Becoming a Storyboard Artist

Storyboards and concept art are key media in a film, television and even video productions. They almost often include character design that can show a character in costume and the surrounding environment done by drawing, art or illustration.     1 (720) 299-2084

Set design is also a cross skill where environments, places, areas, scenes and shots are detailed by drawing, illustration or other artwork. The storyboard artist draws, illustrates or makes the art to covey a scripts ideas, or take place of a script.

Here are a few reasons to hire a storyboard or concept artist:

• Clarifications of actors, camera blocking, camera movement, dialogue and other critical details.
• Design of characters, sets, environments and other script elements.
• Storyboards can double as a more detailed script for visual clarification.
• Storyboards can direct CG or animation, the camera crew, including directors, actors and camera operators.
• Storyboard artists often are concept artists taking an outline or script to set designers, prop makers, carpenters, and costume design.
• Storyboards can save production budgets by limiting camera re-takes with more detail for a camera crew and actors.
• Storyboards drawn from differing angles, vantage points, fields or view or perspective influence an audience based on factors.
• Diminishing or inferior point of view, subjective camera or other connection to an actor(s), scenes and story can be dramatic in audience engagement.

Advice to become a storyboard & concept artist

Patience and dedication to becoming a better artist would be the foremost. Even when you are uninspired go out and work on ideas even just writing them down for later or drawing or making art without any objective. Learning from mistakes as an artist will also make you remember better techniques in the future. Getting together with fellow artists and working on ideas together can help you in a stall. Trying things over when you get unexpected results in your artwork also pays dividends.

Collaborating with any artist, from a writer, fine artist, digital artist or other creative person in confidence can also move you back into direction.
Jrr Tolkein and CS Lewis had similar ideas and collaborated expanding each others stories and written work. Take time when you have it to keep going on your ideas or larger ambitions.

1) A fine or digital artist background is also key. Focusing education in a film or television production curriculum with an emphasis on CG or 3D modeling gives you even more leverage as a storyboarder & concept artist. Both backgrounds are desirable as you need to be able to draw and create, as well direct camera framing and motion, sets, props, actors and other crew together.

2) Drawing, painting or making storyboard, concept art, character or sets designs also is a valuable skill.  It can replace digital skills like 3D modeling, rendering and animation in less time. The game industry requires a 2D and 3D background, and any animation studio or game developer.

3) Script Writing: writing down, thinking up and remembering ideas even on sticky notes or when they come. Record them later in a notebook or type them up. Then expand on these ideas or revise them to be your unique story will help you stand out to new clients; the ones you seek.

3D storyboard illustrators and concept artists can also use the 3D and 2D software to make characters, costumes, sets, environments. They may be the lead concept or storyboard artist or an art director for a team of artists; more applicable in 3D movie creation and game creation.

Many gaming studios require the concept artist to have a strong 3D background

and overall artistic background:

• Using 2D and 3D software to create all phases of artwork and game creation.
• In a game development studio often to be a lead artist to direct teams collaborating on an entire game.
• Mastery of 2D or 3D modeling, texture mapping, rigging and animation. Rigging is applying a bone structure to a character or other 3D model to control it’s behavior.
• Mastery of 3D and 2D animation apps in all uses.
• Lower polygon modeling and subdivision techniques to create more complex 3D models with more detail.
• Higher polygon modeling and creation of texture maps to match the model.  UVW unwrapping and better modeling techniques.
• Mastering Polygon modeling and mapping (3d Modeling) including painting models in programs that can also make your art required by some specific industries.
• Animation to a higher skill level, including making animations shading and rendering. Animating all aspects of a scene from the characters, environment, weather conditions and whatever else to convey the drama or message. A required need in some roles or studios and plus for everyone else.
• An art background in drawing, and painting, illustration that can make characters, assets, storyboards and everything needed for a story. Often done before the digital phases of cinematics, more involved storvboards, and other 2D or 3D design phases. The strong concept art phase. Some artists can start straight in the application phase for storyboard, design and concept with 2D or 3D applications, skipping the paper.
• Creative storytelling and the ability to make characters, places, stories, among other elements. Making art needs into several phases. Telling stories or guiding a game’s plots and objectives in all the stages.
• Efficiency: Once the concept art is approved then begin storyboard making and revising ideas before the production begins. Working fast for larger stories or games can be helpful when it’s crunch time / nearing deadlines.

