PYXEL-PERFECT PORTFOLIOS #6: CHARACTER ARTIST
We are very happy to welcome back our Pyxel-Perfect Portfolio series, as we continue our exploration into what exactly makes a portfolio the ideal fit for the eyes of a studio hiring manager. With competition for game development jobs never being higher, we wanted to help as many of you as we can by providing our industry-insider tips, most of which are simple tweaks to your portfolio pages to best increase your chances of finding a new role. This month, we will be looking at the life and soul of any game, which is of course Character Art:
There are many parts of characters, that showcase your versatility.
With character art being a varied discipline, it is important when looking at a portfolio to be able to explore the full range of an artist’s talents. It is therefore important from an artist's perspective to make sure you are showcasing the full scope of your abilities, whether that be facial modelling, texturing, clothing, grooming, relevant props, or anything else character-related. Showing both the finished model and the individual elements you have worked on across a portfolio piece is a surefire way to enhance your chances.
If your characters have various skins, show them off.
Having spent a large amount of time in meetings with both AAA and Indie studios, something that often pops up is artists not showing enough work. An easy way to expand your portfolio is, within each of your character pieces, to also showcase the various skins, outfits, hairstyles, and attachments that you have worked on for that character. Not only does this showcase your ability to make the most out of a model, but also enhances the scale of your portfolio for a more instantaneous wow factor. First impressions are always important, never more so than now.
If you have new work to show, let the world see it.
It may sound obvious and a tad silly, but keeping your portfolio updated with your latest available work is the single most important part of the reviewing process. Often it may well take a while to be able to render and show available official models, however, this can be countered by gameplay screenshots and trailer links with timestamps attached. From a recruitment perspective, the question we are asked the most by studios daily is “Do they have any more recent work to show”, so countering this question is the first hurdle to jump. There is also the classic cliché of having an updated portfolio showing your commitment to finding a new position of course.
These three simple tweaks to your portfolio, in our experience, can make a huge difference in your appeal to your potential future employers and at Skillsearch, we are always happy to help advise you further.
Are there any specific art-based roles that you would like portfolio advice on? Feel free to get in touch at jrm@skillsearch.com or via the contact information below.
Keep an eye out for the next instalment in our Pyxel-Perfect Portfolios series coming very soon...
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