Dear Game Devs: It’s not you. It’s them.
This month marks a year of job hunting.
Below is a simplified version of my job hunting spread sheet. Showing how many jobs I have applied for over the last 12 months, the outcome, feedback and whether the post is remote or not.
🧵1/8
And the concept of getting trained on the job is disappearing, you can’t just have a solid junior portfolio anymore. I’ve spent 5 years working on my portfolio and I’m no closer to getting a job now than then
If I hear another art director tell me they got their first job with an unqualified portfolio but bc their buddy was friends with a guy at Microsoft in 2010 I will commit crimes
I’ve been keeping track of all the jobs I’ve applied for in a Google sheet (highly recommend!) This is what my ratio looks like lol
Honestly just keep applying and as much it might suck, it helps to write cover letters for the ones you’re most excited for
@Jestekokose
Actually almost all the jobs I've seen lately with this requirement are asking for industry experience, usually they'll specify if the years of experience don't need to be professional experience. But I agree, for an art job it should not be based on university
So happy to have finished Harvest Witch's Cottage based off of Jessica Woulfe's gorgeous concept! This project was a much deeper dive into technical art for me and I really enjoyed the learning process. Artstation links and stills will be below 🍁💛
Hi
#PortfolioDay
!
I'm Sofi and I'm a 3D artist who loves making colorful stylized environments, props, and weapons! I'm currently looking for fulltime junior artist positions🌿
Portfolio:
I can't believe this is the same project as just a few days ago.....
Thank you to everyone who gave some critique, I finally don't dislike this project anymore ☺️
Now it's time for so much foliage
Truly have been feeling so down and negative lately, I keep considering a career change but I have no easily transferrable skills. I used to feel hopeful applying for work and now it just makes me cry in front of my screen
Hi
#VisibleWomen
!
I'm Sofi and I am a 3d Artist from Los Angeles. I absolutely love making stylized props and environments and am currently searching for junior artist positions! 🌿
I'm so excited to finally share my finished environment based off of a beloved street near my family's home in Athens! I learned so much doing this project and fully enjoyed the process 💕
More on artstation:
#3dart
#3dartist
#environmentart
Hi
#PortfolioDay
!
I'm Sofi and I'm a 3D artist from Los Angeles. I love making colorful weapons and detailed props 🧡I currently work in animation production but am looking for work in the games industry!
I really can't stand this idea that just because someone is in need of money they should take every exploitative job that comes their way. Time is just as valuable a resource
Can’t make this up. Got a rare illustration job offer in my inbox. It’s for a tarot deck. 80 illustrations, all due in 1 year, all rights included for, wait for it… $50 per card.
Sorry, but if I’m ever doing a tarot deck, I need to be paid a living wage.
Absolute buffoonery.
Hi
#PortfolioDay
! I'm Sofi and I'm a 3D artist in LA looking for work in games! I love making whimsical props and environments and can't wait to make cool art at a studio 🧡
Hi
#PortfolioDay
! I'm Sofi and I'm a 3D artist who loves making colorful stylized environments and props! I'm currently looking for fulltime junior artist positions🌿
Portfolio:
Spent the weekend learning speedtree and here's my first pass on them 🤠 Still have so much work to do on this scene but at least I'm having a lot of fun
Trimsheeeeet!
I've still been working on portfolio work, just haven't felt like updating with everything going on. But I'm excited to texture this one!
Is anyone else having a total career crisis??? Like what if games don't work out. I'm lucky to have American Dad as a stable job but even in production my job is so incredibly niche that I'm not sure any other studio even has someone who does it lol what am I even qualified for
@TitanDraugen
@JazzysArt
Well, imagine you spent years developing your own art style only to be told it looks like someone elses. Especially if its a larger or more well known artist, it can really diminish the work you spent developing your own style.
Day 1 of
#TheClubsRockingNewYear
rock challenge! I hope it's okay that I put it in substance...I haven't felt really excited about art in a while, but I felt super excited about this so I finished it 😅
@TheClubDiscord
I love those job applications that have a "status tracker" website and you can see that 6 months have passed and nobody even opened your application. Nice
Just feeling like I’m going to be stuck in my current job forever and I’m never going to make games 😣 man I usually don’t let myself get here emotionally but I’m feeling dooowwwwnnn and hopeless
This is my yearly yearning post for a friend group....people to casually hang with on weekends, grab a coffee, chat about life, chill in a park and have lunch.......I really don't know how to create that for myself
I hate that point in a project where you're like "I think I'm done!" but every time you upload a render you see a new problem and have to go back and fix it (even worse when it's a video render.....)
