Posts
Hey everybody! Gonna do a post a little later on about monitor calibration. But in the meantime I thought I'd let everyone know that the interview/general discussion I did with Jana and Hannes(algenpfleger) is up for watching on demand!
Click here to Watch!
Was a lot of fun! I'm hoping to get more people on in the mornings!
Showing posts with label studies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label studies. Show all posts
Freelance Living
Hey everybody! Wanted to go over something that I think is very important if you're an aspiring freelance artist. I talk about this all the time during my LiveStreams but I've never really posted this stuff anywhere. To some of you this may seem like common sense but... It must be enforced!
Forums
You must always be producing work. Whether it be studies or personal work, you always have to be out there pushing your art around and letting your name be known. Make sure you take part in all the challenges on places like ConceptArt.org, CgHub, etc. These little challenges show that you can meet deadlines and produce quality concepts which is important(and many people follow these challenges, helps bring people back to your sketchbook or wherever you update). Lots of really popular concept artists use this(not just because it gets them popular, they are fun to do :)) and grow a substantial amount. Its always good to work on things outside your comfort zone, each challenge gets you thinking.
Networking
Make sure you're always networking. This can be between forum members or just any sort of artist group you can find. Bobby Chiu hosts his LiveStreams and I'm sure plenty of people link up through there. Same thing happens with the Crimson Daggers group. People will share ideas, inspiration, resources, techniques and tutorials. Theres endless benefits to being connected in the community. Always be willing to ask questions even if you think they're stupid, if you don't know what saturation means... Find out as soon as possible! Also make sure to comment and send messages to members of the online forums to hopefully talk outside the boards. Take advantage of every opportunity to meet new people who work in the field you wish to work in.
Posting
Many artists I know are very weird about posting their work everywhere on the internet. Some don't use Deviant Art because they believe its only for anime people and 'furries'. This is ridiculous. If you're looking to get work, post absolutely everywhere as much as possible. I've gotten plenty of jobs from Deviant Art and I'm not talking about drawing Ash Catchem kissing Brock. I'm talking real jobs like cover work and interior illustrations. Don't hesitate to sign up for every single forum, website, and social networking website. All of these places can gain attention for your work and further help promote the fact that you're looking for a job.
Here is a list of places off the top of my head where you can post work -
Cghub.com
Conceptart.org
Cgsociety.org
DeviantArt.com
GameArtisans.org
Forum.Rpg.Net
Facebook.com
Friendster.com
Twitter.com
Blogger.com
Wordpress.com
If you're a freelancer and you're upset about not getting work. Just check that list and see if you're on all of these updating consistently. There is always more you can do to get noticed.
Create a Web of Links
After you've signed up for all of these websites and have started to post you're gonna wanna make sure you have a central place for people to head to. Something like a blog is ideal. Basically just any kind of homepage you can update often where you can host process work, tutorials, videos, etc. It doesn't absolutely need all that, but some kind of content that is different from the forums, and social networking sites is ideal. You're going to want to find everywhere you can on the sites above where you can post a link back to your central page. Let that be a signature, a post in the finally finished sections(example - my new stuff, got some process shots on my blog here -link-), or within the actual posts in HTML like in Deviant Art(click for example). All of these websites should relink to your blog in some way shape or form. Once they're on your blog you can focus on making content.
Awesome, I'll Hire you, Wheres your email?
If you have a website, post the email huge at the top of the website. Also put it in all your forum signatures. Make it very very easy to contact you. People are lazy and you have to make sure you compensate for that laziness.
I Love This Image... Who's the artist?
Post your website on the images you produce. Don't wanna leave any mysteries!
Stay Consistent and Don't Dissapear
A lot of people I know that I follow for their work tend to disappear for long periods of time. This is because of course they're way too busy to ever post and most of their work is buried under contracts... But until you're at that point, make sure you're everywhere(if your goal is to get those jobs anyways). I mentioned this before already but I can't stress it enough. I'm not saying you have to produce a personal illustration every day, but at least do some sketches, do some study, or just do anything to keep on moving. The main focus is to become known as a striving force. People follow those who lead vital lives. It gets them excited to follow along and keep watching your work. A vital life vitalizes. Just look at Hannes' work(check back to the beginning and watch the dates of each post and see how daily studies help) on ConceptArt.org. But really you should be studying daily anyways, and I don't mean to get all bootcamp about it until you're just hating art. I mean to just make it a habit to do just something. Anything to learn.
