Disney artist explains how to decide if this job is right for you - Full interview

Not everyone would enjoy a job in the CG industry. In this interview, Disney character artist Tyler Bolyard explains how to make that decision for yourself.
(EDIT: Since filming, Tyler has moved to Dreamworks.)
We discuss:
How to decide if working in the industry is right for you
Why your portfolio should fit the job you're applying for
A recommended one-year self-learning path
Can artists be replaced by automation?
Follow Tyler:
ArtStation: www.artstation.com/tyrassic
Instagram: tyrassic?h...
Linkedin: / tyler-bolyard-63051020
-----------------------------------------------
Follow me:
Twitter: / andrewpprice
Instagram: / andrewpprice
Facebook: / blenderguru
ArtStation: artstation.com/artist/andrewprice
Blender Guru: www.blenderguru.com
Poliigon: www.poliigon.com

[@SpencerMagnusson]

"How's that for a segway?" I'd say it Blended pretty well.

[@b.i.ggames5401]

...I see what you did there smh lol

[@natalyp7641]

-How old are you now -28 -How old vere you when you enrolled in that school -that was back in 2011 so I guess I was 25 I think this dude can time travel.

[@BadaBing_]

You don't know when this was filmed

[@sakinhasan7411]

lol😂

[@22kiddo38]

maybe he was just bad at math

[@doppiak2227]

doesn't he says 22?

[@victory_summery]

The first 20 secs tells me that working on cg as a job is right for me, and I’m happy with it

[@clouddesigner64]

VS Creations / victory summery I think that

[@flatstheflounder2884]

Agreed!

[@dirge8032]

I would love to see an interview with an artist who started late in life and still made it. i know a ton of artists start when they are young but its a different struggle when you enter the arena of art/design/3D at a later stage especially if you dont start with that young inclination towards the subject. anyone know of any late blooming artists who still drew like a child at 30 or 40 and over the years made it to be something of an expert and/or professional in the 3d industry? I admit I personally am interested as an adult learner myself and would love to see more success stories from later starters to give me hope :)

[@josiandeleon]

Same

[@MAJESTICJAKE]

Super late to this comment but don’t be afraid to do anything your passionate about. Age is just a number! It realistically comes into play in certain areas of life but art is definitely not one of them. Talent is talent, passion is passion, and determination and drive is not something that is limited to the “young”. Don’t put self made limitations on yourself, and certainly don’t pay any mind to what others think. Many of the greatest achievements in life are those in which we defy odds and overcome a social stigma of quote on quote normality. Life isn’t normal, art certainly isn’t normal, and no one who ever makes something from that in which they love surely didn’t get it by being “normal” and fitting in. I hope this comment reaches you well, good luck and God bless!!!

[@diceflawless9115]

Biggest downside of the industry that nobody tells you before going to school!!!! JOB SECURITY! You'll be lucky to keep your job for a year! Two years, youre super lucky!. 70% of the positions out there are project based. When the game is done, you're done. Its rare to stay on longterm, especially when you're starting out.

[@BasementMinions]

I've watched most of your interviews and they have consistently been some of the best artist interviews out there. Great questions, good quality audio, and incredible people being interviewed. Looking forward to more!

[@krisjanispleiko4936]

You know it is blender guru video, when background kind of looks like cg image.

[@certified_nawf]

😂😂😂😂

[@hayoungjo3799]

OMG i've seen his artwork on instagram and they're amazing! Now an interview?? Thank you so much for this insightful interview! I really appreciate it!

