Meet Ari Bilyeu | Concept Artist & Illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ari Bilyeu and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ari, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I’ve always had a love for storytelling in all mediums, but particularly film. Growing up I would always stay through the credits and read the names of all the people who worked on the project. As I researched their titles, I noticed how many artists worked on these projects and realized I could integrate my passion for art with my love of movies. I knew I didn’t want to do anything else!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My background is in illustration and I specialize in concept art for media / the entertainment industry. Most digital products (whether it be film, video games, animation, TV, advertising, etc.) starts with pre-production artwork. Every character, prop, costume, and set is designed by a set of artists before being passed on to the rest of the crew working on the project. My work is essentially to hear the initial pitch and brainstorm lots of options for the visual language of the project. It’s an incredibly fun job because you essentially get to be a giant idea generator and solve design problems for a living.

While it’s rewarding it definitely wasn’t an easy path! Media is a young and rapidly growing industry, meaning there’s not a lot of resources when you’re starting out. A lot of my workflow has been self taught and is the result of long hours of study. Another challenge is that software is constantly changing and improving, meaning you’re always learning something new. I think my biggest lesson I’ve learned along the way is that there’s no such thing as mastery. The nature of our field means we’re lifelong students and constantly adapting to new technology. These challenges can be intimidating but also really exciting! I love that I get to constantly learn new techniques and am proud of the work I can make because I’ve been willing to adapt to this constantly changing industry.

All the challenges are worth it when you get to get to pursue a creative passion. I love that I get to wake up everyday and find new ways to tell stories. I’m constantly in a state of creative problem solving and it’s so fulfilling to get to explore different design possibilities. I also remember how much I loved the stories in my favorite books, movies, and games when I was growing up. And now I get to help create those stories for others to enjoy. I get to combine two passions of mine into my daily work, and I’m so thankful that I get to do so.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I think the most appealing aspect of Denver is getting outside! One of my favorite places to spend my free time is Clear Creek Canyon. I love climbing, hiking, and cooling off in the water. I bring most of my friends there when they visit. My favorite spot outside of the city is Guanella Pass. It has absolutely stunning aspens and waterfalls! Also a great spot to catch fall colors.

As far as the city goes, I’d recommend checking out the local art scene! Both the Denver Art Museum and the Clifford Still Museum are personal favorites of mine. The city also has lots of great live music and some of it is even free in the summer! Levitt Pillion is a great spot for free concerts.

For food, Woody’s Wood Fired Pizza in Golden is one of my favorite local spots! Everything on the menu is incredible, but their fig pizza is life changing.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I think my parents have been the biggest support system for me. Neither of them are artists, but they always encouraged me to explore art as I was growing up. They were so supportive when I told them I wanted to pursue a creative career and helped me with school applications, interviews, portfolios, and more. I’m so thankful for their unwavering love and support.

I also owe a lot to one of my first professors / mentors Joe Clark. He not only taught me a lot of crucial fundamentals and introduced me the technical side of making art, but also showed me art could be a lifelong pursuit rather than just a hobby. He helped me fall in love with pushing creative boundaries and even helped me enter my first galleries. I don’t know if I would have fully considered art as a career without his teaching and perspective.

Website: https://www.aribilyeu.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ari_bilyeu/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ariel-bilyeu-58a693190/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ari_Bilyeu

Other: https://www.artstation.com/ari_bilyeu