How to keep up when working in a non-art related job?
I know this is common and I believe there are a lot artists out there that are currently in this situation. I’m new at this and I was wondering if you guys can share some advice on how to manage and organize yourself so you can handle a double professional life without burning out (ok just enough to be able to do it again the next day).
After 6 years of working in an art outsourcing studio, last month I resigned from my job for a few reasons. A friend of mine hooked me up with another job at his office and I took it; just as many of you, being unemployed is not an option to me.
No regrets, but now that my career as a video game artist is on pause, sometimes I can’t avoid looking at it as a hobby. I’m working on my portfolio at home when I make the time, but to be honest, it was easier to switch between projects when your workstation can handle the stuff we do. There was no “I have to wait until I get home to try this”.
Another thing I noticed is that when working for clients at a studio and being part of team of artists, professional growth is inevitable, and now that I’m temporarily out of the industry, I’m finding it a bit difficult to come up with a path or plan to follow on my own, and actually follow it.
I’m finding myself in the crossroad of having the freedom to try any path or option, and feeling the need to choose one already and begin to work on it so I can get an art related job before I get so behind that it becomes so overwhelming to undertake it.
Have you guys ever found yourselves in a similar situation? How did you handle it? If you currently work as an artist but didn’t work as one before, how did you manage to (re-)enter the industry? And if you are looking forward to work as one, can you share any pointers on how to remain consistent and keep on track?
Thanks! 
Replies
I currently work in a non-art job within the games industry, but I'm trying to grow my skills as a 3d artist at the same time.
When you already put in 8-9 hours at work (or more some days), and when you are juggling other life commitments such as your family/home, finding the time to push yourself further is hard. But you need to take it.
I found that setting goals for myself helped a lot. Ie: This week, I am figuring out how to make sand in Substance. Next week I am going to model X...
For stagnating, I had to solve this recently by signing up for an online class. I'm taking two classes with CGMA at the moment and it's been a huge help. Not only do I have homework that I am expected to deliver each week, I also get peer and instructor feedback that really helps me move forward. It took me pretty much a year to save up for these classes but they have helped me immensely.
Good luck and keep at it!
Thanks Marshkin
Like this^
basically just grind through it man, if you gotta keep the job to pay the bills just keep going, it should only you motivate you to get out of there.
I did a call center job for the last 2 years, it was utter hell, but I got out and now I am doing the job I want to do.
all I can say keep working at your art, the harder you work the faster you will get that job you want.
I still did freelance when I could when I was in my office job and you can too, it just depends on what you want to do man.
After reading your reply, I think I'm missing the "work at home" mindset so I'm going through a list of tasks that I believe will be helpful to stablish a routine, switch over to that mindset and to be consistent. I'm looking for freelance work already but nothing has come up yet. Hopefully something will come up soon.
Thanks @sziada !
You could try setting guidelines on the amount of hours per day you work on game art. 3-4 usually works for me.
Yeah I see what you mean. It is hard sometimes though, when I have that little time to keep the tasks simple yet useful for a project that demands 200+ hours or something around that. I start getting the feeling that I'm not making progress and lose aim. I guess I'm very used to work 8 hours shifts minimum and if its less than half of that, its more difficult for me to value whatever progress I may have. Gotta work on the "every little step counts" mindset.
Gumroad has good anatomy tuts and reference stuff.
https://gumroad.com/grassetti
Yeah, I was kind of hoping it didn't had to come to that, but tbh, comparing my position to the one a couple of weeks back, I'm not where I thought I would be by now. So, that solution is starting to sound like the only option left to make progress in a reasonable amount of time without being left out of the current. And yeah, starting small makes it more friendly, I was dreading all-nighters haha