Storyboard Artist or Concept Artist Requirements; Generally

The Art Background

Background: Educates you on using specific mediums like pencil, paint, pastel, chalk, marker, charcoal, and many software apps that help you create art digitally. There are a number of artistic mediums that an art teacher can help you master. Even getting advice and an art supply store also gives you the choices, education and means to create art and learn more. Creating concept artwork and storyboards is art in itself with a goal of influencing the overall production in all stages.

The art background develops the skills to draw, paint, and sketch quickly. Drawing storyboard frames in lesser detail can save time and budget, but detailed storyboard frames are also desirable.  The longer you have been an artist the better your concept artwork and storyboards will be. Digital artistic backgrounds may not always be necessary to become a concept or storyboard artist, but it’s a dying breed. Many movies and game studios require a strong digital and traditional art background.

Fine art like drawings, paintings or other art are often the first stages in a production or development of a game. The artist creates everything from characters, costumes, places and anything else needed. They may often skip to the software phase to create; including the earliest stages of a production or game.

You do not have to attend the most prestigious art school but just to attend and develop as an artist.

Community colleges are a good place to start to transfer basic credits. Saving some money to going to a larger university. Trade schools that specifically focus in comics, storyboards, character art, and film production are more ideal.

Recommended: fine or applied art major

You can become a great artist on your own without attending a college or trade school, but an art teacher will show you stages needed or help you faster. To be better at drawing, painting and making other art.  There are several artists who could not afford secondary educations who have been artists for a while who have & will succeed. Self Made.

If you cannot afford college, scholarships and grants are open to anyone, not just those in college or graduating high school; everyone. You can always look at the school, trade school or programs website and talk with the enrollment department for financial help.

A background in art without school is also possible, if you are an artist, make your own rules.
Learn from other artists or people who inspire you.

A media, film, video or television education

The Production Background educates you in all aspects. (Nick Teti) I learned my skills through years of art classes and practice up to college, through college and continuing education. A specific major in film or television production is ideal. Some journalism schools are also practical in the curriculum and may have the exact courses or you could overlap the electives on film or television production. The college I attended had both TV and film production degree, among other skills  in the journalism program.

Colleges or trade schools that guide you through the basics or TV and film start with the basics and grow your skills quickly. Your understanding on camera composition, operating camera, lighting, graphics, editing, storytelling and many other backgrounds will make you a better storyboard or concept artist. Knowing camera movements, framing, composition, lighting, blocking (framing of actors, sets, environments) among the other skills you will learn all are necessary.

Comic Books and Graphic Novel Artists

Many comic artists also have lent their comics to movies including from Marvel and DC. Comic art and other types of art schools or classes also teach you the fundamentals of drawing a story, designing characters and environments, show you how to draw motion and action and other needed elements. Many movies have been the direct results of an already made comic book and graphic novel series. Many unknown comics are out there just waiting to be made into movies or television series.

Famous comics to hit the screen include:

• Superman
• Batman
• X-Men
• The Watchmen
• Elektra Assassin
• 300
• Sin City
• Dracula
• Wolverine
• Harley Quinn
• Justice League
• Among several others including spanning a series to a movie.
• Many famous comic artists attended the Joe Kubert School

Re-drawn frame from Frank Miller’s Ronin. Reading & drawing your favorite comics is a great way to develop as a storyboard artist. Making comics is storyboarding. Make Art.

Some Story Board Examples

Click a thumbnail for the example page
Hepatitis RX storyboards introduction.	Establishing shot, before RX
Blood Thinning RX for stroke prevention.	Showing the onset of a stroke.
Crest Toothpaste example	Advertising storyboard art, Crest
Re-Introducing the new Acura Integra	Re-Introducing the new Acura Integra

Tide Tide laundry detergent examplesFord F-150 Truck adversting storyboard drawings Below is a series for Scope mouthwash, and advertising storyboard series.

For more storyboards visit this page.

Another storyboard frame depicting the scene on a feature.

I am working on in concept production. This is the pencil only version.

Storyboard art, Scene for Feature Film

This is another storyboard from frame depicting another shot in the scene on a feature film in the scripting, storyboarding and concept art phase.  This is the pencil draft version to keep some elements private. The series is in the concept art phase, and I am also the writer.

Concept Art vs. Storyboard Art

Concept art is often used for developing ideas including characters, themes, and plots. Among other assets in a video or film or television production. After this stage it is incorporated into storyboards. It can also be used in graphic design, comics or other media. Many feature films rely on scripts, concept art and storyboards. If a writer & director develops a film or production, they often need a storyboard. It is a great idea to save time on shot and scene blocking, including actors, cameras and the environment.

