Nowadays, storyboard artist for hire are focus on film animation. If you want to become a storyboard artist, there are some things you should consider and know about the craft as you work your way into the industry. You will probably want to receive an education in art or specifically storyboarding, in order to ensure that you have the skills needed to be a professional storyboard artist. You should also consider learning about the industry even before taking classes to refine your artistic skills, and understand film on a fundamental level.
A storyboard artist creates storyboards for professional films and television programs. This means that you will need to be able to create a visualization of one or more scenes in still images on a piece of paper, or in a computer. You will work with directors to help understand and achieve their vision so that when they are on the set and preparing for a shot, they have a guide to help them ensure they get exactly what they want without costly reshoots.
To better facilitate this process, and become a storyboard artist, you should understand film and the filmmaking process. You should know about different camera angles and filmmaking techniques so that you can receive input from a director and understand exactly what he or she wants from you. Many schools offer programs or classes in making storyboards, and you may find that other types of educational programs also offer opportunities for you to learn how storyboards are made and get some practice.
While you may not need to be able to perfectly render every imaginable scene at a moment’s notice, you should at least have some decent artistic abilities. Refine your style and your art so that you can create scenes in a vivid and dynamic way that matches the types of visual storytelling found in major films. Look at the storyboard work that other artists have done, and use that as inspiration for your own work, especially as you are practicing and becoming a stronger artist.
Many storyboard artists also do crossover work in the comic book industry as well, and you may consider this as a potential career. The multi-panel pages of a comic book tell a visual story in many of the same ways as storyboard panels act to plot out a scene in images. While a storyboard often has arrows and notes drawn in to indicate camera movements and other aspects of film, the process of visual storytelling is still similar. If you have an interest in comic book art, then you may find that working in that industry gives you opportunities to become a storyboard artist.