Brampton Bus. Next gen AAA prop for my portfolio.
interpolator
I've realized the error of my ways and have decided to put on hold those many many environment projects I use to work on. I spoke with Bardler, and I now have a clearer idea of what I should really have ready to present to future employers.
I've decided on a single prop that is a Bus. I tried doing one exactly last year that didn't get far.
But today, I believe I can dramatically improve on it.
Also, more proof that I'm serious about this, I wont use my own artstyle like I did in past threads. This Bus will 100% match the same artstyle already used in the game industry.
I've decided on a single prop that is a Bus. I tried doing one exactly last year that didn't get far.
But today, I believe I can dramatically improve on it.
Also, more proof that I'm serious about this, I wont use my own artstyle like I did in past threads. This Bus will 100% match the same artstyle already used in the game industry.
Replies
Do you mean that you will be going for a more realistic art style because that would make sense with the images you linked. Or are you suggesting that all games in the industry have the same artstyle?
Realistic.
On critique, I feel like you should give up 3D art or have a serious look at what you are doing. You should only be doing weekly hard surface challenges or monthly noob threads.
Lets look at your work.
This is work in progress, but you are worse than me to be honest. This should only take about 20 minutes to do(assuming you are drunk at the time). The pouring part of the teapot is not even attached to the model. Its all sort of depressing to look at. For example if you did the weekly hard surface challenge, you could have had something like this concept in your portfolio.
Which, is about 20 weeks in. But, still 6 months is not a long time. But, I guess doing crappy models and doing the challenges is beyond you and instead you waste your time making posts like these http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=150816.
Even, week 6 is beyond most of the work you posted
Do you really enjoy 3D art? Be honest OP. If you enjoyed it, then you could go through all the shitty models
From this
to this
to this
repeat about 47 times to get to this
Instead you seem to want to start from here
This is not a concept of a bus, this is way advanced for your current work. This is way above the level of a beginner or someone posting in a monthly noob thread. Why you even looking at this in the first place, your skill level is way below this.
This is your current skill level. Why you not improving upon your crappy modelling skills. Why even dream of doing Order 1886 work. There is not even bump mapping in any of your work, how can you claim to be able to do PBR?
You have to be honest with yourself. There is no way your going to get close to your concept art you posted. You could be spending your time improving instead with any of the challenges posted on here. For example, there is no proof you know how to do PBR or even normal maps, I personally think you don't.
I was just like you in terms of game programming instead of making stuff like Pac man or improving upon rubbish games I tried to cheat and the only thing that happen is I wasted two years of my life. If I truly liked game programming I could have made crappy games and built upon that.
I think you could become a great artist in the future, but you have to break out of your insanity. You been here more than a year and your portfolio is still crap. I would think you are a troll, but seeing your post is like looking in a mirror a few months ago, which is so depressing.
P.S. Insanity is a weird thing, you can think everyone else is wrong and that your always just close to breakthrough. Even people saying you are wrong just hardens your position and you feel more right. But, then you have to look at reality, which in your case is a year on polycount and no improvement.
You're also misinterpreting what I meant by posting a picture of The Order. I never said I was going make that entire thing. It's suppose to serve as a reference after people disliked seeing art that couldn't be used in the game industry.
I'm not a troll. I don't hate 3D. I do think I learn at a different pace but I've always sought to correct this weakness by posting on Polycount.
This is how I went from making the school (and closing it) to making something like this thread. I don't think an irrational person would ever consider this.
Who the fuck says that kind of shit. Especially this one: "I feel like you should give up 3D art."
What you wrote wasn't helpful at all, it was just you being an asshole.
There is no physical requirement with art. You can try to do something way above your head and it probably won't be great, and you might not realize it. You haven't lifted the lighter weights yet.
Maybe you're at the stage where you can do this bus, but always think of what project will be the best practice. Just keep evaluating where you are, and don't get discouraged.
Just don't be afraid to start smaller, dude, lift the lighter weights
Jordan. BARDLER already said more than I really could here, but... Finish something. Just take this asset and finish it. Actually show your progress on it in small, doable steps. As much as "today I added x to the high poly" is fine! You seem to want to jump to having finished this whole huge step (eg, I'll have the high poly done by today) but that's not helpful to you! It's better to break it down into small steps that are easy to accomplish and give you time and space to polish the assets, and post those, and get feedback on those little things. It's easier to have someone mention that the chassis for your bus is a little off, than have someone tell you everything about what you've done so far is poorly executed or wrong and that you should restart.
imo you should treat the bus as an environment, and the pieces of it as props. Make sure you do each of them up to par, separately. High poly, low poly, bakes. A bus is big, making it up to current gen quality will be difficult. But again, easier when you can break it down into achievable steps.
