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Visual Development Portfolio
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What is the best way to create a visual development portfolio? I've tried multiple times to submit to many animation studios but as an illustrator I have never gotten a single bite. Is there any way to get better results? Is there a way to break into the animation industry without having an BA in animation?
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Most studios don't hire "visual development" artists. They hire artists who come from a varied film/animation background who've shown an aptitude for conveying story ideas visually. The top notch [so-called] "visual developement" artists have a strong background in animation and/or story, or illustration. Most have made short films either as a student or on their own. If you don't know how to, or aren't interested in the grind of putting those ideas on the screen, studios tend to be far less interested in even reviewing a portfolio of this kind.
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Not necessarily. There are many routes, to be sure. But it certainly helps--a lot. Strong storytelling skills are a necessity. Visual Development as nothing more than a series of pretty pictures is useless. The artwork is a means to and end, and that end is telling a story. Anyone who thinks, or tells you, otherwise is full of it. If you want to go the illustration route, I suggest you either have a very strong personal style, or are wildly adaptable. Neither easy, of course. Visual Development is usually freelance, unless you've got a broad animation background. And as all freelance jobs go, they're few and far between.
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After looking at your portfolio (online) i suggest much more quick sketch life drawing. More intimate observation. Don't listen to music while you do this, as no matter what anyone says, it obstructs observation. Also, get the Donald Graham book on Composition--still the best on the market. And learn to set yourself strong limitations in your work. Tell one idea at a time, as simply and as clearly as you can. Visit the great A. Film LA site and download the wealth of documents on composition and staging that Hans Perk has posted. Great (and free) stuff. And visit the great Scott Caple's site on drawing and composition.
It's called "threefingersholdthepen.com."
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G. M. said:
After looking at your portfolio (online) i suggest much more quick sketch life drawing. More intimate observation. Don't listen to music while you do this, as no matter what anyone says, it obstructs observation. Also, get the Donald Graham book on Composition--still the best on the market. And learn to set yourself strong limitations in your work. Tell one idea at a time, as simply and as clearly as you can. Visit the great A. Film LA site and download the wealth of documents on composition and staging that Hans Perk has posted. Great (and free) stuff. And visit the great Scott Caple's site on drawing and composition.
It's called "threefingersholdthepen.com."
I am curious if you checked my portfolio on animated buzz alone or my other websites? Because I do spend time life drawing when at starbucks on my tumblr sketchbook. Also I do plan on improving my compositions. I'lll look into some of the things you've cited here.
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Hah I also wanna go into visdev XD From what I know studios really like you to show the process of how your getting somewhere. Thumb sketch, sketches, color variety, lighting variety, and then the Final. Its also good to show that you have variety because if you want to be in visdev for awhile then you need to show that you can go from one style to the next, different locations, etc. based on what film you are working on. I hope that helps. I'm still a student so I'm not an expert but this is what I see in successful portfolios and what i learned in my classes.
This post was edited by Cat Tuong Bui at January 2, 2012 6:44:40 PM PST -
Thank you for the input B.M., Cat Tuong Bui, and Amanda Candler. (I know this is a really late response) G.M. I checked the site "threefingersholdthepen.com" and it no longer exists. I plan on getting a few books now for those artists you've recommended. Thanks again. If anyone else has anything to add to this thread, I'd welcome any more advice!
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