Skip to content
Close
Apply Now
Apply Now
concept-artist-job-header

Concept Artist

Everything you need to know about the job of a concept artist including required skills, responsibilities and salary.

What does a concept artist do?

Concept artists develop the initial visual concepts (characters, props, vehicles, environments) from a script or creative brief. They set the tone and style of the work, giving life to an abstract idea. Concept art is used as a reference point throughout a project's development. 

Visual storytelling is the key task of the Concept Artist, they imagine characters and worlds from off the page and bring the story to life. If you have a talent for visualizing abstract ideas a career as a Concept Artist could be for you! 

Concept artist job description

The role of the Concept Artist is crucial as their work will be the stylistic building blocks upon which the animation, video game, cartoon, etc are built. They interpret a design brief from a client or expand their own original idea by illustrating the key characters and environments of a project. This preliminary artwork will be simple but expressive as it will be developed and expanded further during the development process. 

Role and responsibilities of a concept artist in film and games:

  • Liaising with the producer, art director, game developer, etc regarding the brief for the project
  • Researching concept subjects, styles & genres 
  • Creating detailed key designs from a written brief
  • Presenting a series of drafts of the concepts for approval
  • Responding positively & proactively to feedback 
  • Drawing up specification sheets, establishing dimensions & details for others to follow
  • Working to a schedule
  • Using traditional & technological approaches to creating designs in either a 2D or 3D environment
  • Assisting in creation of marketing materials and assets
  • Continuing to develop concepts & designs for the duration of the production process
concept-art-vs-illustration-feat-01

How much does a concept artist make?

Most concept artists will work as freelancers on films, animated features, and short and game production, however, they can attain full-time positions at animation studios and gaming companies.

Depending on location and employer, the average concept artist salary is around US$99,000, increasing with experience. (Source: glassdoor.com)

To learn more about this field, read: What it's like to be a professional concept artist (Interview with award-winning Blizzard Entertainment Concept Artist Tyler James)

$74k Jnr. concept artist
$139k Snr. concept artist

Skills required to become a concept artist for film and games

Concept artists must possess a practical imagination to be able to bring the ideas of others to life. Interpreting a brief is the key skill for a concept artist, and what follows from this is constant development and refinement until the final design is approved. 

Film and game companies may look for the following skills in a concept artist:

  • Strong drawing skills, with a specialization in concept design
  • Ability to draw in a variety of styles
  • Knowledge of anatomy and zoology, costuming, physical settings and history-related references 
  • Solid awareness of facial expression, pose, posture, gesture and movement
  • Able to draw from written briefs
  • High-level attention to detail
  • Solid understanding of visual language - texture, color, dimension, scale, perspective, shade, composition, depth of field, proportion, spatial awareness, etc
  • Good communication skills, ability to explain concepts and support artistic choices
  • Skilled in technical drawing
  • Excellent time management skills, ability to consistently meet deadlines
  • Team player, skilled at working independently
  • Knowledge of the animation and/or game development processes

What software and tools do concept artists use?

Concept Artists work with a selection or combination of the following software. Some artists prefer to sketch out initial drawings using paper, pens and/or pencils, however, all final artwork is delivered in digital format

Concept artists may need knowledge of a combination of the following software:

maxon_zbrush_box
TOUCH

Maxon ZBrush is a digital sculpting tool that combines 3D/2.5D modeling, texturing and painting

photoshop
TOUCH

Adobe Photoshop is a raster graphics editor developed and published by Adobe for Windows and macOS. It was created in 1987 by Thomas and John Knoll

illustrator
TOUCH

Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics editor and design software developed and marketed by Adobe

mudbox
TOUCH

Mudbox is a proprietary computer-based 3D sculpting and painting tool. Currently developed by Autodesk, Mudbox was created by Skymatter

corel
TOUCH

Corel Painter is a raster-based digital art application created to simulate as accurately as possible the appearance and behavior of traditional media associated with drawing

autodesk-sketchbook
TOUCH

Sketchbook is a raster graphics software app intended for expressive drawing and concept sketching also for making animations

How to become a concept artist


Download software 

Download free digital art software like Gimp, Krita, Sketchpad, FireAlpaca, and ArtWeaver to start practicing. 

