by Eliott Lilly | Dec 2, 2015 | Articles
Here are a few notes explaining how to design props for video games.
In some shape, form or fashion, “crates” have made an appearance in every game ever made, but are often overlooked and under-appreciated. They can be so mundane and uninteresting looking that the player just passes them by, or they can be “set pieces” that not only look cool, but are over-designed to be functional, breakable, and/or intractable. As a professional concept artist working in the video games industry I can promise you that at some point in your career, you will be tasked with designing a “crate”. In fact, since the need is so high, I’m willing to bet, that if you stocked your portfolio full of crate designs, weapons, and environment paintings, then you will have an abundance of job opportunities dropped in your lap.
That said, I should point out, that drawing “Crates” isn’t as easy as it sounds. A crate is a container that holds something else, and it can look like just about anything. (And that’s where the problem comes in). How do you design a crate that is functional, credible, and unique, but still fits within the game universe? I have developed a system that identifies the key points necessary to make the design of the prop a “success”, and how to design and implement those points. I hope this gives you an insight into my conception process and how good references can influence my final design.
One example of a game that includes a huge variety of unique in-game props is Fallout 4. The game takes place in a post-apocalyptic retro-futuristic setting and therefore the surroundings and props reflect this. If you are a fan of Fallout 4 you might also want to take a look at this guide to companions such as Codsworth. Another example might be the all-time favourite and oldy but goldy, League of Legends, if you haven’t played this or even heard of it, then you’re clearly doing something wrong! How have you lived? Also, the props are great, with so many colours and awesome designs, it’s nice to have a bit of fiction. If you haven’t had much experience then perhaps you need to hop across to this site to find the Best Tier List for LoL and the ranks as well. It’s too good not to try.
The notes explaining how to design props for video games are taken from my “Intro to Concept art” Class, which I am currently teaching at Richland College (located in Dallas Texas). Right-click on each image and “open it in a new tab” ( otherwise, you will be taken directly to the file).
Have questions? Ask away in the comments below, or drop me a line at: me@eliottlillyart.com
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by Eliott Lilly | Nov 29, 2015 | Articles, Resources
Here are some fantastic deals for digital artists to take advantage of over the Black Friday – Cyber Monday period.
Creative Bloq has published a great list of Black Friday/ Cyber Monday deals for artists. You can check out their full article here: 14 top Black Friday deals for digital artists Hector and I have picked out a few of our favorite Cyber Monday deals from their site and have expanded the list here, on the blog. There are also a couple more outside the list that you can check out as well. Black Friday is the perfect time to grab a bargain so now’s the right time to shop if you’re looking for something specific. If you miss out on a deal or perhaps what you’re looking for isn’t on sale, you can always use sites like https://www.raise.com/coupons/amazon to find discount codes that can be used throughout the year so that you can still save a little bit of money.
Art Camp at a special discounted price of 10% off. Go grab it now and start improving your art.
Adobe is offering 20 per cent off deals on their annual Creative Cloud (CC) memberships.
Corel is offering 30 per cent off PaintShop Pro X8 Ultimate,15 per cent off CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X7, and 30 per cent off Painter 2016. Sale ends 3 December.
Tutorials, tips and tricks for digital artists at all levels. Get Plearning today!
Save up to 40 per cent on MODO and MARI with The Foundry’s Black Friday specials:
- 20 per cent off upgrades to MODO 901
- 40 per cent off new seats of MODO
- 40 per cent off new seats of MODO Extended Bundle
- 40 per cent off new seats of MARI
As part of your MARI maintenance you’ll also get MARI 3 for free once becomes available in early December. Sale ends at 11:59pm (PST) 30 November 2015.
Use the code “starwars” at checkout to get 50% off on any product in the store!
Use this link to get a great deal on Jan Urschel’s reference packs (001-009) that include: air force, abandoned buildings, sky, ground vehicles, military, and a few more.
60 per cent off on all iClone add-ons, and the three-in-one Creative Suite for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Offer ends on 30 November 2015.
Easily create your own comics, manga and illustrations from start to finish with Manga Studio 5 and Clip Studio Paint Pro, on sale now with over 65 per cent off. Sale expires 30 November 2015. Of course, you could just download Manga Studio ex for windows for FREE from kubadownload.com, but if it is Manga Studio 5 you want in particular then this is the best price you will get.
