Anonymous at Fri, 14 Jan 2022 20:40:42 UTC No. 875853

>>875844
anon, you've got an actual education and experience in the industry. your ahead of 99% of the shitters here. going freelance really depends on what route you take, it's especially helpful if you know other people in the industry who can point you towards work.

first i would focus on getting an up to date portfolio together

Anonymous at Fri, 14 Jan 2022 21:16:12 UTC No. 875858

>>875853

Thanks for the reply.

Here's the issue though, my knowledge is way out of date. For the the majority of what I worked on we used blender, and unfortunately it was a shit show of production and I didn't really learn anything new tech wise. It was relatively bare bones and the other junior artists seemed to know way more than I did. Made me feel like an imposter and out of the loop, and these were all guys who spend their lives in front of a screen. Im not someone who can live like that.

The tech is moving so fast and I find it hard to want to keep up with it because I do not want this career to become a lifestyle that takes over all my free time. It seems so daunting with how many programs I need to learn, never mind being able to use them well.

I could do it, but I cant see myself knowing everything I should know until a year from now, minimum. Every site I go to experienced industry artists are listing pages of programs one should learn, and its like, I don't have the time to spend years on learning this before I get a job.

Also, 75% of my connections disappeared during lock downs, so I'm borderline out of the network, after working as a faceless remote employee for almost 2 years.

I don't know if I'm just worrying too much, or if experienced artists just get off on making 3D art seem like its a Mt. Everest size pile of skills you need, or what.

Anonymous at Fri, 14 Jan 2022 21:33:20 UTC No. 875864

>>875858
You just need to know high to low poly modeling workflow and SP to get a job. Zbrush organic sculpting as a bonus.

2 to 3 programs and you’re good. Learn the rest for niche stuff when needed.

Anonymous at Fri, 14 Jan 2022 21:37:49 UTC No. 875866

>>875844
>pandemic
ngmi just ack yourself

Anonymous at Fri, 14 Jan 2022 22:24:17 UTC No. 875876

>>875858
I hate to say it but if you are not absorbed or doing a sort of "after hours" time dedication to learning 3D and working at it, you're always going to feel like you have imposter syndrome and will always feel left behind. You sound smart, you sound determined, and you have an education on this but if you don't think you have time, then you are already failing. I hate to be a downer but I used to feel the same way about everything I wanted to pursue and my entire life is filled with regrets.

This pandemic actually helped me really give me perspective in what the fuck matters in my life and what does not. I'm 100% fucking stupid in anything that doesn't involve cooking, music, 3D, and editing. I threw away every piece of knowledge and day to day functions in being a person just so my brain could be filled with those 4 things. I live, breath, and eat those 4 things all day, every day. I regret nothing but it's cause I chose to throw away my life for my "art" or whatever you want to call it.

Anonymous at Sat, 15 Jan 2022 00:03:49 UTC No. 875896

>Went to college for 3 years of game dev and art.
What a retard lmao

Anonymous at Sat, 15 Jan 2022 00:05:57 UTC No. 875899

>>875864

Thanks dude. This was my mindset early on, maybe I'm painting too ambitious of a picture in my head of the type of things I would be working on for other studios.

Anonymous at Sat, 15 Jan 2022 00:12:27 UTC No. 875901

>>875896

Compared to cleaning restaurant grease traps for minimum wage, id say trading in under 10 grand in debt for a 2.5x increase in yearly income is the opposite of retarded.

You are somewhat correct though, in retrospect I could have gone to youtube college and learned in half the time for 0$. Then again, I wouldn't have had the connections to get into the industry.

Anonymous at Sat, 15 Jan 2022 00:14:26 UTC No. 875902

>>875876

I may try to freelance it then, and make just enough to get by while I pursue something else.

Thanks for the reply, I too, have regrets, still not finding my passion being one of them.

