This got me hired at Blizzard!? Reacting to my old portfolio.

Tutorials/Templates/Brushes - gumroad.com/trentk
Books - www.lulu.com/spotlight/TrentKa...
digital/ebooks - www.aquatic-moon.com
Twitter- / trentkaniuga
Discord - / discord
Equipment I use- www.amazon.com/shop/trentkaniuga
I don't work at Blizzard anymore, but I did between 2006-2012.
People ask to see this all of the time, but I was very reluctant to show it because standards have changed so much. I don't recommend that you do much of what you see in this portfolio. I was already a well known artist from the comic book industry, so doing exactly the same thing in your portfolio today might not get you a job at the same company.
Books available-
The Man and the Moonken (2019) - Illustrated Novella
The Beast of Tuksa (2018) - Illustrated Novella
Twilight Monk (2012) - 2 Graphic Novels
Nova Colony (2009) - 1 Graphic Novel
CreeD (1993-2007) - Comic Book Series
Ghost Rider (2000) - Comic Book Series
The Fuzz (1997) - Comic Book
Games Available -
Overwatch (PC, PS4)
League of Legends (PC)
Diablo 3 (PC,PS4)
Hearthstone (Mobile, PC)
Burning Crusade (PC)
Wrath of the Lich King (PC)
Indivisible
Unsung Story
Final Fight Streetwise (PS2)
He Man (GBA)
Terminator 3 (GBA)
CannonBallers (Mobile)
Ikeda: The Scrap Hunter (PC/Mac)
Goblins and Gnomes (PC)

[@thomasschaffer5612]

It wasn't your art alone that got you hired, it was your stellar personality too!

[@vadomendy]

@Dion St. Michael Are you happy with yourself? Middle aged man acting like a toddler, Lol! Lol!?

[@greenc1088]

@@vadomendy who are you referring to?

[@vadomendy]

@@greenc1088 He deleted he's comment but from what I recall he mentioned that the guy above was a simp for stating is appreciation for the personality, internet trolls I guess.

[@thattakashi]

So true! :P

[@mushroommagic1697]

Yeah, personality and body language are very important in job interviews.

[@vaneliot]

Dude you're my weekly dose of inspiration. Thank you so much, you might have no idea how helpful your videos always are to me.

[@EdwinDPZ]

"None of this is good enough to get you a job!" Gets job with said art.

[@KennyGsca]

This is unreal. Thank you so Much for Sharing Trent. This is the best portfolio showcase and breakdown i have ever seen, it is incredibly insightful and extraordinarily helpful

[@Co0balt]

Oh my gosh thank you so much for this video. I’m going into college and planning to major in art. My goal in life is to work for Blizzard as an artist (not necessarily concept though cause I know how hard it is to land a spot as one). I was very lost on what I should present in a portfolio and what exactly is a company like Blizzard looking for, so thank you for explaining the do’s and dont’s , and thanks for the inspiration! You got yourself a new fan!

[@freeflow313]

Always psyched when you have a new upload, Trent. I bought the concept art template off your Gumroad the other day. its already been a big help to me and the other guys on our little after hours, indie studio. 'preciate you, brother!

[@riba.radaranlage]

This was so interesting to watch! I am just getting started in art school and it's so inspiring to see where you could end up eventually when you are 110% commited and hard working (and with also a bit of luck I guess)! Thanks for this video!

[@brucenunn3268]

I still look Forward to This time of the week.. to see what you have posted Trent..!! Your Videos are “helpful” an I mean that..!! Makes me Wanna Strive harder to Improve and keep pushing on..!! Thank you for what you Share and the advice that you have given to all of us..! Trents Tool Box Videos helped me a Ton.. looking forward to more..!!!

[@tacticslc4805]

I love the line art stuff, it's so high quality, it can stand on it's own, but the colored artwork are even better

[@ElliotBoyette]

Awesome breakdown of the kind of thinking you have to have when building your portfolio. It always gives me a chance to self-reflect on mine and keep my eye on the prize!

[@charlottehpreston4908]

This really helps atm, I just graduated from 3d animation and i'm working on my portfolio atm, so thank you dude!

[@RSidd]

Thanks a lot for sharing this. Got a lot of valuable information. Even though the portfolio is quite old, some of the designs and ideas still hold up today. I really love your early comic book work though. Pure 90s nostalgia fuel!

[@lmaogottem7380]

Did anyone else recognise the Diner from Overwatch being heavily inspired by the artwork in 3:41? The way the napkins are laid out and the countertops, as well as the chairs, are all the same as they are in-game on Route 66.

[@balintallo9635]

Trent,this was one of your most helpful videos ! I can't say enough thank you for this 😅

[@rick2962]

Yeah, please a follow up :D no, really, i think it would be amazing to see just how much your art has grown, and your standards today

[@kombokhan]

This video is really really appreciated. Not only does it help me gauge just how out of reach or near I am to industry standard, but it also inspired me to go work on some stuff just because of your great art :)

[@kombokhan]

@Dion St. Michael bitch please. Speak for yourself. I'm already at a studio. Just not a big one

[@Sheppard2030]

"What's happening," Trent?! Thank you for the incite, as always!

