Advice for JUNIOR GAME DEV ARTISTS.

[@Purplesquigglystripe]

If anyone here is currently attending an art school (or any other degree program), APPLY TO INTERNSHIPS! This is one of the best ways of getting a good entry level position and how I got one. I don't even go to school for art. Just make sure you have a serious-looking portfolio and have good drawing skills.

[@BenaiahArt]

ON IT!

[@11nephilim]

The last 3d art internship I applied for had over 400 applications! Excuse me while I go cry 😂

[@Silverdale.]

if only there were any and i could actually get in

[@AndrewMaksym]

9:30 this is a tough struggle for many

[@R5OZ]

Starting my first Junior environment art position on Monday, nervous and excited too! I know it's not concept art but I just wanna say I appreciated all the videos you've put out, discovered you last year in summer and quit my call centre job to do this and now it's paid off big time at last!

[@faiqcreates]

How did it go. Are you making 2d environments still? Also do they give you reference of you have to make compositions yourself

[@penono]

any update how you are doing?

[@LostSol25]

How is it?

[@CATELlegend1]

Ive been studying digital art for 5 years now. Truth is, the companies now want just the pros or they want someone who does know about game engines or zbrush or maya altogether with photoshop. So, im guessing this is more of a dream than anything else. Entering this line of work seems the hardest thing in the world.

[@IshikaShanai]

Honestly, if you're willing to learn the software(s) you mentioned above, I don't think obtaining this job is harder than trying for any other job. Doctors have to spend 8-12 years studying and interning before they even get the title of Doctor, so by comparison getting a job in the videogame industry is still attainable, no? Just take it one software at a time, if you want a career out of this, it's something you'd be doing anyways.

[@dungofrungus7659]

The software is easier to learn than it is to learn how to actually draw well. Are you doing any of the things he suggests in this video? I went to your page and youre just drawing fan art. Are you sure you want to be a game developer? You can draw fan art and do commissions or patreon instead. You dont need to work at a studio. He tells you what a junior does, he never said anything about software in this video. I'm only pointing this out because you have the same problematic attitude I have. Best of luck to you though.

[@TrentKaniuga]

There is a shortage of qualified concept artists who understand the pipeline. The problem is that nobody cares to take the time to learn what a concept artist even does.

[@lantranarde]

creative director of a small game company here. Its just much more efficient in terms of business to hire someone who know technicalities of game development and hope he also has artistic skills. Games are just like architecture, you need to train both the creative and the mathematical mindset. If a person only has one, then the one who know the technicalities at least can make some viable products, whereas the only-creative one only has ideas. You can find good games that don't have good graphics, but you cannot find good games that only has good graphics and suck at everything else. This is just a matter of supply and demand. Every one wants to be game designers and game artists, but there is not enough capable programmers, therefore the entry barrier for artist must be raised. I don't have to tell you between training a programmer to learn art and training an artist technical skills, which is easier and cheaper. There have been more teaching programs in Universities in the recent years that focus more on art FOR GAME DEVELOPMENT. In those programs, you only need to spend a half, or one third of them to train your art skills, for the rest, you have to learn about game design, game engines and other technical stuffs like 3d, animation or fx. Mine was entrepreneurship and the business aspect of game development. If you want to compete, you have to adapt to the needs of the industry.

[@twitchyrats5252]

It's similar in software engineering. You think learning unreal/zbrush/Maya/Photoshop is bad. Software companies want you to learn 4x that amount. I choose not to apply to those companies! I've noticed that they're ALWAYS hiring!

[@fronini1027]

I'm currently a Junior concept artist on an indie videogame company... But I'm so scared of losing my job if the projects don't work, cause I don't know where to go next. I love the studio work and I want to keep in the industry, but I don't know how to escalate. I'm from Latinoamerica and the industry is so small that maybe I should just move to the USA... But my art isn't at that level yet haha, I'm gonna work my ass out. Thank you for the video! I would love to see your take on how to work on your portfolio when you are already in the industry.

[@TrentKaniuga]

Always keep your online portfolio updated. Keep improving and networking and keep posting. I've never felt stable or secure in the art services industry. You just have to have backup plans at all times.

[@fronini1027]

@@TrentKaniuga Oh, I see! I got a lot to work on. Thanks Trent!

[@eddyalvaross2195]

It's a pleasure to watch you paint while discussing a topic.

[@mageshpugazh2552]

Your videos really help a lot

[@Arcvein]

Great advice for the games industry and for life.

[@primusmaximum]

Could you make a video about writing comic books and finding artists to draw your story? Or maybe some comparisons to how indie comics worked back in the day versus now? Every now and then I spitball ideas for comic books but they never get very far because I'm always wondering what it will take to see the thing brought to life!