Selected CGWorkshops are on sale so get over to their site and enjoy some new knowledge.
We hope you find a good deal on what you’re looking for. If you’ve spotted a deal we missed, please be so kind as to share it with the community in the comments below! Thanks.
by Eliott Lilly | Nov 25, 2015 | Questions
Question submitted by Joe z
I’ve been working consistently as a remote contractor on a console game for about 7 months now… But when it comes time to sign my next apartment lease or make any big commitments I keep questioning whether my job/income will still be there. I feel that I should just work hard and go with the flow but how should I in factor all this “uncertainty of employment” when I am making decisions about the future?
Hey Joe, that is a great question! Here is my answer:
Since job security within the video game industry can be very unstable due to canceled projects, studio closings, and whatnot, your continued employment (even if you are working in house) is always uncertain. Therefore, when working in the industry (especially remotely/ freelance) it is always best to keep your expenses, bills and amount of possessions down to a minimum. I would refrain from making any large purchases for a long as possible (don’t buy a house or spend your check on rubbish) because you may have to relocate to your next job. This can be a hassle if you ever have to experience it. One of the best pieces of advice a friend gave me, was to look at car transporting services, like those provided by Cars Arrive Auto Relocation for example. This makes it easier to move your vehicle over to another state because you’ll have one less thing to worry about. Job relocations can be stressful, but sometimes they’re for the best. If you do need to make a big purchase then make sure you have a good credit score to make it easier to pay back what you owe as quickly as possible. If you don’t have any credit history then check out articles that talk about getting a credit card without credit history then start building your history from there. Sometimes making a big purchase is needed but at least make sure you pay off your debt as quickly as possible.
Here’s what you should do when planing around the uncertainty of employment:
Always keep in mind that your job is never secure. and therefore live modestly, below your means. Ideally, your rent should not be more than 1/3 of your paycheck AFTER TAXES. (More than that means your apartment is eating into the money needed to pay bills, student loans, deposit into your savings, etc.). You can sign a yearly lease, although month to month would be better. If you ever have to break your lease, (to relocate to a new job) then you should negotiate with the company who is hiring you, to pay the fees involved. Depending on how you pay for your energy bills, you might also want to do some research into switching energy providers to a more affordable plan, as quite often you can save money in this way. For example, one of my friends managed to make a huge saving on his utility bills by switching providers after he read several Champion Energy reviews online that seemed highly positive.
While the money is coming in, DON’T SPEND IT. SAVE IT. Build yourself a “nest egg”. Ideally you will want to start saving enough money to cover AT LEAST 6 months of your living expenses.
This buys you some time if an emergency ever comes up, or if you lose your job. If you have monies left over, then set up/ add funds to your retirement fund (401k, or Roth IRA) Since you are young, investing aggressively now will yield you A LOT of profit, down the road. It also means you pay less on taxes. If you DO want to treat yourself to the occasional video game or toy, that’s fine, but just remember that you will have to carry all of that stuff to whatever town/ state/ or country your next gig will be at.
I hope that helps.
If anyone has their own questions, please feel free to send an email to me@eliottlillyart.com, and I will do my best to answer them. Thanks.
by Eliott Lilly | Nov 23, 2015 | Resources
Here are 10 free resume templates for artists that are perfect for getting you that next job…
Don’t let anyone fool you into thinking you can’t get a creative job as an artist or designer. In fact, there are many openings for creative positions in several industries. And the application process is very similar to that of any other job. A resume, a portfolio, an interview or two, and then you’re in (fingers crossed). You could probably even get professional career counseling in Potomac that could help you decide exactly where to go with your creative career.
It all starts with a resume, that sheet of paper or PDF file that talks all about your experience. You may be inclined to make your resume very artsy but be careful as this can also work against you if the recruiter can’t find the information they need easily. In case you don’t have the time, inclination or know-how to craft your own creative resumes, these templates can get you started. They are of various styles, but all look professionally crafted. Keep in mind, however, that while these free resume templates will help you stand out against your competition; it will be your portfolio that will ultimately impress the client and get you the job. That and a strong interview that shows you can come up with new ideas on the fly. So be sure that you market the highest quality aspects of yourself and as consistently as possible.
http://www.creativebloq.com/career/free-resume-templates-111517854
If you have additional resources that you would like to share with us, send an email to: me@eliottlillyart.com. We love hearing from you.
by Eliott Lilly | Nov 11, 2015 | Questions
Question submitted by Jeff V.
