3D Environment Artist Looking for Portfolio Critique

AJMatias

Hey Polycount Forum,

I've only been a 3D artist for about a year or two and am looking for critiques on my portfolio. I strive to be a fantastic Environment Artist, but I've got a long way to go and I need you're help to tell me / show me what I'm doing wrong and right. It's gonna be a long journey and I cant wait to take it with you all. Thanks for doing this, really can't do it without you guys.

Cheers,

Alex

Portfolio: https://ajmatias.artstation.com/

alexk

Hey, I took a quick look. Are you still in school or graduated now?

Alot of your work looks like student work and not up to par to what studios are looking for. This is typical of most graduates and students and most need to spend additional time to learn the latest techniques as well as getting better doing game art in general. This is the boat that you're currently in right now.

You need to learn Physically Based Rendering (PBR) materials, normal maps, and a basic understanding of using a current game engine such as Unreal.

If you want to become an environment artist, then look toward tailoring your portfolio so that it only shows environments. Ideally real-time environments (in a game engine) and not renders.

Look at the latest triple A games and set your quality bar to that level. When you do a new portfolio piece, aim to reach this level. You might not hit it, but at least it'll be a goal to strive for. As they say, aim for the stars because even if you miss you'll land on the moon.

AJMatias

Hey Alexk,

Thanks for looking at my stuff. I just graduated from a 3D generalist program very recently so that might explain why it looks like student work. I've been using the quixel DDO for texturing (that has PBR materials i believe) and am trying to learn zbrush and NDO for normal maps. I'm also trying to learn substance painter and Unreal engine, though I just started to learn how to use those very recently. Do you know of any tutorials or sites I could use to learn more about these programs and/or any modern  techniques used in the industry? What about any mentoring? Thanks for the advice, it's really helpful and I look forward to more in the future. 

Cheers,
Alex

alexk

There's plenty of tutorials on youtube for all those programs, though it can be hard to sort through all of them. Try searching for specific techniques for better results. Like say, instead of just searching "zbrush" you could search "zbrush hard surface techniques" or "zbrush rock sculpting".

You can even try to search for "next gen asset creation", here's some decent looking results that I got

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIt-nemQopE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFHVafZKZA4

Current gen game art is the combination of several techniques including:

High poly modeling. Hard surface modeling done in 3ds max or Maya. Organic done in Zbrush or other sculpting program
Baking out the high poly onto a low poly to produce maps such as normal maps and ambient occlusion
Texturing with PBR using Substance Designer or Painter, or Photoshop
Presentation of asset in Unreal of other game engine

Try searching the above key terms in youtube or google to bring up some tutorials.. hope this helps

AJMatias

Awesome, I'm gonna definitely take a look at these and some other videos when I can. Looks like there's a lot to learn too, so I'm excited. Thanks Alexk, you've been a big help!

slosh

If you are ok with paying, digital tutors is pretty great for learning software without having to do a lot of searching for good tutorials on youtube.  Allegorithmic and Quixel have official youtube channels with great vids as well.

AJMatias

I've heard of digital tutors before. I'll for sure check it out, as well as the youtube channels. Thanks Slosh!