Hey! I'm Ash Kerins, a Principal Concept Artist on Fall Guys and this mentorship will focus on the journey of breaking into the industry and what the industry looks like. I will be comparing how different one studio can be to the next, the ups and downs of freelancing, remote vs in-studio working and the difference between professional and personal work. This mentorship might be of interest to you if you're graduating soon, fresh out of uni or just trying to get the ball rolling.

This mentorship will take the form of an informal conversation with questions throughout. After graduating I would have benefited from having a professional to talk to about breaking into the concept art industry, so now I'm through the proverbial door, I'd like to help.

A little on my background:
I have worked as a concept artist in film and television, in theme parks and attractions, I have freelanced remotely for a range of clients and have been in a couple of art publications. Now I work in games at Mediatonic; the most vibrant and friendly studio I've known. On my resume I can name-drop Dreamworks, Legoland, Barbie and of course, Fall Guys among other things. It is however, equally true and important to note that post-graduation I also worked minimum-wage jobs and built a plan-B as a qualified English teacher. Work has not always been steady and my university degree was relevant but not concept art-centric. By graduation I was a quite lost on where to go next. Now I'm here at my dream job, I have learnt how this struggle to get the ball rolling seems to be a relatable journey amongst concept artists as we build our careers.

A few points I can cover:
- Not every commission is a career step forward; which jobs to prioritise (and when sometimes it's the uncreative ones.)
- You get the work you advertise for; the importance of being visible online.
- "It's who you know" - getting involved and breaking ice.
- Concept art ≠ illustration (what that means for time management and communication.)
- Pride in your work vs flexibility in a professional setting.