[Dakkan]

since a lot of us are young artists who want to get into digital art as a proffession, including me, i was sorta curious how all u people who make digital art for a living got started, and found u'r jobs. for example, you're education, art history, how u managed to find work/employment, how u decided to get into the specific feild of digial art u'r into now, etc... thankz.

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http://secret_island.tripod.com
icq: 15790343
email: [email protected]

[jasonN]

Yeah I want to know too! Especially education. DId you just focus on art comppletely or did you study something else?

[faustgfx]

am i the only one who doesn't want to become a so called "pro" (amusing term, really..) ?



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http://www.faustgfx.com
icq#35983387
the resident caustic bitch / the owls are not what they seem.

[Binke]

faust: yup

[sfr]

I, for one, don't want to become a pro digital painter. I'd rather keep it a hobby and get a profession doing something a bit different, like maybe something film / motion graphics related...

Saffron / Sunflower

[Shadow]

I'm nothing even near 'pro' but IF i could get paid for what i am doing now! GREAT =) (which i'm not)


[ehh, had to change the msg, seemed to confuse people of what i was really trying to say]


[This message has been edited by Shadow (edited April 23, 2000).]

[ex]

I'm also far from pro. I'm a complete newbie. But just a question to all the artist's on here... did you recieve education on this? I think everyone has their own style that they are best at. How did you find yours?

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-- Sean FitzGerald (ex)

[Narzul]

[This message has been edited by Narzul (edited April 23, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by Narzul (edited April 23, 2000).]

[pete]

i'm not a pro

"why did you reply to this topic then?"

i dunno..



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-pete
(walletface) http://www.eccentrix.com/artist/pete

[burn0ut]

Heres something funny, my friend said that his AP drawing teacher told him "computer art is just point n click" haha what a stupid whore. If i was him id show her some computer art that was alittle more then just "point n click" she should goto hell... and she calls herself a teacher.. pfft!

btw, comic artist 0wn and bottom feeders?? nah id say pacaso or whatever the fork his name is and all thoes old ass crapy paintings with an ear here, and eye there are bottom feeders, i think they where on some shrooms.

[burn0ut]

baldfhf damnit that wasnt for this topic!! it was for that one asking about comic artist are bottom feeders :/

[Zor]

Im a Artist for a living, I work for a game company, HasteSofware, I do art and maps, and hell I even make the tea - but more to the point is, how did I get started.. - well, its getting yourself know that matters, - i.e if you have a good portfolio, then make a decent webpage, and give yourself as much exposure as you can..

Personally i think my art is nto as good as others on here. (check my posts of art on here if you didnt), but even more to the point, art is beauty. and beauty is within the eye of the beholder, in other words, if art is not something your freind will like, then hell a top games company might.. so put anything you have available for show, it just may pay off one day

Education i went to art school, but didnt complete it, so I have no grades, but personally I really dont think that it matters to haev " I can draw" in a diploma stylee, - when you can present a kikass portfolio. yoru work will impress them adn not your grades. dont hold me to that tho. as this is only IMO...

Bottom line is, think positive, as positive things happen to positive people.

hope this helps..

//Zor



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Why do people always say "YES" when they really mean "NO"?

[AcidDrone]

lol B0, nice to see you on these forums ;D

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Acid.
http://www.aciddrone.dhs.org/

[[Shizo]]

computer art aint point and click?!!!
it goes
-point
-click
-repeat..
etc


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Russia is power. You dont agree --> we nuke you!

[- Dasyati -]

That drawing teacher is probably thinking of "computer art" in the sense of ClipArt. I HATE that degraded, useless, repetitive 16-color crap that sells for 20 bucks per 40,000 and never includes what you're looking for...ahem.

Weird how so many people think digital art is such a talentless art form and yet the process involved is actually pretty much the same as with traditional art...

[This message has been edited by - Dasyati - (edited April 23, 2000).]

[zayats]

Apologies in advance, because I'll probably run on way too long here...

I'm currently a 3D Character Animation Supervisor at a large Film Special FX House.
(And a bit older than most of you I'll bet).

I was "self taught" as a kid & teenager.
Always dreamed that someday, someone might actually pay me to draw. Hoped to become a comic book artist. Forced myself to learn anatomy & draw every day.

Unfortunately, my typical middle class upbringing didn't exactly encourage studying art as a potential "profession". So I went to the local University as a PreMed, Comp Sci & Math major. Eventually, my "true passion" won out: Dropped out after 3 years & ran away to art school (Dad was pissed). Graduated 2 years later with a degree in illustration, thinking (hoping?) that I'd never touch a computer again. Just wanted to draw children's books, album covers (remember albums?). Maybe fashion illustration.