I HAVE JUST RECENTLY GOTTEN A JOB IN THE VIDEO GAME INDUSTRY AS A QA TESTER. SO FAR IT’S BEEN AN EXCITING EXPERIENCE AND I WAS PLACED ON A AAA TITLE FOR MY FIRST TESTING PROJECT EVER. PRETTY COOL, BUT THIS IS NOT WHAT I HAD PLANNED FOR MY POST-COLLEGE JOB. I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF YOU HAD ANY ADVICE ON WHAT STEPS AN ARTIST CAN TAKE TO TRANSITION FROM A QA TESTER TO CONCEPT ARTIST WITHIN THE VIDEO GAME INDUSTRY? I BELIEVE I HAVE AN AWESOME OPPORTUNITY PLACED IN FRONT OF ME AND I’D LIKE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HAVING A FOOT IN THE DOOR.
Hey Jeff; You are in a very unique position where you can interact with professionals in your field of interest. If you wanted to transition from a QA Tester to Concept artist, then I would suggest you do the following:
First: get to know the concept artists on the team.
On your own time, you should do some research on each concept artist who works at the studio
- Look up their portfolios, familiarize yourself with their artwork/ style/ interest’s, etc
- Find out their education background, etc.
- Find out their job history
Second: Interview them (In a casual and friendly way)
Take them out to lunch and pick their brain (one, or all of them… and YES, you have to pay for it. Consider it an investment in your future). Now that you are knowledgeable of who they are, you can be sure to ask them the RIGHT questions.
In addition to your own, be sure to ask these questions:
- “If I wanted to do what you do, what do I need in my portfolio?”
- If they have worked at a studio you want to work at, then ask: “What will my portfolio need to have in it to be attractive to a particular studio?”
Finally: Explain your situation
Bring examples of your work to the lunch so you can show it to them. During your conversation with them, explain your desires and goals, and then ask for their advice and feedback. Be sure to ask:
- “If you were in my predicament, what would you do?”
- “What is the first thing you think I should do next?”
- Ask if you can show them your work from time to time.
The point of all this is to establish a report with these artists who will hopefully be willing to nurture your ambitions. If they are willing to look at your work, offer advice, or do paint-overs on your work, etc, then that will be a huuuge learning experience for you. Even standing behind them and watching them paint, will help in your learning process. Get creative here and don’t take “No” for an answer. Even if u have to buy them lunch every day for a month, it will be worth it in the long run.
Then go home and practice, practice, practice, practice! The goal is to build a new body of work that reflects your interests and aspirations. The more time you put into this goal the sooner you can start realizing your dream of becoming a professional concept artist.
If I were that artist who you interviewed, I would advise you to do the following to transition from a QA Tester to Concept artist:
First: Do your research and make sure that you want to dedicate yourself to this career path. There are other options in video game art besides concept art that you may want to explore. You can be a 3D modeler, world/ environment builder, prop artist, designer, etc. Look these careers up if you are not familiar with them.
Once you are certain that this you are on the right path, you will need to figure out your areas of interest (characters?) and your long term plans (what kind of studios you want to work for, projects you want to work on, etc.) Establish a goal. Say to yourself something like: “I want to become a senior character concept artist working at Blizzard studios on games like Warcraft.” Then, let that dream job be the target that you aspire to.
With a clear goal in mind, you will have a tangible target to aim for. You can then begin steering your new body of work in that direction. You have a very nice illustration portfolio, but not a video game portfolio. You will need to have images in there that look like they belong to a video game that (in this example) Blizzard would find appealing. The goal here is to market your skill set to a company that needs your skills.
Its time to level up.
I would purchase tutorials, instructional videos, etc. to see how the professionals make concept art. If you are up fro going back to school, then I would consider taking some online classes as well. Checkout the recommended resources page for your options.
If you keep at it, over several months, you will improve. And when your work shows that your are ready to do this professionally, hopefully you will be bale to capitalize on your relationships with the artists on your team and ask them to put in a good word for you. With a bit of luck you might get the next concept art job opening at that studio.
If anyone has their own questions, please feel free to send an email to me@eliottlillyart.com, and I will do my best to answer them. Thanks.
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www.eliottlillyart.com
