Introduction
The tv storyboard profession can be intense, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. If you have the passion for storytelling and the drive to create amazing animation, this job is for you! Here are some tips on how to become a storyboard artist:
Learn how to draw.
The next step is to learn how to draw. This is not just about copying what you see in a book, but also understanding how things appear in 3D space and how they should be represented on the page. You need to develop your ability for observation, because this will help you figure out the most important elements of each scene—the focal point, composition, lighting and perspective are key considerations when creating a storyboard image that conveys its intended message effectively.
The best way to start developing these skills is by studying art history textbooks or taking classes at your local community college. Many schools will offer courses on drawing from life models or still lifes. It can take years before one becomes proficient at observational drawing techniques; however there are many online resources available where artists share their techniques with others who may benefit from them (for example: [http://www.youtube-nocookie.,com/watch?v=SZFcVHv3qKM]).
Learn how to draw fast.
You need to learn how to draw fast.
This is important for many reasons, but the most obvious one is that it’s a job requirement. If you can’t draw quickly enough, then your animation will suffer and you won’t get hired.
Practice drawing at speed on a regular basis so that it becomes second nature. You should be able to do this without thinking about it—it should just happen naturally when you pick up your pencil or pen (or whatever drawing tool of choice). If you have trouble getting into this mindset, then check out my article on becoming an artist by clicking here: How To Become An Artist – The Ultimate Guide For Learning Art And Becoming More Creative
The best way I know of to practice drawing at speed is with moleskine sketchbooks (or any other blank journal). These journals are great because they allow you to create multiple pages in one book without worrying about wasting paper; if something doesn’t work out on one page, just tear it out and start over again!
Learn how to direct action.
Action is a big part of storyboarding and you need to know how to draw it. When you’re working on a scene, think about the character and what he or she is doing in that moment. Are they running? Are they walking? Is the character standing still? Are they eating lunch? How do their arms move when they eat lunch?
How does this differ from other scenes where these same characters are eating dinner later in the day? What about when that same character is going for an evening stroll with his dog later in life, after he has retired from work?
Asking yourself questions like these will help you determine what kind of action needs to be drawn for each scene.
Learn the tools of production (like Photoshop).
Storyboard artists need to be able to use Photoshop, which is a powerful program for creating images. You’ll want to learn how to use the following Photoshop tools:
- Brush tool
- Pencil tool
- Eraser tool
- Clone Stamp tool (this is useful for cloning an element from one area of your image onto another)
The Brush Tool allows you to paint onto your canvas with various sizes and shapes of brush tip. It has several settings that can affect how it behaves during painting, including opacity and flow rate. The Pencil Tool will draw lines on your canvas when used in conjunction with the eraser tool or other drawing methods (such as shape layers). The Eraser Tool removes any pixels that have been selected by using a selection or mask created with other tools like the Magic Wand or Lasso Selection Tools; however, unlike these other tools, it does not create new areas within your document but rather removes existing ones entirely.
Be able to communicate your idea quickly and visually.
The ability to communicate your idea quickly and visually is a key skill for any storyboard artist. You need to be able to communicate your ideas quickly and visually to a wide range of people, from directors to fellow artists. This means that you have a good grasp on how the human eye sees things, as well as how humans react visually. You aren’t just illustrating what you see; you’re also illustrating how others will see it when they look at the drawing.
Learn from other people’s work (and improve on it).
Learning from other people’s work is one of the most important things you can do as a storyboard artist. It’s also one of the least fun things to do, but this is where you will develop your sense of story and structure. Looking at other artists’ work will help you understand how other people are solving problems in animation—and it will show you how your own work can improve.
You should always be looking for ways to get better at what you do, whether that means learning new techniques or improving your designs and storytelling skills. Don’t just limit yourself to movies—watch cartoons too! Take note of the scenes that are especially interesting or well executed, and look up the episode on YouTube to see how they were done. By studying these videos carefully and taking notes about their successes (and failures), I guarantee that your own animations will start improving right away!
Network with other professionals in the industry.
One of the best ways to get a job in animation is through networking. Often, hiring managers will only accept portfolios from people they know, or who have been recommended by someone they trust. If you want to be part of an animation company that you love and respect, then it’s crucial that you make connections with other professionals in the industry.
In order for your network to be successful, however, it’s important that you cultivate relationships based on mutual value rather than taking advantage of others for personal gain. For example: if someone is willing to help me out with an illustration project because he knows I have a good portfolio (and therefore can help him in the future), then there is no point in doing so because he would not give me anything in return! Instead, I should focus on connecting with people who can provide value while also adding value themselves — such as sharing work with each other and giving each other feedback so we can improve as artists together!
It takes time, hard work and dedication but you can make it happen!
If you are willing to put in the time, hard work and dedication it takes to become a storyboard artist, then you can make it happen!
It takes time, hard work and dedication but you can make it happen!
Conclusion
I hope this article has given you some ideas on how to become a storyboard artist and get a job in animation. Again, I can’t stress enough how important it is for you to have persistence and dedication. You won’t make it happen overnight but if you keep up with the advice here then eventually it will work out for you!