Maybe one of the more unhinged things about me is that I have a fully to scale model of my living room (with textures from taking photos) so I can interior decorate without spending money or regret. I don't have to wonder "Will this fit in my space" because I can see it
So happy to finally have finished this environment based off of
@rikaraviart
's concept! This was a CHALLENGE but I had so much fun figuring it all out. 💕
Images and videos on artstation:
#3dart
#3Dartist
#environmentart
What is it called when you keep looking at apartments you can't afford because you reeaaaally want an office space separate from your living room but you haven't gotten a substantial raise in like 3 years and inflation has made your income feel like 30% less
Fixed upload!! Thank you to Giulia Gentilini for letting me use your amazing concept. This is by far my favorite project I've worked on! Hope you like it 🌿🌞
More views and breakdowns on artstation:
Little update- redid the main brick on the building and I like it WAAAAY more 🫨 and the rock material as well. Added in the well, and this weekend I'm going to finish up all the unique props and fix up the roof👍
New blockout! There's a lot in this project I'm so excited to finally tackle, like learning speedtree (these are temp free trees from the asset store), making a waterfall and learning more about Niagara 🌞and so much foliage 🍃
@TitanDraugen
@JazzysArt
Like saying "I LOVE the way you draw eyes, the style is really cool" is much more complementary than "The way you draw eyes looks like (insert well known artist)". It can really diminish the work you spent developing that style.
Hi Everyone!
I finished my sword! Honestly, it's so relieving to finish a long project and feel proud of it in the end 😅 I'm so happy haha
Thank you so much to Inès for letting me make your amazing concept!
#3dart
#3dmodeling
So happy to finally share my
#outerwilds
themed project! This is my first finished project in Unreal Engine since college and I'm so pleased with how it came out ☺️
Check it out on ArtStation:
Almost done sculpting this sword! It's taken me a long time, but honestly my motivation/mh hasn't been amazing 😅
Excited to soon start texturing!!
Amazing concept:
For applying to environment artist positions with no prior game industry experience, does it help to include a projects section on your resume with bullet points and links to the projects or is it better to keep that off and only include a portfolio link?
Thank you everyone for all the support on these sculpts 🥺 I actually was feeling terrible impostor syndrome when I posted this so I really appreciate the boost in confidence!!
As I get auto rejected from retail jobs my boyfriend and I were discussing how it's so backwards that you can't get retail jobs without previous retail experience but if you only have retail experience it's hard to get other jobs
@soundaholism
And then you have people accusing you of being afraid of and resisting progress, when progress now isn’t really aimed to make people’s lives better
So weird how wildly unsupportive my parents are about me saying I'd get a retail job to get by if I can't find work in the next few months, saying "isn't there a better use of your college education?"
Time for a new blockout! This project is based off a concept by Keira Santoso (will link below). I'm going to take my time with this one and maybe even write a proper blog post while making it??
Little update on this project! I've really been trying to work the main brick/plaster until I'm happy with it before moving on so I feel like I have a good guide for the style I'm going for 👍
Talking to my mom about the state of the industry, my bfs unemployment, etc.
Mom: maybe you two can start a company where you edit trailers for movies
Me: ........what an interesting idea thanks mom............🥲
Dang, this is upsetting!! I understand the knee jerk reaction of "animals in captivity is bad" but accredited zoos have done so much for animal conservation and protection of wildlife. Without zoos, many endangered animals would have gone extinct by now.
I keep thinking it's time to pivot and do something else but......I love making art so much. I've been doing 3D nearly every day for four years and I'm just more excited about it every day. I have no idea what else to pursue 🫤
I FINALLY finished my cat themed chess set!!! 😭 I started this at the beginning of my work hiatus and was determined to finish it by my start date. I learned so much and am so happy I finally completed it!!
#3dart
#zbrush
Idk what it is about being unemployed and unbelievably stressed about the world that is making me want to do things with my hands again- drawing, painting, learning to knit and crochet, piano 🤷♀️