Focus on that. Actually get it done, so that when you're done, you can learn and improve from the process. I see a lot of your projects getting cut off mid-way and I feel that you don't really get a chance to digest what you should have learned from them.
And do really have a think about what it is you want to do in this industry. Why you want to do that-- and not about what's realistic or what job's the easiest or makes the most money. What do you dream of doing, and why? Do you want to make games? Because being an environment artist will probably not get you there, honestly. Do you really find all your joy in making environments?
Hoping to see your progress.
Edit:
Also +1 to all of this. Smart as.
Ignore that Pangaea dude.
I would go even smaller to be honest man. A vehicle is a tedious amount of modeling work.
Run around a game you like and find a little prop laying on the ground. Fire Hydrant, pirates chest, park bench, mail box, a chair, ect. Something that will just let you drill down the details, nothing else. You are almost there with your scope, but keep going smaller
Edit, or like someone else mentioned, break the bus into parts. Just make the bus seat or tire or something first, and complete it in chunks at a time.
Above all else you are improving though! You realized your problems and you are trying to correct them, so great job on that!
That just sounds like an excuse to be honest.
Why post Order 1886 stuff. Are you trying to say you can produce something like that so your using it as a reference. You also use a complex rifle as a reference. Can you even make a simple gun?
You was also told to model one concept from a picture, but you aren't doing that. You was also told to do monthly noob thread and ages ago was told to weekly hard surface challenge, but you aren't doing them.
Now you are going back to an old concept trying to model a bus, which you failed at last time.
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
It's the truth. You have to look at objective facts. He made a new thread said he is going to do a project that didn't work out in the first time(but I guess this time will be different), showed several very complex references and then says he is going to do a realistic style.
If he had posted say this
And said I'm going to model this bus. Then, I would be happy.
But, no he has crazy references. Also, looking at his post. He said I'm not going to use my own art style. He has no art style to begin with.
Good thing that doesn't matter for Jordan trying to improve and the people helping him.
Seriously dude, you are just being an ass. Also looking through your post history I don't think you are exactly qualified to dish out what you are saying.
The way pangea explained himself I'd say is not the correct way to do it, but there are some hints there that are true indeed. If I were you, I would first try to get some basics done like hard surface modeling and texturing game-ready assets. You don't need to do a whole bus first, as that can be overwhelming. You could start with small objects so you don't end up giving up, learn the tricks and then apply it to larger objects.
Or you could take the bus and decide to start working on just smaller props within that bus, and eventually have the whole thing finished.
But really, good luck with it and props to you for trying to improve. Just try to stick to the same thing as much as possible. It might get boring or frustrating after spending many hours on it, but once you finish it's going to feel great
This is why I was hesitant to post stuff like the seats/wheels/ before the Bus was done.
It's bad enough I don't have anymore environments, would a portfolio that focuses on props be judged harsher?
Once you finish some cool props, you can make an environment with them.
Do you have a full time job or part time job?
It's clear from your post a few months ago you was struggling with getting a job even at mac donalds. I don't know if this has changed now.
But, you are just adding a ton of stress if you just focus on getting a 3D art job. You should be looking to take any job even if it something like cold calling people.
P.S. Even with a non 3D job that is stressful you can still fit in 3-4 hours a day of 3D art.
If you do quick maths if you put 4 hours a day, then in 5 years time you would have put in 7,300 hours. That is not that far from 10,000 hours you need to master something.
You need to learn to speak to people properly, encourage and guide, not berate and put down. That is not the way to help out someone getting into the industry. More like to scare him away and you sure as hell have no right to do that.
No. Most jr level art positions are exactly that. You support higher level artists with low level tasks, prop modeling, polish, optimization, ect. Your portfolio will be judged on quality and execution of each piece, and a few super awesome environment props will do way more for you than 1 or 2 not so good environments. I got hired as a JR environment artist without any environments in my portfolio. I just focused on making good props, textures, and small stuff.
It is not just about improving your portfolio either, it is also about learning the process and workflow. Every completed project, no matter how small, will make you a better artist. Building some kick ass small props will get you more comfortable with making some kick ass big props. Then that will get you more comfortable with building small environments. Then that will get you more comfortable with building big environments.
