“ loudly, my mind still was like “nah, probably not“. I guess a lot of aspiring artists can relate to that state of mind. Looking back and following the paths of my colleagues I can easily say that doubt should have been out of place.
If you are passionate about something, then nothing should be able to hold you back or keep you from archiving your goals. Do not waste your time doubting yourself- even if things don’t go the way you carefully planed. Taking different, or unexpected roads is what shapes us as artists and you should focus your energy on positive thoughts and use it. Everything will work out as long as you constantly work hard on your passion.
AS AN ARTIST, WHAT DOES “SUCCESS” MEAN TO YOU?
Success is the result of archiving your personal goals. Therefore, each artist has his or her own definition of success. Some might rank it based on the level of appreciation for what they do, for others success might be based on materialistic things like income. What drives me creating art is to create and explore new, exiting visuals. The purpose is sharing these works, discussing it with comrades and contributing them to a final product. So for me personally “appreciation” is the one attribute that shapes my level of success the most.
All images used with permission by the artist. ©Sebastian Gromann
by Eliott Lilly | Sep 23, 2015 | Questions
Here are a few short answers to some of the most frequent questions I get asked by students about various types of hardware used for concept art.
Do you know a good drawing tablet for my computer that I can get around the $100-$200 range?
Yes and no. There are several cheap/ generic tablets out there, but from what I’ve seen, they all have quirks or drawbacks of some kind. Even some of the student versions of professional tablets (like the Wacom Bamboo) can offer a less than perfect drawing experience. Therefore, when possible, I believe that it is better to spend a little more money to purchase the industry standard tablet (Wacom Intuos/ Cintiq) and consider it an investment in your future, than to compromise and purchase a sub-par product. Even if you can’t afford the latest greatest Wacom product, you may be able to afford the last generation or two of their tablets. Or consider buying it used or refurbished.
Personally, I like drawing with traditional media (pen/markers/paint), but I see a lot of concept art online is done digitally. I own a Wacom Cintiq and know how to do digital paintings in Photoshop, but I am way faster with pen and paper so the majority of my drawings are done manually. Should I be switching over to digital, or does traditional media still have a place in video game design?
I believe that whatever works the fastest, whichever one you are most comfortable and efficient at using, or whichever one gives you the best end result is the medium that you should choose. This all depends on your task at hand, so the medium you choose may change from assignment to assignment. Being open to all kinds of mediums is probably best. In my experience however, I mainly work digitally because I like “UNDOs” and scanning in loose pieces of paper is a hassle. You will have to develop your own preference. Occasionally I’ll have trouble with the photoshop pen pressure not working, but for most digital artists it’s a quick fix and doesn’t affect your overall flow.
Also keep in mind that the work you see displayed on online galleries, is just that: for show. It doesn’t paint an accurate picture of what concept art is.
For example: when dealing with clients I give them all them the same speech. I say: “Hey, I can make this one image super sexy with lots of polish and lens flares,.. but it will take a week. Or I can bang out 3 super quick dirty concepts in a day and we can polish from there. Which do you want?….”.
Guess what they say 10 out of 10 times………. YUP: Quick and dirty. Because ultimately its not about the render or the finish. Its about the ideas. And that is what the client is paying you for: your brain. So they get more bang for their buck when they can see more ideas.
That was my long-winded way of saying the same thing I said in the first sentence. You’re welcome.
What medium is the most relevant for concept design?
In my opinion, there is no relevant medium. Every medium and process has its advantages and disadvantages; use whatever tool you can to get the job done as best and as fast as possible. You should also keep in mind that there are things you can do with traditional mediums that computers will never be able to fully emulate, just like there are digital manipulations and happy accidents that occur on the computer that would take you forever to replicate by hand. By being open to all mediums, you will increase work-flow productivity and stave off boredom.
If you have questions that are not answered here, send a email to eliott@eliottlillyart.com. It may take some time, but I will do my best to respond.
by Eliott Lilly | Sep 21, 2015 | FAQ, Questions
Here’s how you can check to see if you are attending the wrong school, and several ways to course correct.
I got into college this year; http://www.lit.ie/Courses/LC502/default.aspx, but I question the curriculum very much because it feels much more of a game development course then anything. Nobody in the program knows what to make of the course because it’s the first one with that title ever in Ireland. It looks like the school is trying to do a lot in this course, but I am unsure if it is the right place to learn about concept art. What do you think?
Hello. I looked at your schools website and the main thing I noticed right away was that the curriculum tract you are on is indeed for game development (not art). If I read correctly, during your first semester, you will have 10 classes or so, but only two of them are for art. The other eight cover things like Animation, Scripting, Audio basics, and more.
If you knew you wanted to go into video games, but didn’t know which area to focus on, or if you wanted to make your own video game in the future, then taking a mixed discipline course like this might be great for your needs. In you case, however, where you KNOW that you want to be a concept artist, then taking a course like this is terrible. Also, from what I can tell, the last two years of the school you won’t even be drawing. I hate to say it, but you may be right – You’re in the wrong school.
