How would you rate your game art skill level?

BradleyWascher

I've been on polycount for a good while now and I was just curious where people feel like they fall in terms of their skills. I understand this is highly subjective and not a true scientific test. Being able to see what other artists think about their skills might spark some conversations about how to improve or help like minded skilled people build a stronger sense that others are just like them and can possibility share ideas about how to improve your skill level. 

What was the moment that you felt you bumped up your skill level? Or what did you feel you had to learn or become great at to improve? 

Melazee

Inconsistent - Basics skills / Minor issues in quality

See, I can never tell because I naturally have a really low opinion of my own artwork. I really don't know. I think my personal artwork is all over the shot as I just make whatever the heck I feel like making rather than gearing it towards anything in particular. My rendering skills are pretty bad too... I think.

I just don't know

So as a result, I picked the answer that I did because of the inconsistency aspect. I think I just need to make more stuff really, as I am finally beginning to knuckle down on a style I like.

Brian "Panda" Choi

Capable - Solid skills / Reliable quality

Someone pays me, so I must be at least alright.

We gon' be alright.

Can you hear me, can you feel me, we gon' be alright.

JordanN

My answer is somewhat different, because it's very dependent on being a "chicken or the egg".
You have to post art and people judge you off that, but I never saw my art as representing my skills but rather, my ideas.

A recent example is when I made a thread with some PS1 screenshots. I don't actually rate myself as only capable of 500 triangles. I just really liked the Playstation 1 as a console.

If I want to make something above that, it's because I've came up with a game or story that feels more appropriate. Something I'm doing now with an upcoming game that uses a lot of high resolution models.

Mark Dygert

Capable - Solid skills / Reliable quality

Artists are always their own worst critic. Those that aren't, usually aren't that good.

Kevin Albers

Excellent - Expert skills / Consistent AAA art quality

I think 'consistent AAA quality' is a bit overblown. I've seen tons of 'just ok' assets in AAA games, and worked with plenty of 'not exactly amazing' AAA artists.

When I'm unemployed, it seems like the world is full of badass artists much better than me. When I'm employed (at AAA studios), everyone in the art team seems to feel that it's hard to get decent artists, and I find myself wishing that we could just get a few more people with my level of skill.

Or, put another way, I find good portfolio pieces to generally be higher in quality than most assets in AAA games. 

low odor

Unacceptable - Beginner skills / Large issues in quality

never gonna make it ;(

AGoodFella

Inconsistent, definitely. I hardly ever like my own work and sometimes it's not an abomination and sometimes it's just ok. My skills don't quite match my ambition just yet...

Biomag

Inconsistent - Basics skills / Minor issues in quality

Simply not good enough to do the job I want

Soily26

Capable - Solid skills / Reliable quality

Like others have said I'm my own worst critic so I always want to rate myself low but I'd rate myself fairly avarage.
I like feeling just okay because it drives me to want to learn more. Maybe one day I'll be supreme

Progg

Excellent - Expert skills / Consistent AAA art quality

Kevin Albers said:

I think 'consistent AAA quality' is a bit overblown. I've seen tons of 'just ok' assets in AAA games, and worked with plenty of 'not exactly amazing' AAA artists.

When I'm unemployed, it seems like the world is full of badass artists much better than me. When I'm employed (at AAA studios), everyone in the art team seems to feel that it's hard to get decent artists, and I find myself wishing that we could just get a few more people with my level of skill.

Or, put another way, I find good portfolio pieces to generally be higher in quality than most assets in AAA games. 

A lot of that is just from the nature of how AAA development works. I'm sure you're quite aware how sacrifices have to be made for the good of the project, in some cases having to rush assets or find shortcuts to get the desired product as quick and as efficient as possible. When you're working on your own portfolio pieces it's much easier to go all out on an asset or texture since you dont really have to worry about the budgets or tech limitations of the project. If everyone on the team tried to polish every asset to perfection you'd realistically never get anything done.

I think it's more about being disciplined enough to know where you hit that point of diminishing returns and having the experience to call it there and move on. 

It's always weird to judge your own worth without making yourself seem prideful. I think that humble quality is what makes artists continue to grow and get better. That said, there is a point in your career where you begin to lead others on the team and start to have the confidence in your own abilities to know that you generally make the right calls most of the time.

Eric Chadwick

Whoever voted themselves Supreme... haha

Michael Knubben

Capable - Solid skills / Reliable quality

JordanN said:

*stuff*

Wait, you did some PS1 stuff? Why didn't you ever bring that up before?

