How you picked one? Environment or Character Art

RawData

Hello everybody, i am self-thaught and study 3d for 1 year. I see on web specilization is important and also feels logical. I am sure i want to be a modeler for games. But i am fifty fifty close to envi and char art. How you guys decided to go which direction, what were youR parameters to compare them? Thanks for any response.

Brian "Panda" Choi

I thought about what I was already doing on my free time.

Alemja

When you're learning and starting out it can be kind of hard to choose. I think what works best when you're unsure is to look at the body of work you've made over time and see how it leans: more character or environment work? Then I would also think about some of your favorite pieces or pieces you enjoyed making and figure out why.

Here is a common example I see, someone wants to be a 3D artist but starts of being an environment artist because it's "easier" to get into due to more jobs. However they find making environments and props a slog and would much rather make characters instead, or wind up making more characters than environments.

If you are still feeling 50/50 after analyzing your work, you just might need to make more stuff because there comes a point where the thrill of learning new things wear off.

JordanN

I started off doing both. I tried copying cartoons off of TV as a kid so I naturally learned how to draw people and backgrounds to go with them.
I chickened out though and went for environment art, because I heard there were a lot more hardsurface jobs than character art, and I'm also very sensitive when it comes to accuracy.

It already takes a long time for me to post my environment work because I try and squeeze as much detail possible without anything looking off. If I got into character art, I might be taking years to work on single characters, because I have a huge fear of anatomy/foreshortening that would look wrong. 

RawData

Thanks guys, so far i worked for small indie projects and did mostly environment/prop works, i tried characters on my own too. But what i most enjoyed is weapons, i think it is not a good idea to be a weapon artist because it is too speciliazed. So my work leans to environment but not on purpose. I cant say i tend to make this or that because what i did so far, they were for projects.

Brian "Panda" Choi

Do you have any work to share so we can get a better sense of your strengths?

RawData

I dont have a portfolio. Here some random pictures from my studies

Larry

I personally started by creating characters and i realized that i'm gonna be dealing with the same stuff all the time (body parts and clothing), with about the same topology but some different variations. I don't really enjoy the idea of it. I also do not like spending alot of time on the same thing refining it,however even with a time consuming prop, it will be most likely something new, and will contain different shapes and areas that i would consider "creative progress". Also it's the "unknown".In every project you might do something you've never done before, and have some more freedom (than the character art) to put in your own touch.I believe characters are made in 3d after a concept has been decided, but in environment art you can kit bash / sketch and have some freedom in designing props and environments sometimes without a concept (at least more times than character art)  or you could find your own reference

This is all my belief and not actual experience on the subject. But in general i lost my interest to character art quite quickly

RawData

@Brian "Panda" Choi  i wanted to remind you. And thanks for your opinion @Larry , i also like the story telling elements in environment art. Like a small touch can tell a lot. Also i really like to play with lighting. 

Brian "Panda" Choi

From the looks of it, you’re mostly an environment artist. 

Theres a a bunch of general interests I find character artist liking that you’re not quickly mentioning. 

RawData

@Brian "Panda" Choi , yea i think i am an environment guy

Brian "Panda" Choi

I'd recommend getting at least one prop done to final polish and finish, and see how yuou feel about environment art on that scale at tleast.

RawData

@Brian "Panda" Choi , actually i started to make very small diorama, it has 10 props more or less. I also wonder can you give me example for “general interests” you said. 

Brian "Panda" Choi

figure drawing, costumes, "I want to make this character idea I've been sketching," etc.

pangaea

Have you got any drawing skills? Anatomy Knowledge?  Traditional sculpting skills?

Not saying it impossible, but from your current face sculpt it might be hard to catch up with other character artist. Good luck if you try character art. 

Also, practice some substance painter as modelling and sculpting might mean you lack texturing ability. There is a really good gnomonworkshop tutorial on substance painter.

RawData

@Brian "Panda" Choi , Yes you are right, figure drawing is not my thing.

@pangaea , ı dont have any drawing skills or traditional sculpting skills, i had anatomy class but it was not something artistic, it was medical stuff. I have handicaps for character art.

I make my textures in substance painter and designer. I will check the tutorial if it is not beginner tutorial, it might help.