Editing Concept art (section)

== Overview of the Industry ==
A concept artist is an individual who generates a visual design for an item, character, or area that does not yet exist. This includes, but is not limited to, film, animation, and more recently, video game production. Being a concept artist takes commitment, vision, and a clear understanding of the role.<ref name="cgspectrum_concept-artist">{{cite web |last1=Nice |first1=Kevin |title=What it's like to be a Concept Artist: An Interview with Jake Collinge |url=https://www.cgspectrum.edu.au/blog/what-it-is-like-to-be-a-professional-concept-artist/ |website=www.cgspectrum.edu.au |publisher=College of Digital Art and Animation |access-date=November 20, 2018}}</ref>

While it is necessary to have the skills of a fine artist, a concept artist must also be able to work under strict deadlines in the capacity of a [[graphic designer]]. Some concept artists may start as fine artists, industrial designers, animators, or even special effects artists. Interpretation of ideas and how they are realized is where the concept artist's individual creativity is most evident, but subject matter is often beyond their control. Many concept artists work in a studio or from home remotely as freelancers. Working for a studio has the advantage of an established salary. In the United States, the average annual gross salary for a concept artist in video game industry was $60,000-$70,000 a year in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |last= Severson |first= Dana |title= Starting Salary for a Concept Artist for Video Games |url=http://work.chron.com/starting-salary-concept-artist-video-games-24949.html |work= [[Hearst Communications|Hearst Newspapers, LLC]]
|date= 28 August 2013 |access-date=October 9, 2017}}</ref> In 2024, entry level concept art positions ranged from $60,000-$95,000, with the average salary at about $112,000.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 31, 2024 |title=Concept artist salary in United States |url=https://www.indeed.com/q-concept-artist-jobs.html |access-date=November 8, 2024 |website=Indeed}}</ref>

Digital media production, including the television and video game industries, has grown substantially in the 21st century. From 2009 to 2012, the value of the United States video game industry jumped from $19 million to $37 billion, and from 2008 to 2016, the value of the mobile game industry in China increased from 240 million yuan to 37.48 billion yuan.{{cn|date=March 2025}} The need for concept artists in this rapidly growing industry has skyrocketed; 65% of the game development industry's staff are artists.{{cn|date=March 2025}} As such, there is a push for countries across the world to increase the availability of art education so that local artists have the skills to capitalize on the booming media industry. {{cn|date=March 2025}} The art education community has made changes, offering new courses in art universities order better prepare students for the digital art field.{{cn|date=March 2025}} Certain educators are pushing to move away from historic art education towards more standardized, industry-paced approaches that will better prepare students for this modern workforce. Other programs are pushing to create artist workshops in order to train artists in digital software.{{cn|date=March 2025}}