1. What does your role usually entail in the industry?I'm currently employed as a 3D artist so my role is to create 3d models and textures to apply on them.
2. What is your usual time frame for doing a project? Does it ever feel too short, too long?It's a tricky question because I got assigned a lot of different projects.
This could go from being assigned to do just one or few textures to do an entire dungeon or raid.
For one texture I usually take one or two days, sometimes more if it's a complicated one, like a boss floor. For one building, I can take one or two weeks regarding the complexity, and for a dungeon it can take months (4-6months).
Sometimes it does feels too short, especially at the end of the game production, because you don't have that much time to polish and you have to wrap up everything; and sometimes, after months spent on the same project it starts to feel redundant but it's always really rewarding to see players enjoying your work. Especially when it's dungeons or raids, because you can share with them literally several months of your lifetime!
This could go from being assigned to do just one or few textures to do an entire dungeon or raid.
For one texture I usually take one or two days, sometimes more if it's a complicated one, like a boss floor. For one building, I can take one or two weeks regarding the complexity, and for a dungeon it can take months (4-6months).
Sometimes it does feels too short, especially at the end of the game production, because you don't have that much time to polish and you have to wrap up everything; and sometimes, after months spent on the same project it starts to feel redundant but it's always really rewarding to see players enjoying your work. Especially when it's dungeons or raids, because you can share with them literally several months of your lifetime!
3. How long have you been working as a texture artist? I've always been employed as 3d modeling artist and texture artist at the same time and I started to work at Ubisoft six years ago (2008).
4. Are you often required to step outside of the role of texture artist? Like, you have to sculpt or model something?Like I said previously, I'm kind of a hybrid and I usually ask to do modeling and texturing at the same time if it's possible because I really enjoy the full pipeline of the environment creation. Since I use Zbrush sometimes to create my textures, I'm able to use a wide variety of techniques ( 3d modeling, sculpting and painting). I always thought that what you can learn about one technique can help you learn something else in another one.
5. Do you always have fun wherever you're working?Yes ! I rarely get bored or annoyed. I'm truly passionate about art since I'm a kid and I need to create art almost in my daily basis. I think sometimes young artists can easily forget to have fun when they are creating something and focus more their attention on what they think people would like to see or how many likes they can get on social media. It took me several years to realize that what truly matters is to have fun ! If what you are making makes you truly happy, then people are going to see that in your work and you will be more willing to overcome challenges.
6. Does your role in the industry often foster creativity?Yes and I would say it's a requirement for being a happy artist if you are really passionate. I know that at the beginning of an art career we don't necessary have the luxury to choose our dream company but being creative is what is going to make you happy and become a good artist. It's important to always try to put your creativity in everything you are making, even if the game/project doesn't appeal to you at first or whatever reason.
7. Do you ever get "burned out" from working on something?Even if you are passionate sometimes you can be burned out.
Letting your brain breath (and your legs move !) is extremely important.
Without resting, your creativity usually decreases over time. Also having the possibility to come back after few hours / days on a project, gives you the opportunity to look at it with " fresh eyes" and see things that you might do differently than previously. You also have the time to mature ideas about your project during the resting time.
Letting your brain breath (and your legs move !) is extremely important.
Without resting, your creativity usually decreases over time. Also having the possibility to come back after few hours / days on a project, gives you the opportunity to look at it with " fresh eyes" and see things that you might do differently than previously. You also have the time to mature ideas about your project during the resting time.
8. How often do you look at the work of other people in your field?Every day ! It is so important ! And not just in my field ! (Artstation, Polycount, Zbrushcentral , teammates, friends …)
I improved a lot just by looking at what other people were making. I realized that it is really important to create what I call a "mental library", because when you’re going back creating your art, your brain will remember some parts of other works that really appealed to you. It's almost unconscious but the improvement is really real. Also, don't hesitate to use references if you are out of your comfort zone, even photos !
I improved a lot just by looking at what other people were making. I realized that it is really important to create what I call a "mental library", because when you’re going back creating your art, your brain will remember some parts of other works that really appealed to you. It's almost unconscious but the improvement is really real. Also, don't hesitate to use references if you are out of your comfort zone, even photos !
9. Do your colleagues and peers share work and processes often with each other, or is it rather contained?
I’d say it depends of the personality that each artist has. Some people prefer to learn from tutorials or forums online and some people really like to share directly with their team mates. It usually depends how introvert or extrovert you are. But usually the industry pushes people to share their knowledge and people even propose to do classes sometimes to share their process. But ultimately, it’s something that you have to do by yourself. If you are really craving for knowledge, you will always find a way to learn more ! ( asking people, looking online, trying by yourself etc etc…)
10. Last but not least, how often do you do large, collaborative projects?If you want to work in the video game industry, you will always work on collaborative projects. Because games are exactly that : large collaborative projects.
Even if you are the only artist on the project you will have to collaborate with game designers, level designers, programmers, technical artists, sound designers, marketing etc etc ……
I hope you will find that useful. English is not my native language so don’t hesitate to correct some words or expressions if you think it would be better ! :)
Even if you are the only artist on the project you will have to collaborate with game designers, level designers, programmers, technical artists, sound designers, marketing etc etc ……
I hope you will find that useful. English is not my native language so don’t hesitate to correct some words or expressions if you think it would be better ! :)
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