Anonymous at Sat, 15 Jan 2022 10:09:37 UTC No. 875970

>>875901
>I wouldn't have had the connections to get into the industry
Thats the thing. When I enrolled in CG college I had already more knowledge than some of the people teaching there. But I was so utterly clueless about carreer options and the way finding jobs worked that I would have been completely helpless on my own. The college made us go to artist conventions and such where I brought my demo-reel and showed it around at recruitment booths. Thats where I got my first job at a large vfx studio, which I kept until reaching lead postion there before quitting the industry altogether and going independent to make my own stuff.
But had I not paid the 20k for the college just to get that single chance at those conventions I definitely wouldve ended up in a less favourable position.

Regarding your initial question, you arent fucked at all. 6 months is nothing. I havent been in the game for almost 6 years and Id still have zero issues finding a job. As long as you dont rust its fine to "not learn anything new" for a while.

Anonymous at Sat, 15 Jan 2022 11:43:42 UTC No. 875973

>>875970
those conventions dont even exist today because of covid my friend

Anonymous at Sat, 15 Jan 2022 12:22:17 UTC No. 875981

>>875858
>I do not want this career to become a lifestyle that takes over all my free time
I don't understand, do you want to work in this industry or not?
If the answer is "not really" then ask yourself what else you're gonna do. I actually ditched an "art college" in order to go to university to get a "real" degree and it's the most regrettable choice I've taken so far in my life. You went into an art field and stuck to it, don't let it go or you'll end up like me, i.e. doing something you fucking abhor instead of something you love. The idea of turning a hobby into a job sounded scary to me, but if I had the opportunity again I'd take it. Doing art, 3D work is fucking awesome, you have the chance to dedicate your all to it. Maybe you're a little burned out and need to switch it up a little with other jobs? Is that what you're feeling? Doesn't seem worth it to me, but then again this whole Covid niggershit is fucking with everyone, might just be that. Working from home instead of physically with other people can be hard for some people, that might be your case

Anonymous at Sat, 15 Jan 2022 13:58:24 UTC No. 875990

I graduated last year and still can't find a job. I was far from the worst in my class, actually in the top but not the best. Classmates thought I wouldnt have a hard time finding a job.
Im fucking tired of sending cv, or seeing job ads that are entry level but actually require at least 2 year in the industry. tired of working everyday on my portfolio but it might be for nothing. I'm not that dumb though, the reason im not getting anything is probably because my level isnt where it needs to be. fucking give me a chance

I dont get why youre having such a hard time with already 2 years under your belt, even with a gap. I imagine people must understand the gap with covid, but what do i know

Anonymous at Sat, 15 Jan 2022 14:07:50 UTC No. 875993

>>875864
>>875990
far from the truth in my experience. Maybe it depends on location but knowing standard workflow is not enough at all. I can't believe the amount of jobs that says it's entry level but requires you to know modeling, texturing, rendering, groom, rig, and 2D knowledge for example.

Not too sound too desperate or like a douche but most people that are looking for jobs ( or at least people i know) all know how to model, retopo, uv, texture, light, render, some level of compositing and some basic knowledge of clothes (unless for character artist) and then some knowledge of real time software and 2d like photoshop, aftereffect.
I'm trying to get a job in environment and creating a correct one requires more than just modeling, painter and zbrush

Anonymous at Sat, 15 Jan 2022 15:54:53 UTC No. 876005

>>875993
It’s enough for a prop artist / modeler and similar job descriptions.

I work for multiple studios across the world (so it’s not about the location either) both as an environment and prop artist. When I create assets I often don’t even have a chance to use zbrush, it’s just blender and substance painter.

For environments you need to know a game engine like unreal as well. Other software is more specific and it’s definitely good to know at least the basics but you don’t need to be a god at them. SD for material artists. Speedtree for vegetation artists. Terrain generators. Marvelous designer for any kind of cloth prop. Marmoset if they require baking in it.

You just need to be good, maybe you just aren’t good enough. What’s the point knowing how to animate, rig, model, texture, render and do vfx if everything you do is crappy. Small indie shitstudios might need such a person to do a job of 6 different people for poverty wage, but generally you need to specialize so you can create value with quality AAA work. Just getting good at texturing can be a long journey.

