10 steps on how to become a concept artist.

I often get mail, on the best way to become a concept artist, so here are the top 10 steps towards becoming a concept artist.

1. Practice your craft 5 hours a day to 12 hours a day.

Remember, practicing concept artists, draw 8 to 14 hours a day.  You need to put the hours and practice in, in order to retain a spot on the curve.  I would say 5 hours is light.  If you think that is a lot, then concept art may not be for you.

2. Treat every opportunity as a job interview.

Freelancing is pretty common for concept artists.  Every job is an interview for the next.  Always treat it so.  Treat co-workers and clients well.  Find the professional moment in each job however large, or small.

3. Seek and enjoy feedback from people better than you.

Some artists hate changing stuff..  I never understood that.  Feedback, and change is an opportunity to make the image or design better.  The earlier you see things this way, the better off you will be.  Do not be a smarmy egotistical kook.. it will not take long for rumors to spread about your vast greatness, and your career will suffer for it in the long run.

4. Get an education, formal or informal, from someone in the field.

There are a lot of educations to get out there... Get a good one.  Get one from a person who has actually done the work you are looking to do.  Accept no less.  Do well, and inevitably that person will introduce you to a person who can help you along after you are done.  This does not have to be an expensive university.  I have had interns that have done extremely well, with minimal education.  They got their education on the job, and treated every moment as a learning moment.

5. Work on what intrinsically motivates you.

Find what you love and work towards that.  If you are not intrinsically motivated you will fail as an concept artist.  Ideas and design are moments that occupy our minds all day and all night.  If your task leaves you blank as soon as you leave your desk, it will never be enough motivation to move you towards an outstanding result.

6. Prioritize quality over money.

If one job pays little, but is awesome content, take that job.  Getting better at your craft is value added to your career.  This added value is way more important over the years than a minor bump in pay.

7. Return better value than you are paid.

Always try to give more than what is asked.  The most valuable artist is the artist that returns the most frequently.  They are also the artist who is exposed to the most opportunity and opportunity will free you to seek projects that you will love.

8. Be consistent and reliable.

A lot of artists can't even work 9-5 consistently.. Much less on demand on two or three projects all night for a week.  Be consistent, don't over stretch, but always deliver.  Your consistency will keep your quality high and high quality pays off towards more opportunity again.

9. Network.

Prepare to save email, and contacts.  Each contact is another source for an opportunity.  Not that you need to be a salesperson, but you do need to be able to send someone an image, if you think it may inspire them to have you contribute on a project.

10. Love what you do.

Don't do concept art for the fame, credit, or the money.. Do it because you have to design and draw. Do it because it's the best thing you can think of to do, and you would do it for free anyway.  If this is true, you will lead an amazing and fulfilling career.

There you go!