What should i do? i'm lost.

[Vincent87]

wonder if i'm posting in the correct place

hi all,
I'm writing to ask for help from anyone who could give advice.any kind of advice would be appreciated.

the situation

I'm currently in my final semester of Diploma in Games Design course.we have 6 semesters all in total.

at the beginning of this course,I thought that if i followed the course module tightly,i could smoothly finish this course,get my diploma,and probably get a job outside.

but that wasnt the case.


the problem

i wasn't improving at all,in terms of designing and 3D modeling.i realized what i was lacking.the very basics of an art course - Life Drawing.

It was stupid of me to realize this so late.The course module did not provide enough Life Drawing classes.we didn't get to do anatomy studies.but now we've been push to do 3D modeling.

it isn't possible.but i clearly know doing 3D without the basics of 2D will result in an unstable "product".

and now for my final semester assignment.we have to model an environment,2 characters,then animate a fighting scene.which is at kinda hard,but not impossible.

my main concern now is not having a portfolio I can be confident enough to show employers outside.hence,not getting a job.

----------------------------------------------------
which is why i'm writing this.hopefully i could get some advice on what to do.i'm currently trying to work on my anatomy drawing skills.little by little.that's the least i could think of


regards,
Vincent

[otis]

Get CREATIVE. Why don't you make a whole scene about two stick figures fighting? Kind of like jumping off a sketch book or somthing? If you are bad at modeling and anatomy, then show off or focus on the animation! Animation is VERY powerfull if you are good at it. And if you only work with stick figures, you don't have to wory about animatiing eyes, fingures, hair...etc.

Just focus on what you are good at. (I'm assuming it's animation since you think creating a whole fighting scene is easy.)

FYI, most of these so-called "game schools" do more harm than good. They make students learn everythiung, and then they come out being good at nothing. The game industry is all about specialization.

Once again, Just focus on what you are good at.

[Seedling]

Hi Vincent,
I keep hoping someone will pop up one of these days saying they went through one of these game schools and came out genuinely employable. Damn. I’m sorry to hear that your school gave you the impression that staying on its course track would guarantee you a job. That’s a shameful thing for a school to do.

If you haven’t seen them yet, there are two links in my sig that may help you: the games industry link and Concept Art 101. Those may help you scrape that portfolio together and beef up on the basics.

I’m curious to know which school you are attending. If you don’t want to share the name of it here could you PM me?

Don’t panic, you’ll get your path figured out; it’ll just take some educational off-roading.

[life on the sofa]

seedling's got ya coverd....links in her( gender?) sig are the ones i was gna post here :)

[JAG.]

indeed.. the above advise is excellent and Concept Art 101 is an excellent resource.

but aslo, start drawing from life. ask your friends to pose for you or draw your own body from a mirror or photograph. it just takes time and practice.

and if its one thing i learned after college.. your diploma doesnt guarantee you ANYTHING :[ sad but true.. - JAG

[Noë]

Hmm interesting thread.
I think the best advice has already been given to you Vincent, just focus on your better sides and improve the basic stuff you miss so you will be able to do that in the future.

I'm particularly interested in this thread because I'll be attending one of these "game schools", because it's the best 'artsy' school I could find in Holland and it fits my interests.. I thought I was sure finally that I wanted to attend that school but now I start having doubts again..

Love
Marleen

[Seedling]

seedling. . . her( gender?)

lol! Yup, I'm a "her". ;) Thanks.


I'm particularly interested in this thread because I'll be attending one of these "game schools", because it's the best 'artsy' school I could find in Holland and it fits my interests.. I thought I was sure finally that I wanted to attend that school but now I start having doubts again..

If it helps, I'm not sure there is any such thing as the perfect school for getting into the games industry. Do the best with what's available to you and make sure you fill in the gaps with whatever extra-curricular activities that will get you to your goals.

[0kelvin]

I went to a school much like yours Vincent. Basically, you're going to have a lot to learn on your own time. The curriculum at these schools are hopelessly vague, and it makes me want to pull my hair out whenever they lump game art and game design together. That's not to say these schools are without value, though. I probably wouldn't be working in the industry right now if I hadn't gone to the school I did. I got my current job through connections I made while at school, and courses where you form a team and create an actual game or mod are very valuable experience and look great in a portfolio.

About your final assignment. Make sure you focus on what's important to you. If you're going to be applying for an animator position, don't worry about the modeling so much. If you want to be a modeler, don't worry about the animation. If you want to be a concept artist, do a lot of nice concept art for the characters and environment. Just focus on what you need for your portfolio, and just do enough to pass with everything else.