And be active in the community, post on artstation. Clients should come to you if you’re good enough.

Anonymous at Sat, 15 Jan 2022 15:57:35 UTC No. 876006

>>876005
Also, a big thing I forgot to say - FUCK UNIVERSITIES AND FUCK YOUR STUDENT COLLEAGUES. Nobody cares if you’re the best in class, compare yourself to artists from entire world. The shit you see on top of the artstation, CG magazines and websites. That’s where you should aim.

Anonymous at Sat, 15 Jan 2022 16:01:35 UTC No. 876008

>>876006
>The shit you see on top of the artstation, CG magazines and websites. That’s where you should aim.

Those people all have 15+ years experience in a professional setting. What you're saying is that someone in 1-2 years should compare themselves to someone doing cg from 2000 is utterly ridiculous

Anonymous at Sat, 15 Jan 2022 16:11:44 UTC No. 876010

>>876008
That’s not true at all. I was in the first row of artstation with literally my first published work. Tons of people get there with only a couple years of experience, with even thousands of likes more than I ever got. You’re just lying to yourself. I mean, don’t let it dishearten you either, you don’t need to be on top immediately, but if you’re not anywhere near it and get 7 likes after you post your work, you’re probably not doing something right. Either the quality is lacking or you don’t market yourself enough. Especially if it is consistent and you’re stuck with 13 followers for 2 years.

To be clear, all that social media and likes is stupid bullshit as well, but it can generally get you a good picture where you’re at. At least be active in discord communities and keep asking for honest feedback from pros and see how many reactions you get there. Good work gets noticed always.

Anonymous at Sat, 15 Jan 2022 16:17:47 UTC No. 876012

>>876010
anyone can get top row of artstation if they just follow filthy trends. Its NOT and accomplishment.

Anonymous at Sat, 15 Jan 2022 16:22:10 UTC No. 876013

>>876012
That is a cope, but feel free to think that way. Either way, keep improving your craft and stop whining how nobody gives you a chance and requires too much. That will lead you nowhere.

Anonymous at Sat, 15 Jan 2022 16:34:00 UTC No. 876016

>>876013
My craft is already honed to near perfection, but i dont make things that fit into the algorithm

Anonymous at Sun, 16 Jan 2022 02:33:19 UTC No. 876155

>>876005
Yea I know it might be because i'm not good enough. Actually the only reason I see why I can't find something is because of my level. I posted a few times heres and people thought it was pretty good, but I suppose so is the the work of other people applying.

>For environments you need to know a game engine like unreal as well

I use unreal as well and have multiple project in my portfolio that were used with unreal. I would say I know maya, painter, zbrush and unreal pretty good, and the rest is just some basic knowledge when I need to do basic cloth simulation or trees.
Again I don't want to come across as pretentious or high up my ass, just discussion.

>And be active in the community, post on artstation. Clients should come to you if you’re good enough.

I post also but have a basic account since i'm pretty slow in my work. What I think hinder me is my project choice, right now i'm working on the polycount enviro challenge from last month and the project is up in the cloud. I'm trying to figure out how to make cloud that don't suck in unreal but to be honest I would rather work on lighting or texturing and not vfx since it's a whole different job.

Anonymous at Sun, 16 Jan 2022 03:00:37 UTC No. 876160

>>876016
>near perfection
pyw or you're coping

Anonymous at Sun, 16 Jan 2022 03:47:04 UTC No. 876170

>>876160
no way in hell i post any of my work here

Anonymous at Sun, 16 Jan 2022 04:44:44 UTC No. 876179

>>876016
translation: your work is shit but youre too autistic to either care or notice

Anonymous at Sun, 16 Jan 2022 05:00:34 UTC No. 876184

>>876170
a.k.a you're shit

Anonymous at Sun, 16 Jan 2022 13:15:35 UTC No. 876224

>>876179
>>876184
same sad fag.

I dont post my work on a site associated with nazis nor do i post because ive been 'challenged to post to prove something'