How much do these guys earn?

[Hannibal King]

We've all seen those guys on the DVD extras of sci-fi and fantasy films, the ones that have their computers surrounded by action figures , you know - the concept artists. The guys who come up with the cool look and feel for our favourite movies like Star Wars and the LOTR trilogy, heck some of you out there may even do this for a living.

What I've always wanted to know is how much do these guys earn? Now I'm not talking about the heads of the art department or such, I'm talking about the guys who got the briefs and came up with the design for the Trolls for LOTR or the Balrog or the landscape of Middle Earth.

Anyone know how much these guys get paid?
HK

 

[WayneLigon]

Bureau of Labor Statistics is your buddy.

"In 2002 the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that salaried animators and multi-media artists (grouped together) earned an average of $43,980. In the video and motion picture industry the median salary was higher, at $58,840. As with every career, the salaries animators earned varied greatly with their employer and their region"

And

"Median annual earnings of salaried multi-media artists and animators were $43,980 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $33,970 and $61,120. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $25,830, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $85,160. Median annual earnings were $58,840 in motion picture and video industries."

It does mention that most of these people are effectively self-employed, so their earning fluctuate greatly.

 

[Ranger REG]

Anyone know how much these guys get paid?

Ask Reverend Strone.

 

[Hannibal King]

Thanks WayneLigon but I don't think these guys fit into that catergory. I'm talking about the guys that use pencil and paper as their tools - the classic illustrators. I had a friend who worked for a certain Big Eared Mouse company as a cell painter and boy was the salary crap. I work in the graphic design industry and my salary fits into those mentioned. I'd like to hope illustrators who use raw talent would get paid pretty well.

Sorry Ranger REG who is Reverend Strone?
HK

 

[Fast Learner]

Bureau of Labor Statistics is your buddy.

Yes, but will he help me move?

 

[Dagger75]

But that person also cashed a paycheck for creating Jar Jar Binks.

 

[WayneLigon]

Thanks WayneLigon but I don't think these guys fit into that catergory. I'm talking about the guys that use pencil and paper as their tools - the classic illustrators. I had a friend who worked for a certain Big Eared Mouse company as a cell painter and boy was the salary crap. I work in the graphic design industry and my salary fits into those mentioned. I'd like to hope illustrators who use raw talent would get paid pretty well.

That probably fits into what the BLS calls 'fine arts', which includes traditional painting sculpture, etc: salaried artists of that type median is $35,260, middle 50% earning $23k-$48k. I would think you would not find very many people in the industry now that do specifically and only that kind of concept art just with pencil and paper. Just doing a skim of various boards and such, I couldn't find a single position asking for just that: it all requires 2D being done on computer. It seems like a job you either fall into or are assigned rather than a standard position you'd train for, or is done by people that are basically work-for-hire, so their salary is going to be all over the board.

You probably want to talk to someone at a design arts school, or a school that offers coursework in traditional animation.

 

[sniffles]

Thanks WayneLigon but I don't think these guys fit into that catergory. I'm talking about the guys that use pencil and paper as their tools - the classic illustrators. I had a friend who worked for a certain Big Eared Mouse company as a cell painter and boy was the salary crap. I work in the graphic design industry and my salary fits into those mentioned. I'd like to hope illustrators who use raw talent would get paid pretty well.

Sorry Ranger REG who is Reverend Strone?
HK

Actually much of the conceptual art for the LOTR films was done by two illustrators, John Howe and Alan Lee. The rest of their careers are mainly in book cover illustrations. So you might look for information about illustrators and artists. Illustrators and cartoonists do a lot of the conceptual art for many films; Mobius for Blade Runner, for example, or Wayne Douglas Barlowe on Galaxy Quest, among many others. I think their income can vary widely depending on what types of projects they work on. Both Howe and Lee, for example, have calendars and books of their artwork, while other lesser-known illustrators may not have as much material out there.

 

[mojo1701]

Ask Reverend Strone.

He's on these forums, too?