[@illustrationguysumit7826]

I'am really addicted to this channel like oreo!.I have watched 8 to 10 videos again in couple of days.I have been following you since last year from my other account, I work for indie studio and its fun to listen to you in background while iam designing. thanks for your tips and advices those are great. and last but not the least those art works are deadly!!

[@EyekooDrawsStuff]

Oh I do enjoy Wednesdays. So interesting to see this. Would dig to see a follow up with your current portfolio as well

[@DessolBzH]

This is golden resources man, thank you so much

[@ArtPoetryImages]

Thanks for sharing. Very detailed critic of your own work. I will try the same with my work.

[@MasterMondayYT]

It'd be interesting to have heard the thoughts of the person who hired you. What they liked / didn't like at the time about your portfolio, but I appreciate that probably isn't easy to organise

[@user-jd1hy9bg1d]

It's depending on the situation !!!

[@seraby7151]

Some wont tell. But it definitely not just one person who decides especially for a big company with many art supervisors and directors. It usually comes down to a vote. For smaller studios... Yeah it's possible to get feedback after the interview.

[@retrogambit7101]

Came across this video and wow! I remember Wizard magazine did an article on you and Creed. Some great tips

[@Andra1150]

The ending is gorgeous :D

[@domenicopentangelo4549]

thank you for sharing the portfolio !

[@factorx7965]

this just goes to show that the art industry is no joke yalls keep up the grind

[@nihilist1680]

And now your old portfolio got you a new subscriber.

[@Spamkromite]

On one thing I noticed from his old portfolio is how many of his characters aren't upright but always "scrunched" down on their bellies to imply some sort of action pose. So many "scrunched" people in those concept arts 🤣Good thing he improved from that and now his characters are more dynamic and has more vertebrae at the lower part of their spines.

[@MissWebSlinger]

I loved this video, Trent! It was exactly the advice I was looking for. I have been researching what I should have in my portfolio. I have nothing and I don't now where to start/how to present. Unfortunately, most places I have found in my research have been to make a full fledged game by yourself if you have never been hired at a studio before. Then this full fledged game is your portfolio! I thought that was so ridiculous, I knew there was a better way. Thank you, Trent! So, would you say building off "fan art" of pre-existing games would be key to a newbie portfolio? Thank you!

[@titanoboaoficial2014]

Man thanks so mucho for your videos

[@sly8164]

Thank you! this will help me lots

[@TheKenttt]

_furiously taking notes_

[@mixlocks4195]

Another very helpful video :-)

[@ericduchesnes7340]

Thank you Trent for sharing !.. 👍 💖 🕊

[@erelmatita3559]

my goodness, I played the second Maximo game on PS2, one of the fondest memory of my childhood :')

[@valentinesvids]

Great video, inspiring thank you for posting this

[@RobinMadsenDK]

Very cool and interesting video! Thanks for making it :)

[@hanskrill5625]

You continuously prove yourself a mentor to the community. You may not have hired your 2005 self, but they did. Maybe they read between the lines and recognised your quality :)

[@user-xv9pb7iz9f]

Dude! You Rock!

[@tyronealarcon5864]

Hey Trent! Thanks for this post and others! I’m at the stage where I’ll be submitting my portfolio update with current projects and this video as well as the gumroad package truly streamlined the process for me! I’ll follow up with the results when I finally get this career move signed & sealed brotha! Again this was awesome, looking forward for more gold platinum nugs of wisdom from you!

[@justjorge4369]

So much to learn, and so much more practice ahead😵

[@dimifisher7942]

Thank you very much for that, really!

[@simonbiegler8768]

At the 2:00 the girl at the right in the second line strongly reminds me of the league of legends character Annie more mature i guess =) awesome videos btw =D got me into painting and stuff

[@mechtech220]

GOOD SHOW, MY GOOD MAN!!

[@rafaelfae7839]

Great video, thanks, man!

[@brainwashyo3328]

You are a genius man

[@wildbirdink]

great insight, interesting

[@jodyangel]

The last piece you showed looks like it could be in current sunken city of Nazjatar since it has some of the colors that they used in the zone.

[@dee6561]

How inspiring! I will try to work harder from now on, at least I hope haha.

[@thebeezkneez7559]

I knew from your earlier work night elf stuff would be perfect

[@JonLauArt]

Hehe I remember my art from 2005... It was...cra- errr I mean not good xD Granted I was still in high school. I remember the first application/portfolio I sent to Blizzard, circa 2012, and it was um.... "Why did I send this?" I still need to go through my portfolio (again) I swear it's a never ending process.

[@eggheadusa9900]

3:51 you’re a humble man for not saying the picture on the top right is spawn room for Dorado

[@RaysGallery]

thank you so much

[@LuNicz]

8:40 reminds me of WoW TBCs Arrakkoa treehouses Edit: What a coincidence that even Blizz was reminded of the Arrakkoa by your art even if by a different piece lol

[@TrentKaniuga]

I actually designed the arrakoa treehouses after I joined. So yes:)

[@LuNicz]

@@TrentKaniuga That makes sense, i had a feeling haha. Well you did a great job, i've always liked them.