Portfolio
When sending out a portfolio make sure its geared at whatever company you're applying. Don't send paintings of dogs to Wizards of the Coast. Make sure it fits within the universe of whatever brand you want to work within. Also, make sure that when you send the emails to put as little distance as possible between the Art Director and your work. I would suggest the you attach the samples directly to the email. Most AD's are really busy and you want to make sure they don't have to take a lot of time to scout around links for your artwork. There shouldn't be too many to attach anyways, just send around 5 images that are your best. It also doesn't hurt to look at their best artists and try to figure out what qualities it is about them that you enjoy. Figure out what exactly sells for that brand and try to incorporate it into you own work. When I applied to Wizards I was looking at all my favorite WotC artists. I didn't copy them but I wanted to make sure I got the general idea of that world and atmosphere in my own work.
Giving Back
Once you are working, make sure to always give back as much as possible. Provide a blog or whatever else you can think up to create tutorials or give tips to artists(couple times a week or more if possible). If you want to stay relevant and make sure you don't just drop off the map, then you'll have to stay involved. Use whatever name you've made for yourself and start helping other people. You get everything you want out of life by helping others get what they want. And that, to me, is totally true. This will help you in many surprising ways, I can tell you first hand that many awesome things have been happening since I started the Crimson Daggers. Its very beneficial in many ways to keep giving back. I don't hide the fact that it helps in promoting my work. Because it totally does and I know that it works for anyone who does it. Just make sure you're 100% honest about everything and it'll all be totally awesome. Totally promise.
So! That about does it for now... Just wanted to get that out there and off my chest because I always talk about this stuff and people who don't watch the stream just never hear it. Hope it helps!
Also, heres a study I did today!
Metal! Blind Guardian - "Banish from Santuary"
Forums
You must always be producing work. Whether it be studies or personal work, you always have to be out there pushing your art around and letting your name be known. Make sure you take part in all the challenges on places like ConceptArt.org, CgHub, etc. These little challenges show that you can meet deadlines and produce quality concepts which is important(and many people follow these challenges, helps bring people back to your sketchbook or wherever you update). Lots of really popular concept artists use this(not just because it gets them popular, they are fun to do :)) and grow a substantial amount. Its always good to work on things outside your comfort zone, each challenge gets you thinking.
Networking
Make sure you're always networking. This can be between forum members or just any sort of artist group you can find. Bobby Chiu hosts his LiveStreams and I'm sure plenty of people link up through there. Same thing happens with the Crimson Daggers group. People will share ideas, inspiration, resources, techniques and tutorials. Theres endless benefits to being connected in the community. Always be willing to ask questions even if you think they're stupid, if you don't know what saturation means... Find out as soon as possible! Also make sure to comment and send messages to members of the online forums to hopefully talk outside the boards. Take advantage of every opportunity to meet new people who work in the field you wish to work in.
Posting
Many artists I know are very weird about posting their work everywhere on the internet. Some don't use Deviant Art because they believe its only for anime people and 'furries'. This is ridiculous. If you're looking to get work, post absolutely everywhere as much as possible. I've gotten plenty of jobs from Deviant Art and I'm not talking about drawing Ash Catchem kissing Brock. I'm talking real jobs like cover work and interior illustrations. Don't hesitate to sign up for every single forum, website, and social networking website. All of these places can gain attention for your work and further help promote the fact that you're looking for a job.
Here is a list of places off the top of my head where you can post work -
Cghub.com
Conceptart.org
Cgsociety.org
DeviantArt.com
GameArtisans.org
Forum.Rpg.Net
Facebook.com
Friendster.com
Twitter.com
Blogger.com
Wordpress.com
If you're a freelancer and you're upset about not getting work. Just check that list and see if you're on all of these updating consistently. There is always more you can do to get noticed.
Create a Web of Links
After you've signed up for all of these websites and have started to post you're gonna wanna make sure you have a central place for people to head to. Something like a blog is ideal. Basically just any kind of homepage you can update often where you can host process work, tutorials, videos, etc. It doesn't absolutely need all that, but some kind of content that is different from the forums, and social networking sites is ideal. You're going to want to find everywhere you can on the sites above where you can post a link back to your central page. Let that be a signature, a post in the finally finished sections(example - my new stuff, got some process shots on my blog here -link-), or within the actual posts in HTML like in Deviant Art(click for example). All of these websites should relink to your blog in some way shape or form. Once they're on your blog you can focus on making content.
Awesome, I'll Hire you, Wheres your email?
If you have a website, post the email huge at the top of the website. Also put it in all your forum signatures. Make it very very easy to contact you. People are lazy and you have to make sure you compensate for that laziness.
