If you're talking about a professional portfolio with the purpose of finding a job/work I would definitely stick with your real name. Not only would it seem unprofessional as a potential candidate to send someone a link to ArtWizardCoolDude's portfolio, but you're adding an extra step for a recruiter/art director/whatever.…
its 2018, there is no hiding anymore. Building your personal brand is probably one of the most important things you can do. I can't stress this enough. hiding behind an online "name" like a gamertag or forum name (I know, I'm not using my real name here, I created this account 6+ years ago before i realized the importance…
Your name all the way, I was lucky to join here just around the time where people were changing from nicknames to their real names, so I did the same. Depends on what your goals are, but your name will be like a brand, and you want it to be remembered, and run with it forever. I see some people that use nicknames kinda…
Real names 100%. I wish people on polycount used real photos of themselves for their profile pictures, too. It makes things so much easier when you meet in real life, when you're trying to learn more about an artist you admire, when you're a hiring manager looking at candidates, et cetera. Adding another name into the mix…
Hehe yeah I'm not telling artists to spend money on their "brand" just that it's not worth nothing. And your names are totally fine, and are a "brand" as long as you don't change it, that's my only point :) so if you stick to that, it's totally fine. My advice is that if you start from 0 I think it's better to go with…
Yeah that's a tough question, I have heard of public people that have continued to use their old surname even when it changed after getting married, but if you know this might happen it might a good idea to use something that you know won't change, first name + something more etc.
When I first started here, I used a nickname just like everyone else was doing. A couple years into it I realized the same thing these guys have been describing already, and asked the mods to rename my account. I've used my real name ever since. Some people recognize the name, it doesn't happen a ton but it does matter. I…
Blend into the norms of the platform. On Polycount it's normal to have absurd pseudonyms like CrackRockSteady or Amsterdam Hilton Hotel or even poopinmymouth, I don't really know why, I guess it's forum culture, it's always been that way. We tend to have signatures with links to portfolios that have our real names so it's…
Yea I would stay away from Online Nicknames as well. I think it works against you for the most part. Unless you are the absolute best, it just isn't going to help you. I mean, how many people actually are known by their online moniker? Maybe a handful: Hazardous, Slipgate, Kite? Very few. I mean even those guys are more…