Quitting?
polycounter lvl 18
Some of you may have noticed it was my birthday yesterday. It's got me thinking(among other things, like my enevitable demise and how many I should take with me) of quiting work after this year to focus on my artwork. As it is other than the sketches I do on the way to and from work I get maybe a half day's worth of work done a week.
I'm not super fond of the job but there's plenty of room for advancement and crazy job security. I'd just rather I not spend my life on this, yet I am a complete and total coward when it comes to things like this. What do you think?
I'm not super fond of the job but there's plenty of room for advancement and crazy job security. I'd just rather I not spend my life on this, yet I am a complete and total coward when it comes to things like this. What do you think?
Replies
Although, I had a friend that wasn't in the industry go move in with a mutual friend that was. He was able to learn from him and really focus on having someone there to get him working all the time. That's probably the only was I could ever see doing something like that.
Even still, you need money to pay the bills and put food on the table. Dont quit your job. Thats the worst thing you can do. Then it will turn into "oh i'll just play a game instead of work on my skills" and thats not the kind of motivation you need.
I take it you still live with mommy & daddy?
[/ QUOTE ]
Well, that sure was insulting.
oh.. and happy birthday
Later on, as a pay it forward kind of thing, I let Skanker stay with me and not pay rent until he got an industry job also. Luckily it only took about 3 monthes.
I guess my only advice is that until your art and portfolio are your primary focus, you won't get an industry job. I gave up my art school degree because I realized I didn't really need it.
BUT!!! if you have a way to take care of your self i.e. Mom and dad sugarmomma etc. Then bury yourself in your art coccoon and dont come out till your a beautifull game industry butterfly.
Whatever you choose, good luck.
Take it as you will. But wasnt my intention to be insulting.
As for my skills? I don't know, most of my stuff is done at 3 in the morning on sunday in a last ditch effort to get to some artwork so I don't feel like I blew another weekend. I feel like I'm barely trying, it's no wonder ghost rider isn't impressed. I feel like I'm falling behind the curve after seeing what all the new engines can do.
I'll have to wait at least a year(unless this promotion comes through) before I can do anything anyway. Thanks for the comments I'll think on what's been said.
It was coolw hat you did for skank dude, I didnt know that.
-R
Eventually this paid off, I worked 36 hour shifts on the pc then slept for half a day as a routine and became very isolated in my determination to get a job. I alienated all my friends during the process but that didnt matter to me.
In the end I almost quit because I had so many near things and part time deals that led nowhere that I made a last ditch attempt to try also for a comic artist job.
I spent the last of my money attending a comic convention down south, found a couple offers and by the time I got back I had a flat out offer waiting for me from Reflections in my inbox and 4 days later I had relocated to start there
That was April 4th, 7 years ago.
I think I managed thanks to sheer bloody minded determination more than due to talent or skill. Looking back I think I just produced such a large amount of work across a wide enough variety of mediums and disciplines that it was clear I would work hard and do whatever was required of me and that set me apart from all the glory boys who just had a portfolio of quake clone character textures.
Somewhere inside you , you know if you have what it takes, or if you are just unhappy with your current course and looking for sympathy and a break.
If you KNOW you can do it, just do it.
If you suspect too strongly that you are fooling yourself, then give yourself a slap and get back to work.
Seriously, it takes a LOT of personal drive to do it yourself. 80% of the people I started out in the community with and respected greatly have not amounted to much or have disappeared.
If this is what you have to do, do it. If its simply what you think you might like to do then forget about it.
Good luck whatever you decide.
r.
I think I managed thanks to sheer bloody minded determination more than due to talent or skill. Looking back I think I just produced such a large amount of work across a wide enough variety of mediums and disciplines that it was clear I would work hard and do whatever was required of me and that set me apart from all the glory boys who just had a portfolio of quake clone character textures.
Seriously, it takes a LOT of personal drive to do it yourself. 80% of the people I started out in the community with and respected greatly have not amounted to much or have disappeared.
[/ QUOTE ]
Two very telling statments.
I work with sheet metal and I am damn good, but I have worked with many guys over the last 25 years who are better than me, but they had no interest in it other than a paycheck. One of them works for me now
If you want a career in a field like this read both of those quotes and focus on them as you practice and hopefully, sharpen your skills.
This is an entertainment industry, a lot of the people who are successfull echo the same words.
You have to really have THE WANT!
That said, You do have potential to be a great artist. Ive been on these boards and others long enough to see guys starting out turn into total studs. Like the others have said you just need to want it bad enough, all your will must be bent on it. If you were a totally sucky artist to begin with, I probably would have told you to keep 3d as a hobby or something. But like I said, you got the potential. So do what you gotta do.
BTW how old are you?
Oh, and the thing about "no one ever got rich renting", I don't think many have gotten rich by being a game artist.
But, whatever.
I'm not a big "make a plan for life" person, but you might want to set some goals. If you want to eat sleep and breathe modeling and concepting for a year, be my guest. But what are you going to do for food, girls, nights out with the guys [you know
Not to be harsh, but you can't mooch off of everyone while you do this "artwork coccoon thing" [thanks for the metaphor ghost
I decided I wanted to go into game art 100% when I was 23. I was a newly wed living in a one bedroom basment apartment. My father had bought me a computer and my wife bought me a copy of max 4 (student discount) and I worked the crappiest jobs around just to make ends meet (used car saleman) I would work all day come home give my wife some attention and then sit my ass down for 5 hours a day doing the max tutorials and trying to make my own stuff. I would try to visualize what I wanted with my demo reel, and what I could actually do. As soon as I had a demo reel I thought I could be proud of (which I realize is total shit now) I scouted out all the game studios in Salt Lake (there are quite a few) I got maybe two interviews that werent very serious, I think the felt sorry for me and were trying to point me in the right direction.
I asked a great local utah artist Named Mike May to critique my art, and he basically told me I suck balls. I almost quit art all together, but I realized I did suck balls compared to what the pro's were doing. I think that was a turning point. I focused on Figure drawing and really tring to emulate what some of these great artist did.
I had enough material for my second demo reel. Then in june of 2003 I got my first gig at a little independent studio, I was there untill november of last year. Working full time making art, my skills greatly improved. I got a few shipped titles (little obscure budget games mind you) but I now had experience and I had defeated the Catch 22.
In november I got a job offer from a larger studio where I currently am and only hope to work for larger studios and in greater capacity from here on out. I want to be in this industry for the rest of my life.
Sorry for giving you my life story, but That's how I did it. It might shed some light on your dilemma.
BUT
Have something lined up first. Start looking for something that you want to do and apply for it. Your in the position where you have some security of a steady pay cheque and can afford to take a long look at your options. Also play the game by giving your current employers two weeks notice before you move on. They will probably be pissed that you are moving on but will respect your decision and you more by leaving the right way, if there is such a thing.
There is nothing wrong with leaving a job if you feel that it is time to move on. Just dont bail unless you have some where else to go or you can afford to take the time off.
Never ever tell yourself playing a video game is "research" that leads to lazyness and lazyness leads to the dark side...
Alex