It’s even better to have a storyboard that is scripted and many are. A script with storyboard frames for camera & shot blocking is great. A “comic” style storyboard with dialogue, audio within the storyboard frames is even better. It also assists in costume design, set design, camera crew direction, camera framing, lighting, actor direction among other use.

Tribute Art / Fan Artwork. My tribute to artist Bernie Wrightson re-drawn of Frankenstein & The Werewolf.  Think of comics as the original storyboard. Bernie Wrightson was a major art influence of mine.

Concept Artist & Character Designer

Here are some concept art pieces showing character design and set designs.

Development, Concept Art to Storyboards

Concept art is often the first stage of any production in media. And is often used in story boarding to develop storyboards or scripts. It can be used to develop ideas that then become finalized in storyboards. And scripts as well. It’s often the first stage of drawing, illustrating or creating storyboards. From scripts and designing a feature film, TV commercial or other need.

Concept art can be used in more than comics, game development, feature films, design, engineering or other needs. With storyboards can be the script or to enhance the ideas of a script. Conceptual art as well is used in various stages of scripting, drawing storyboards. Or to create the themes and other needed elements, including the story, plot or message.

Storyboards are often drawn after concept art, but often in the conceptual stages. Think of conceptual art as the planning stages. Then the creation of the needed ideas to then storyboard and script into a program or production. Or communication, other message, in film or television production. Storyboards can be a script with dialogue or created from one.

Mediums creating storyboards, artwork

Comics or Concept Art

There are a number of mediums from:

• pencil,
• ink,
• paint,
• chalk,
• pastel, (chalk or soft pastel)
• crayons,
• graphite,
• markers,
• charcoal, hard chalk or softer medium,
• Among many other traditional art work.
• Digital apps/software.

Or other art methods. The digital methods can mix these medias above with digital painting or drawing. Or combine a drawing or painting to a digital canvas to be colored more.

What is a storyboard artist?

Storyboard artists or illustrators draw a script or use illustration into frames or pictures. Or use digital methods like collage, 3D rendering or graphics software to create a storyboard. Storyboards can also recreate a script as well giving more visual guidance. To a camera crew, camera person, producers, editors or other people producing media.

Story Board art is most commonly used for television, film or video. Storyboard makers may also create a storyboard from a treatment. Draw, painted or illustrated as a narrative showing written or verbally expressed ideas. Storyboard art includes the environment, characters, events, products, or other things together. They can also be script writers able to expand on others ideas or take a group of ideas and develop them to the stages of ready for production.

They may be used for entertainment or for advertising or other purpose. Hiring a skilled storyboard creator can collaborate ideas and creators to achieve a production and direct all in the production. Most commonly film, television or video production companies rely on freelance storyboard creators.

The video game industry also uses storyboard artists for game planning, scenes and cinematics. They almost always double as concept artists requiring the skills of 3D modeling, animation and related expertise, as well drawing or making other storyboard art or concept art.

Here’s a character design course at Domestika. There are several other resources out there for education and training. A strong portfolio can always get you noticed as a storyboard or concept art, in spite of your education.

Why Hire a Storyboard Artist or Concept Artist

Storyboards provide better direction for a director, director of photography and actors. And for other members of a film or television crew made by a skilled storyboard illustrator. The storyboard art and concept art can also help set designers, costume designers or carpenters. Storyboard makers assist others who make scenery or props or other resources in a film with frames (artwork). Frames are the individual shots, or scenes of a plot / production. Anything from camera movement to actor direction to all other ideas. These ideas are depicted in storyboard art and often concept art. The conceptual art phase is usually after scripts or treatments, or production outlines are made.

Character Designer, Set Designer Services

Nick Teti – I also provide similar concept artist services like character design, set and costume design. I can integrate all these services together to create what clients have in mind.

Commission a Fine Artist

Hire artist Nicholas Teti III, Nick. I can be hired to make drawings, painting, digital art, sculpt or make other traditional art.

Fine art by artist Nick Teti. Rendition of a walrus in pastel.	Charcoal Drawing by Nicholas Teti III, Colorado USA
Watercolor reproduction painting by Nick Teti III, misterphoton.com 1 720 299-2084	Tempura paint artwork.
Pencil drawing of Charley Chaplin	Mixed art mediums, pencil & colored pencil.
Marylin Monroe Portrait	Pencil drawn portrait, “Sting.”
Pastel Chalk Drawing	Abstract art, pastel chalk.

