What Category do I Fall into?
polycounter lvl 8
Hey pollycounters. I have kind of a weird question concerning how I should go about presenting my portfolio. I recently finished 2 years of schooling and have come out of it deciding I want to be an environment/prop artist. My problem is that even though I have a very good idea of where I'm at, it doesn't seem to follow many game studios around today.
My inspiration when I first decided to get into the industry were the Bioshock games. Kind of dark and surreal and beautifully crafted. The story and the art worked so well together. I must have played infinite 10 times through. I was also into dishonored and LA Noire. I wasn't into the same games as the people in my school. They were into league of legends, Halo or COD. I had no problems with those games at all I just wasn't into them.
I guess my question is should I aim my portfolio more towards a kind of generic and popular style or be ambitious and try and bring something a little different to the table. Try my own style and hope someone likes it.
My inspiration when I first decided to get into the industry were the Bioshock games. Kind of dark and surreal and beautifully crafted. The story and the art worked so well together. I must have played infinite 10 times through. I was also into dishonored and LA Noire. I wasn't into the same games as the people in my school. They were into league of legends, Halo or COD. I had no problems with those games at all I just wasn't into them.
I guess my question is should I aim my portfolio more towards a kind of generic and popular style or be ambitious and try and bring something a little different to the table. Try my own style and hope someone likes it.
Replies
"If you are asking questions about your art or portfolio, you must post your portfolio".
To answer your question though, just do what you like. Obviously, if you're making some crazy art that no one does at all with a super weird style, then maybe studios will be hesitant to proceed forward. However, I don't feel like a portfolio filled with Art Deco would be a turnoff.
Two quick examples:
Ignacio Guajardo Unanue
http://www.cgstudentawards.com/student-of-the-year-games/ignacio-guajardo-unanue
This dude just got hired at Bethesda I think with a portfolio that screams 40's - 50's design. He made some awesome stuff in a style he liked, and he got hired.
Scott Homer
http://scotthomer.co.uk/
He has been linked a ton around here but check out his work. He has a Bioshock scene that he did an amazing job with. It was featured in a ton of places and is executed beautifully. He also did a breakdown in Vertex as well. In addition, he has the gopro and car pieces that he put his own flare on. Didn't stop him from getting hired at both Crytek and now Epic Games.
To sum it up. Just make some awesome art
I like this. Someone do this. I mean, it can only ever help, right?
Yea. I feel like it would help give better feedback on these kinds of threads. For example, lets say someone wants to know what kind of environment to make, but their portfolio shows a lack of understanding of 3d basics. If the portfolio was linked, it'd be easy to be like "oh, you should focus on these basics of x, x, and x before an environment.
beefaroni's advice is solid.
We have some more reading here if the OP is interested
http://wiki.polycount.com/wiki/Game_Industry#Art_Disciplines