[@dorjedriftwood2731]

Be very careful it might sound like a dream come true. But if you keep feeling intense pressure to produce art you may lose your passion to ever do art again, it took me two decades after art school to paint anything ever again and I still haven’t returned to 3d animation, I still love the medium but the anxiety pushed on me by my professor’s was such a downer and feeling constantly forced to,produce pieces I had no interest in building made me feel terrible. It made my biggest love something to resent and feel manipulated over. Creativity for s lot of artists is a sort of release and way to feel happy. I wouldn’t recommend it if this is you. If you’re an art machine and you just produce like crazy and you don’t mind drawing things for others rather than yourself you might do better. But I realize for me art was something I did for myself. Also bare in mind your art director might be just the person who hired you and might not know anything about color or composition and insist you make changes to design you poured your heart into for the absolute worse. They might insist on inserting and some element that makes you wanna puke as far as wanting your work looks good. Learn to model on your own don’t spend money on school. Model texture rig and light for three years everyday, if you aren’t burnt out and still want to do it, the consider taking out loans and spend the time to network and build relationships in studios. Pick a school in California or a state where the Industry is heavy. Don’t go to school to learn how to do 3d animation, go to school to get professional connections.

[@Negasuki]

yea I played violin for decades.. figured I'd go to school to get better... went and took a class to learn how to play better.. never really touched it since... it was absolutely not a good experience

[@blenderguru]

@@Negasuki That's a real shame. Teachers have a lot of influence over whether a student continues with it. I'm sure bad teachers are why many adults don't read books.

[@Heavenira]

_get professional connections_ Do you mean connections _after_ you go through school (ie. through a diploma) or _within_ the school (ie. peers, professors, then outreach)?

[@dorjedriftwood2731]

Heavenira no a lot of teachers will be teaching to supplement there income, many of my teachers were game developers, x game developers or had friends working at various studios in the area. If there’s a school nearby a studio you want to work at close to a guarantee there will be people working or have worked at that studio teaching there. They will also often offer internships to students at local schools. I mean literally go to meet people already working and use the fact your not working to go to parties these people through or open houses etc. get your work up to par and you will meet people around school who are looking for exceptional kids to give jobs to. One kid messed this up horribly he was an absolutely exceptional 3d artist but he brought an nda into his interview that his teacher got him, guess he was a bit narcissistic. Expect to be treated like a short order cook but with art. If you get a studio position it will be a working position and you will be expected to work absolutely illegal hours at many places because as I said these studios treat there employees like they are doing them a favor because you can put it on your resume you worked for this or that company. But to answer your question suck up to all the teachers who have industry connections and if your work ready you will get work. I was really anti social and I had a super bad attitude about sycophantic behavior. Nowadays I will tell you do what you gotta do as long as you’re not violating your relationship with God if that’s a thing for you.

[@dorjedriftwood2731]

Blender Guru yeah I honestly feel like the love of Art was beat out of me by people constantly trying to make me concerned with getting a job. I just never respond well to people trying to make me afraid.

[@ryzhov_art]

Best interviewer on KZbin! almost finished to watch em all! Thank you so much

[@joaopedrocamara2002]

Are you kidding me??? This dude work is AWESOME!!!!

[@juliourbano20]

Congratulations for the very well done work and care for the production of this interview. The content is very special for the new VFX and 3d Designers. Also the quality of the video is very high for KZbin. Well Done!

[@sethjg3d]

I love this interviews... gives people a deep insight into creative careers... and shows a path to to get there

[@williamtorres9781]

I love these interviews, very inspiring and enlightening, but I would like the interviewer to ask at least once if the artist knows or tried to use Blender, man you are BlenderGuru !!

[@danecustance2734]

Thanks Andrew loving these industry perspectives.

[@whispermusic3522]

I love these interviews it's very very informative and makes you know what is better for you thank you soo much Andrew do more Interviews like that please

[@evita1553]

Two beautiful people talking passion. Love it! ❤️ Thank you!

[@Sth3ll]

Excellent interview ! Editing is pretty cool also

[@PikaPetey]

first 20 seconds. Yup that's me. I work in the industry and then i go home and i work on personal stuff as a hobby.

[@chosenideahandle]

I work somewhere not overly exciting doing CG, but employees still have jobs after they finish a project. Like you I do personal projects at home (as a hobby and sometimes for vacation money, if it's something fun).

[@leaflo6960]

Appreciating this interviews.

[@Heavenira]

These are just the kinds of videos I need right now... I am in kahoots as to whether I should pursue college and the industry for myself. Thank you as always.

