Choose you art field?

[Dahlium]

I wonder how you choose where to specialize in the art field?

What interests and skills are important in for example concept art, animation, illustration, fine art etc?

I know acting is very important in animation and probably design in concept art, is this true and what about the others?

[dpaint]

I don't think you choose. I think you work in what interests you and let the marketplace decide for you. Specialization is usually the love of something to the exclusion of other things, to be successful. Its usually not something you force on yourself.

[Featheredface]

Passion develops and comes from deep within. It's not entirely a choice.

[Psychotime]

Passion develops and comes from deep within. It's not entirely a choice.

Mmm...I don't think so. If people choose to be lazy, how is the opposite not a choice you make on your own?

[Dahlium]

dpaint: OK!

But how do I know if I actually like doing something in a field? I mean I don't know what it is to work as for example an concept artist before I've tried

[Star Eater]

dpaint: OK!

But how do I know if I actually like doing something in a field? I mean I don't know what it is to work as for example an concept artist before I've tried

...


Generally, if you enjoy doing something, you are liking it.
Just start drawing and coming up with your own designs and concepts
if you get a lot of satisfaction out of it, pursue it. If not, don't.
It's really that simple.

[Elwell]

1: Be in the world. Look at lots of art.
2: Figure out what kind of art you like and how to make it.
3: Find a market for that kind of art. If there isn't one, make it.

[Velocity Kendall]

I remember first seeing Craig Mullins work, and realising you dont have to choose one thing, you can paint anything that interests you.
it was a big thing. suddenly, anything is fair game, and there arent enough hours in the day, no matter how late you stay up.

[dpaint]

dpaint: OK!

But how do I know if I actually like doing something in a field? I mean I don't know what it is to work as for example an concept artist before I've tried

Ah. That is a different thing. You can't know and you are right to be wary because doing something for a living can beat all the fun out of it. Being paid to be an artist changes the artist as much as it changes the artists work.

Harlan Ellison said when he first came to Hollywood to write for TV, August Derleth, the great horror and screenplay writer told him
"Trying to succeed as a screenplay writer in Hollywood is like climbing a huge pile of cow shit just to pluck a beautiful rose growing at the top. Only to find once you've reached the rose you've lost your sense of smell."

[bcarman]

"Trying to succeed as a screenplay writer in Hollywood is like climbing a huge pile of cow shit just to pluck a beautiful rose growing at the top. Only to find once you've reached the rose you've lost your sense of smell."

Man Armand, I had completely forgotten about that quote. So great. Similar insight steered me away from advertising.

[Dahlium]

Ok thanks everybody!
I think it's leaning towards fine art/animation

[mickeymao]

Sounds like you may have missed DPaint's point -- it is too soon for you to make a decision, and in fact you *won't* make a decision. You will keep working hard and when you get good enough you will naturally find yourself in a niche. If you find you don't like that niche, you will have some ability to move from it and find another. What you almost certainly won't do is aim at a particular niche today and travel in a straight line to it.

Also, just so you know, fine art and animation are pretty far apart on the map of the art world, so you might actually have to choose between those directions at some point.