Seeing great art done in short times, do you get depressed?
polycounter lvl 12
Just kinda wondering if anyone feels a little depressed when they see really good quality work and then find out it was done in a very short time? How do you guys not let it drag you down? How do you try to learn from these types of art and try to become faster in your own work?
Replies
Whenever I see someone spend a lot of time on something, it's usually because they are doing repetitive tasks without bothering to find a way to automate it, or focussing on the wrong things (spending way to much time on details noone will notice for example). So with whatever thing you make, look at it again and try to find out what's good and bad about it, often you'll find that one of the things making your artwork good is actually something that you could do again in a short timeframe, and if you did it once, you can probably do it faster the next time etc.,
hope that makes sense..
at first those things will get you, but keep in mind not to compare yourself to someone who has mastered what you are still learning.
also, try and turn it into a goal instead of letting it depress you,
there is always someone better and faster, let that motivate to kick his ass
if you wanna learn more about how to speed up your skills as an artist, then first and foremost, practice. there's always a way to do something faster, and it takes your own self motivation to figure out what that is. secondly, do a lot of research. take kevin johnstone's post here. a plethora of info on his methods and workflow for achieving great results on tight time frames as well as a bar to judge your own work by is in that thread alone. researching what works is key, and some people go to the next level and show you what doesn't work and why, and those are really good reads that help more than anything.
on the same token, you should always be very aware of your own skill level at all times. i'll just shutup and quote arshlevon who sums it up pretty damn good.
ReEdit: Decided to remove this negative stuff. We need to look on the bright side, the reason it's so hard to break into this field is because it's an awesome job. Keep at it you'll break in, but i can't help but think posting this kind of negative stuff is just shooting ourselves in the foot. A lot of times, it's not even the portfolio, it's all about your attitude. Hell, I've never even really pushed hard to get in yet and i feel brought down by all the negativity and firings.
I always try to tell myself, i'm just 1 awesome art asset from turning some heads. So far i've pretty much been wrong every time, but I also feel like i'm closer than ever to getting in. Take from that whatever you guys want.
QFT.
Like the others have mentioned just keep looking for ways to do your work faster, it's the little things like setting up good hotkeys, and small scripts to automate things that saves a lot of time. Figuring out good workflows helps too, it all comes with experience, just keep at it.
lots of grind, but its worth it.
LOL. That could very well have been written by me.
30. No job. Still trying to "break-in". Family doesn't respect it/never really thought I could do it.
officially part of my new sig.
+1
Took him 2.5 Days to make Cobra Commander for the CGhub GI Joe Contest as a Banner of some kind.
He started his Dominance War entry a month later than everyone else, CHANGED his entry completely 2 weeks after that, and still managed to place in the top.
Just keep practising. You'll learn from your mistakes and grow from the experience.
I'm so fast I've done tomorrows work before it's today
I'm so fast I need an assistant spraying me down with water because of the friction
I'm so fast my mouse wore a hole in my desk
I'm so fast I need a teflon wacom
I'm so fast red wears me
I'm so fast michael schumacher uses my keyboard shortcuts
I'm so fast I have to work on a salt lake so I have room to slow down
I'm so fast I leave skid marks on my hard drive
I'm so fast I have a smoke before
I'm so fast nobody is satisfied
etc...
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Just think you're having fun, that's all you can really do. Don't think making things in 3D is all about in the end, a job. Just do it!
yes.
-Thomas A. Edison
That is pretty much what defines one person over the next. Most people are content to stay at a certain level throughout their lives but a few rest realize that there is something more out there they want to attain. Realization is where its at boys and girls; what you can and cannot do but it doesnt stop there. Its a turning point. This is where you muster the courage to go out there and do what it takes to get to that point in life where you want to be. I mean, when it comes to doubt the real killer is yourself and your own perception of you. Dont try and gauge yourself on others successes. Instead follow your own path and set your own direction. Too often what we see on Polycount or CA.org or some other forum is the end result of many hours of effort and/or years of learning in order to get to that point and the sad thing is that the majority will try and copy a certain look or style without any notion or understanding of the processes behind it. Most people drop off the scene because it is too difficult or they arent getting to that point where other more skilled or creative people are. A lot of people see the vanity and praise that the end results bring, but like the majority of kids in art school they dont want to put in the effort to achieve that success. If you can realize this while in school or at home then you are further ahead than your contemporaries already.
Getting to a good nominal skill level takes a while. Take a long look at the what are you working on thread and youll find many months can go by before someone actually finishes a model, or a set of props that come together into an actual scene. Most people new to PC or any forum walk into the finished art sections and see a lot of great work, but its a lot of great work by different people. If one person could make all of the art on these forums then they may as well be God. Just remember that many individuals comprise this place. Take a look at their profiles, their past work history, how long theyve been in the field, how much they contribute to the forums, etc and youll find that many people have been around a long time. And if you worry about the new kid that is cranking amazing art at an incredible rate then it means that they are confident enough and realize enough about themselves to know what they can do and not do and more than likely have the initiative to go out there and work for what they want. Its never too late to begin a new chapter in your life or to take a risk with a career. Some PCers have taken that route knowing the hardships that doing something like that entails. Some people have gone through school only to learn more outside of class and some people have the savvy or and will and determination to learn everything outside of school altogether.
The point is to do it because it is something you want to do; because it will enrich your life and take you where you want to go, and if you take that crucial first step and continue on your new path despite any shortcomings you may have then once you will reach your new destination you will appreciate the effort it took to get there and hopefully realize that this is not the end of the road but the beginning of a new chapter thatll lead you to something only better if you continue chugging on.
Oh and don't think TLDR, that kinna defeats the purpose...
Also, I leave you with this:
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LMFAO, wow I'm in tears perfect!
Nice post cochtl, like everyone has said a library of models, or even turbo squid some cash, beer and a lot of editing. :thumbup:
i do disagree with okkun tho. when starting a project, picturing the whole process is demotivating and distracting for me.
i try to focus on one thing at a time, step by step and not to think too far ahead.
Now is that 2.5 days like two 8 hour days, or was it a huge grind with little sleep/going outside?:)
It's like repetition. It took me 24 hours to install injectors, turbo, fuel pump, sparks, front mount and other bits my first time. All the little things I didn't know about came up and got me all sideways. Now I can show up, install almost any turbo kit with supporting mods in like 8 hours.
And before you say "Why did it take 20 hours?". I ask you: Have you EVER replaced spark plugs on a Subaru? Or ANY engine work on a Subaru? Fucking love-hate relationship if there ever was one. Not like every other car on the road where you pop the hood and everything is just "there".
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Man, I'm with you. I ain't the sharpest knife in the drawer by all accounts, and I sure as hell ain't the faster... So it's a bit disheartening on one hand, on the other it does make me want to push my self harder and be more focused.
Recently, I've been creating for work a lot of little animals in zbrush which then need retopo in a way that will allow for facial and body animation. So, I realized that while two months ago retopologizing with poly stripes using vertex snap would take me upwards of 10 hours for a character, yesterday I did this in a solid 4 hours, with far more streamlined results.
I guess practice makes perfect after all.
/edit btw, since no one posted it yet, I know it's been posted before in a similar thread and that it's corny as hell, but there you go.
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I think Robert Duvall said it best;
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Cool you can make something in 1 week. Nice to do for cheep freelance, not so good for your folio.
So don;t worry about speed. Because the skill and effort you put into your art will always win.
Yes, some guys are incredibly fast. Don't dwell on it, be inspired to improve yourself and remember that speed comes with experience, so just keep going!
+1 to that dude, RIGHT on!