Wherever you're not fully comfortable with your knowledge on a subject, use reference.



Eric

[Vincent87]

sorry guys i havent been here for so long.
thanks for all the helpful comments.
i think for now i'll concentrate on the basics.like doing concept art and stuff.

i think what i could do now is just work triple times harder than average.if that's possible.lol.just try my best :D

have been quite busy.our college's attending a game design contest hosted by microsoft in singapore this coming september and i'm in one of the three groups going.

if everything goes well we'll be going on 4th september.


_~_

[Vincent87]

Hi Vincent,
I keep hoping someone will pop up one of these days saying they went through one of these game schools and came out genuinely employable. Damn. I’m sorry to hear that your school gave you the impression that staying on its course track would guarantee you a job. That’s a shameful thing for a school to do.

If you haven’t seen them yet, there are two links in my sig that may help you: the games industry link and Concept Art 101. Those may help you scrape that portfolio together and beef up on the basics.

I’m curious to know which school you are attending. If you don’t want to share the name of it here could you PM me?

Don’t panic, you’ll get your path figured out; it’ll just take some educational off-roading.

yea.i'm very unsatisfied with the course module.
can't help since the course's still new.i'm like the 2nd batch of the new course.everything's quite messed up.

i've visited the stuff in your sig some time ago.just havent find the time do work it out with all the assignments coming by.


did u receive my pm?

[Seedling]

did u receive my pm?

No, I didn't. Can you send it again?

[Lohan]

yo just move somewhere with life drawing sessions and take them for a few months every day.

[Dile_]

I know seedling mention it a lot in her 101, and its suggested through out the "course" . But I'm worried no one pointed Vincent here "back to the basics"
really .

Really, try to get some books on art, anatomy, value, composition, colors, you name it! Theres plenty of stuff here on CA, some are stickied , some aren't , but you can easily find good information on the forums and in the WIKI about the basics of art aswell. Concept art 101 gives you some assignments about it aswell . ( sorry Seedling that I don't know your 101 inside out, so forgive me if i'm all wrong, just skimmed through it a few times ( wonderful stuff! ) so I'm not 100% confident with the material hehe )

Anyways, I checked some of your work Vincent, and I agree with you that its not very strong yet. And I also understand your concerns. Lohan mentioned Life-drawing classes, I never really took one, but I know whats good about doing it. You learn to observe, you learn to render, you learn anatomy. Theres a lot to learn from it, also drawing from life, Like your room and stuff, will give you A LOT, thats no kidding. You'd be amazed what your stuff looks like after a week/month after doing constant and regular drawings from life!

Its a good way to expand your visual library, which means a lot when you painting from your own mind.

Sorry for the rant about basically the same thing, but the basics in art will be your fundamentals , the base which all your art will be standing on, and its very important that the ground is hard and content enough, thats what makes the difference between good and amazing really. How good basics an artist have. Of Course creativity and experience add. I'm just saying that you can see a really huge difference of an artist who know his basics, and one who doesn't!

Keep practicing. But really, draw from life when you can! You'll catch up soon enough if you do!

[timpaatkins]

i think for now i'll concentrate on the basics.like doing concept art and stuff.




_~_

I wouldnt exactly call that the basics.
a pencil, a sketchbook and using it when you have 5 min to sketch people, that would be the basics. Shading cones, triangles, cylinders squares and donuts, thats the basics too. Doing CA stuff is a bit further up the ladder me reckons.

[Seedling]

( sorry Seedling that I don't know your 101 inside out, so forgive me if i'm all wrong, just skimmed through it a few times ( wonderful stuff! )

Shucks, what are you apologizing for? I’m flattered that you find my project good enough to recommend to others! :D

[Vincent87]

Seedling: LimKokWing University College of Creative Technology.

Lohan: it's easier said than done.have issues to deal with like finding a job and lack of money.

Dile:I totally agree with you.that's why now i'm trying to find anytime i have to start drawing some stuff from life.but with all the assignments going on,i cant really put my whole mind into it.

timpaatkins: my bad.-_-''Shading cones, triangles, cylinders squares and donuts, that's concept art to me,basics of concept art....|D

[yinteck]

Hahaha , im in that college to0 now is U. , sad to say local couse is not that gd though.
They dont privide enough life drawing training .

[Vincent87]

Hahaha , im in that college to0 now is U. , sad to say local couse is not that gd though.
They dont privide enough life drawing training .

yea
true true
wat course r u taking ?

[yinteck]

ADOM , sem 4 now ....