We asked Brandon Reimchen, head of the department of concept art and illustration at CG Spectrum, to share the essential skills every art student needs to master. Brandon broke these important skills down into two major components: hard skills and soft skills. Watch the video below for an explanation from him on the difference, and why they’re so important.
Hard skills are measurable technical skills, which are the ones students primarily focus on. These skills include drawing from life, drawing from reference, challenging yourself, not overcomplicating your work, and learning from other artists, which Brandon expands upon in his video.
Soft skills are often overlooked. These are skills that are related to emotional intelligence, that help us to interact with the people around us. Soft skills include being prompt and clear in your communication, reading instructions, asking questions, listening to feedback, and providing respectful and specific feedback to others.
Having a good balance of both hard and soft skills makes a successful, well-rounded artist who works well as part of a team. None of these skills is innate, so it pays for students to practice and master them before they launch into their artistic careers.
About Brandon Reimchen
Brandon is currently head of the Department of Concept Art and Illustration at CG Spectrum. After receiving his degree in Fine Arts in 2003, Brandon began working in the video game industry as a Concept Artist. Since then he has produced work for companies like EA, Activision, Capcom, Gree, and Disney Interactive. By relying on his experience, he aims to provide students with an inside look at how to achieve industry-level standards in their own concept art portfolio.
About CG Spectrum
CG Spectrum is an online animation, visual effects, and game development school whose mission is to ensure graduates are well trained and prepared for a successful career in their chosen field.
They believe in affordable, high-quality, personalized education that places graduates in demand. Their online courses give students direct access to industry experts with years of real-world experience, and a comprehensive curriculum developed with the input of major studios. With a greater level of personal interaction and guidance from industry mentors, their students can progress faster and graduate with the job skills and confidence to pursue their dream careers.