I Love This Image... Who's the artist?
Post your website on the images you produce. Don't wanna leave any mysteries!
Stay Consistent and Don't Dissapear
A lot of people I know that I follow for their work tend to disappear for long periods of time. This is because of course they're way too busy to ever post and most of their work is buried under contracts... But until you're at that point, make sure you're everywhere(if your goal is to get those jobs anyways). I mentioned this before already but I can't stress it enough. I'm not saying you have to produce a personal illustration every day, but at least do some sketches, do some study, or just do anything to keep on moving. The main focus is to become known as a striving force. People follow those who lead vital lives. It gets them excited to follow along and keep watching your work. A vital life vitalizes. Just look at Hannes' work(check back to the beginning and watch the dates of each post and see how daily studies help) on ConceptArt.org. But really you should be studying daily anyways, and I don't mean to get all bootcamp about it until you're just hating art. I mean to just make it a habit to do just something. Anything to learn.
Portfolio
When sending out a portfolio make sure its geared at whatever company you're applying. Don't send paintings of dogs to Wizards of the Coast. Make sure it fits within the universe of whatever brand you want to work within. Also, make sure that when you send the emails to put as little distance as possible between the Art Director and your work. I would suggest the you attach the samples directly to the email. Most AD's are really busy and you want to make sure they don't have to take a lot of time to scout around links for your artwork. There shouldn't be too many to attach anyways, just send around 5 images that are your best. It also doesn't hurt to look at their best artists and try to figure out what qualities it is about them that you enjoy. Figure out what exactly sells for that brand and try to incorporate it into you own work. When I applied to Wizards I was looking at all my favorite WotC artists. I didn't copy them but I wanted to make sure I got the general idea of that world and atmosphere in my own work.
Giving Back
Once you are working, make sure to always give back as much as possible. Provide a blog or whatever else you can think up to create tutorials or give tips to artists(couple times a week or more if possible). If you want to stay relevant and make sure you don't just drop off the map, then you'll have to stay involved. Use whatever name you've made for yourself and start helping other people. You get everything you want out of life by helping others get what they want. And that, to me, is totally true. This will help you in many surprising ways, I can tell you first hand that many awesome things have been happening since I started the Crimson Daggers. Its very beneficial in many ways to keep giving back. I don't hide the fact that it helps in promoting my work. Because it totally does and I know that it works for anyone who does it. Just make sure you're 100% honest about everything and it'll all be totally awesome. Totally promise.
So! That about does it for now... Just wanted to get that out there and off my chest because I always talk about this stuff and people who don't watch the stream just never hear it. Hope it helps!
Also, heres a study I did today!
Metal! Blind Guardian - "Banish from Santuary"
Dave's totally Sellin!
Hey everybody! Just finished up another Crimson Daggers stream this mornin. Feeling really good today, veryy alive! Got myself all pumped up yesterday talking to my friend Janaabout work and what shes been up to. So we're sorta feeding off eachother's energy and hopefully I'll be able to push myself to another level. Really excited to see how this turns out! But you wont know til around fall when the work is released(we're both working on the same project).
Heres my tomato from today!
Talked a bit about the supplies column I got on the side here---->
Basically its a program Amazon runs where your website can be associated with their product. If you click and buy the product through my blog then I make a % of the sales. At the moment its only 4% but I guess after awhile it can go up to 15%. Pretty good deal if you ask me! Hopefully it'll help and hopefully I'll provide stuff you need.
So I asked people from Crimson Daggers what they'd like to see me host as far as products... And the main suggestion was to host good anatomy books! So heres some I searched out after the stream that are awesome. Just remember that you have to read it! Don't just copy mindlessly... Make the time you put in worth it!
Glenn Vilppu -(couldn't really find a good source)
George B. Bridgman -
Theres some good ones to get started with. Just make sure, like I said before, that you really read and try and figure what you're doing when you study. Don't just copy without thinking.
Metal! - Wolf - "In the Shadow of Steel"
New Blog!
Hey everybody! Just started using blogger yesterday, trying to get settled in with my new layout and whatnot. I already like the look of this one a whole lot more than the previous.
I'm also trying out ads to hopefully bring in some kind of extra money. Currently Chelsea and I are planning a move to Seattle this summer and are having a hard time with the funds. Trying to get that goin as much as possible. Need to be around the people :D! No more desolate forest living... Moved here in order to make myself improve my art(as in I couldn't afford to live here when I moved here so I had to get better work) and have happily made the transition into more reputable freelance jobs!
