3 Things Studios Want in a Game Artist
Thinking about making a career as a game artist? From creating immersive worlds to interesting characters for a game studio, this is a dream job for many young artists, especially our Game Art and Animation students. Hiring studios around the world that are searching for talent may be looking for a variety of things. Whether you’re starting out drawing fan art, or you’ve established yourself as a junior 3D modeler, we’re going over 5 things every studio wants to see from you.
1. Be inspired by both worlds.
“Another world exists that I must experience. A genus of people exists who I must meet. I must inhale the air they breathe–share their world at all costs.” – Hideo Kojima
A studio will want to know the steps you took to determine how to you created a character or an environment. Take the time to analyze your creative process. Think about the world around you. Now, take in the world your characters are living in. Play some of your favorite games, and really ask yourself why a character was created to look that way? What kind of world do these characters live in? Do they walk a certain way? What is their body language saying? Think about the contrasts between both worlds, the people and the characters. Whether you decide to specialize in character modeling or 3D animation, it’s always good to have a grasp of both the world you live in, and the world your characters live in.
2. Share your work.
How will a studio know you exist if you don’t have a way for them to get to know you? Your work easily accessible online. Using sites like Artstation, Instagram, or YouTube is essential for the modern creative professional, and game artists are no exception. Not only is this a great way to gain feedback on your work, but it’s also a great way to create a presence online, an opportunity to crease a fan-base or network, which is crucial.
You may have to break from your comfort zone, as it is important to network not just among your peers, but at conventions, panels and local meet-up socials. Studios tend to rely on people who they already know before they announce job vacancies, and this is why it’s so important to own a partnership mentality, rather than an “us versus them” mentality. Networking in general is incredibly important for anyone interested in the video game or film industries.
Creating opportunities for you to network can be incredibly daunting, especially when you are just starting in your career. By teaming up with a mentor or instructor who not only has experience in their line of work, but has experience creating their own network. Our instructors know the importance of curating your own network, as they have been networking long before they broke into the industry themselves. If it is one thing that all industry experts know – networking doesn’t stop after you’ve landed your first industry job.
3. Practice modesty – but know your worth.
“I think it’s more accurate to think of aesthetics as a key ingredient in a recipe, as opposed to the icing on the cake.” – Stephen P. Anderson
Last but certainly not least – practice modesty. Have a realistic view of your current skills and abilities, but don’t be discouraged if you aren’t where you want to be! This ever-changing industry rewards those with patience and an open mind. Learn how to adapt and open to new techniques, which is something that’s often rare to find. As you learn through networking, you’ll be noticing how small of a world the video game industry can be.