Skeffins Sketchbook

[Skeffin]

I'm serious tho', I mean the whole point of illustration is to convey a story, message or idea, and your image succeeds. Tbh there is not a lot of illustration here and it bums me out so seeing a bit of it here and there - I'm gonna remark on it. Even if you think it's rough! :D

I feel like there's an abundance of opportunities out there but we all find ourselves aligned with a specific role or taste and it will limit options. Concept art is great but I've always felt like it's a spin-off role not a full-time career and before anyone bites I think celebrating your strengths even if it's not what you want or prioritise - is important. I think illustration is the job that opens a lot more doors than people think and allows you to refine skills that are essential for all other roles. Don't rule out those jobs just yet. Or do. You do you. 

hmm yeah I guess I'd have a slight preference to do more visual development stuff over conceptart, although I definitely like the design aspect of concept art.  How did you get illustration opportunities popping up for you ( sounds like you speak from experience), was it from contacts you made doing freelance stuff or from uni ? Or just working your way up from a less interesting starter job into better roles ? So far the only viable full time ones I've seen are childrens book illustration openings , which would be pretty cool but I'd have to severely revamp my art style for that. The rest seem to be geared more towards vector icons, UI, graphic design and I haven't invested any of my limited time in those skillsets, as well as not finding them that interesting, unless this is the sort of thing you were talking about when you said I shouldn't rule things out.  

Also curious why you find conceptart to be a spin off role ? Is it because for conceptart art is more the method to get the design idea across, vs focusing on stuff that makes art art in the traditional sense? Either way it would still feel more like an actual career to me compared to my current job that I'm just plodding through.

100% agree on the transferrable skills part - when I dabbled in a bit of illustration for funsies I realised I reaallly needed to work on my colours