Thoughts About Concept Art Education

by Hector Ruiz | Apr 8, 2016 | Resources, Reviews

What to Look for in Concept Art Education

This week ending 04/09/2016 we discuss an important subject that goes through a lot of concept art students. The topic of education and how to succeed in this career are the most asked questions from students. Well, that and what kind of brush does a seasoned artist use to paint epic works. In all seriousness let’s discuss some thoughts on concept art, education, what to look for, and how to get the best of it. These may not cover a lot of the questions students tend to ask, but will certainly scratch some of the big ones. We’ll break this down into several parts that will be continued in the future. Enjoy!

As a student and teacher myself, I’ve had a lot of these questions and having attended several classes and schools with concept art in mind, I might be able to shed some light into this subject.

1. Where do I go to school?

You can go wherever you want. Commitment is the key to getting into this career. The more time you’re willing to spend on your craft, the better you’ll be and the faster you’ll get there. It’s understandable that life and things get in the way, but how much you want something will determine what you’re willing to sacrifice to get there.

2. What’s the best school to attend?

Basically, you have to think of your goal and what exactly you want to do and work on. Then, you can evaluate the school that will give you the skills you need without offering other subjects that might distract you. If you want to be a concept artist and designer, don’t spend time learning how to do things unrelated to your focus. I’ve attended schools that offer so many things and give you so many options that in the end have slowed me down. Focus is key. If you want to be a concept designer, don’t go to an illustrator school. Don’t get me wrong, there are many ways to get here and some things taught in schools will give you a greater sense of life, but if you really want a more refined and straight way of becoming a concept artist, attend schools like FZD School of Design or Brainstorm. They’ll sure whip you into shape.

3. When I graduate I will have a job as a concept artist and will also get paid well.

Well…graduating from a school, be it something like Art Center will not guarantee you a job at Naughty Dog. It takes networking, a good work ethic, good portfolio work, great personality, more self-improvement, etc. One of the things i tend to look for as well is whether or not the school offers job related aid. It might be a school that hosts senior shows where recruiters from gaming and film industries attend. This is so big when it comes to selecting a school. Do be careful with how schools market themselves. Some schools might change their policies or give you misleading information on this. You also have to look at the economy and know about the industry your getting yourself into. Sometimes you may have to bounce from place to place to keep a steady paycheck. Other times you might not have a job for a few months. It’s not a sure thing so don’t expect the job to be waiting for you because you have a degree or certificate from a certain school. Now, if you have the right skills, you’ll have an easier time finding resources or jobs. Just be weary of not getting comfortable or else someone more eager will take the job from you.

4. I don’t have money to move to California or Singapore.

In this age of technology is not an absolute deal breaker not attending schools in person. There are several good schools available with great teachers. If you absolutely have to attend a school in person, save some money while you attend online classes. Remember to always improve. Education is expensive as it is so adding a big move can be even more daunting. Again, we have to go back to how committed you are to attaining your goals. You can watch the movie Rudy movie as an inspiration if you’d like.

We’ll stop here for now and will continue in future segments. I hope this can help some students who are wondering about how to get there. If you’d like send us some questions or stories on how you got to where you are.

Want to help us grow our resources section? If a resource has helped you greatly please e-mail it to me or any suggestions 
to: me@eliottlillyart.com. I will be keeping this list updated as I discover new entries. Thank you--