How to be a more EMPLOYABLE artist in Video Games - Concept Artist tips.

I wanted to make a video with a few ideas about how to make yourself more valuable as a video game developer. Many people don't know the kind of work that a concept artist does at a video game studio, so I wanted to pull the curtain back a bit and explain a bit more of what you should be doing with your "free time" after you clock out at the end of a hard days work, painting monsters all day at the office.

Things I've worked on:
Overwatch (PC, PS4)
League of Legends (PC)
Diablo 3 (PC,PS4)
Hearthstone (Mobile, PC)
Burning Crusade (PC)
Wrath of the Lich King (PC)
Indivisible
Unsung Story
Final Fight Streetwise (PS2)
He Man (GBA)
Terminator 3 (GBA)
CannonBallers (Mobile)
CreeD
Twilight Monk
Ikeda
Nova Colony
Galaxy's Edge
SodaPopSoldier
Millenium Actress
Goblins and Gnomes

[Banana-ccrx]

How can I be a more EMPLOYABLE artist in video games.

Meanwhile here I am thinking "How do I even get employed with my art to begin with"

[DmdMixZ]

I think thebest advice was "learn 3d!"

I'm not a concept artist but I'm working in product development and there are so many people that come up like "hey, I got this Idea - make it work!"
Alright man but If you want me to model your vision you gotta come and help me do that.

If as a concept artist you understand what the 3D Modeller needs you will be so much more valuable.
Maybe something that takes you an hour of time to draw another perspective will save the 3D guy 2 or 3 hours of work
AND you ensure that the outcome is exactly what you had in your mind when you came up with the concept.

Understand the problems of the people that come after you in the pipeline and you will be a) loved by your coworkers for the work you do b) you will be of much more value to the company
because if you were forced to do another job you could take on that quicker and c) you will be always the last guy they think of when a staff cut is about to come.

[SocialTourist]

It's the raw honesty that keeps me coming back with every new video, It's refreshing to actually see. Strange times we live, Instagram profiles that make everyone look like millionaires etc... everyone's trying to pretend to be something. But over here....ehh prepare to sacrifice all of your social life, you're never going to stop working or learning. If you love it you'll be on that road till death. Hehe, it's amazing to not hear it sugar coated or dumbed down. And that's incredibly respectable, love the channel keep up the good work. Take care.

[yuriyuriyu]

For the past few months I've looking for a career change that involves art and the role of a concept artist really caught my attention. I don't have a body of work for that position right now and there are still a lot I need to learn, so I'm planning on dedicating the next several months to building that portfolio, improving my technical skills, and learning 3D art. This video was both really helpful and probably the most reassuring thing I've heard in my life so thank you so much.

I'm probably being very presumptuous of myself about a career I haven't had experience in, but in this moment I feel am down to give up my every waking hour to being a concept artist. I've always loved drawing and I've gotten very seriously into creating stories, worlds, and characters in the past few years, but never thought I could make a career out of it, so I just kept it up as a hobby and over time, what I value and love to do with art gradually aligned with this job.

Good luck to everyone who's new to the industry!!

[MaTTGameShow]

U made me do thumbnails and stylized characters. Stepped out of my comfort zone, thank u for weekly motivation Trent ^^

[MissyMona]

This, is kind of exciting. I really love being a jack of trades, doing a bunch of different kinds of art tasks. I like writing, modelling and animating. The idea that if I learn how to apply myself professionally could work in my benefit is really neat.

[FandF]

My dream right now is to work for Capcom as a concept artists, or artist in general. My brother recommended I research and I found myself here. Thanks! Great video.

[mrmountain]

Hey you did my question! Thanks a bunch mate! Great video again. I was surprised to hear you talk about something as simple as communicating with other departments and about thinking in solutions instead of problems. That's what they teach people in the military. (I did a 3D internship at the dutch ministry of defense.) I'd recommend the book "extreme ownership how u.s. seals lead and win" to anyone who found that bit interesting.

And i totally agree about diversifying your skill-set. You never know when it will come in handy! Using 3D underlays for your painting for example. I'm thinking of learning some programming as well so I can automate some of the repetitive tasks I do in 3D. This helps standing out from the crowd imo.

[zachariasstarlid]

The painting video in the background looks like flipping fun. Thanks for sharing Trent!!!

[unluckycloverfield]

This makes me feel good, at my current job I ended up do ok ng a little bit of everything for the marketing team and ended being a generalist
I'm glad to know I could be useful

[dwintster]

Oh forgot in one interview they even wanted me to manage production as well, troubleshoot manufactoring challenges. You truly need to be a tool for production.

[AtlisDe]

As far as not having any ideas, I think that can be remedied, so long as you keep sketching, doing studies, opening up your visual library. Sometimes i have no idea what to draw, but then i'll sit down and sketch a random thing and theres times where it turns into a cool idea one can elaborate on or shift and change it. I don't think you always need ideas right off the bat, you can work into it so long as you're willing. Example: Maybe you are drawing a magical staff for water magic, so you add watery elements to a wooden staff, maybe the staff then is all water in itself, maybe you decide to make it like a trident, its just about building from something. Try to think of things that have to do with water. make mood boards for key things you want your water staff to have.

[RafaelFernandesNet]

Trent you are freaking awesome! Thanks for sharing again and again! 👏👏👏

[lunatic_]

You make it sound like one is born into being a concept artist xD
I know for a fact that I am not missing the creativity or confidence and I did blender for 2 years but
if being a concept artist is really that exhausting I might just not be able to make it. I will try at least.
My love for art at least won't be going anywhere :D

[beheadedbat]

I learned so much! I wanted to be a game artist since I was 10 and 2 years later I´m still working! I took some notes and I will try to better my knowledge and skill so I can finally get the job of my dreams!

[dwintster]

Thanks for the great advice, though perspective varies from artist to artist. I have spoken to others that said you need to be great at one thing first, choose your strength and focus on that. My experience with product design indicates you need to be able to do it all. I have been the industrial designer, graphic designer, modeller, protype builder, soft tooling designer for (running small scale production.) Instruction manual designer, both separately and all at the same time working at a studio. It seems like its the same if I want to get into games, the learning never stops.

[thim]

It's like wanting to be a policeman but you don't know what's the big deal with justice

[patrickfrench]

Hi Trent, I am studying Fine Arts at the moment and dipping largely into Animation courses (where my university does concept art). Just want to say how helpful and how uplifting this video was. Super uplifting and makes me want to try even harder to push myself

[DAYMENEA]

I really appreciate the way your notions on market (supply and demand) feels geared on your considerations on every video.

I think the same way values and structure are the fundamentals (basics) on art, those (supply and demand) are the basics of business.

Thank you so much for your videos

[doukzu]

The more you talk about the difference between smaller and larger studios the more I want to work at an indie studio. I'd love to do a whole bunch of things, form UI to environment to modeling characters- having a hand in writing a script sounds like a lot of power, but it sounds fun!
Once I get a laptop that doesn't try to die every time I open an Adobe program, I'm definitely going to learn Blender again.



Also watching your timelapses are so satisfying