Magihat

Inconsistent - Basics skills / Minor issues in quality

Inconsistent really is a word that describes my "art" very well. I could never get the jobs I would want with the scattershot quality level I currently possess. There really is little in what I do that would potentially inspire someone else, it's all very derivative and lacking when it comes to artistic as well as technical execution. Working my way up there but even generously speaking it is years away at this pace, really need to start cracking the whip over my back with more ferocity. 

lotet

Capable - Solid skills / Reliable quality

I feel like most professionals are gonna go for "consistant". its not over-confident, but at the same time not selling yourself short.

personally I know that If i start considering myself "good" Im gonna stop trying to improve that very second, so Im stying as far away from being confident as possible =P

fdfxd2

Inconsistent - Basics skills / Minor issues in quality

There's nothing I feel I can't do

I can look at a nice artwork and know exactly how they made all details

but I'm too fking lazy to do any of it

Francois_K

Supreme - A trend setter in the industry / Skill pushes quality norms to new levels

I've never made anything bad before in my entire life.   

Jakob Gavelli

Capable - Solid skills / Reliable quality

I enjoy this being a public poll haha

People pay me for what I do and I get job opportunities consistently, so I've got to be doing something right, right? Please tell me it's so! 

(Instant impostor syndrome after choosing Capable hahah oh the irony)

ambershee

Where's the category that says 'Programmer' or 'Can barely pick up a pen' ?

Kwramm

Capable - Solid skills / Reliable quality

tech-artist / manager here... I think I can still compete but not on speed. The kids these days are just too damn fast at modeling and texturing...

Fansub

Supreme - A trend setter in the industry / Skill pushes quality norms to new levels

I'm the new Kim Jung-Un

On a more serious note, i'd probably qualify myself as capable on certain tasks, and inconsistent on others. Trying to be good at tech art AND 3d modeling got me kinda "locked" in a "mid-crisis" area, where i'm almost "good" enough at both, but almost is never good enough ofc. Getting around to fixing this by having nice work schedules and balance between 3D and tech art is hard, but i'm working on it !

Amsterdam Hilton Hotel

overman

Kanni3d

Capable - Solid skills / Reliable quality

Definitely not great. Super critical of my work, own worst critic etc... Though I believe if you worry and acknowledge whats wrong with your art and skills, it must mean you're improving.

I like to think I'm pretty technical with modeling - getting complex shapes to sub-d nice and cleanly, finding the fastest and most efficient way to do things and such. 

Kashaar

Supreme - A trend setter in the industry / Skill pushes quality norms to new levels

I haven't got the first clue what I'm doing so obviously I must rate myself supreme

radiancef0rge

Excellent - Expert skills / Consistent AAA art quality

I'm almost the best. I know every programming language but Javascript

Hazardous

Supreme - A trend setter in the industry / Skill pushes quality norms to new levels

I felt that the heights from which I look down upon everyone else are not accurately represented in these choices. Although far beneath what could hardly describe my skill level, my choice of 'surpeme' will have to suffice.

Kwramm

Capable - Solid skills / Reliable quality

radiancef0rge said:

I'm almost the best. I know every programming language but Javascript

I think you may be better off knowing Cobol anyway. Javascript is meh

Joao Sapiro

Unacceptable - Beginner skills / Large issues in quality

plorp

JacqueChoi

Joao Sapiro said:

plorp

lulzwut?

you doof.

;P


I didn't vote, cuz I think I think I somehow fit into a few of those categories.

slosh

Capable - Solid skills / Reliable quality

Hazardous said:

I felt that the heights from which I look down upon everyone else are not accurately represented in these choices. Although far beneath what could hardly describe my skill level, my choice of 'surpeme' will have to suffice.

I think you need a category for "Supreme Leader"

Demno

Supreme - A trend setter in the industry / Skill pushes quality norms to new levels

Supreme! With the ego to back it up. Now hold my beer while Iohgodmywholeworldviewiscrumblingtheyaregonnafindout!

Jesse Moody

Supreme - A trend setter in the industry / Skill pushes quality norms to new levels

Eric Chadwick said:

Whoever voted themselves Supreme... haha

I have no shame.

MILA

Unacceptable - Beginner skills / Large issues in quality

Ppl 2 good h3r3

RocketBryan

Capable - Solid skills / Reliable quality

I feel like that last category should be Sorcerer Supreme. Or maybe all ice cream flavors.

"How are you at highpoly hard surface?"
"Eh...'bout sherbet level."

BradleyWascher

Capable - Solid skills / Reliable quality

I hope to see more people place "Supreme" now on their LinkedIn skills haha #WhatHaveIDone

ArNavart

Unacceptable - Beginner skills / Large issues in quality

Always at it's lowest, otherwise I wouldn't see an interest to grow.

aryarie

Inconsistent - Basics skills / Minor issues in quality

Still a beginner... only been modeling for 2 months :P

Have a few 2D skills (though they are pretty beginner level as well), which has helped a bit in the transition to 3D.