I get asked this a lot. The good news is, its easier than ever to get noticed by large publishers, thanks to the internet. Really, getting your "foot in the door" isn't the hard part...its the easy part. Staying there is the really hard part, for the same reasons. The internet has created massive competition and art directors are getting inundated with submissions from quality artists everyday. But you need to get the gig before you worry about keeping the gig, so back to the original question. "How do I get my foot in the door?"

If you're not happy with where your career is right now, you need to determine where you want to be. Then focus your efforts at achieving that goal. Do you want to do concept art? novel covers? comics? What specific genres do you want to work in? What specific companies do you want to work for? Maybe you want to stay in your current market, but want to work for better paying companies. You need to set clear, specific goals.

Next, you need to look at your current portfolio and see if you already have pieces that are representative in quality, format, and genre of your career goal. If you objectively feel you already have those pieces, then its just a matter of making sure the right people see the work. That part is easier now than ever. Work the internet. Post your art everywhere. Have a presence on every web forum/networking site possible. Get to know who the art directors are, and how to submit to them. Network with other artists, preferably those who are already working for the companies you want to work for.

If your portfolio is does not already have the pieces that will make you a slam-dunk hire for your target company, you need to make some new art. Do you want to work for Games Workshop? Do a Warhammer 40k-style sample piece. Wizards of the Coast? Do a M:TG/ D&D type piece. Marvel or DC? You should showcase their characters. Tor Books? Study what they are currently commissioning from their artists and take your cues from that. The key here is that you carefully design your portfolio to cater to the companies you want to work for. Show them that you can not only illustrate their genre, style, or characters, but do it at a skill level better than most of the freelancers they currently hire. You have to exceed their expectations. Really "Wow" them. They already have a stable of artists they are comfortable working with, so your portfolio has to really impress them if they are going to pass over one of their "regular" artists to give you a shot.

That's how you get your foot in the door. Whether you can keep sustaining freelance work depends on your speed, dependability, and professionalism. Building professional working relationships with the people who hire you is the key to a long career as a freelancer. Art Directors depend on you to do consistent, quality work and to always make your deadlines. If you build that trust, they will keep giving you work over and over again. At least until that art director leaves the company...then you have to start building a new relationship with whoever replaces them. And the new art director may already have a group of artists they like to work with. I told you it wasn't easy. ;)

-Scott

Well I spent most of 2009 doing the same for Iron Man 2 merchandise and toys and some of it is finally making its way into stores. Over the next 6 weeks expect to see an explosion of Iron Man 2 merchandise available. Here's a few examples I've found on the web featuring my artwork:

This does not mean my relationship with Marvel is ending. I will continue to work with Marvel's Creative Department and do artwork for their products and merchandise. I love working for them and they have treated me very well over the years. I plan to keep working with them for as long as they want me.

What this does mean is I'll have new opportunities and freedom to take on other projects. I'll be able to go back to my first love and illustrate novel covers, comic covers, books, games, trading cards, and anything else I want in addition to the product art I'm doing for Marvel. This is something I'm really looking forward to. I expect to continue to be very busy with Marvel merchandise, but I'm eager to tackle other other projects as they present themselves. Its going to be an exciting new year!

 -Scott

But this old guy has been retired for over a decade, and for years Spidey fans have been requesting to get him back in the parade. This year Macy's announced the return of Spider-Man, and I was thrilled to play a small role in the new, redesigned balloon.

 After Marvel gave instructions and diagrams to Macy's for the new style and pose, Macy's then sculpted this clay model. Photos were taken from 6 angles and given to me.

Taking these photos, it was my job to create his costume. I digitally painted over the each angle  in Photoshop so the balloon manufacturer would have a complete full color model to work from. It wasn't as easy as it sounds, though. It was crucial that I be consistent with every detail so there were no inconsistencies between camera angles. All of the red parts of his costume had to hit the exact same body points. I had to think in 3 dimensions, making sure the web design wrapped around every curve of the head, neck, and shoulders in a way that made sense. Continuity from image to image was key. If, for instance, his boot had 8 horizontal scalloping lines in one view, I needed to make sure there were 8 scalloping lines in all other 5 views.

After the costume was approved, I had one final part: the announcement artwork. Marvel wanted advertising, but the actual balloon wasn't made yet. So we had to create something. Marvel provided me with some photographic elements from a previous parade, which I had to doctor/modify a bit. Then I dropped in my "front view" image of Spider-Man and did some surface painting to make him appear more glossy and "balloon-like". This was the image that was distributed to the press to advertise the return of Spidey to the parade.

The new Spider-Man will be the first giant balloon in the parade tomorrow morning. So tune in early to check him out!

-Scott

-Scott

-Scott