Eenuh Posted April 28, 2011 Posted April 28, 2011 So yes, recently I've been thinking lots about my future. I'll most likely be finishing school this year, forever! Well I might still be taking evening classes next year to learn accountancy stuff ('cause you have to if you want to work for yourself), but apart from that I'm done! So now I've been wondering what kind of jobs are out there for artists. I've mostly just been focusing on becoming an illustrator or becoming an art teacher, but I've not really given much thought to any other possibilities that are out there. Simply because I find it hard to think of any. =P Does anyone here know what sort of jobs are out there? Anything that involves art in some way (preferably getting to draw stuff myself). I'm also open to any art related job offers you might have by the way. Want to move out of my parents' house soon! =P
dan-likes-trees Posted April 28, 2011 Posted April 28, 2011 Interested to see the responses to this thread... I'd like to do something arty as a career too.. Got my first paid illustration today! £25, for a magazine illustraiton... not bad, not exactly a stable career choice though, probs. You could look at getting into 2d animation? Especially if you did any on your course. I'm sure you'll find some way to make money out of it, your work is top stuff!
Eenuh Posted April 28, 2011 Author Posted April 28, 2011 Interested to see the responses to this thread... I'd like to do something arty as a career too.. Got my first paid illustration today! £25, for a magazine illustraiton... not bad, not exactly a stable career choice though, probs. You could look at getting into 2d animation? Especially if you did any on your course. I'm sure you'll find some way to make money out of it, your work is top stuff! I did animation for 2.5 years on an animation course. I hated it. =P Couldn't really see myself do animation. Concept art yes, animation no.
Retro_Link Posted April 28, 2011 Posted April 28, 2011 ^ Yeah if that's what you enjoy Ine, look into jobs in concept art... Games/Movies/Stage? etc... It really is laughable how useless the majority of University tutors are. You spend years on a course and recieve next to no career advice whatsoever!
nightwolf Posted April 28, 2011 Posted April 28, 2011 Concept artist for games? Pretty much my first thought. Also look into places like Double negative, I imagine as a visual effects place they want illustrators and stuff too. More film than games, but it's something to look into. I'd start maybe looking at working with animators, but 2d as well. Might be interesting for you to pick up and give you a wider selection of positions.
Ashley Posted April 28, 2011 Posted April 28, 2011 DNeg makes me want to shoot myself. Trufax! But as others have said concept artists, story board artists, character design etc. Not sure of specific places to look for those (well, for videogames I know gamesindustry.biz, mcvuk.com and opmjobs.com) but...good luck!
Wesley Posted April 28, 2011 Posted April 28, 2011 conceptart.org http://www.polycount.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=53 I would suggest those as good places to look at for the quality of industry concept artists.
Eenuh Posted April 28, 2011 Author Posted April 28, 2011 The thing about concept art is I've never really done it before heh. I mean I've done stuff for my own animations (storyboards, character sketches etc.), but nothing great. And I used to draw fantasy stuff like this when I was a teen: But yeah looking at that forum with all the concept art, I don't know if my style is something that would work heh. I'd have to build up a new portfolio for concept art, which usually seems to require a more realistic style. It's an option I think I will look into though. Anything with art really! As long as I don't have to sell my soul to retail I'll be happy I think. =P
Paj! Posted April 28, 2011 Posted April 28, 2011 *loves the fact he changed his previously Fine Art-aiming life to Filmmaking* *can offer no advice/ideas*
nightwolf Posted April 28, 2011 Posted April 28, 2011 You'd be surprised how much you can do Ine, my tutor who does visual effects has worked with citv to make cartoony adverts, quite similar to your style if I recall. I think it's definitely a safe bet to go into 2d animation in your portfolio and maybe look into some realistic styles if you can. I know you've done a couple of really good animal ones!
Eenuh Posted April 28, 2011 Author Posted April 28, 2011 The only "proper" animation I've done was years ago. Very simple and not even that good. There's a reason I quit doing it. This is the only thing I don't mind showing. =P I'm afraid that for stuff like animation and visual effects I don't know enough about all those computer programmes they use these days. All I know is how to draw heh.
ReZourceman Posted April 28, 2011 Posted April 28, 2011 Not even that good? Must have been a different video to the one I just watched.
