Portfolio Asset Presentation - Advice needed

Beard3D Bandit

Hi guys,

So the past month or so I have been attempting take my attempt in creating Game Art Props/Environment with an intent to create a portfolio to either get myself into a small studio or modding team. Here's a quick backstory, so you can gauge me/mywork:
- self-taught on/off since at least a year ago
- realised I wanted to focus on the Medieval/Medieval Fantasy theme (it's what I love)
- Props + World building is something I love (general props, architecture and rocks)

Last year for me was discovering what software to continue learning fully, what kind of artist I want to become and other crappy 2016 stuff that happened.

I have created two props to get me used to the workflow I reallly wanted to learn, which was:

- Baking down to LP (something I didn't really do at all
- PBR texturing (never touched it, I fell I need to learn more about this)
- (the big one for me) FINISHING a project. I still feel new to this, despite over the years that I couldn't buy a computer but read forums in the library, watched others work, and on consoles analyse environments.

Canvas Project (finished)
Obelisk Project (intend to tweak)

There are things I do that I should be working toward making better, which is going to happen, but the one I'm stuck on is presenting my work. 

obelisk artstation page: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/knAZ6
canvas map artstation page: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/LO9Z0

some of the feedback has been that my props are hurt by not having a 'slicker' presentation and better lighting. I think consistency of lighting is one thing I'm getting wrong. but I also have two choices in presenting these props:

1. as a singular asset (canvas isn't shown indoors but rather levitating in space with fixed lighting in different directions)

2. as an asset part of the environment (obelisk is part of a dry and ancient landscape. with prop being lit by sun/moon or a campfire etc)

what is your opinion? 

Sorry if I write a LOT, I tend to try and provide as much relative info as I can.

Peace
Beardy




 

Beard3D Bandit

I wanted to test some way to keep the lighting consistent whilst having different angles of the prop shown at once. It was done in Marmoset2 and I simply use 2 light sources (dark orange from the left and brighter white on the right) I like the idea of duplicating the same asset and show different parts of it in the same scene, using the same light sources)



Peace
Beardy

Shyralon

Personally I think your assets are really good and I like the current presentation as well - it looks clean and shows all the important details (wires, textures etc).
Obviously it would make an even better impression if you could present them as part of a environment scene but I would only do that if the surrounding props/environment have the same level of quality - it would only hurt you to rush some props in order to have -something- in the background so either take your time to build a proper, full environment or leave the presentation like it is right now (which is working quite good in my opinion).

Beard3D Bandit

@Shyralon Thanks very much, appreciate the feedback. I think in future, I should have my assets in a game environment (UE4, Skyrim etc) as well as marmoset presentations

Bomb_Bear

Beard3D Bandit said:

@Shyralon Thanks very much, appreciate the feedback. I think in future, I should have my assets in a game environment (UE4, Skyrim etc) as well as marmoset presentations

Yeah pretty much what Shyralon said. But yeah you are not exactly an environment artist per se more prop artist at this point.

Keep it up!

Beard3D Bandit

@Bomb_Bear

Yeah! I agree I think I don't like jumping from learning 'how' to model, doing a single prop and then to a full blown environment

I think I'm going to try some props (using different methods) then some interiors (get used to tiling textures and some props and an engine) and then perhaps a full environment.

I guess I take a bit more time to do things haha

have a good xmas all btw

Peace