[Darkynz]

Hey guys. It seems to me that just about everyone who frequents this board is pretty knowledgable about digital art, so I would like to pose a question or two about the industry. Although I am not currently a hired digital artist, I really would love to someday do such as at least a method of income on the side. So here's what I am wondering...
1. I'm wondering what exactly you have to go about doing to really get "out there" and get noticed. What does it take to get the right people to see your work?
2. Is it necessary to have a degree in the field before people might consider you, say even if you have really great skills without a degree? Or is it possible to do good freelance work without a degree as long as you have the abilities?

Thank you so much for reading. I would greatly appreciate any thoughts or pointers on these matters.



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- Abe D.
http://www.hyperjump.net/endera/

[EyeFool]

As far as having a degree. My friend dropped out of highschool when he was 17 and got a job doing graphics on the strength of his work. I seriously doubt that a piece of paper saying that you graduated from where ever is more important than skills, and a strong portfolio.

[IKhelix]

You'll find 'most' employers prefer the affected-arty-type than a college grad. It's all skill and personal image... not bits of paper.

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"I don't suffer insanity, I enjoy every moment of it..."

[dennison]

well let me share this.. here in the philippines, the best school in the country (university of the phils.) will accept anyone into their school who wants to take up fine arts course no matter if he graduated high school or not, no matter how bad his grades are.. as long as you can draw.. what does this have to do with digital art? well, i guess it's pretty much the same thing-you have to be able to impress people with your work.. but of course, a degree is still important.

[Darkynz]

Well thats good to know
Its just that all the job ads I've seen recently have been requiring a degree... but I guess I just havn't looked far enough.
How about attention? How do you get your work noticed by a ton of people, especially possible employers?

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- Abe D.
http://www.hyperjump.net/endera/

[Xcal]

Hey Abe,

Those are pretty common questions about the industry, and despite all generalizations, there are about 1000 answers.

Here's my 2 cents to ya:

Decide what you want to do, specifically, and spend ALL your efforts to develop enough skill and samples to impress potential employers.

Right now, jobs for digital artists can be generalized more or less in a couple of fields:
1.Graphic design:
including webdesign, logos, graphic design for use for software interfaces, packaging, etc. Need STRONG design (as opposed to illustration)skills.
2.Production art in digital media:
illustration for games,software, web projects, 3d modeling of concepts, 3d texture art. Need STRONG traditional art/illustration skills.
3. 3D Animation:
be able to create kickass animated sequences, and storytelling skills are a high advantage, and usually a requirement.

In any case, you need to develop some samples that are as close to professional quality as you can get. In the area of web design and graphic design, the more samples you have done for other groups (companies, non profit orgs, etc.), the better.

Experience required for employment greatly depends on the employer. Some companies, especially recent startups may have much lower experience expectations, while some companies will demand that you prove that you have 3+ years experience before they even give you an interview.

For opportunities, scan job databases, job websites, bulletin boards, etc. on a regular basis. If you're serious enough to look, there is no end to places you might find a job opportunity.

Prepare a professionally presentable web-portfolio, that includes your qualifications, resume, etc. Put only samples good enough for employers to see on the website, as most employers are really busy, and they don't want to troll around other irrelevant stuff in your website to find your "professional samples". I made the mistake of combining my personal website with my portfolio, and it may have turned off some employers.

Plug your portfolio every chance you can get, have samples of your work in other web-galleries that have proven high traffic. (but take care to protect your work with copyright as well).

Enter a program that teaches what you want to do, make connections, network with people so they remember you, make it easy for people to look your work up if they want to (easy domain name?).

In regards to whether a degree helps, read this ost:
http://www.sijun.com/dhabih/ubb/Forum2/HTML/001149.html

Hope this helps. You're only 17, so you have plenty of time to prepare, hehe. Checked out your website, great 3d work, and I particularly liked your writing. Also, I didn't see "The Maltese Falcon", "The Big Sleep", or "Chinatown" in your film list. What's wit dat? In any case, Noir kicks ass.

----
Xcal

"My, my, my! Such a lot of guns around town and so few brains. You know, you're the second guy I've met today that seems to think a gat in the hand means the world with the tail." - Marlowe 'The Big Sleep'

[PaK-RaT]

well, i am in art school right, and this is what i have gathered from being around the last few years in this industry:

schooling:
art school is a great way to learn a great asset, to learn about art...other then that, the only thing my diploma is gunna be useful for is another piece of paper to draw on. Those are the words straight from the paK-RaT's expeireince...take it as u will. let's lookit the credencials of one of our industry greats:
-Kenneth Scott: -art school drop out

-Dhabih eng: -general arts...talk to him, he'll tell u, his degree didnt get him his job, his experience and hard work did.

If you want to be in the gamming industry, they want to see dedication, speed, a passion for the feild and what u d, and some successful titles under your belt...so if its games is your goal, go work on a Mod for fre, get a title or 2 under your name, and then o look for a job.

as far as getting your work out there...the web. ebter competitions, open contests at your website, start mingling with some of the peirs. This business is about who u know, Moreso then any other field...knowing people is JUST as important if not MORE important thebn getting a job. If your digital skills are good, then tal;kmto me and i'll get you a hosting at my art team's website...3dpalette.com. what got me my props and my contacts is my success online ove rthe last 5 years...3dpalette.com saved my life...i shit u not.

lates...

PaK

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2D Artist/Founder
www.3dpalette.com

[Darkynz]

Wow! Thankyew so much for taking the time to write these thoughful posts! I didn't expect to get such quick and comprehensive responses! This is a great help... its really good to know these things. Hopefully I can at least minor in something related, and keep up practicing at the same time. Right now I do a lot of webdesign work for people, all voluntary right now but still good for developing skills i think. Been doing that for about 3 years now, so I think I at least have a good background in that (and I think i'm at least fairly good at it). My art teacher right now says that the digital arts are in huge demand out here in California, so maybe I have a chance. I guess I should also beef up my personal site and turn it into a portfolio of all the stuff I've done rather than just a little page of a few little things I've messed with.
Oh yeah... off topic... I did see "The Big Sleep," but for some reason it just didn't have the same "noirishness" that I love in other movies. It was still a good movie tho.
Thanks again all! I really appreciate your support and advice.

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- Abe D.
http://www.hyperjump.net/endera/

[IKhelix]

...school is also a good place to get ideas for work... the sheer amount of alcohol (and other substances) consumed should provide you with a sufficient number of visions to fuel your ideas basket for a few years...

swat i founded anyways

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"I don't suffer insanity, I enjoy every moment of it..."

[zapman]

If you get a paper in the mail that says "PAY THIS MAN 500$ a HR HE/SHE CAN DRAW" will you get a job? maybe not, but if you take a Image done by you, You are more likely to get the job.

School can help to learn from outehrs work and tell others about your mistakes you made they learn you learn.

ohhh got to go.
ZAPmAN