Also keep ignoring anything this guy posts, its not worth your time, or effort.
I'd think never finishing anything would hurt your chances more
IT looks like you're aiming for a scope much too high to be reasonably completed in a 'satisfactory' manner and are puzzled at the inevitable burnout every single time when smaller-scale actual successes are what you really should be aiming for. do you really need to worry about your presentation, specialization, and hireability when you have little to nothing to present, no foundation to specialize from?
IMO you should start with a small prop, get comfortable in a creation workflow and then expand on to other things you should be able to create. and much later tackle complex, large tasks like an environment, a hero piece, et cetera. Find practice joining as a prop artist for a source mod or something - some of them will probably appreciate any help they can get and being tasked with easy-to-consume props will do wonders for learning by necessity.
Oh man, I laughed so hard
Pangaea stop taking crazy pills
For the smaller props, you can make those really compelling
I imagined a nice assortment of a barrel, fuel canister, a crate, maybe a hammer lying on top, a trashcan and maybe a old ventilator with a little grass and a woodplank on a nice ground texture , as a nice practical mini diaorama if done well where you could focus on quality
He's focusing on the bus. Job done.
It's fucking ridiculous how everyone's going around with their epenises talking about finishing work and project scope. Put them away and just crit his modelling, he got the message about scope about 100 messages and two threads ago.
There's delivering a bit of critique, and then there's jumping on a bandwagon so you look vet. Either critique his modelling or get back to some modelling yourselves. You're dragging it out. All this rabble has done is halt him.
Good luck in the future.
Jordan, take some advice from someone who has worked in the industry for 16 years. You don't got the chops. You don't take critique well and your portfolio isn't even worth considering for an internship. Sorry to be harsh, but it's reality.
To have the things you've never had you must do the things you've never done.
That means doing the work. Props, tons of em. Model anything and everything. Texture, hand paint, from photo source, as well as procedural. Heed other's advice, do the challenges, shut your mouth and learn. Don't make excuses, and realize failure sometimes means progress. Like others have said you can't jump to full environment work till you get the basics, start as a prop artist, this in time will lead to whole environments but honestly that is a long......long way out for you. Sorry to come off like an ass, just being honest. If this is a life goal for you, you have to be able to throw away and start again. See you in the challenges.
Good luck.
I know you want to do the bus. Don't. Smaller props first...
As hard as I've been on you in the past, I think this project was definitely a step in the right direction! Maybe it is a bit ambitious and ideally you would do something smaller but with enough work (~2-3 months) I think you could make something nice and learn a lot in the process.
With that said, it will be a project that you may want to quit on since you will be spending 1/4 of a year working on it. Just make sure that you're going to take it to completion!
Jordan, where is your reference? Find an image and follow it exactly, don't just post random images of games that have nothing to do with the asset you're making.
Also, where is the high-poly model? You're skipping some very fundamental steps and jumping to the finish line.
I would start out simpler than this, make something very simple and FINISH IT. Even if it's as simple as something like a Basketball. Make it look good, have all of the details baked in the normal map and don't rush it. Learn how to texture it properly and work your way up. Avoid stuff like this bus till you have a bit more comfort in dealing with more complex assets.
Again, for most assets you're going to need to start off with the high-poly first. Get some Sub-D modeling practice in just so you know how to do it.
Some people can be dicks to noobies like you, especially other artists who just started out and think they are hot stuff after following a few cool tutorials. I would advice you to bond with other artists who could help you out with critiques and advice in the time of need. It's a daunting, frustrating and a bit depressing path you're following. Be active on here, be friendly, be able to receive critique and thank people for their time. Most of all, be honest to yourself.
Don't just jump higher than mountains, take a step back and assess your current situation. Realise that you are quite confused about what you're supposed to be doing and what to learn. My suggestion would be to stick with making hard surface props for a time being, until you're comfortable with the whole process off Highpoly>Lowpoly>UV>Baking>Texturing. Find tutorials on Digitaltutors.com, Gnomon.com, 3dmotive.com or Youtube about "next gen" asset production. Watch everything you can find and learn, absorb knowledge like a sponge. When in doubt - search the forums, there's probably an answer to any question somewhere, you just have to find it.
I'd like to say that you're surely going to be the best artist ever, OP. But the truth is - I don't know. I have no idea who you are. Your future is in your hands. If you have patience, resolve and passion then you have a chance.
TL;DR: Don't worry, be hippy. Get good.