Pressure is a great motivator for me. Sometimes it may seem like a crazy idea to just jump into the fire and basically just try as hard as possible to grow. But in the end its all worth it, or thats my opinion anyways. I've been doing this sort of thing to myself for the past 2 years or so. When I started I was living at home and just jumped right into an uncertain job position in Illinois(I was residing in Massachusetts at the time). I figured that even if the position fell through that I would have to go right at freelance as hard as possible in order to make the rent every month. Of course the position fell through and I ended up doing just that :(.
Now I'm living in New Hampshire and have been for almost 2 years. Still working at that pressure but have finally started to settle into some good freelance. My couple years in solitude gotta come to an end, can't just live in my house 12 hours a day everyday anymore! Driving me crazy haha. So Seattle it isss!
Anyways, if you do find yourself in a position where you aren't satisfied and are lacking motivation... Always remember that you can use pressure and fear to just force it out! You may not want to do this for a long time as stress is a killer... But whatever works!
If any of you are having trouble studying or whatever else, feel free to drop be the Crimson Daggers study group! We meet everyday @9am EST, 2 GMT!
and heres a random image I did to test how Blogger uses image uploader!
Metal! Judas Priest - "Hell Bent for Leather"
New Wizards Work
Hey everybody! Just updated with some work I did for Wizards of the Coast and some studies. Got a lot to finish this month... But I'll try and keep this updated best I can :)!
studies
Metal! Steel Vengeance - 'Night Turns to Day'
studies
Metal! Steel Vengeance - 'Night Turns to Day'
Been a bit, busy again :O
Hey everybody! Trying to keep up with everything I got going on and am failing... Sometimes its best not to juggle everything at once so you don't drop all the balls :(. Best to keep a strong focus. So yea, I've been doing the Crimson Daggers now for a good 3 months or so and have seen loads of improvement in the participants. The studies have totally helped my work along in so many ways and I find that finishing art is a hell of a lot easier than it used to be. Hopefully as time goes on this will grow and grow til we get a good couple hundred regulars on there posting work daily :D. Thats what I'd like to see anyways... People just getting waaay better every day and showing everybody else how its done. In the meantime though... I can wait, too much to finish all the time!
Currently I'm working on a few magazine pieces, an album cover and some personal works for an application I got going w/Bobby Chiu. Been having fun though and trying to make time to get away from art. Trying to get some time in on Mass Effect so I can unplug from my constant work and just sorta zone out. Don't usually play games ever, in fact this is the first in a couple years, but its relaxing and I think I've needed that. Just have to watch out that I don't get totally sucked in D:. Mass Effect is awesome :O!
Well, heres some art I've been doin :O. Just messin around for now so these are all works in progress :). Then some studies.
Commission i did -
Studies-
Metal! Cannon - 'Fireblade'
Currently I'm working on a few magazine pieces, an album cover and some personal works for an application I got going w/Bobby Chiu. Been having fun though and trying to make time to get away from art. Trying to get some time in on Mass Effect so I can unplug from my constant work and just sorta zone out. Don't usually play games ever, in fact this is the first in a couple years, but its relaxing and I think I've needed that. Just have to watch out that I don't get totally sucked in D:. Mass Effect is awesome :O!
Well, heres some art I've been doin :O. Just messin around for now so these are all works in progress :). Then some studies.
Commission i did -
Studies-
Metal! Cannon - 'Fireblade'
Out til the 27th!
Hey everybody! Just wanted to let my Crimson Daggers know that I'll be out til the 27th!
Looking forward to taking a little break from work, I'll continue to study though :). Here are some studies I've been doing lately. Not very exciting but I'm waiting for my work to get released :O.
Metal! Persian Risk - "Rise Up"
Looking forward to taking a little break from work, I'll continue to study though :). Here are some studies I've been doing lately. Not very exciting but I'm waiting for my work to get released :O.
Metal! Persian Risk - "Rise Up"
Studyin harder than ever
Hello everyone!
Hope you've been keeping up with the Crimson Dagger's progress! Lots of new art everyday :). If you're a member of Concept Art feel free to drop some support on em :D.
