Job Title:
3D Character Artist
One Sentence Describe Work Role:
Bring 3D Characters to life from concept and model to living inside the game.
Number Of Years Dedicated To This Field Of Work or Lifestyle:
17
Category Of Work:
Employment – Paid Work
Country / Area of Work:
Bulgaria
Industry:
Arts/Entertainment/Publishing
Type:
Employment
Key Skills For The Job:
-Creative thought process
-Ability to visualize things that does not exist
-Technical ability to learn 3D Software and Techniques
-Ability to interpret a 2D image and visualize its 3D volume
-Knowledge of Anatomy
Vital Key Skill:
Become a specialist in a particular area of expertise, for example concentrating on Mechanical Modelling or Zbrush Organic Sculpting.
Your Personal Experience Of Entering This Role:
Self Taught (i.e. Demonstrated Skills Using A Portfolio Of Work )
Tips For Undertaking This Work:
A 3D Character Artist is still an artist. The artistic side of the skill is by far the most important.
The technical side is a skill to help you learn the software and techniques. Anyone can learn the software with a bit of effort, but concentrate your skills to grow as an artist.
Download the demo version of Maya or 3DS Max and start watching tutorials on the basics on the Autodesk Youtube channel or any of the multitude of Youtube fee tutorials online.
Learn by practise….set yourself a target and start practising your skills. Keep practising until you reach a point where your work reaches the same level as the Character work from current AAA XBOne / PS4 / PC Games out there.
Do not get discouraged, this self-learning education process will take at least a few years to become good enough to reach professional level.
Be self-critical about your work. Judge your own work and think about what works, what is possible to improve, what does not look good. This is a skill all artists have to learn.
Future Progression Or Developments:
Typically in the Video Games Industry the progression is as follows:
(1)Junior 3D Character Artist.
(2) Mid-Level 3D Character Artist.
(3) Senior 3D Character Artist
(4) Lead 3D Character Artist.
(5) Art Director
Decide if you want to be an Animator, a 3D Environment Artist, 3D Prop Artist, FX Artist or a 3D Character Artist. If you know what you want you should become a specialist early on to maximize career progression.
What Are The ‘tools of the trade’ Used Daily:
–3D Modeling software: Autodesk Maya and 3Ds Max
–3D Sculpting software: Zbrush
–2D Image Editing Software: Photoshop
–Specialist Tools: Marvelous Designer, Marmoset Toolbag, Quixel Suite, Substance Designer/Painter, Mari, Unfold 3D, Xnormal, Unreal Engine (UE4)
A Typical Day’s Duties:
–Liase with my Art Director on Skype about any new issues or art direction decisions.
–Analyse the Concept Art provided by the Concept Artist
–Work with the Technical Artist/Rigger to test out the model for any potential issues.
–Model or Sculpt the Character in my 3D software
–Texturing my Character in Photoshop or Creating shaders in Quixel Suite, Substance Designer/Painter
Is Travelling A Regularly Part Of This Work:
No
Weekly Working Hours:
Flexible – Own Choice
Type Of Hours Arrangement:
Flexible Based On Your Own Needs
The Best Thing About The Work You Do:
-You get to see your creations come to life in a commercial Video Game
-Live a creative life
-Always something new to learn. The field is constantly changing.
Your Least Favorite Thing About The Work You Do:
-Tight Deadlines. Often a Character has to be done within a very short time frame. This means there is not always time to do the amount of polish you would want, but this is the reality of working in a fast paced professional production environment.
Any Duties You Hadn’t Anticipated Prior To Undertaking The Work:
Sometimes work might include things like “Rigging”, “Skinning” or “Blend Shapes/Morph Targets” which isn’t typically included in my normal work schedule.
The Top Perks Of The Work:
Creative Expression and recognition from your peers.
Other Work In The Same Sector:
–3D Animator
–3D Environment Artist (Specialist)
–3D Prop Artist (Specialist)
–3D Weapon Artist (Specialist)
–3D Vehicle Artist (Specialist)
–Game VFX Artist
What Professional Organisations Are Associated With Your Work:
UKIE:
www.ukie.org.uk/
The only trade body for the UK’s games and interactive entertainment industry.
Additional Info You Wish To Share:
My name is Henk Venter, a 3D Character Artist with over 17 years professional experience in the Video Games Industry. I have worked for publishers such as Electronic Arts Montreal, THQ Australia, Microsoft Game Studios, Eurocom and Sumo Digital in the UK.
