[Skeebz]

Plain and simple, I like many others am working on developing my skills for the potential to be a professional concept artist.

I'm used to traditional ways of doing art; pencil, paper, ink, paint.

It seems like its easier for concept artists to produce their work via computer programs. I'm only mildly experienced with old photoshop programs and GIMP which is a free program.

Naturally when I came across an adobe illustrator class in my school I thought it would be to my benefit. Now after the first two classes I am second guessing the usefulness of the program. In fact, the teacher is driving me insane and I wanna break things. I feel like I'm in a graphic design class; I don't want to design road signs and company logos. I want to work in a more organic field like landscape, setting, character, monster, and so on.

What I'm getting at is .. should I use my money to invest in this program and endure through this class, which I basically already hate? Is it worth knowing and having?

If not, what sort of programs should I get to know?

I'm 25 and I feel like I'm already way behind everyone else. I don't know whether or not I should bother going to this local college to work towards a degree, or just focus on the classes that will specifically assist in the improvement of my artistic abilities and skills.

I've read many times that the only thing that matters to employers in the end is the portfolio you end up with and how good it reflects upon you. If that's true, then taking all the other classes required with getting a degree are just a waste of my time.

Any helpful thoughts or comments would be appreciated. Negative ones, not so much. I already feel like dirt.

-S

ps. Sorry if this is the wrong area to put these questions. -.-;

[arttorney]

I'd say finish out that class now that you got started. Vector drawing programs are not only useful for big things like billboards but they are useful for small things like all the icons and smileys on these boards. If nothing else, understanding that program could get you work making assets for smartphone apps/simple games.

I've seen some brilliant character work done in Illustrator. the projects your teacher is having you do is only to learn the program. What you do with it after class is up to you. You need to know how to work all the buttons so you can go wild with it on your own time.

Cutting edge Photoshop would be an important tool in your digital arsenal, and should make sense to a GIMP user.

If you are interested in 3D then the basics would start with Maya or 3DS Max. It's rare to see a job ad talking about knowledge of any open source programs.

[Zentrope]

Computer programs are non-linear way of working and they are just tools to help an artist achieve his vision(dreams).

Similar to pen and pencil, which in an artists hand looks like a magic wand...

Art is not specific to Graphics designing or anything else...It's an expression to make things with emotions and much more which i cannot define in the given space !

learn the basics of illustrator and try to implement that knowledge and use it in making of your own things with it..

Illustrator is an amazing software and in addition with Photoshop and others (Creative Suite) make a hell of a combo!


If you want to be a Concept artist, then just learn the basics and don't spend your money in buying this software at this given time!

Invest your money in something like Photoshop, etc!

one advise i would like to give is that when the competition increases, the need to learn and incorporate other softwares in your arsenal becomes a necessity...

So try to learn as much as you can and also look for 3D softwares like Vue, Maya, 3D Max And i would also suggest you to look into Google Sketchup(open source)

Don't worry about the age.....It's the mileage!!!

Do you think Guys like DaVinci,Michael angelo....etc got a specific degree from the college to specify it?

They learned with observation and hard work.
Worked as sculptor,trained themselves as musician, methamatician, anatomist,geologist, botanist, writer,etc...

That is why learn everything and then select and be what pleases you!

Yes portfolio is important but so does knowing the work!

So keep learning... Shalom

[aaron_Lamzilla]

Learn photoshop and zbrush. Scour around the Internet for tutorials. There are tons! And good luck.

[happyfish]

Maybe the teacher let you design road signs and company logos ,in order to develop in the learning process you after the habit of making something details.
you can learn maya or 3dmax if you are interested in 3D .At the same time you can also learn photoshop .they must be able to give you a lot of help in the future .