How to get hired by a studio

Career advice Tanya Combrinck finds out how to put together the perfect portfolio and showcase your skills to impress a top art director

- Tanya Combrinck

Getting a studio job isn’t the only way to have a career as a professional fantasy artist, but it does have some major advantages. Being surrounded by more experienced artists, regularly receiving their feedback and insight, usually means you improve much faster than you would as a freelancer, and the financial security of a regular paycheck means you can focus on your art without worrying about making rent. 

But getting your first break can be tough. At the start of your career it can be difficult to know whether to produce work tailored to the studios you aspire to work at, or to lean into your own style.

"The path to your dream studio might not be a straight line, and that's okay!" says Dennis van Kessel, concept artist at Atomhawk, a studio that produces digital art and motion graphics for the games industry. "If you are looking for your first break into the industry, I wouldn't worry too much about matching a certain studio's style - especially if their style is extremely specific. As someone looking to get their foot in the door, you're better off having a wide range of options rather than putting all your hopes on getting a job at one or two studios."

Your portfolio is of course central to your application, so getting it right is crucial. "Your portfolio is only as good as your worst piece," says Dennis. "Many artists fall into the trap of wanting to show off an incredibly wide range of skills, but that is only worth doing if you have a consistent quality level across those skills. Focus on your strengths!"