First art job out of college: staff illustrator for a teeshirt printshop. Six bucks an hour, but hey, I was actually getting PAID to draw! Horrible working conditions...but when you're starting out, you can't be too picky.

Saved up a few hundred bucks & moved to CA 'cause I wanted to learn animation. Waited tables & freelanced for 2 years. Did storyboards for the Networks. Took animation classes. Bought an Amiga. Taught myself 3D (my computer science background helped me learn the software - manuals were useless back then - mostly written by programmers)

Finally got "discovered" when I applied to be an artist at a small video game company - they were actually looking for someone with Amiga experience! (worked with kurisu there actually). Did 2D & 3D computer art & animation (those University classes actually payed off!). Two years later, got recruited to a huge game company. (Kurisu worked there too). 1 year later, moved to another small games company.

Taught some classes, made some contacts.
Promoted to "Animation Director".

Eventually made the "jump to light speed" & landed a job at a Film FX house. Did 3D creature animation there for 3 years. Promoted to supervisor.

"Head hunted" to my current position about a year & a half ago. Spending way too much time in meetings now.

Ironically, I'm kinda back to where I was as a kid...wishing I was getting paid to draw! (No room for a pencil when there's always a mouse in your hand)

My boss at my first games company gave me some really good advice:
Pick something you like to do. Keep doing it because you love it. The more you do it, the better you'll get. The better you get, the more you'll love it. Eventually, you'll get so good at it that someone will actually be willing to pay you to do it for them!

Dat's pretty much my story...

Take any job(s) you can get when you're just starting out (design the logo for your Mom's friend who owns the local bakery).
Make contacts.
Keep in touch with your contacts.
Remember: it's a small industry.
So...try to avoid pissing people off. You'll probably see them again someday. Maybe on the other side of a recruiting booth.
Maintain your contacts (have I mentioned that?)

Referrals are the most powerful force in getting hired in this industry. More powerful than your portfolio. More powerful than a locomotive. Can leap tall buildings in a single bound...

Okay...I'm sure I've bored everyone to tears by now...guess I'll shut up for now...

I hope at least some of this addresses what the original post was in search of...

cheers

[Mr Weasel]

i'm not a pro, i sorta jump-shipped from 3D for a while after i saw some neat painted skin works for Quake 2. Then accidently I was teleported to a 2D art website because of a reason and fell in luv with some 2D works i saw there. Thank you, Scottie !

[Dakkan]

hmmm... this aint helping.
are there any people out there who making money with digital art who could answer the first post? thnkz.

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http://secret_island.tripod.com
icq: 15790343
email: [email protected]

[Xcal]

I'm a senior graphic designer at a young software company in Washington. I don't draw sci-fi, fantasy illustrations for my job. I do web design, software interface design, logo design, advertising layout, and anything else the project needs me to do, which may even include illustrations in the future, as my company is planning on moving into "online entertainment" . The thing is, you never know what kind of job you'll end up getting, so don't limit yourself. Game concept illustrator jobs are probably extremely hard to get, because of so many poeple who "want" those kinda jobs. Network, Network, network. put together a web portfolio that would put pros to shame, show that you can create concepts, designs that work, art with function, as well as snazzy pictures of video game characters (which most employers skip over btw). Employers want people with multiple skills. If you can do awesome concept art, PLUS killer models and animate, youre marketable. If all you can do is draw pictures of Quake characters and maybe digitally paint them every once in a while, you'll need to start expanding your skills. Hope any of this is helpful.


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Xcal

[kurisu]

Well said zayats. He was my supervisor at the 'small video games company' he mentioned. Helped me 'in the door.' Can be quite frustrating to get a job...

"Well, you've got a lot of 'potential' but we really need someone with experience..."

Hello? Isn't that why I'm at your doorstep in the first place?!

"We're sorry, we only hire 3-legged dwarves."

"We're sorry, this company is no longer in service. If you feel you have joined this company in error, please check your pockets and pay again."

Anywho - 2 points that stick out for me are both on the top of my head!

1. Get any job you can
2. Do what you love
c. Do it some more!
". And some more!
2. Get your mind out of the gutter
g. Practice, practice, practice!
F. Learn from those you respect
#. Develop and maintain friendships

Ego has no place for advancement, imho. Confidence is fine - but there's always a better way to do things!

You never know what will happen, and how your choices will affect your future - so do what you love... and the rest will come.

Don't give up on your dreams!

I'm a pony!

-k (inder)

[- Dasyati -]

"We're sorry, you proposed an illegal offer and will be shot down."

[Loki]

hey zayats - who do you work for? we might have some mutual friends ....