That’s not to say that the school is bad, only that it’s not properly suited for your needs. No school can be really bad, per se, especially if they take guidance from firms that provide education consulting services. These agencies can help a school and its students reach its true potential by applying various strategies. However, even a school at its most optimal state of performance can be completely wrong for you based on your courses and aims in life. Let me put it into perspective for you. Let’s pretend that you are currently taking 2 classes a day, five days a week at LIT. (Ten classes total) If at best, the only classes that relate to you are Drawing Principles 1 and Drawing Principles 2, ( 2 classes, 1 day total) then the other 8 classes (4 days a week) you are paying for are useless and money wasted.
Compare that to a concept focused school like, say Feng Zhu Design, where you are studying drawing principles every single day, for 12 hours each day, 5 days a week. At a school like that your course curriculum is focused and intense; this means that you will be learning at an exponentially faster rate. For every week of learning at FZD, it will take you 5 weeks at LIT to learn the same exact thing. Let me rephrase that. If you attend FZD for one year, it will take you 5 years at LIT to learn the same exact thing. Again – if it takes you 2 years to develop an industry worthy portfolio from FZD, it will take you 10 YEARS to do the same thing at a school like LIT. Have I made the point clear enough? (I’m using FZD as an example… there are dozens of equally amazing concept art schools out there. You can choose whichever one suits you best).
I’ll be honest thought, I am not too familiar with the schools in Ireland (I’m located in the USA) and I don’t know what else is available to you locally. I think you and I can both agree, however, that something will need to change. From what I can tell you have a few options:
1. GOOD Option:
Further research the art schools in Ireland. If you can find a good school that will teach you art every single day, then you will be better off there, than if you were to stay at LIT (even if that school doesn’t specifically teach concept art).
2. BETTER Option:
Find local concept artists who works or grew up in Ireland and ask them what school they went to. If there is a local art convention or expo, you may even be able to meet them in person at their booth. If no such event takes place nearby, then you will have to hunt down their portfolio online and shoot them an email. (Ask around to anyone who may be able to assist you here.) The point is to find out how they “made it” and see if you can follow in their foot steps. They also may have some valuable insight that they can share with you. Bonus!
3. BEST Option:
Relocate to a different city/ state or even country to find an appropriate school. (Check out the Recommended Resources page on my blog to find additional schools). This option requires a huge commitment on your part, but also has the highest reward/ best possible outcome.
If relocating is out of the picture, then you can stay where you are, and take online courses. (Visit the Recommended Resources page again, to find great online courses, tutorial videos and more). This option is great because it will likely be cheaper than full-time tuition. On the flip side, you won’t get a degree, (but no one in this industry cares about degrees). Online courses are also a great avenue for teachers to take, where they can build on their skills with online universities such as the Dominican University of California. You just need to have an internet connection that does not act up while you are watching videos or reading up a blog because those situations will undoubtedly put your temper to the test. As a result, it is preferable to invest in an internet connection that is affordable and provides the desired speed as well. When looking for internet plans similar to wow internet plans or evaluating your current internet service, one of the most important factors to consider is internet speed. However, unlike the price, where you can easily look at the monthly cost and think “that fits my budget” , internet speeds can be more difficult to assess. So you might want to go for the one that is already established and has good feedback from the users.
Regardless of whichever action you choose, if you are serious and really want to “make it” as a concept artist, now is the time to take drastic action. Remembering to make the right decision for you, especially when it comes to your future, could be vital to your life going forward. It doesn’t matter whether you’re one of the five million people who decide to take an online course each year, (look at the source here) or whether you decide to relocate, it’s your choice. This is your future after all. I hope this info helps.
If anyone needs further clarity or has additional questions, then please send an email to me@eliottlillyart.com, and I will do my best to answer them.
by Eliott Lilly | Sep 14, 2015 | Questions
As an author of this blog, readers usually ask me (Eliott Lilly) questions about the concept art industry, but every now and then I also get asked personal questions as well. Here are a few short answers to the questions frequent asked about myself.
I noticed that you deal with mostly gun designs and mech based units. Where do you get your inspiration for some of these works?
I, like most people, draw inspiration from everywhere. I keep a watchful eye on “Life” and absorb everything like a sponge. This means being attentive to things like current events, nature, books, movies, etc. In fact, some of my favorite pieces off art are a result of my natural curiosity to understand Life. If, while walking down the street I see something of interest, then I may photograph it, so it can be researched further when I get home. This leads to a deeper understanding of what things are and how they work. Form there, it’s just a matter of incorporating what I have learned into my own design ideas, then turning that idea into an image. This mash up of random ideas usually yields a unique (and hopefully cool) looking end result. If you are struggling with an idea, you may want to try this as well.
Do you rely on computer graphics or do you still draw daily?
I do both. Every day I paint for hours on the computer (usually for work or personal projects), but I reach for my sketchbook whenever I have to quickly problem solve an idea in my head. I do this because, despite all of the advances in technology, I still find that drawing on paper with pencil is the quickest and easiest way to explore ideas and gather my thoughts.
I’m trying to improve my book and Reference library – I’m curious to know what you would recommend.
Buying books is great way to learn. I have hundreds. Check out the recommend resources page to see my personal favorites.
