Imagine you’re walking along a street in a big, busy city.

Despite all the noise and movement, something shiny catches your eye.

It’s a key.

You pick it up and realize it’s the most unusual and ornate key you’ve ever seen.

You take it home, toss it in a drawer and forget about it.

…or maybe you display it, so you can share it with others. After all, the key is a beautiful work of art in and of itself.

Now imagine, one day, a good friend comes over for coffee.

They notice this beautiful key you have displayed and they say to you: “I think I know where to find the lock. It’s on a door just down the street. Wanna go see what’s inside?”

A single piece of Concept Art is a key.

Some aspiring Concept Artists spend all their time collecting keys but never bother to unlock any doors.

They scroll the Internet, collecting single pieces of Concept Art and toss it all into a hoard file on their hard drive.

Sometimes they’ll share it on Social Media but, either way, they’re not learning anything about what it really means to be a professional Concept Artist.

Your random collection of keys won’t unlock anything on their own. You have to find out what’s behind the doors and why.

I know it can be overwhelming to research the history of Concept Art and stay relevant in such an innovative industry…

…but this list of The Best New Concept Art Books will help you do both.

EPISODE LINKS ::

If you liked this post, check out my original blog series on my Top 10 Essential Concept Art Books (Part 1) and (Part 2), my series about Visual Development Portfolios and learn more about the power of shape language in Good Character Design Goes Deep!

Our Theme Music was composed by Seth Earnest, produced by Seth Earnest and Chris Oatley and performed by Seth Earnest with guitar work by Storybook Steve.

Our Album Art was designed by Maike Oatley with Chris Oatley.

Until next time, my friends, remember: Books are meant to be read. …not just decorate your shelves.

https://howtobecomeaprofessionalartist.com/

Animation visual development artist and background painter Amy Lewis (SpongeBob, Moominvalley) talks about establishing a freelance animation career from Europe, the most devastating rejection of her career and the amazing opportunity that followed.

This is the first of a two-part series.

Get clear, relevant feedback on your work and personalized career guidance in our mentorship: The Clockwork Heart: https://howtobecomeaprofessionalartist.com/clockwork-heart/

Subscribe to this podcast on any of the major platforms and join our email list for notifications about future episodes, courses, and mentorship opportunities. It’s 100% free and we will always respect your privacy: https://visual-voice-llc.ck.page/688dccdf68

Next, In Part Two: Amy shares insights about the vitality of professional networking, balancing perfectionism with self-acceptance and the attitude she expects from her students and crew...

00:00 Introduction

00:39 Meet Amy Lewis

02:11 Amy's Early Influences

05:03 Frustration With University Art Programs

07:02 Experimenting With Illustration

08:05 "I've Found My People..."

09:49 Amy's First Big Break

14:08 Another Year Of Skill Building

15:33 Moominvalley & Art Directing In Lockdown

16:45 Knowing What You Don't Want

18:50 Amy's Dream Job Disappointment

21:33 SpongeBob SquarePants

24:13 The Brave Locomotive

25:52 Amy's Artistic Development

32:17 Next In Part 2

32:31 Credits/ Hidden Track

https://howtobecomeaprofessionalartist.com/

Animation visual development artist and background painter Amy Lewis shares insights about the vitality of professional networking, balancing perfectionism with self-acceptance and the attitude she expects from her students and crew.

This is the second in a two-part series.

Get clear, relevant feedback on your work and personalized career guidance in our mentorship: The Clockwork Heart: https://howtobecomeaprofessionalartist.com/clockwork-heart/

Subscribe to this podcast on any of the major platforms and join our email list for notifications about future episodes, courses, and mentorship opportunities. It’s 100% free and we will always respect your privacy: https://visual-voice-llc.ck.page/688dccdf68

00:00 Introduction

01:42 The Struggle Of Self-Critique

05:52 Growing Confidence - Brass Bands And Bullies

09:13 How Amy Beats The Odds

12:11 The Vitality Of Networking

14:21 Happy Little Trees

15:14 Amy's Current Mindset

16:37 Evaluating Amy's Old Portfolios

18:26 The Mindset Amy Recommends For Her Students And Crew

19:38 The Best (And Worst) Advice Amy Ever Received

22:29 The Magic Feather

25:30 Anything Else?

26:41 Credits