Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nina Leinwatter. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Nina, thanks for joining us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

I am very happy to say that I have been earning a full-time living from doing concept art for a little while now. It wasn’t always like this and like most of us, I had to start from the bottom and work hard to climb my way up.

Firstly, it is really important to have a strong portfolio. This is what recruiters and potential clients will see first, so I advise everyone to showcase only their best work. Additionally, if you have improved quickly, it is even better to include older works alongside newer ones. Studios and art directors love to see rapid improvement!

If I could go back and speed up the process with the knowledge I have now, I would definitely have done more mentorships. They helped me in so many aspects of being an artist – from creating a ton of artworks to meeting deadlines and connecting with people from the industry. After finishing a mentorship, you will have a finished project, new friends, and a mentor who will remember you if you did a good job! It’s a win-win.

Nina, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a 27-year-old woman living in Vienna, Austria. Here in Austria, we don’t have many companies working in the game and movie industry. So, I knew that I needed to have a strong online presence to reach my goals.

Today, I am grateful to work as a freelance concept artist for Karakter, an award-winning studio that creates virtual worlds for entertainment productions. My work is mainly about problem-solving. When tasked with designing an environment, it’s not just about creating pretty images; it’s about addressing the client’s specific needs. This is a fundamental aspect of being a concept artist.

To reach this point, the first step was building a portfolio that showcased my chosen field of work. There are various paths to explore, such as Character & Creature Concept Art, Environment Concept Art, Illustration, Matte Painting, and more. The artwork within your portfolio defines the job opportunities you will eventually land.

Once I had at least five pieces on my ArtStation, I started reaching out to other artists, building my Instagram presence, and sharing my progress wherever possible. Simultaneously, I took mentorships, which greatly helped me improve my skills and connect with industry professionals.

These efforts eventually led to my first jobs as a concept artist. Although it may sound easy, breaking into this industry is quite challenging. You need to learn a lot in a relatively short time and remain actively engaged. It’s not a 9-to-5 job. However, to be honest, this challenge is what kept me going and fueled my passion for art

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I think we all know that being active is the most important thing on social media. There’s an algorithm that filters the posts your followers see, and sometimes it’s hard to understand. However, there are some simple tricks you can use to be more visible on social media as an artist.

First, create enough content ahead of time so you can plan your posts. When posting your images, make sure to create a description that suits the platform. Keep it more casual and intimate on Instagram and Facebook, as if you’re talking to a friend. But on LinkedIn, keep your professionalism as if you’re talking to a client.

Engaging with other artists is key! The artist community is about supporting each other, so make sure to like, follow, and comment on other artists’ work.

What really helped me in the beginning was messaging many accounts on Instagram that have thousands of followers to feature my art. Some do it for free, but some may ask for a fee. My advice is to never pay more than $25. This is just an extra bonus that is not necessary, but it can be useful if you want to speed things up.

If you follow these steps regularly, I’m sure you’ll see many new followers in no time!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

When I first dreamt of being a concept artist, I believed that the most rewarding thing would be working for prestigious companies like ILM, Riot, Ubisoft, and others.

However, as you start achieving those goals, and as I’ve heard from many other artists as well, you begin to wonder what comes next. While companies may differ from one another, the work itself is quite similar wherever you go. It becomes less important who you work for or what specific project you’re assigned to. Instead, it’s about the team, the appreciation you receive, and the benefits that come with it—such as learning new skills and personal support.

To me, that is what feels truly rewarding—being an integral part of the collective masterpiece created by the entire team. Furthermore, on social media, I am incredibly grateful to have a wonderful and supportive community. Their kind words and encouragement after I publish a new project bring me an immense sense of fulfillment. It’s an incredible feeling to inspire other artists through my own art.

Contact Info:

• Website: Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/niinalina
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nina_leinwatter_art/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nina-leinwatter-b8950a1ab/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ninaleinwatterart/featured