There are no jobs out there.
NO JOBS
It's worrying. I'm struggling to find things for character concept artists other than senior/lead jobs, and I obviously can't do that. I hate this stupid thing that students coming out of any course face.
Look for job
Find a job that requires prior experience in the field
Have no experience
Look for job
Find a job that requires prior experience in the field
Still have no experience
Look for job
etc
What is anyone meant to do?? How can someone get a job when the thing you need to get it is only available after having the job??
Help.
EA Bright Light in Guildford are very receptive towards fresh graduates, same goes for TT Fusion and it looks like Lionhead are starting up a graduate program too.
ReplyDeleteAnother big alternatives to just scouring the internet is to actually go and meet the designers at Expos or trade shows, show them your portfolio and business card and just try to stay in touch. If you actually show it to them then you know that they're going to look at it. This'd work even better if you can bring them that Arena shooter game to show that you've got the chops to make a game.
Ooh, I didn't know there were so many opportunities. O: Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI heard that it's tricky for character artists to get internships because companies don't tend to have them; they just want them to go straight into proper work.
My dad went to a game expo in Notts for me, but he said there wasn't anything about employment there. Hopefully I'll be able to find somewhere that does deal with it and get them to look at my stuff! :B
No probalo, you asked for help, so there you go. Just keep checking back every week or so with the different companies that interest you and see if they've updated the positions. There's always the TT Fusion connection, anyway. Would be a good springboard into working your dream job making the next Soul Calibur.
ReplyDeleteAye, they're not going to advertise the Job sections at expos, that's just how it is. You've got to actively seek out the jobs, I know a couple of course graduates made some good connections at the Eurogamer Expo this year. It's just all about networking, the industry isn't as big as you'd think.
Thom is completely correct. I would add however, that "character artist" is not a position that exists in all companies, and where it does exist, it's often a highly prized and/or senior position that must be earned.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to be an artist Hannah, you'll have to start with being just that. Apply for "2D artist" "3D artist" "level artist" "junior artist"; these are the entry jobs, you will almost definitely have to earn your bones with props and environments before you get to do characters. In most local companies I've talked to, character art is a task artists perform, not a dedicated position.
I didn't know that. D: I wish I'd done more than characters for my Honours now. Environments aren't really a strong point for me, so I guess I'd better start working on that. >:
ReplyDelete