[@blenderguru]

Glad it came at the right time for ya :)

[@coreyaudet8574]

Thanks guys, cool interview, well done. Informational, inspirational, and down to earth human level of understanding the path from a small town to the background of a large studio.

[@oLucasX]

Great video man, quite inspiring. I will begin my 3dcg course here in japan next year, 4 year course, i thought that would be cool to learn things that dont necessarily goes to the west. But so far i am learning from your tutorials and it really made me learn in a funny and productive way. Thanks a lot man, Keep the good work!

[@oncodeii7509]

Very interesting. I study landscape architecture but the design process and critique process and work process is completely similar.

[@Splockyy]

Honestly, since I've stepped into my university, I feel like I've lost my love for art, or at least significantly where its small, I'm still hanging on to it because I can't imagine myself being any happier working in an amazing industry, whether that would be drawing, computer graphics, and digital art. School has made it a chore instead of a hobby. It's just all about deadlines from where I'm coming from, and not about embracing it and being inspired to keep learning from it. And I don't want that to be the case, because I can't lie to myself when I say that I have always procrastinated to pick up the programs and just have fun. But I feel like that I don't have enough time because my university keeps slamming me down from doing it. But maybe it's just me, my dream is still to be in the industry. But there are so many things that I want to do in it that I can't spend all of my time doing it all. I'm not sure if anyone else has felt this way before and what made you change. For me, all I can say is that I'm waiting for the inspiration again.

[@wizzscout959]

How's it going? What classes are you doing anyways?

[@Splockyy]

@@wizzscout959 It's going pretty good actually! I kind of have a road map planned out now. I'm taking an animation course next semester, as well as diving into figure drawing and illustration to help out my animation. Plus I think it's fun. :)

[@wizzscout959]

@@Splockyy Thanks awesome to hear, I don't have everything planned out but when I leave highschool I'm heading for a 3d artist route, typing this makes me pumped!

[@Splockyy]

@@wizzscout959 that's awesome! I would like to become a 3d artist too! Hopefully one day I can work on a film or a game whether that'll be a small one and then getting into one of the larger studios.

[@wizzscout959]

@@Splockyy basically me as well

[@AiSakurai]

I wish I already knew this before I graduate college way back 2011. hehe. Well then, still, its not late. Thank you for sharing!

[@hyrumlowry6129]

This really helped me know what I should do and what i need to improve on!

[@santoshpss]

These videos are awesome! Thanks Guru! 🙏

[@soumyaverma120]

Great interview.!.I also have taken an year off after completing my degree and i wanted to persue my career as character designer.I was having some trouble creating a plan for the year and this interview gave some help.Although it would've helped more if I could know more about the skills that i need to focus on other than creating just portfolio.Thanks.:)

[@drewpassey4260]

Thx so much for teaching me everything about blender your my “go to man” when it comes to that stuff

[@mikkelmelby]

YES ANOTHER INTERVIEW

[@gavineastwood7012]

Great questions, especially towards the end.

[@iclaimthisname9767]

Yes yes yes! Another interview :D

[@bijoyp]

Been waiting for such a long time! also, bring an animator pls

[@clouddesigner64]

Inspired Video Interview , That make me self confident and increase the encourage 🤓

[@beastaroxstudio9848]

Great interview, some one living my dream :P

[@chosenideahandle]

In the 90's (at Siggraph) I was told by a group of seasoned animators that Disney was then considered somewhat of a sweat-shop, where young animators were convinced they had to get a job to fulfill their dreams (they would start to look for something more suited to having a life outside work, after acquiring said job). I wonder how much this has changed in twenty-plus years, assuming a true work/life balance is really even possible. I'm now in complete control over how much I work, and I still can't seem to find a balance. Pixar becoming part of Disney (2006) seemed inevitable to an astute few after Toy Story (that still took eleven years lol). Much beer induced conversation regarding whether anyone would want to work at Pixar anymore followed. I assume things have changed if people still want to be part of the next Incredibles film. I imagine an honest answer may only come from a conversation "off the record", unless someone has no intention of working in the business again. The value of industry events for those looking for a job can't be overstated, in my humble opinion.

