[Portfolio] Ezra Lau, 3D Artist
polycounter lvl 9
Hello to you all.
I've just updated my portfolio site and demo reel, so if you wouldn't mind terribly and take a few mins to check out both of them and provide some crits/feedback on layout, content, or just about anything I would truly appreciate it. Thanks much!
http://ezralauportfolio.blogspot.com/
Demo Reel: http://vimeo.com/19736657
I've just updated my portfolio site and demo reel, so if you wouldn't mind terribly and take a few mins to check out both of them and provide some crits/feedback on layout, content, or just about anything I would truly appreciate it. Thanks much!
http://ezralauportfolio.blogspot.com/
Demo Reel: http://vimeo.com/19736657
Replies
You obviously have little concept about the hold back you are suffering when presenting yourself in such a way.
back to the original post by eazy, i think you need to remove things like that ridiculous live traffic feed, and think a little bit more on your text color choice in some instances (the black on dark grey can get a little difficult to read). also ill agree with PatrickL about narrowing down your work to 3-5 of your best pieces, then try and present those right up front of the homepage. also id suggest making your email a little easier to see, or possibly put it up in the header image instead of where the content goes.
is it just me or does making a demo reel seem unnecessary? i remember seeing somewhere that an employer will only watch the first 10-20 seconds of it or some ridiculous thing. and the way i see it, why have one when all the same work is represented on the exact same page?
So just to be perfectly clear, you're saying that this guy
http://tysonmurphyart.blogspot.com/
"OBVIOUSLY has no concept about the hold back he is suffering"?
By the way, Ezra, I agree with what was said above. That live traffic feed thing is neat, but it seems like clutter, particularly due to it contrasting so highly with the rest of the page. I don't know if it really ads anything to showcasing your work either.
Edit: I'm also wondering why your reel appears twice, once on the side, and once in the body, on a 1-page site.
His work is obviously awesome, but yeah I too think a blog isn't as good as a proper folio site. You have to scroll through too much clutter with blogs.
Actually I think this guy is experienced enough to have an idea about the hold back he is suffering from presenting such great work in such an average way.
Although in this case it's not that bad cause ALL he shows is art.
However I too fall into that discrimination category and quite often don't give my full attention when looking at a portfolio on blogger. It's rather unfair and ignorant of me to be honest but you have to admit a nice designed site just presents your work that tiny bit better. Consider it, domains and hosting are cheap these days.
I tend to agree, a website would look more professional and if it looks and feels pro 'no one' will complain. Whereas like the Doc said some recruiters dont like blog formats regardless of how good the art it. Point is, a website gallery format is best for displaying your work. So why take a chance that they may or may not like it and just set up a decent website?
Good luck!
I think the work looks good. Good characters, nice texturing, and good animation.
I think it might be too general. Like it looks like you can do a little of everything, but it doesn't showcase you in one particular area.
Overall though I think it looks good.
Then why do you have a dedicated website?
Ontopic:
Presentation
Your content is spread too thin. You have 3 slow turnarounds per character. A 10k-poly normal mapped character + zbrush sculpt warrants that. A 2k-triangle, 512² lowpoly model doesn't. I also don't care enough about pears to look at one for six seconds.
I'm also gonna echo the use of a blog and mentioning being a student as unprofessional, but as you're still a student it can be forgiving not shelling out money for a proper site. I do advise you to get working on something though.
Content
Models are decent, could be a bit better though. The lowpoly has some priority issues, and the taurus's pectorals are not connected to the shoulders (also he's a bit too simple/tubular but that's partially stylistic). The "butchered meat" props are as bland as they can get. The hobo looks way too smooth compared to the concept - beard is a blob, limbs are spaghetti.
Your textures are a bit more of an issue though, I think. First of all, there's hardly any.There's the procedural stuff, but that's hardly of use for games. (p.s. in general your work isn't particularly game oriented. You'll probably want to focus on either games or animation, not do both) The bull has a dead simple texture, almost looks like it's just vertex shading.
The DomWar texture feels rather flat -try to use less of pure black (lines on the boots/armor and the arms). It also lacks a good focal point because of similar geen-lines-on-grey everywhere. Currently his loincloth/ is the most eyecatching, because of the green standing out against the black, and because the shapes are more clear than the rest of the model. You generally want the focal point to be either the chest or the face - in your case likely the chest.
Your sketches/2D work is nice. It'd be cool if you translated some of those thoughts such as the "Hero, Sidekick, Villain" or the "Robot Joe" to 3d.
Thanks to everyone still commenting. I really appreciate the time you guys are giving to help me out. Just as a quick question (i haven't even thought about hosting before) where's a good place to start looking into web-hosting and getting a personal domain? I'm assuming "just google it" would probably work?
haha you guys are the BEST.
I've kept a website for the past 12 years, just for fun. It's my hobby. I don't feel like it hurts me or helps me. In the end, it only matters what your work looks like and that the person looking at it can see it easily.
*shrug*