[@TrentKaniuga]

Its easy to get an artist to draw your story. Just give them money.

[@Kuramaz524]

Thank you for the advice !!

[@hypersapien]

Just started as a Jr. Environment Artist last week!

[@TrentKaniuga]

Congrats!

[@dasaartvlogs9122]

Thank you for the info, Trent 👍 And awesome art as always 🔥

[@TheArtMentor]

This was really cool and informative! I always wondered what junior artists did at studios

[@peterengle56]

it makes me happy to see you do the thing that i do where i go, "imma make the mouth open, nah that looks like trash, maybe fangs? nah i give up, back to original mouth, move onto arms.."

[@BasementMinions]

Such incredibly valuable information! Thank you so much for sharing this Trent.

[@donut1444]

This is definitely hard but I don't think it's so bad since for a beginner/junior artist you still get a various range of stuff you can get to work with, learn about and still work a job! After graduating highschool I will start my way to become a concept artist that works in the video game industry, that's what I wanna be one day, and this channel is giving me so many information and advices it's definitely helping me open my mind about the job and how it works and I'm really happy about it

[@benjaminwiese2994]

WAIT i must have missed this video dame

[@renzomunoz3648]

thank you much for all your knowledge! I love your videos and advices!!

[@JustYazzi]

Hey Trent, You always hit the nail on the head with these topics. I'm an artist applying for my first job, so knowing this before I go in has really opened my eyes. I'm applying for an artist position in a small dev team within a large mobile game company, it's an internship sorta thing - do you have any advice when it comes to applying for these jobs? What to put on your CV, what to include in your portfolio? Thanks!

[@AdaArts]

That’s an amazing work,great tutorial so much things to learn from this,it’s creative as well as entertaining 👏👏👏👏👏

[@Minegabri]

Hey Trent, great video as always, love your advice super practical and it really feels like it comes from your own experiences. I wanted to know if you have ever talked about managing your expectations, basically talking about how to have a good mindset and to not get annoyed when you are not getting results as fast as you might want to. It has been something I’m struggling with this couple of months and I am having a destructive mindset, so I wanted to know your advice/ opinion of the subject.

[@heartstevenson7654]

Good morning art teacher 🖐☺️💚

[@rizwanzaman1793]

Thanks for the info

[@Xesarogue]

Hi Trent, there is so much value in your videos for me. I would love to see some portfolios of people that secured them their first junior concept artist job. You mentioned you just hired a couple of junior level artists, would you mind asking them if they are willing to share their portfolios with us so we can get an idea of what kind of quality is expected to reach the dream of getting these entry level jobs?

[@TrentKaniuga]

Each studio is going to be looking for different skills at different times. For example, right now, rendering skill is very high on my clients list of needs. But for a different client, at a different time, it might be more about structural design work with clean lines. Sometimes I'm hiring for skin designers, and sometimes I'm hiring for icon artists. Its always going to be different. But theres a kind of growth ability I look for in a portfolio. Just keep pushing yourself to do better than you did yesterday.

[@Legendary_Tales]

TRENT KANIUGA: Hey! Quick RELEVANT question: Can you see A.I. and machine learning being applied in the future to procedurally generate models, textures, or other assets that junior/associate artists are currently being hired for? I love your videos, in no small part because of your personality. Thanks for the great work and

[@TrentKaniuga]

Sure. But it will never replace artists entirely. People who think that AI will replace artists entirely don't understand what concept artists do. AI can make pretty pictures, but it can't create with intention. No one admires that which a human cannot do. It's just a tool to reach a final objective.

[@GiannisMihelakakis]

Great video Trent very valuable info!! I have a question. If a junior character concept artist does turnarounds and more production type stuff . What a senior does? Because I had a sense that a senior did all the concept sheets for the characters (the main ones at least).

[@An.Unsought.Thought]

From what I know, they tend to take care of much bigger and more important projects. At the very beginning they may do big mood paintings and landscape paintings / concepts to help develop the world of a new game or movies. Especially for RPGs because they tend to have many different maps with different biomes. They also want to take care of main character designs and important vehicles. For example, in a Batman game, junior artists may do a bunch of background vehicles... vehicles used by bad-guys or the NPCs. But they'd definitely want a senior artist or a more specialized professional to do the Batmobile or bike. There is definitely a hierarchy of importance. The more important a concept, the higher quality required. Thats why props tend to be something junior artists do because they aren't something a 3D modeler is likely to mess up even with lower quality concepts; they are in the background and less likely to have any focus put on it. Again it depends on importance though. A vending machine = not very important, junior artist will probably do it. Batman's batclaw = more important, highly functional and used by Batman a lot, more likely a senior artist takes care of it.