[@michaelchurch2957]

Grass tutorial pls! Specifically St. Augustine. Keep making amazing videos.

[@chimerical26]

You've hit the big time. Akinator guessed I was thinking of you in one go! I guess that means you're kind of a big deal.

[@Arthur.H.Studio]

Nice Interview!.. great guy/Artist

[@badbud2330]

noone is dedicated to anything like that everyone needs some push to go forward. Guys its a lie that they say you need to love it while doing it if you don't love it quit it. push forward and never cry and that you don't love it. noone loves it at some point (people are more similar than you think).

[@lockenessmotorsports818]

I'm in that stage i just don't know whether i truly enjoy it or I'm just forcing my self to do it

[@chrismalcheski9232]

A quick tip your mother never told you about. I only tried this in 2.8. You will like this if you have a hi res monitor. Move the mouse cursor over the properties menu - by default, lower right, like where you would create a new material. Anywhere in that area works. Hold down Control. Press the wheel down. Drag. The entire display of that area resizes. Want bigger fonts? Set them to just the way you like them this way without having to specify point size. Just drag until you like how big it is. Drag the cursor up, the fonts get bigger. Drag it down, they get smaller.

[@Mallerd]

Those first 20 seconds are enough reasons for any artist to work in the industry

[@gizmonomono]

What are your thoughts on Lumion? I see Poligon textures in it so I'm guessing there's a collaboration there.

[@ninad5032]

Hi Andrew, I am your new subscriber. Blender is completely new for me. I am referring your donuts tutorials which are really useful for beginners like me. Please do make some tutorials on animating a body at beginners level.

[@bhavinb.artstation]

Automation would take the industry one day we are far still behind but even if they will we shouldn't be discourage u guys are good enough to make Yur own carrer even when tht machine will give them perfection even if u can't do I believe in u don't let that dishearten u spread ur wings fellows and rise the machine might took place but they cannot take place of u it never can it never will so good luck and best of luck for u guys on Yur journey looking forward to see Yur guys soon

[@hardikpande6970]

Can you make an explanation video on all the operations of the Blender Math node. I'll highly appreciate that

[@tushar1594]

nice interview!

[@galactic_cake1027]

I think the beginning is very true, but 2.8 is here and format wise and new structure you seem to be catching on very quickly, can you make another beginner series but for this update, the format and everything is different

[@darky_rsp9967]

Hello, I would like to know if you will be doing a video tutorial explaining how you do the starting cinematic, as you did in your videos (Making a modern kitchen in Blender, in 15 minutes and Making the Lounge from Gone Girl in 20 minutes in Blender)

[@azkarabdo6141]

I like this thank you 😍

[@frankdillard2522]

So here's my question. I turn 58 in November, I'm pretty much helpdesk/sysadmin 101 guy. Right this minute I have an OK grip on Blender and the concepts of 3D CGI. A friend tells me I should learn rigging and animation as thoroughly as I can and make a small portfolio. Then shop my work out and be honest about my education and learning process. Make sure I can do decent quality rigging and animating and go from there. Am I chasing a stupid idea?

[@roboterson]

If you love animation and/or rigging go for it! I come from a comp-sci back ground and decided to go to school for 3d animation, when I was there I found a job title of "Pipeline TD" and its a good middle ground. I now work as one for an animation studio where I get to work with artists by helping streamline their workflow and help build tools that allow them to make scenes that where previously not possible.

[@frankdillard2522]

@@roboterson What specific areas would I make myself good at, and how would I make it work in a portfolio?

[@jasonfanclub4267]

if you can do scripting, I would suggest you to do rigging. You might find people that already modeled really cool characters online (f.e. on Blenderartists). It would be for them also great to see them rigged and animated. But learn what it needs for characters to be rigged. It can save a lot of frustrating time. Blender also uploaded some BlenRig tutorials on their KZbin channel. And in addition, rigging artists are always valuable. I guess there aren't many Blender riggers and Blender Foundation has their "character pipeline in 2020" as one of their next big improvements. If you have some experience until then you can become really important for the community.