Practice 

Sharpening your skills helps you grow and become more confident and reliable. 

  • Develop a solid understanding of art fundamentals—line, color, light, values, shape, composition, and perspective.
  • Be observant of real-world references like people, creatures, and places which you can use as inspiration. 

Build skills

Build the skills companies are listing on job sites. For more support, enroll in a reputable course. CG Spectrum’s concept art courses include mentorship from award-winning industry pros, an industry-led curriculum, and career services. 

  • Learn how to interpret a brief and execute feedback
  • Familiarize yourself with the VFX and video game pipelines and how your work will be used
  • Regularly practice art fundamentals and digital painting techniques

Watch trends

Online tutorials, webinars, etc., can keep your skills fresh. 

Attend conventions 

Use conventions to network, meet likeminded people, and be inspired. This is how award-winning Illustrator Eric Wilkerson got his first professional book cover illustration commission after college graduation. 

Network

Networking is vital to getting your name and skills recognized and meeting experts who can offer advice or even jobs. Familiarize yourself with the industry and build your community—publishing houses, authors, and illustrators. 

Share work

Social media is great for showcasing work, building an audience, having your work shared by others, and seen by potential clients and collaborators. 

Presentation

Your portfolio is how you will market your services. Make your work presentable and user-friendly to impress prospective clients. 

Collaborate

Know someone designing a game who needs character art? Collaborating with your peers is not only fun, but it can also help you create more polished work for your portfolio. 

Intern

Internships at VFX, game, or publishing studios can help you break into the industry. It’s one way to gain hands-on experience, network, and experience studio life. 

Join competitions

Practice your skills and create portfolio pieces by participating in contests on platforms like The Rookies and ArtStation.

For further info on the skills and qualifications that will help you break into the illustration industry, why not check out our comprehensive guide?

animation-header-00

Ready to Start Your Film & Games Journey?

Download our course guide to see how we can help you on your pathway to your dream career.

Tips to break into the concept art industry

Your portfolio should show you understand the foundations of art while also establishing your own personal style. According to professional Illustrator Eric Wilkerson, your portfolio needs to demonstrate consistency while ensuring it’s tailored to the right audience.  Other tips include: 

  • Quality over quantity! Revise older work to meet your current standards
  • Only include your best. Work in progress is fine
  • Seek inspiration from professional artists’ portfolios
  • Center on one art genre for cohesion
  • If using a PDF, add chapters for easy viewing
  • Use a platform that allows you to update your work easily (e.g., ArtStation, The Rookies, or Behance)
  • Aim for a clean, intuitive, gallery-style website with enlargeable thumbnails
  • Don’t overcrowd your homepage —5 images max
  • Optimize your images and ensure they load properly
  • Present each piece with a brief explanation (concept, rationale, brief)
  • Show process, sketches, roughs, and reference
  • If necessary, create mockups of how your art would look in various formats
  • Triple-check for errors (layout, framing, spelling, etc.)
  • Get feedback from at least 3 mentors or industry pros before publishing
  • Feature both your commercial and personal art
  • Keep your ‘about’ page concise; it can be less formal
  • Share your finished portfolio on your social channels


Additional resources to help you get started as a concept artist:

Tyler-James-Blog-1600x900

Industry Pathways

Tyler James, Curriculum Manager and Mentor of Concept Art & Illustration at CG Spectrum talks about his 18-year journey in the game industry. Passionate about fantasy from an early age, Tyler tells us about his early roles as a 3D character artist, to concept artist, and art director on projects like Neverwinter Nights 2, Hunted: The Demon's Forge, Rift, and Hex. Tyler also shares invaluable insights about building characters, facing imposter syndrome, and collaborating with world-class teams.