What Should I do next ? [Career Guide Plz ]

cmtanko

Background:
I worked for a company outsourcing game for +2.5 years, and Now since it done there is no other companies/studios working in games in my whole country. And I haven't been able to get any job in the game studio abroad (which I know is VERY hard(wish I was super duper talented or something), but I don't have any options in my country).

Okay, here is the thing:
I've been working/practicing environment art alot Here,
http://www.suchan.com.np
Now should I practice more environment art, be BETTER at it
or
maybe learn character modeling(which I'm VERY weak at)
or
Maybe skill up my game programming skills so maybe I can start something from my country itself ?

What should I improve in to have better chance of getting a job abroad(Anywhere/Somewhere)


[Btw, I'm an Electronic Engineer(2010), by Education. But working in art field for +4 years now, coz thats what I was made for and love doing. But sometimes feel maybe I made a wrong decision when I realize I can't earn as much in this field ]

(I'm still hopeful but being jobless, loses my confidence with every another day)

chrisradsby

Well you've already got a decent looking portfolio in my opinion. I'm thinking it's better that you focus on Environment Art completely, you will land a job eventually, maybe you need to break down what other people are making and why some pieces are more popular than others?

Looking over your pieces there are two things that come to mind for me.

1. Overall artistic expression
With this I mean that maybe your portfolio needs something that feels more inspiring something a little bit more creative? I feel like you did a great job on the UDK-basement. I remember when you did it, and you nailed the scale and the perspective. It's a really nice basement but it doesn't really tell a story either.

The lighting study is nice but it's also pretty simple in it's execution. Great for practice but maybe you should brought the same study into a more interesting environment?

Batman Arkham Asylum has a really good lighting article somewhere.
http://www.edge-online.com/features/gdc-seeing-light-arkham-asylum/

hmm you can find it over at GDC-vault, if you have access to it. They have some good stuff.

Basically they made most of their textures greyish and colored the environments using lots of colored lights. Making each area feel different and get it's own personality but still keep within the same style of the asylum. Really well done.

2. Basic Art-Principles need to be refined.
Looking over your beauty-shots, I feel like some of the basic art-principles could be improved upon. Especially composition and color-theory. Maybe some more studies could be good? I suggest running over to ctrl+paint and checking out their video-library.

http://ctrlpaint.com/

They have some good stuff regarding the basics, and it's not that I feel like you don't know the basics. It's more like, when you feel unsure if you're progressing or what you can do to progress, improve on the basics.

And

Regarding the money-thing, yes we usually don't earn a ton of money but it's very rewarding working with art for games

Either way I hope I don't sound too harsh! I know you're working really hard and I've seen your work around the forums and you're good with taking feedback and improving. So just keep it up man

cmtanko

Thanks Chrisradsby, for all the good words and suggestions.

I asked because, I keep getting "Can you do character modeling too ? because from your portfolio we dint see any characters", when i apply as an environment artist.

1. I'm constantly improving myself, and still participating in Polycount Noob Chanlenges. Thats helping alot too.
2. You guess it correct, not very Pro at color-theory and art stuff, but I think I'm slowly getting better with CtrlPaint/other tutorials. http://ctrlpaint.com is simple awesome, I've watched most of his videos and used to practice drawing but paused recently. That's what inspired me to do a lighting Study from that movie.

Don't want to be millionaire doing art, hehe just good enough to enjoy life is it goes.

Hope I get a good job soon , finger crossed.

chrisradsby

Well, if you're getting people asking if you can do character modelling I'm not really sure if they're established game-developers. Sounds more like a really tiny indie-team or something like that.

From my experience you usually don't get bigger studios asking if you can do other things as well. I say, focus all your energy on what you want to do, become good enough to be able to earn a living from it and then later you can try other things. ^^

NegevPro

I'm not too knowledgeable when it comes to landing jobs as I've yet to do any paid development work, but I think you might want to consider improving your programming skills. While art is a really enjoyable thing to do, it seems like it is pretty difficult to land a job and it also seems like people tend to take advantage of artists a lot.

I could be wrong given my limited knowledge of the professional industry so if somebody could correct me, that'd be great as I'm currently also not sure what to practice next (currently doing programming.)

Mask_Salesman

Specializing isnt a bad idea you know.

If you want a brutal crit your Tank & Car are the best thing in your portfolio. Everything else is mediocre. They are levels above of everything else. :thumbup:

So your strong point is hardsurface. Metal wear & weathering.
The diffuses are abit flat colour wise tho, so work some colour variation into them.

If your going to specialize I would recommend playing to your strengths.
So that doesn't neccessarily mean making only vehicles, but make types of environments that play to your hardsurface strengths.

Your employable so don't give up

I'd stay out of characters if your new to them. They take along time to get employed by compared to environments. Also there's less character jobs to environment jobs just by the fact that projects require great numbers of environment artists to characters.

Bruno Afonseca

You got some good work there What I can tell you is - If a studio is capable of relocation you from far away, it's probably a big studio, therefore a studio looking for specialists.

So, your work is good but there's definitely some room for improvement. Texture dat gun also, having unfinished work on your portfolio usually gives a bad impression.

Sukotto

Can't really say anything other than whats already been said about your portfolio, but have you considered getting an engineering job for the time being? Not saying that is an easy task either but since you have a degree in it maybe that will help. That way you have a nice paying job while you can work on your portfolio until you get to a point where you are able to travel abroad with your skills.

Equanim

Programming is always useful but its hard to get a job with game programming unless it's your focus.

Since your focus is more about environment art, I'd look into dynamics and post processing effects. Think water, weather effects, cloth simulations, lighting, etc. that you can further enhance environment pieces with.

Also bump that Pirate Island to the top of your portfolio. It's an awesome piece and the color really grabs your eye.

cmtanko

chrisradsby: Yeah, they were indie game companies.. Applying to almost every studios I could find.. hehe

About Work Visa,Thats totally true,dustinbrown ... I did went to consultancy to know about the Immigration(but they had certain low level job list only which I dont want be doing) , Student Visa isn't very helpful as thats not what I'm actually going for + expensive, Work Visa only seems to be the option at the moment(which is hard again).
Honestly, I didn't felt bad when I didn't get response/rejection from America,Europe or Australia. I felt I'm not good when I was not even selected for an Indian Studios(which is country side to ours, I'm from Nepal),or othere asian countries(Singapore).. Hehe

Thanks alot guys, You guys brought some hope inside me, Feeling better and energized.

Going back to Er. job is not what I'd consider for now. I'll keep programming as my hobby rather.. I guess too much to learn and do in the environment art itself, so I'll keep on working on my portfolio, maybe abit more variety and add new things (more impressive arts ).

Thanks alot guys, You guys have been always so Awesome and helpful.

Cheers (Y)