[@abudabisas]

just post ur creations on youtube

[@jasonfanclub4267]

@@abudabisas KZbin is bad for work in progress and feedback. Better using a site like Blenderartists

[@nilsweijmer154]

Hi andrew. i understand you might be to busy to answer this but i really could use your help. i've done my own take on your subway stair tutorial with different materials and i get like 4 or 5 really anoying fireflies. i have tried everything in your 7 ways to get rid of fireflies. i tried puting refractive/reflective caustics off and on i lowered the light bounces on all lightsources. i was up till 12.30 am yesterday and went up 6 pm just because i couldnt sleep till i got this render done. i would really appriciate if you could maybe give me some more tips.

[@AllemandInstable]

i first foloowed you for blender tutorials at the end, i actually prefer by far your interviews, they are highly valuable with true industry professionals tips and insight

[@snim9515]

Can anyone please give me a time stamp where he is talking about learning cg in 12 month?

[@roboterson]

They don't go too in depth but its at 51:00 .

[@steve00alt70]

you cant learn cg in 12 months mybe just for the basics yea.

[@borisysenbaert4551]

These interviews are great! You should interview Captain Disillusion :)

[@potatohole8170]

Blender Guru has a cute smile :3

[@gamerlolol3475]

Hey I started with Blender and started with the beginner Videos . I have a problem with part 3 min 18.44 where you have to press esc to bring the top back to the Donut . I would appreciate help .

[@rotofxstudios]

Please blender guru , have you ever discovered that if you fracture a textured object ,all fractions will have different texture mappings when rendered which is weird. Please, can you do a tutorial on how to fix this. Thanks

[@starscream2092]

Will there be new blender 2.8 News tutorial ?

[@tigerroar6071]

Thank You, very much. Andrew can you interview some one who is a senior-mid level Digital Compositor working with ILM/MPC?

[@thomasc.9593]

Checkout the KZbin channel called Flipped Normals. They just did an interview with a senior compositer from ILM

[@akbaryunal]

Hey, maybe you can make a tutorial how to combine blender and green screen

[@wissamalhourani2291]

can you make a tutorial for texture mapping in 2.8 please ?

[@bywoelflegames9961]

So I know that I want to pursue the games/film industry. My passion is driving a story and giving the feeling of relatability to people who view my art. I do not know exactly where I fit or what it is that I want to choose. All I know is that I want to be a part of the whole and design something that touches the viewer... any advice for how I can find what I should specialize in?

[@AllemandInstable]

When will these interviews come back on the channel ? 🥺

[@joashpolite4266]

Hey andrew didnt poliigon used to have some free textures...for some reason i cant get to see any textures at all can u help pleaseee

[@tuhinmondal2200]

Hi there guruji, can you please please make a video about NLA Editor, and how it works. And please don't ignore my request because I have learned blender beautifully from your tutorials. So please😇

[@vnixz]

draw somrthing everytime he says "like" you'll be a master at the end of the video

[@ShadowSplicer42]

so if you are watching this in 2020.... "going for a hike or a walk"... quarantine feels

[@santex85]

you got 800 000 sub!!!!!!!!

[@oldchannel3650]

Andrew, could you please do a VFX tutorial. Thanks!

[@artemzhivushko6793]

Good day! Could you explain how to create a test scene for shaders (Shader ball)

[@nameseven]

When was the part when they talked about automation

[@kaisen7887]

Mr.Blender Guru can you make a tutorial about a steel shader pls??

[@krisnasyahputra4794]

Hello, I want ask you something, what software did you used for screen record?

[@krisnasyahputra4794]

Thank you

[@ats5010]

Just want to know what happened to Architecture Academy?

[@kokickss2488]

There's a twist, they're in a blender 2.8 dimension and are now making serious money

[@donovanmartin7946]

What kind of Disney artist 3d, modeling, concept, etc...

