How to Become a Storyboard Artist

A storyboard artist produces a sequential outline of images as part of the preproduction process for feature films, television shows, animation, video games, music videos, and other media productions. Storyboard artists work closely with directors, producers, and scriptwriters to help visualize each frame of a project.

Storyboarding is the process of drawing a film’s storyline shot by shot, similar to a comic book. This type of concept art helps media creators visualize the characters and actions of the story. Storyboards also help directors plan how to shoot a sequence. For animated films, animators rely on storyboards to figure out how to best animate a sequence. Storyboards are essential to the preproduction process and allow creative teams to plan before shooting, ultimately saving time for production teams.

Storyboard artists must have technical drawing skills and the ability to communicate and work effectively with team members. Consider these four necessary skills for storyboard artists:

1. 1. Drawing: Storyboarders have strong figure drawing skills and can draw environments and settings. Storyboard artists can draw quick pen and ink drawings, especially when directors change their minds about how a scene should look. It is also crucial for storyboard artists to be proficient in digital drawing using graphics software, like Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
2. 2. Cinematography: Storyboard artists must be familiar with how cameras work in film production to best approximate what a camera will see and the various camera angles.
3. 3. Communication: In addition to technical skills, soft skills—particularly communication skills—are essential. The job of a storyboard artist is to help realize the vision of the director, producer, and writer. Therefore, storyboard artists must communicate with the production team about their needs, interpret those needs on the drawing board, and effectively make changes based on feedback.
4. 4. Storytelling: Knowledge of visual storytelling is essential for storyboard artists. These multimedia artists need to know how to read and interpret a script and weave visuals into a storyline to drive the story forward.

Storyboard artists typically start as concept artists or animators and can work their way up to be project managers and art directors. Follow these steps to become a storyboard artist:

1. 1. Education: Many storyboard artists have a bachelor’s degree in animation, graphic design, digital media, or fine arts. Enroll in an art school that has an animation or illustration department to build the necessary skills.
2. 2. Experience: Internships can provide valuable experience to supplement your education. Entry-level jobs for storyboard artists include work as animators, concept artists, or storyboard revisionists. It’s common to work on a per-project basis before moving on to longer-term work with production companies to create films or television shows.
3. 3. Network: Advertising agencies and animation studios, such as Disney and Pixar, employ storyboard artists full-time. Still, many storyboard artists work as freelancers. It is vital to network and build connections with other artists and potential employers. Create a portfolio of your work and attend in-person networking events in the entertainment industry.
   

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