Concept Art Report

Introduction

Concept art is the visualising, design and creation of imagined fantasy and futuristic scenes, backgrounds and characters. Where did this art form originate and why is the demand for it so high? Is it because of the human desire for escapism, whether in the form of a book, movie or game? Is this why the realistic nature of the illustrations is paramount to the genre? Dolores Phelps, University of Gloucestershire has likened it to Romanticism. This idea is supported by, the concept artist, Kirsi Salonen who describes the German Romantic painter, Caspar David Friedrich as a significant influence on her work (1).

Casper David Freidrich - Wreck of the Hope 1823-24

Something prevalent in the work of the Romanticists and concept artists is the use of light for creating dramatic effect. Producing convincing scenes by generating atmosphere and setting the mood. As well as the use of scale and shiny surfaces; particularly in the technology and clothing of Syd Mead's work.

In order for your future to work you have to have familiarity as a hook...thats why I always put people in my illustrations(2)

Syd Mead: U.S. Steel Interface - a portfolio of probabilities, 1969 - Race at the Megastructure

Syd Mead

As a child Syd Mead never stopped drawing from the moment he could hold a pencil, he says he was 

Fascinated with scenario...I was creating my own world. (3)

Mead is a Visual Futurist and Concept Artist who began his career in the automotive industry in the 1960s. Mead attended the Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, from 1956-1959 (4). He worked as a designer and illustrator for 20 years with Ford Motor Company and US Steel. Then following a job to design the V'ger space ship for the first Star Trek movie(5), he was asked to work on the concepts for the film Tron (1982) and then to design the vehicles for Ridley Scott's Film Blade Runner (1982). As the film production progressed he became involved more and more involved with the concept design for the rest of the movie(6).

Syd Mead - US Steel, Space Age Concept Car 1961

Syd Mead - Blade Runner (1982)

With a successful career spanning more than 50 years, he continues to design. Still using traditional drawing and painting methods, preferring gouache and working on a relatively small scale 20"x30", so that he can reach it(7). Mead says he admires anyone who can understand and master the digital process favoured by conceptual artists of today(8). Linda Hales said of Mead's work on Blade Runner that, 

He mixed a stew of historical styles into what he calls “retro deco.” ...the fantasy looks strangely plausible.(Hales, Linda article)

Mead says that design has to begin with a picture so the people who cannot draw can acquiesce about what it is they are going to produce(9).

Richard Taylor, Effects Supervisor for the movie Tron (1982), says of Mead's work 

It reminds you of something you've never seen before(10).

Syd Mead: U.S. Steel Interface - a portfolio of probabilities, 1969

Nathan Haines 

With the demand for digitally proficient illustrators and a distinct lack of professional training in the field(11), Conceptual Art career vacancies are many and as varied as are the industries that employs them. From architects and car manufacturers to films and gaming the industry is set to boom(12).

Nathan Haines - 45 minute sketch 2014

Notice how Haines has manipulated the first image, stretched it, changed the colour and lighting to create several quite different images (fig.)

Nathan Haines - Transporter 2014

Dolores Phelps and the second year BA(Hons) Illustration of University of Gloucestershire interviewed Concept Artist Nathan Haines, who graduated a year ago from the same University and has been pursuing a very promising career, within the rapidly growing industry of concept art. Working digitally mostly with Adobe Photoshop and can produce very effective images in a meter of minutes. He says it is a demanding environment to work in due to limited timeframes; sometimes as little as 45 minutes: and there a long hours due to the shortfall in qualified and talented personnel. He told us that in a recent search for a new artist to join their team, they were unsuccessful in filling the position.

Kirsi Salonen

Kirsi Salonen - Promotional artwork for fantasy film screenplay "Cockfighter", created by Remington Scott.

Another promising career looks set for digital artist, Kirsi Salonen. During an interview with Its Art Magazine(13), Salonen said that her main influences lie in the fantasy realms of author R.A. Salvatore, films such as The Dark Crystal and Predator, and artists Larry Elmore, H.R. Giger, Christophe Vacher and Dave McKean. (14). She also takes inspiration from the Finnish myth and folklore, Kalevala (15). Salonen says that she endeavours to make her work look conceivable without being too feasible(16) Alongside her busy work schedule as a freelance artist producing cover art, illustrations, comics, cards, concept art for games and movies, commercial and graphic design, she is writing and illustrating her own graphic novel, Ordera.

Kirsi Salonen - Promotional artwork for fantasy film screenplay "Cockfighter", created by Remington Scott.

Footnotes

1. para. 8, http://www.itsartmag.com/features/kirsisalonen/\
2. 4min 30sec Johnson, Joel. interviews Syd Mead: Part 1 (BBtv) - YouTube
3. 4min Montalvan, Joaquin. Visual Futurist: the art and life of Syd Mead - YouTube
4. 55sec Johnson, Joel. interviews Syd Mead: Part 2 (BBtv) - YouTube
5. para. 4. Hales, Linda. Film: Visual Futurist: The Art and Life of Syd Mead, and more. Architect, The Magazine of the American Institutes of Architects
6. 3min 15sec The Real Blade Runner: A Conversation with Futurist Syd Mead - Autoline This Week 1732 -YouTube
7. 2min15sec Johnson, Joel. interviews Syd Mead: Part 2 (BBtv) - YouTube
8. 2min Johnson, Joel. interviews Syd Mead: Part 2 (BBtv) - YouTube
9. 1min20sec Montalvan, Joaquin. Visual Futurist: the art and life of Syd Mead - YouTube
10. 2min 3sec Montalvan, Joaquin. Visual Futurist: the art and life of Syd Mead - YouTube
11. Phelps, Dolores. November 2014
12. Haines, Nathan. November 2014
13. http://www.itsartmag.com/features/kirsisalonen/
14. paras. 5,6,7,8,9 http://www.itsartmag.com/features/kirsisalonen/
15. para. 15 http://www.itsartmag.com/features/kirsisalonen/
16. para. 17 http://www.itsartmag.com/features/kirsisalonen/

Bibliography

Haines, Nathan. November 2014
Hales, Linda. Film: Visual Futurist: The Art and Life of Syd Mead, and more. Architect, The Magazine of the American Institutes of Architects
http://www.itsartmag.com/features/kirsisalonen/
Johnson, Joel. interviews Syd Mead: Part 1 (BBtv) - YouTube
Johnson, Joel. interviews Syd Mead: Part 2 (BBtv) - YouTube
Montalvan, Joaquin. Visual Futurist: the art and life of Syd Mead - YouTube
Phelps, Dolores. Lecturer, University of Gloucestershire. November 2014
The Real Blade Runner: A Conversation with Futurist Syd Mead - Autoline This Week 1732 -YouTube