I'm really excited today because I'm ahead of deadline on all of my work. Could possibly send it all in today but I'll hold onto it in case I see something I could improve... But its cool to have most everything done ahead of time. Having too much fun working for Wizards! Hoping I can get some more magic work soon although I'm not sure how often they ask for work. I'm hoping my Daggers are all working their hardest because once you do start to achieve your goals you'll see how worth it it is to really push yourself everyday. So if you're a Dagger and readin this then just know that I have total faith in all of you! I see crazy progress and I know if you stick with it you'll get to wherever it is you're headed. No need to worry about anything, as long as you follow what you love 100%... Success and money follows. But if you go around chasing money then you'll most likely never get it. Just work hard for yourself. Also remember to post anything helpful you may find(reference/technique/study habits/ etc) on the sketchbook for everybody else to check out. Keep in mind you can get everything outta life by helping others get what they want. If you're always dedicated, working hard, and always helping/being helped then how can we not succeed? This is the fastest way to the top!
With that, heres some crappy studies I've done lately haha.
All of these are 1-2 hours with the exception of the Repin study which is on hour 6 now :).
Also, keep in mind that I'm showing these even though I think these are all terrible haha. I just want to show that it doesn't matter. You gotta know that we all fail...if we never failed we would never know how to improve. Making mistakes is just a natural part of learning, you'll never(unless you're a superhero) do anything perfect the first time. Everything is just a matter of practice. Some people are naturally inclined to certain aspects of whatever it is you're learning but that doesn't mean they're any better than you. Just keep at it and you'll see through trial and error that you have just as much potential.
Hope to see you all joining the Crimson Daggers! We meet everyday @ 9am EST on LiveStream!
Metal - Spitfire - 'Danger in the World'
Hope you've been keeping up with the Crimson Dagger's progress! Lots of new art everyday :). If you're a member of Concept Art feel free to drop some support on em :D.
I'm really excited today because I'm ahead of deadline on all of my work. Could possibly send it all in today but I'll hold onto it in case I see something I could improve... But its cool to have most everything done ahead of time. Having too much fun working for Wizards! Hoping I can get some more magic work soon although I'm not sure how often they ask for work. I'm hoping my Daggers are all working their hardest because once you do start to achieve your goals you'll see how worth it it is to really push yourself everyday. So if you're a Dagger and readin this then just know that I have total faith in all of you! I see crazy progress and I know if you stick with it you'll get to wherever it is you're headed. No need to worry about anything, as long as you follow what you love 100%... Success and money follows. But if you go around chasing money then you'll most likely never get it. Just work hard for yourself. Also remember to post anything helpful you may find(reference/technique/study habits/ etc) on the sketchbook for everybody else to check out. Keep in mind you can get everything outta life by helping others get what they want. If you're always dedicated, working hard, and always helping/being helped then how can we not succeed? This is the fastest way to the top!
With that, heres some crappy studies I've done lately haha.
All of these are 1-2 hours with the exception of the Repin study which is on hour 6 now :).
Also, keep in mind that I'm showing these even though I think these are all terrible haha. I just want to show that it doesn't matter. You gotta know that we all fail...if we never failed we would never know how to improve. Making mistakes is just a natural part of learning, you'll never(unless you're a superhero) do anything perfect the first time. Everything is just a matter of practice. Some people are naturally inclined to certain aspects of whatever it is you're learning but that doesn't mean they're any better than you. Just keep at it and you'll see through trial and error that you have just as much potential.
Hope to see you all joining the Crimson Daggers! We meet everyday @ 9am EST on LiveStream!
Metal - Spitfire - 'Danger in the World'
Can't believe it!
The Crimson Daggers have EXPLODED! These guys are so dedicated to getting better I can hardly believe it. Surely there are those that don't update everyday and follow along with the studies... But the ones that have... They've already shown big improvement! And with the new addition of two more Crimson Dagger streams I can't begin to imagine where this will take us! I really look forward to more studies and more improvement! I hope you guys do too.
Here are the links -
My LiveStream w/Crimson Daggers
Andrew Domomomomo's Dagger Stream!
Zach's Dagger Stream!
Follow the whole study group on our ConceptArt.org sketchbook!
Sorry I haven't been updating my blog, just waiting for some pieces to get released so I can update somethin decent... In the meantime you can check out a Work in Progress and my studies from the stream!
Will keep you updated on cool Dagger developments!
Metal NoiseHunter - Rock Shower
Here are the links -
My LiveStream w/Crimson Daggers
Andrew Domomomomo's Dagger Stream!
Zach's Dagger Stream!
Follow the whole study group on our ConceptArt.org sketchbook!
Sorry I haven't been updating my blog, just waiting for some pieces to get released so I can update somethin decent... In the meantime you can check out a Work in Progress and my studies from the stream!
Will keep you updated on cool Dagger developments!
Metal NoiseHunter - Rock Shower