Pencil, Fine Pen and Art by The Dysania Concept (2023)
Fun fact! Everything begins as a sketch. Whether discussing your favourite characters, creatures or landscapes in film, they all started as a sketch, as concept art. Concept art is a form of visual art used to illustrate ideas and bring them to life when preparing to tell a story. Hence, as a first step, creators use concept art in film, video games, animation, comic books, television shows and many more, and the people responsible for bringing these ideas to life and taking the first step into building the story and its world are Concept Artists. So, in this edition of The Mindsets, we’ll explore the qualities, virtues and skills Concept Artists have that permit them to be the key to constructing and begin to shape the stories and worlds we adore so much. As Bertolt Brecht said, “Art is not a mirror held up to reality but a hammer with which to shape it.”
1. Knowledgeable
Concept Artists must be knowledgeable to translate ideas into art. Besides knowledge of technical skills for creating their art, Concept Artists must know a bit of everything. Because they deal with all sorts of ideas, from humanoid to abstract creatures, landscapes with all shapes and colours, and objects of all types, they must understand the theory behind them. Even though some might say it comes down to knowing shapes and colour theory, Concept Artists need to comprehend where the creator’s ideas come from and know what references they can use to build on them. Hence, being knowledgeable also includes their ability to research and pay attention to detail to get as close to the brief’s request as possible. Similarly, when having an upcoming series of tasks, we must research and learn as much as we can to prepare for them, and, equally important, never stop learning, no matter how experienced we are. Knowing how to keep learning from the world surrounding us to inspire ourselves to keep creating is invaluable.
2. Time Management
Concept Artists lean on their time management to help move the project forward. Most creators begin with multiple tasks at the same time. However, concept art is often required to allow the process to move forward. In animation, concept art is needed to know the official animation style. In films, concept art is critical to commence making costumes and preparing makeup because they all need to align to a single style. In video games, concept art is vital to begin almost any step of the process, whether it is character design, graphics, or environment development. Concept Artists lay the foundation for a good project outcome. Thus, they must be able to manage their time, checkpoints and deadlines properly. Late concept art means a delayed project, and the Concept Artists who truly succeed in their industry are the ones who consistently deliver when agreed upon. Therefore, never underestimate the value of being punctual. Sometimes, more might depend on us than what we believe, and even if that is not the case, knowing how to distribute our time to create space for balance is essential to producing our best work.
3. Communication
Concept Artists count on their communication skills to properly collaborate with their team. Whether they are discussing the brief the creator has given them or early drafts of the work, knowing how to translate ideas and proposals into words is essential to establishing a positive working relationship and allowing the process to move forward efficiently. But beyond translating ideas and proposals, knowing how to communicate when receiving feedback as a Concept Artist is necessary to ensure a positive journey with the project’s creator. Hence, communicate when you have an idea or proposal. Work on articulating your thoughts into words so that you can establish synergy in your working relationships and create a feedback loop designed to create a path for the work to be its best version. Think before speaking, and listen while others speak.
Concept Artists are the backbone of most media we consume. Their art and designs are the foundation for our favourite films, games and TV shows. And despite not being held and recognised as they should, they know how invaluable they are to any creative process. So, remember to continue learning, always. Constantly learning from your surroundings and storing the valuable teachings you encounter is essential to becoming knowledgeable, enabling you to involve yourself in the tasks you take more deeply and wisely. Understanding how to manage your time is vital to being an excellent professional and permits your work to breathe and slowly evolve into the best version of itself. And finally, listen to what others say and think before you speak. Communicating correctly with colleagues, superiors, and people you lead is paramount to establishing a good working environment and a healthy working process, giving everyone the freedom to input ideas and thoughts and shape the outcome together. Now, we invite you to adopt The Concept Artist’s Mindset as we begin to construct and shape the first steps of our following path and build the foundation for the ideas and goals we want to pursue.
If you want to know more about The Dysania Concept, read more in the ‘Who We Are’ section of the website, follow us on social media, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
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