If you would like to ask your own question, feel free to drop a line to me@eliottlillyart.com. It may take some time, but I will do my best to respond.
by Eliott Lilly | Sep 9, 2015 | Articles
SO YOU WANT TO BE A CONCEPT ARTIST WORKING IN ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY?
By Eliott Lilly www.eliottlillyart.com
When you think about it, becoming a professional concept artist is actually quite a simple thing to do, but not easy. It’s something that anyone can do, and yet, most people who start down this path, don’t finish. They will try it for a little bit, dabble and then they give up, and that’s why they don’t get results. It has nothing to do with talent (Ok, maybe a little) but, I firmly believe that in a battle of talent vs. hard work… hard work wins every time. In my opinion, sometimes the difference between “success” and failure is determined by the ambition and determination of the individual.
The good news is that there are only about four major steps that need to be followed to become a professional concept artist. (There are a few others, but they are less major.) If you are ambitious and determined, then you can do this. The Major ones are:
1.Understand what the job really is and what your goals are
There are a few misconceptions about what the role of a concept artist is and what it entails. Do your research and make sure that you want to dedicate yourself to this career path. Going to art school and studying to become an artist is like learning any other trade – It is all that you are being trained to do, so you need to be committed. Sink or swim.
Once you are certain that this you are on the right path, establish a goal for yourself. Say to yourself something like: “I want to become a senior character concept artist working at Blizzard studios on games like Starcraft, or Warcraft.” Let that dream job be the target that you aspire to.
2. Understand what you are good at
Every artist has their favorite thing(s) to draw. If you naturally like drawing characters, then chances are you will want to draw them professionally. Take a moment to evaluate your own strengths and weaknesses (Ask a trusted teacher for advice if you have to). Getting direct feedback will inform you of the areas that you will need to improve.
Keep in mind that even though the industry is booming, it is still relatively small. There are way more artists than jobs available, and as such, competition for these jobs is fierce and the bar is set quite high. If you want to compete, then you will need to get good at drawing the thing(s) that you love to draw. Like REALLY, REALLY GOOD. This means practice.
Spend a minimum of 4 hours a day (outside of class and homework assignments) practicing, learning and training on your own. This is your time to implement what you have learned in school and apply it to your own artistic artwork. Congratulations! You have the beginnings of a portfolio.
3. Build your portfolio around your strengths
Because your portfolio speaks to the client on your behalf, it needs to say: “This is what I am good at doing, and I can deliver this quality of work over and over again.” If all that you have to show at the end of your time in school, is class work- then you do not have a portfolio. You have a bunch of class assignments, which tells the client that you are good at being a student – not a professional.
A good portfolio should play up your strengths and downplay your weaknesses. It should ONLY feature subject matter that you enjoy making, and each image should be of outstanding quality. Take the best of the best images that demonstrate your strengths and arrange them in a coherent manner. Create a website, post your portfolio online, write up your resume (you can get help from https://www.arcresumes.com/ with this) and begin the job hunt.
4. Find a studio that needs your strengths
Know who you are dealing with. If your portfolio demonstrates a certain affinity for highly detailed and super realistic renderings of characters and faces, then sending your ‘folio to companies like Nintendo might be a waste of time. However if you were to submit that same portfolio to Naughty Dog, (makers of Uncharted) they may snatch you up in a heartbeat since you are the right candidate for their needs. Target your portfolio wisely.
And that’s it. If your portfolio is good enough and you apply to the right job. BOOM. You’re in. That’s all it really takes to become a professional concept artist. That said, here are a few more suggestions…
5. Find a mentor and get better
Finding a mentor on the job is like receiving GOLD every day! Ideally, you should be looking for someone who has way more experience and success than you and who is willing to guide you along. However, since that is not always the case spending time learning from a book, instructional DVD, or tutorial will work as well. The point is to learn, improve and grow as an artist.
6. Upgrade to a better studio and better wage.
There comes a time when you outgrow a studio and will have to move on. There always is. It can be due to several reasons, but usually because the project ships (or has changed) and you have no interest in the next one, you’re no longer challenged and excited as you once used to be or all of your peers have left and you find that there is no one left to mentor you. Time to level up.
Hopefully by this point in your career, you will have a few years of experience under your belt along with a shipped title or two. If you were smart, you’ve been constantly improving and working on personal pieces. Now, despite the status of your current full time project, your portfolio looks amazing and you have new job prospects lined up.
Repeat step 4-6 until desired goal is achieved.
Remember that goal you set: “I want to become a senior character concept artist working at Blizzard studios on Starcraft, or Warcraft”… are you there yet? No? Then keep going.
Be sure that the next studio you work at or client you take on, allows you to develop the kind of work in your portfolio that your dream job will find attractive. Each job should bring you one step closer to your end goals. (Keep in mind, however, that you can update your goals over time as you grow).
For a more in-depth look at these steps and more, be sure to check out The Big Bad World Of Concept Art For Video Games: An Insiders Guide for Students“. It covers in great detail what the job of a concept artist really entails, how to choose the right education, what you should be studying and practicing in school, how to properly build your portfolio to land the job you want, and much, much more.
