Yet another Env Artist Portfolio Critique!
polycounter lvl 13
Hey guys, I've spent the last year or so working on learning as much as I can about Environment Art and building up my portfolio. It's been a great experience and I can happily look back and see just how much more I know that I did last year, and that makes it all worth it.
In the last couple of months I've been applying to a fair amount of jobs, but I've not heard back from most studios. I had one art test with a company that I didn't get because they were looking for someone with good handpainting skills, and that was my first attempt ever doing that. And I got to the 2nd interview with another company, but they ended up going with someone more experienced.
I'm usually pretty good at seeing what looks good or bad, but when it comes to my own work it's a lot harder! So now I'm just looking to see where you guys think I'm going wrong, or help me to see which areas I need get stronger in. What's it lacking? What needs to be removed? What should I focus on next? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Here's my portfolio:
https://www.artstation.com/rustyspannerz
In the last couple of months I've been applying to a fair amount of jobs, but I've not heard back from most studios. I had one art test with a company that I didn't get because they were looking for someone with good handpainting skills, and that was my first attempt ever doing that. And I got to the 2nd interview with another company, but they ended up going with someone more experienced.
I'm usually pretty good at seeing what looks good or bad, but when it comes to my own work it's a lot harder! So now I'm just looking to see where you guys think I'm going wrong, or help me to see which areas I need get stronger in. What's it lacking? What needs to be removed? What should I focus on next? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Here's my portfolio:
https://www.artstation.com/rustyspannerz
Replies
I like your storytelling you try to achieve (e.g. broken mirror with a safe behind) but you blurred out the rest too much, to me it shows that you want to blur out close-up detail to hide the quality. I know you did that so that the eye can focus on the crime place itself, but it seems like you overdid it with the blurring and the lighting together all focusing there.
Your material from substance designer is kind of off, the coloring is vibrand for such a worn out wood and the edges are too smooth having big gaps in them. Those 2 things make it seem not-so realistic and to me personally show a lack of detail in your eye.
But let's hear what other people have to say because i am inexperienced myself, and if someone asks for critique, i will 10000% find something even if it is not there
I think you could add more stuff to the sand to spruce it up a bit. The large round imprints in the sand could be more varied and a little more messy. If it's not dessert sand, maybe try adding in tiny plants or shells or something?
Your cork looks too shiny.
I love your seaside building, that was one of the first things I saw on Polycount. All in all I think your portfolio is pretty cool
For instance in the beach crash scene, there's a very nicely detailed mountain and islands in the background, yet the airplane is low poly where geometry is creating the silhouette of the broken off wing and hole around the side of the airplane.
That being said, there's a great control of lighting in all of your environments, which gives all of your scenes strong foundation. They just need to be pushed further in one direction.
I would say to focus on one style and run with it. We're in a spot now where the industry is all about specialists, especially at entry level jobs. You don't want any questions about your art style left up to an HR person. Tailor your portfolio to the studio you want to make games for, and it will be a lot easier for that studio to pick you up.