2D Artist

2DARTIST MAGAZINE | ISSUE 129``````NR: I think it’s about balance. Learn the studiotechniques – the software and pipelines – but makesure you have a good foundation in drawing andpainting. That will give you the toolsyou need to produce work of the rightquality. But always make sure you allowyour own style to creep into everythingyou do. It might make it a bit harder initiallybut if you can get work doing something``````either physically or digitally, so they need to work butthey also need to help convey a story at the sametime. To me those sorts of constraints are the bestdefinition of being creative. Then it’s just a matterof knowing a set of tools that allow you to visualizethat solution to the people putting it all together.``````2da: What advice would you give to someone who isstruggling to launch their career as a concept artist?the way the industry is heading, so I feel like I needto stay ahead of that curve. Programs like ZBrushand 3D-Coat make it pretty simple to create verycomplex compositions and design quickly, but I’dlike to spend more time in a program like Mayaand learn proper modeling techniques as well.2da: How would you describe your jobto a group of aliens, who have no ideawhat a concept artist is or does?NR: I guess I’m a problem solver in a lot of ways,which is something that was drilled into me atuniversity. The designs I create need to be built,“The designs I create needto be built, either physicallyor digitally, so they need towork but they also need tohelp convey a story at thesame time”PRO TIPNever stop learningEven once you land that dream job or big client you need to be of the mindset that you are still astudent of art. Bounce ideas off your friends and colleagues, learn new techniques or programs,try sculpting, or do some traditional painting. The internet makes finding new knowledge soeasy that you really can just Google a skill you want to learn and come out with a decent basicunderstanding. If you think that you’ve learned everything about any aspect of art, it’s going toturn around and bite you pretty quick.``````Datsun Racer for the Cosmos project © Ned Rogers