Serebii Posted April 28, 2011 Posted April 28, 2011 Cave Sketcher. It's going to be all the rage soon.
Guy Posted April 29, 2011 Posted April 29, 2011 (edited) I have always looked at your work and been reminded of the incredible illustrations from children's books. Freelance illustration may be your calling, as flimsy as some may feel it is. I'd definitely start looking into contributing some work to a publication or get it out there some other way. Your stuff is solid and I have no doubt you're gonna find a place in the art world to develop your vibrant creativity even further. Hell, if you feel confident in your storytelling, I'd be using that talent to create a short children's book premise and be showcasing it to publishers. Edited April 29, 2011 by Guy
Paj! Posted April 29, 2011 Posted April 29, 2011 Be a private dancer, a dancer for money. Do what they want you to do (and any old music will do).
Raining_again Posted April 29, 2011 Posted April 29, 2011 I have always looked at your work and been reminded of the incredible illustrations from children's books. Freelance illustration may be your calling, as flimsy as some may feel it is. I'd definitely start looking into contributing some work to a publication or get it out there some other way. Your stuff is solid and I have no doubt you're gonna find a place in the art world to develop your vibrant creativity even further. Hell, if you feel confident in your storytelling, I'd be using that talent to create a short children's book premise and be showcasing it to publishers. I wholeheartedly agree (well said hodge!), you could really find success beyond any "normal" job because you are such a wonderful artist!
Guy Posted April 29, 2011 Posted April 29, 2011 (edited) It may be a case of working for free or very little at first, but getting a physical product you have worked on, like a book, in your portfolio will be very helpful in attracting others to featuring your work. Lots of iOS developers are hunting for artists for their touch interactive stories and apps, yet another awesome way to get your work infront of lots of people. Why not contact greetings card companies with some samples? There is a HUGE market out there for greetings cards and your work is far superior to some of the crap I see on the shelves every day. On a slightly related note, How do you colour so well? I would LOVE to be able to blend colours half as well as you! Edited April 29, 2011 by Guy
Aimless Posted April 29, 2011 Posted April 29, 2011 Whilst not exactly a 9 to 5 job, more something on the side, it's clear to me you should turn your talents to illustrating cards for special occasions. You have a unique, charming style that's perfect for such things, and as anyone that's tried to buy a card recently can attest, 95% of what's currently out there is awful. Naturally I don't know the ins and outs of getting into the greeting card industry myself, but this site should be able to give you a few pointers if you're interested. Edit: Scooped by Scoop, but nevermind.
EEVILMURRAY Posted April 29, 2011 Posted April 29, 2011 T-shirts and birthday cards are the way forward.
EddieColeslaw Posted April 29, 2011 Posted April 29, 2011 I've been fascinated by the job of a greeting card writer ever since I watched (500) Days of Summer. This is completely not my field at all so I have no advice, but I really love your more lighthearted illustrations and hope you can find a job that allows you to do what you enjoy the most
Ashley Posted April 29, 2011 Posted April 29, 2011 Dare I ask about dneg ashley? Mostly whoever the guy is who guys around unis and talks about it. Just...you know when you just dislike someone from the off? And recently (about 2 months ago) they were part of some news story and they essentially said "the VFX/similar fields education in this country is rubbish", which seemed to me to be a backhanded way of insulting everyone so they are happy with their runner scheme. But that's just me ^_^ Eenuh don't forget when I have a child you're painting their bedroom!
Eenuh Posted April 29, 2011 Author Posted April 29, 2011 Thanks for the suggestions guys. Ideally I'd like to do freelance work, but it's a bit risky as you don't have a steady income at all. Which is probably what I would need if I ever want to move out of my parents' house heh... Sadly. On a slightly related note, How do you colour so well? I would LOVE to be able to blend colours half as well as you! What colours/medium you talking about here? If it's Photoshop, the opacity tool is your friend. =P Any real medium you just... blend haha. If it's paint, water usually helps heh. Naturally I don't know the ins and outs of getting into the greeting card industry myself, but this site should be able to give you a few pointers if you're interested. I'll be checking out that link, see if there's anything I can do with that. Cheers!
Hamishmash Posted April 30, 2011 Posted April 30, 2011 All I've been hearing from illustrators currently working (we get a lot of visiting lecturers on my Illustration course) is get an agent.
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