Nick Teti – I have a fine art background, years of applied experience since the 1970’s. When I started drawing and painting as a kid. Then also learning modern digital art methods, aside from the artist services listed above. I can be hired as a fine artist as well. I have applied education since elementary school through college as well.

I can also be hired as a digital artist, for design, illustration or other media. I can also integrate fine art methods into concept art or storyboard artwork. I can create expressionism, noir, abstract, gesture, realistic art, among other styles. I can create art with these medias:

1. Digital methods using applications including 3D software.
2. Illustrator services using applications or by traditional artistic techniques.
3. Paintings with acrylic, watercolor, tempura or other paint. Or by digital means.
4. Making artwork, storyboards, characters, sets and concept art drawing with pencil, pastel & charcoal.
5. Collage, digital collage and other mixed artistic media.
6. Motion graphics and animator services.

Resources for Storyboard Artists & Artists

Digital mediums like 3D software, 2D software, graphics / illustration software. Including raster or vector art that are used in concept art, and storyboards. And also, comics or graphic novels.

Here is a storyboard artist specific training program at StoryboardArt.org

Adobe software like Photoshop and Illustrator, Animate are the most common from Adobe.

Autodesk has Sketchbook, 3DsMax and Maya – 3ds Max and Maya are the most used 3D apps in several industries.

Toon Boon has Storyboard Pro.

Sketchup can be used for 2D, 3D, character and set design and storyboard illustration.

Blender is a 3D app with 2D uses for modeling, drawing, animation, rendering. It has other capabilities for every stage in digital art.

Short courses in character design like this one from Domestika.org

Graphite techniques for portraits – graphite creating excellent drawings in a style similar but differing pencil. Domestika

Learn character Design in many ways, Stan Winston School of Character Design

Key Frames and important scenes are provided often by the concept artist, lead storyboard artist or animation director. Learn about keyframes in concept art.

There are plenty other 3D applications that are used in storyboard art and concept art applications in film or game development.

World building and making the art for environments. Domestika course.

Learn about basic drawing in observational styles. Domestika.org course.

Drawing from imagination, charcoal techniques. Domestika.org course.

Artist Training and Film Making Resources

Motion Science has training programs and software resources to become a storyboard artist.

Learning human anatomy is very important and animals as well. https://anatomy4sculptors.com

Google searching is a great way to find books about anatomy.

Get a film making degree. Research by google to find the training or education that works for you. There are several courses, universities and trade schools to look into.

StoryboardArt.org a good resource to learn the art of storyboard making.

Animation Specific Courses & Resources

Animation Degree courses not only focus on storyboard and concept art, but the entire animation process.

University of Colorado’s animation & motion graphics BA degree.

Learning Blender 3D – Domestika.org

Lerning Blender 3D at YouTube.com

Download Blender 3D – blender.org

CG Master Acedemy (CG meaning computer generated)

Educational Books at a budget at thriftbooks.com

Animation Degree from a film school online or in person. Several other Universities also have animation and production bachelor’s programs with internships.

ZBrush – an app for modeling and painting in a sculpting method. Here’s a beginner lesson at Domestika.org

Autodesk 3ds Max and Maya are the most commonly used 3D applications across several industries.

Here’s an insight from ScreenSkills.com about storyboarding, becoming a storyboard artist with a focus on animation and gaming.

Must know software

There are applications used across all or many of these skills sets for storyboard or concept artists, character and set designers. Some Include:

Adobe Photoshop – Domestika, YouTube.com and many other websites have tutorials. YouTube is free by just watching an ad or two before the video.                                             Here’s a lighting specific course for Photoshop painting.

Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop

Adobe Animate – Ideal for 2D animation.

Sketchbook Pro – has a lot of great painting and works on touch screen PC, Android tablets, phones, iPad, Wacom tablets and other devices.

3D apps like Autodesk 3ds Max or Maya are industry preferred among game studios, CGI studios and for other employer sectors. Being the most common in animation and game studios. Pixar continues to develop and use RenderMan for it’s movies.

3D apps like Blender – that cover several uses for concept art, game development, animation, modeling, graphics and video editing. The software also has 3D, 2D, drawing, and video editing all in one.

Enhancement or purpose in software for 3D modeling and painting or models. ZBrush and other applications. Here is a ZBrush course.

Often a gaming or animation studio has specific software preferences and you many need to learn more.

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