Art A Few Developer Questions

Hi, hopefully I am not breaking any rules when I do this nor am I stepping on anyone toes… But I am currently conducting a poll on Anime Artists in the art industry. Below I have devised a list of just a few questions in which I would appreciate if you could take the time to answer them. My purpose is to get an understanding, for an artist in the industry, on what they expect out of a job in their field. And the best way that I felt that I could do this, was to ask the artists themselves. Hopefully with this information, I plan on creating some type reference budget/guideline for an up-start game studio. Thank you in advance for your time!

1. On a salary basis (one year term), what do you believe is a ‘fair’ wage for a concept artist today?
2. “ … … …” a fair wage for a 2D character sprite artist today?
3. Would you rather work at home or at a studio?

4. For professional reference, I would also appreciate if you could link your portfolio to your answers. This will give me an idea on what kind of artist you are and what field of art you enjoy drawing.

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I understand that a few of the questions maybe a little vague… so hopefully I can clarify the “job description” a little more: The game that you would be involved in will be an action-street fighter (ex: Streets Of Rage, River City Ransom, Final Fight… to name a few). The artwork that is intended to be used will include 2D sprites (for Characters and world objects) based in a 3D rendered environment (hopefully not pre-rendered). As a 2D artist, you will create the individual frames used in the animation sequence for each character. All frames will be computer composed and/or edited. The estimated development time for the production (for just the artwork… the engine and tools will be completed well before the artist become involved) will be two to two and a half years.

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If you have anything else to add (tips that you’ve learned or gripes from past productions) would be most appreciated as well. Even though I do no plan on hiring any talent anytime soon (I would doubt not until early 2005), I would at least like to prepare for it. Any information that I can gain now will be most helpful in my task.

 

Well, this isn't really the place to come for intensive research. Most of the artists here are very, very amateur in talent (most are simply high schoolers with a fresh hobby for drawing), and probably have NO idea what a reasonable salary is, etc. Only very few are as good as what you seem to be talking about. I myself can barely answer your poll questions.

1. Well, if teachers make $30,000 a year (which is pretty low), and with drawing being a skill that only some people can do, I guess a concept artist should be making $40,000-60,000. Can't make it too high until the artist proves to be good. $50,000 is like getting paid $25 per hour, which is pretty good for making a living I think.

2. I dunno about the sprite artist since I don't know how easy it is to make sprite frames. Probably more, like $50,000-80,000.

3. I'd work in a studio if it were close, cuz a studio would prompt motivation. At home is cool, but the relaxed atmosphere might interfere (might make me put things off, or work at strange hours). It's a preference thing for different artists I guess, much like how students prefer either studying in their room or at a library.

4. As an art major, I don't have my professional portfolio made yet (plus, it doesn't have any artwork related to anime, videogames, etc.). As for anime related art, most of my best stuff aren't scanned yet. But I do have a few miscellaneous old and new stuff at my
site gallery

For better poll results, try going to a bigger, more seasoned anime forum. (Less than half of the 2200 or so members here are active.)