In 1989, the silicon baby started growing into a monster. The consumer was gobbling up hardware and software faster than companies could churn them out. Like every company in the industry, developers were desperate to find good people; good talented people. If you had any art experience, digital experience or even if you’ve ever been in the same room with a computer, you were as good as hired. Conversely, employers began to bend over backwards to keep good people; stock options, training, bonuses, raises…

(more…)

GameCareerGuide.com, Gamasutra’s game education sister site, put out a stellar article from Robert Chang of iWin about what’s involved in being an Art Director. Robert started off doing textures and concept art for various companies, and soon became an art director, but later left game industry in 2001 to pursue his own projects. With years of experience and having returned to game industry as a studio art director at a game development and publishing house, Robert has great advice for any game artists aspiring to advance their careers.

(more…)

Wes Jenkins, a catch-all media industry veteran, gives us a flash of the past in the first part in his mini-history of interactive media artists. “A full knowledge of art (drawing, perspective, color theory, layout and anatomy) was critical. Typically, these skills were gained by a long stretch in art school and the associated drinking.”

(more…)

When I began employment at WayForward in 2001, I was the only female among the 12-20 employees (at that time). This wasn’t a role I sought, as it can be uncomfortable to be the only one. But the animation program I went through in college was about 80% male, so I was used to the ratio. There isn’t much difference between men and women in a work environment.
(more…)

Know Your Tools

After you’ve decided your primary art career focus (see Career Paths from last week)—or at least your initial focus—it’s time to start learning the software. 3-D and 2-D art packages have zilch to do with normal office software like word processors or spreadsheets programs. Although learning on the job is a possibility for some aspiring artists, it may not be a practical training solution for many. And you can’t fake your way through this stuff. As a staff artist candidate, you must know the tools of the trade to be successful.

(more…)

In any other industry, it may be enough to say that you want to be an artist. But, in the games industry, that’s not quite enough; you’ll need to be lots more specific. In the games industry, there are artists, yes, but there are also modelers, texture artists, character animators, skins artists, 2-D artists, 3-D artists — and oh so many more.

(more…)