Critiques for the aspiring game artist
polycounter lvl 9
Hey fellas
I thought I'd just bring up a point that has been on my mind lately, which is that it seems to be getting harder to find critiques these days (if you don't stand out).
I've noticed this with competition threads and in Wip threads in general. What I see happening (and I'm guilty of this myself) is that the stand-out artists, who really are the ones that need the least amount of help end up getting all of the replies. We all like to compliment a great artist for their work (fair enough), however, anyone who does not stand out soon has their thread buried and forgotten, with little or no critique to help them further their craft.
It really stands out when competitions (such as the Superhero challenge on Gameartisans a couple of months back) kick in. Forums become a place for fans to gush, not so much constructive criticism for aspiring game artists.
Has anyone else noticed this and are there any suggestions for ways to work around this?
I rely a lot on the feedback from polycounters - I didn't go to school to study gameart, so this really is the only place for me to get constructive feedback, but when I post for critiques and find little or no response, it can get disheartening.
I thought I'd just bring up a point that has been on my mind lately, which is that it seems to be getting harder to find critiques these days (if you don't stand out).
I've noticed this with competition threads and in Wip threads in general. What I see happening (and I'm guilty of this myself) is that the stand-out artists, who really are the ones that need the least amount of help end up getting all of the replies. We all like to compliment a great artist for their work (fair enough), however, anyone who does not stand out soon has their thread buried and forgotten, with little or no critique to help them further their craft.
It really stands out when competitions (such as the Superhero challenge on Gameartisans a couple of months back) kick in. Forums become a place for fans to gush, not so much constructive criticism for aspiring game artists.
Has anyone else noticed this and are there any suggestions for ways to work around this?
I rely a lot on the feedback from polycounters - I didn't go to school to study gameart, so this really is the only place for me to get constructive feedback, but when I post for critiques and find little or no response, it can get disheartening.
Replies
Yes, I agree - but is that really what polycount is about? Where would anyone be if no-one took the time to lend a hand?
This is more of a 2d thing, because theres a lot that cant really be taught and a comment like "your anatomy is wrong" isn't really helpful and the only real fix is drawing figures for a few months to iron out the kinks.
How it plays with 3d I dont know, i generally save every helpful thing/paintover that i see on these boards... especially things to do with topology and tricount tips because well... those are the best crits I guess?
Interesting though, I dont think the atmosphere here is bad at all... lots of people help out with portfolios and stuff and theyre pretty blunt about it too which is as straight up as you can get \o/
I'd say just keep cranking away at your work, trying to make it as sick as you possibly can and eventually it will get noticed and you will see people respond to it. Try not too worry about people critiquing and they will follow naturally.
The same places they are as is.
Sectaurs is right. We've all been there. Learn the lesson.
Well critique on your work specifically is not the only useful critique. I read other critiques in other threads and alot of the times the tips you learn there are really helpful as well.
And I think you're wrong about only good people getting comments, usually the really bad ones get quite a few comments as well because they are easy to crit - almost a copy/paste job. Or the mistakes are so big that lesser-experienced artists feel confident enough to give crits.
Its the bunch of people in the middle that get no comments, unless my perspective is completely skewed and I belong in the group below the people I classed as beginners... which sucks for me I guess
I don't think its completely disheartening, it gives a little motivation as well... I think... well I havent given up at least!
I totally agree. It's the ones in the middle that tend to be left out. If your stuff stinks then you'll definitely hear about it too.
Thanks for the comments, guys - I guess you're right. Nothing much to do but knuckle down, learn from the crits given to all + soldier on.
this thread usually pops up about once a year. we all go through the "oh wtf" period after seeing a 50 page knob-polish.
And I do reply more to friends, I must admit.
edit: and I also tend to find these threads when someone else has already said what I wanted to say far more eloquently than I could, so it'd be pointless to say it again.
edit2: I've thought the same thing though. Every now and again a thread pops up where people do nothing but asspat and drool. I was always under the impression Polycount wasn't a gallery, but with those threads you do begin to wonder.
Basically amounting to "you're almost there, just practice more and you'll 'get' it".
Polycount is where it's at for crits. Alot of the other places, just give pats on the back, but that won't get you a job.
But I'm not the teaching/mentoring/tutoring kind of person to begin with. I'm crap at it, and I have no desire to get better at it since I am, and want to stay, an artist and not a teacher. If I somehow manage to help people once in a while, that's good, but sadly I don't go out of my way to help others. Doing so I don't expect others to give me advice and teach me, either.
There's enough "helpful" people around forums like these who speak out of their asses just for the sake of feeling helpful out of sheer selfishness, without me adding to their ranks.
And when you have a question, you ask those questions, be it in your thread or someone else's as to why the solution is offered. Just because nobody critiques your work doesn't mean you still can't ask questions about other people's stuff and learn another way.
I'm pretty insecure about my ability, getting absolute silence from people is something I fear and can't stand, which is why I've started going into other people's threads and analyzing. There's many examples of work here that have problems that I'm dealing with currently, and if nobody has the time to volunteer that info, I ask about it.
People might not even know what you're looking for, so ask questions on specific things, don't ask for general comments, nobody wants to invest that kind of time to overwhelm you... cause shit, son... nothings perfect and you can always add more to the shit pile in a critique.
The way I tend to look at critiques is, if I can't do better than what is on show, or at least what I perceive I can't do better may be a more positive spin, I don't feel justified to post a critique as it's like the Harry Enfield character (British comedian, big in the 80s and 90s) who is constantly saying "Now I don't think you wanted to do it like that!" who couldn't actually do what he was critisyzing on.
Sometimes it is easier to just go "yay fucking nice work!! here have an ego handjob!" than go against the grain and point out something.
I've suffered from lack of replies and it does become disheartening but to me it just means I have to work harder to get better and use my own judgement more. If it goes south in a big way, people will then pick up on it, if it goes well, I've learnt from it and maybe get the ego handjob which becomes my scooby snack heh.
Anyways that's my 2p
But I read as many posts as I can, and when someone is critiquing someone else's work, I can take that information and self-critique.
No matter how constructively I put it, I guess it just stings when someone points out you might not be as awesome as you thought... Or I just come off as an abrasive know it all, take your pick.
I also run low on time and don't feel like critiquing things. Especially when there's a good chance they'll just get blown off.
There is something to be said for learning to view your own work with a critical eye. But like any skill that has to be grown over time and training.