[@Blackfist_OfHade]

Hey can you make a pancake blender tutorial

[@SzymonWarunek]

but HDRI maps - are usually not free of charge :-(

[@FoxBoi69]

can the artists at disney just copy their work to private computers and then leak it to the internet? (with leak i mean like willfanofmany does)

[@jansen7640]

If you don't do it as a hobby already it shouldn't be a job for you. I know so much people who should know

[@rayanrayan7605]

I have a question, if I build a character is it easy to make motion ? because just a few video toking about blender animation

[@laurenzmatera7010]

Not too hard, you just need some time to understand how it works check videos about rigging and walk cycles

[@jaylane7027]

I wanna be a CG artist now.

[@prakashm2278]

Hai,please make a tutorial for designing realistic human characters in blender!!!

[@lonelylama5222]

MPP creations but that’s very hard even for artists that have done blender for years

[@hardikpande6970]

As I have heard that you have stopped selling your Architecture academy for it is very old now. So, I suggest that you should give it for free. It will make your viewers happy I betcha. Choice is yours.

[@yasiraboobakar1832]

Great. Plz make tutorial of short animated movie in blender. It will be highly appreciated

[@LiquidScorpion]

I'm interested in using Blender to create 3D animation content. I'm also a beginner willing to learn the process but I have three questions. I viewed the open source short 3D animation films made by Blenders software but I learned the budget of those productions were over $100,000.00 I thought you can download Blender than BAM... Go create. But how can I create a similar project of equal production value if I don't have that kind of money? What does that money go toward if its just the creator using free software? Can anyone help? Thanks.

[@SzymonWarunek]

Blender is for Artists and tallented people

[@santex85]

hi can you add more free texture on poliigon?

[@prod.pastel9261]

do you have a community discord?

[@harryalpert8002]

hi Tyler, How do i create a slit scan effect ib Blender? Thanks! Best, Harry

[@betalars]

1) make an ortographoc camera (might not be 100% nessesary, but still useful. 2) set your render solution to something like 1024x1 3) make your camera so a scanner style movement 4) render that animation 5) use a script to compile all the strips. For certain scenarios, you'll also "get away" with just using a regular ortographoc camera or a panoramic camera

[@harryalpert8002]

@@betalars thanks! i owe yo a beer!

[@momohnyaley7069]

I didn't hear asking him if he has heard of or used blender before. Hahahaha!!!!!!

[@ritankarsaha1982]

Is programming necessary for animation?? Also is it a good decision to take up an animation career in india?

[@darkblade4104]

I can't answer anything for India, but programming is not necessary for animation.

[@ritankarsaha1982]

@@darkblade4104 Thanks it helped a lot

[@davidnan5898]

Hi.My name is David, I am 16yo and I really want to get into graphic desingn, animation and vfx after I finish with he hs.I have 2 more years, but I dont know if its worth it.I mean, I always was a lets say "creative" person and in the last period I was very attracted by the graphic design, and I kinda know hiw to draw, I mean everyone around me says that i should' ve gone to the art school, but idk.Im also new to this things, and it would reoresent a major investition of time, lets say.Also, everyone sais that art and graphic design is "shit" and u dont get a lot of money from it or that its extremely hard to do that.Im also from Romania, and from what i know there arent that many "opportunities" for this.If anyone could give me an advice it would be very welcome..

[@HamzaScreamer]

Keep going you can get 1000,000 subscribers ❤️👍😊😁

[@keitzz5932]

*Plow Twist: The background was 3D Animated*

[@darksidegirl]

How many "likes"... oh god I also like, like this like interview. Nice! Just something important: Gnomon, or other schools are expensive as hell. You can do the same yourself by setting up goals for yourself. :-)

[@Herzfeld10]

when you noticed how many times the dude is saying "like" it's REAL hard to stay focus lol

[@darksidegirl]

@@Herzfeld10 In spanish we have something similar, "O sea" (I mean...) but the funny thing is that when people say it a lot... it seems like it's a "Paris Hilton" style person... I don't know if you know what I mean. Cheesy?

[@Herzfeld10]

@@darksidegirl haha I see, same in French, but i guess the man from the video is just nnot used to speak for that long in public, so it's more funny than unfonfortable haha

[@richardNbacchus]

what does he mean by flip It

[@skatenebula1008]

Hello, my name is Under Price 😂