I am looking for advice

[Sketch]

I am looking for advice about what to do in my quest for a career in the gaming or concept art fields. I have gone to Vancouver Film School for 2d animation and Maya. My only work experience was at a Flash animation company (which is now over).
I am thinking about going to school once again for either Graphic Design and Illustration or to get a degree in the arts. Is this nescessary or should I just work on my stuff some more and hope to get a job within 3 to 4 months?

Here is some of my work, hopefully that'll let you know more about what I should do: http://www.vfs.com/~m07matthew/[/URL]

Any advice would be awesome. Thanks so much guys!

[Sketch]

Damn, only six views and no replies so far. This thread doesn't get much exposure. Ah well, I've made up my mind anyways. I'm going to just work with the skills I have now and hopefully get into the industry sometime in the foreseable future.

[Deth Jester]

Sketch,

I saw your post as I was leaving work... and I dont have internet at home.. sorry about that..

My advice is read some of the other threads on this forum and over on Sijun and Eatpoo about jobs in the game industry..

My biggest set of advice would be get a nice little portfolio together and just go and apply for an internship at a game company and check it out.. see if it is what you want to do... I was looking at your stuff and it looks like you like to draw a bit to the cartoonish side.. so try applying to game companies that do that style in games...

Also Jason Manley is always telling me go and study life, GO AND STUDY LIFE, GO AND STUDY LIFE!!!!.. because it will help you whether you do cartoonish to realism.. you will know how things work, how light works.. shadow.. etc... And it will help you down the road..wherever you end up.

I noticed you mentioned going back to school for either an illustration degree or Graphic Design.. Well you need to look at what you want to do.. and what you like doing.. Know many feilds of art is good, but for the game industry, I have found it is good to be good at ONE THING EXTREMELY WELL and then know a bunch of other stuff, and be adaptable.. That way when your project is done you can continue working on other stuff.

I dunno.. I have to get back to working, I hope my mindless babble hasn't confused you.. If you have specific questions other than such a broad one that would work better.. Its hard to answer such a broad questions as waht should I do.. and here is my portfolio...

So good luck,

and peace.

[Sketch]

Thanks for the help Deth Jester. It all makes perfect sense. This is my idea for my portfolio: Design three characters, than model and texture them. This will show the whole creation process and what I'm capable of. Than put in my best life drawings and other pieces.