[@GiannisMihelakakis]

@@An.Unsought.Thought Thank you for your knowledge! But doesn't seniors work on the turnarounds and the orthographics of main characters because it is really important to be explained really good for the 3D artists? . What made me ask the question is that if a junior does turnarounds does that mean a senior doesn't do turnarounds and orthographics and cut outs or they both do all that but in characters landscapes props with different importance to the game?

[@TrentKaniuga]

Sometimes they do. Yes. as a senior concept artist, I did a lot of the work that juniors do too. But Seniors are expected to fail far less.

[@TrentKaniuga]

Seniors generally only get paid about %10-20 more than junior artists. Leads make about 20% more than that. Directors and execs (and stockholders) are the ones that make the really big money.

[@GiannisMihelakakis]

@@TrentKaniuga Thank you Trent for answering and educating us 😁!!

[@lehfeldt1]

Thank you!

[@abdelrahmanelmiligy4683]

Oh, I don't want to be in your newcomer's shoes right now or ever, though... very valuable instructions. Thanks!

[@kakashi-ok8xq]

Hey Trent, Awesome video like always. I just want to know more about capcom specially the Monster Hunter team I have been playing that game since PSP days would love to more about them. I want to make monsters and armors someday for them :)

[@valkorey]

Hello Trent... After watching this video I went back to one of your older videos (Concept art VS Illustration) and there you mentioned that the 3D artists would love a concept artist with easy to model designs that in the end will make them look like "rockstars". Is there any way a concept artist can be seen as "the rockstar" as well? ... I feel like my boss only seems to appreciate the 3D models that are made out of my concept art. Is there something we concept artists can do to be up there with them?

[@TrentKaniuga]

At a studio, all you can do is try to ace every task. If you feel like they've already made up their mind about you, you may have to move to a different company or team to be appreciated. At 1 company you may be seen as 2nd tier, but at a different studio you might be seen as a rockstar.

[@ArchOfficial]

Honestly the junior artist job doesn't sound bad at all. Doing concept art for my own projects is mostly that. It's the most important and laborious stuff after all.

[@kidren50]

Sometimes I wonder if jr jobs are still a thing. I've been only seeing job offerings for mid/senior and Lead concept artists. This frustrates the hell out of me.

[@cristinavidalart8460]

Thank you as always Trent!! I am working my as* off to try and get into the industry next year and I have a question, how would you approach building a culture kit? I'm not even entirely sure I know what it contists off lol thank you in advance and keep it up as always!! ♥♥♥

[@TrentKaniuga]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWixiJidYriMh5I

[@cristinavidalart8460]

@@TrentKaniuga ohhhh awesome! thank you!! I'll proceed to take out my notepad 🤓📝

[@fuzzydragons]

your an apprentice in that role, so its pretty much shut up, listen, ask questions when you have them and they are important, and do the jobs you are required and asked to do. it can suck but thats how you get started in many art related jobs

[@user-by4ru5pr1g]

Hey Trent, I am about to make a pack of icons or anything game-related in 2D to sell on the marketplace. What type of icons or 2D assets are in demand? If you have any suggestions for that it would be great.

[@BDarOZ]

Theres also that guy who has an opinion about anyone elses tasks, except his own. The worse version being: he actually tries to tell people higher up how to do their job better.

[@pockypurse]

Yo, Trent, question. So I'm a junior artist myself at a relatively new game company. I don't see myself working here for the rest of my life. When (in your opinion) is the best time to consider looking at other companies?

[@yannick1127]

All due respect, I appreciate the heads up and advice but most of these sound like basics regardless of job (atleast in my country).

[@TrentKaniuga]

True. But nobody talks about them.

[@felixdiluciano1961]

hey, you think colorblindness is a problem for getting a job as a 3d artist in any company? i want to start studying it but this disability keeps holding me back

[@TrentKaniuga]

Ive seen many colorblind artists. Just focus on values. Many of the concepts for uncharted and the last of us are done in grayscale.

[@mohammedwaleed7708]

Thank you for the great advice But what is the name of this brush you're using for sketching?? .. And is there any equivalent for clip studio paint? Please please answer 🙏🙏

[@vanillian9700]

you can buy his brushes on gumroad and they are usable in clip studio

[@Camicaturas]

well.. I'm working in NFT games... an there's a LOOOOT of work and money for young artist.

[@mikenelson1624]

👍💫✌️✨

[@brodeyleembruggen9910]

🕯️💼👨🏻‍🎨

[@keo_chu]

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