For a 2d game artist, getting into game development is a great success. Outside of game companies, not every artist can boast of a stable job and a good social package, but those who work there can get access to the IT industry, known for its special attention to working conditions.
Well, for many it is also an opportunity to combine two of their passions in their work at once – drawing and playing.
However, the difficulty is also in the fact that in the field of game art, unlike, for example, programming, 2d art services by Whimsy even a decent education does not guarantee employment. Daria Karjakina and Daria Burashnikova from Spice Recruitment tried to find an answer to the most popular question of novice artists: “I draw well and want to work in game development. What should I do?”
Understand if you are good enough at drawing
Let’s say you’ve already watched a dozen tutorials on YouTube, changed your mouse to a tablet, and you’re starting to like your drawings. However, a lack of experience leaves an imprint on all your work and provokes mistakes, for which an experienced artist will always figure out a beginner.
For those who have received a classical art education, it is easier at this stage: they know anatomy and composition, they know how to work with light and shadow. Self-taught people can fill in the gaps using textbooks and teaching materials for art schools.
It is very important to correctly set the bar for yourself to strive for. To do this, you need to constantly study the work of other artists, visit CG resources, focus on the best.
Choose the right tools
There are tons of programs that can make the job easier depending on the specific task. For example, Softimage XSI is well suited for modeling weapons and equipment. Environment artists advise taking a closer look at Mudbox, Quixel DDo, and Substance Painter, as well as utilities like Crazy Bump and xNormal.
At the concept art faculty of the Scream School, students are taught a combination of Sketch-up and Keyshot, which provides many opportunities for visualizing ideas – from drawing and photo bash to blanks and conceptual models.
Find “your” direction
Is it worth trying different directions or is it better to focus on one aspect and devote all your time to its development? The passionate artist is constantly trying different styles and techniques – if only because it is interesting and provides game development. Secondly, sometimes the work dictates its own conditions: at the initial stage, it is not for the artist to decide in what style to perform the next task.
Build the right portfolio
Our consultants agreed that when hiring an employee, a high-quality portfolio captivates much more than big names on a resume. Artists who have not had time to work for the giants of the industry are often even more interesting for the employer: their “price tag” is not yet off the scale, and they can be more flexible in their work.
It is all the more important to pay special attention to your portfolio already at the initial stage. It should be well structured and have a clear focus: the owner’s specialization should be obvious. This makes it more likely that the manager will not put your portfolio aside without finding the right direction among non-core jobs on the fly. For the same reason, the best work should be posted first.
It’s great if your portfolio is hosted on a separate site, but there is another option – behance.net. If you need a printed portfolio, pay special attention to the design, do not limit yourself to printing works.
Do not forget to insert contact information into your portfolio:
- mail,
- skype,
- links to social media accounts.
The more the better – give the employer the opportunity to contact you in the most convenient way for him.
After making sure that you are doing everything right as a 2d video game art specialist, you can feel free to appear in the eyes of the employer of your dreams. Do not wait for a suitable vacancy on hh.ru, create public accounts, live an active life in professional publics, draw for yourself, but do it as best you can. Send your portfolio to anyone who could potentially be interested in your knowledge and skills. Someone will not answer you (and this is not a reason to be upset, this often happens in large companies), and someone will refuse.
