[SubJodge]

Hey Guys, I was just wondering how many of you here work in the concept art/video games/movie scence etc. and what route you took to get there?
It would be nice to hear from some freelancers too

The reason i ask is that i need to start making choices about my future and some prior knowlege would be hugely appreciated. I'm sure others browsing the forums will find this helpful too

Thanks for your time guys.

[Nag]

I�ve been working for CCP Games / White Wolf now for close to 4 years, it�s a decently large mmorpg video game company.

I studied in an art academy in Holland and during my final year we had internship where I got a position in a small company in Holland call Triumph studios and I was there for around 6 months working on a single/multyplayer rpg/strategy game.

I was already interested in CCP before I graduated so I got in contact with the art director and introduced myself, told him I was studdying arts and was interested in the industry and the company. I think I started this 2-3 years prior to my graduation and I kept in touch every year, just too show my interest and I was hired as soon as I graduated. I started as an Illustrator and today I�m the Lead Artist.

I think in many ways I was a bit lucky cause I got into the company while it was small (30 people) and it�s probably harder today cause it has grown quite a bit (300 people).

[SubJodge]

Nag, thanks for your reply!

I assume you studied art at university?

You're now the lead artist? wow, that certainly sounds like an impressive position, did you get it because of your art capability or do you gradually work your way up?

Thanks again.

[Lunatique]

I'm an art director, and have been in games since 1998. Also worked in CG animation as well as writer/director. Before doing anything with computers I was a comic book creator for about 8 years. I also freelance as an artist since about 1991.

You might want to ask specific questions, as that might be a better way to find out what you need.

[SubJodge]

Lunatique, thankyou!
And yes, here are some specific questions!

-What did you study at University/College?

-How did you come across your job, (e.g. Contacts)

-To the art directors, did you get into work as an Art director straight away or did you work your way up?

-How did you start?

Thanks for your time everybody. You're being a great help
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-zHowie

[Lunatique]

- I'm self-taught.

- My jobs usually come from online industry job boards like gamasutra.com, creativeheads.net, industry forums like cgtalk.com, conceptart.org, or through headhunters or colleagues.

- You NEVER start as an art director without any experience. You have to work your way up as an artist first. The only time you might start as an art director without art directing experience is if you already have impressive experience in another art field that is relevant to the current job, but you'd better be quite famous for that to happen (for example you're a famous comic book artist already, and wants to get into art directing a game that's based on your own IP).

- I started in comic books, then got into games as texture/concept artist, then as art director. Then I went to CG animation as writer/director/art director, and then back to games as art director. All the meanwhile I kept freelancing on the side as a general artist (illustration, concepts, storyboards).

If you want to read a super detailed account of how I got where I am, you can read the bio page at my website. It contains accounts of personal growth as well as career development, so some of my past struggles might be of help to you.

[balistic]

I've been in the industry continuously since I was 19 (1999). Started out at a small, no-name studio, making not much money for four years. Got a break working on a CG feature film after that, and recently started as an on-site freelancer at Blur Studio in September. I guess that makes it about nine years so far.

My only proper education was a couple of years at a community college taking fine art classes.

The most important things you own as a production artist are your portfolio and your production experience.
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brian.prince|light.comp.paint

[SubJodge]

Thanks for all the help guys, really you've been fantastic!
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-zHowie

[M@.]

I've been working since 2003, first as a jack of all trades in a small 3D/fx company in Paris for 3 years, then as a concept artist for 6 months in a french video game company, and freelancer for about a year doing concept art for various international game companies. I now work as a concept artist at Blizzard cinematics in the US.

I'm self taught, and most of my jobs came because of internet exposure: conceptart, cgportfolio, and yeah, sijun too!

and I agree that portfolio and experience are key. Mostly portfolio from my experience. Also, make a lot of contacts, keep in touch with them. The industry is small.
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http://mv.cgcommunity.com/