[@valterbeicinha9633]

Omg you're the guy from MTG with cool cats!

[@tagone05]

Dope portfolio

[@iggorr25]

Very cool :D THX for the tips :D I really like your work on the Twilight Monk, been on your page. Would like to get into that world a bit. What do I start with? What would be the first thing to purchase from your website?

[@TrentKaniuga]

Check out the art book first. You can get the digital version on www.gumroad.com/trentk and the print edition on www.lulu.com/shop/search.ep?contributorId=716216

[@Ra1276]

That's an amazing skill...

[@thatboigone]

This is mad 😍

[@prinnb3637]

Hi I was wondering if you would do a video on a portfolio that would get you hired at aquatic moon now a days or something to expect at the level of the gaming industry in 2019

[@fabianwinters7826]

Hey so a lot in this is about Character/Landscape design or concept art. But do you also have a video talking about illustration ? If not can you recommend channels that has its focus on video game illustration ?

[@landan7626]

You made this the same year I was born. And I’m over here tryna be like you. How am I supposed to do that when you’re so great huh?

[@user-jd1hy9bg1d]

You have to imagine yourself great first, and AFTER you BEcome ! You cannot become first, imagination is first, the mental image is first ! Everything ever made was first a mental image.

[@JAIMINPatel88]

Hi can you share everything else about how you get hired ? Like how you prepared yourself. What was tje process of selection. How was the interview. How were the startg days. What was your first job there.. Everythng that you can share. Thank you for sharing your potfolio And alll the otjer videos.

[@joelportillo9713]

I’m trying so much to create a cohesive worthwhile portfolio. Is it wise to create multiple portfolios for different companies? I imagine that would mean changing up styles and subject areas. Would that be a good idea?

[@thexenobunny]

What are folk's thoughts on how to display their "idea factories"? For example, should a portfolio on artstation use many individual images of weapons you designed for a project or should you use an "art dump thumbnail" that basically says "click me, the weapon designs of such and such game". I hear that a portfolio should be skimable, a recruiter should be able to take it in at a glance. But with the power of artstation and mobile formatting, any recruiter with a forefinger should have the power of click and scroll through areas of interest that have been organized by project. Basically I'm asking, do you display everything up front, or do you utilize layered information in your portfolio website?

[@sshibes5172]

the ending caught me offguard lol

[@bluesap7318]

Awesome!

[@Fingrek]

Whenever I see that Creed kid I have Hayato from jojo/Masaru from Karakuri Circus in my mind. I wonder if you were inspired by either

[@ifrahsheikh711]

TMNT has always been my fav.

[@PsychMandril]

Dude, that was so informative. Thanks a lot. Can I ask u something? If I'm bad at traditional art, can I still be good at digital? Can doing digital art improve my traditional art? skills?

[@MrHajsen]

You can! Doing digital art is a good way to learn how to draw because you can fix your mistakes without a problem and do them the better way, and it will improve your traditional skills because a huge part of drawning is learning the basics etc. If you wanna improve be sure to check out the r/ArtFundamentals subreddit for some good beginner lessons, you can do them digital or traditional

[@KershalJC]

N0

[@PsychMandril]

@@KershalJCwell, im okay with both so never mind

[@_sparrowhawk]

Bravo ! ^^

[@chungah_5537]

Hey Trent, I am an aspiring concept artist in AUS, and I was wondering if you need to live in the US of A in order to become successful in the industry, or if there are any other industries than the American one (in terms of vidya games). Anyways, thank you for your videos, they are so so so helpful. Keep up the good work! - Samuel

[@TrentKaniuga]

Mr jack is from Australia and they hired him at Blizzard pretty quickly. It's not a problem for a US studio to hire you from Australia.

[@chungah_5537]

@@TrentKaniuga Thank you so much Trent, this is very reassuring!

[@JAdrew]

Hey trent, i have a question, lets say for example, i am drawing a house, and its green, is there a way to change it to black? Without erasing and recoloring?

[@TrentKaniuga]

google "photoshop replace color"

[@AndrewMaksymBrainNectar]

5:05 Putting a timestamp here as a reminder for me.

[@spirosspero6070]

How do you get so good at characters and environments,and the to top it off stylised and lineart etc but also photorealistic art. I personally do characters but suck at environment and vfx.

[@TrentKaniuga]

Hah. you're too kind. I'm not much of a photorealistic artist. But since I went independent I just embrace the kind of art that I love to make. If you embrace what you love, you'll find that you get better every day and eventually people who also like it will find you.

[@Kimmieziven]

Hell even though it was 15+ yrs ago.. its hella good old art wtff

[@jessesuhonen2005]

Nice video, as always! Have you considered becoming a "teacher" on skillshare? I recon you already have so much material to just put up a class without recording anything new. I know you have your gumroad channel and it's probably doing good for you, but I think it wouldn't hurt to have another channel for your audience. + If I'm not mistaken, you can really make some serious cash as a popular teacher on skillshare. And yes, I do have a subscription on skillshare and thats why I would like to see you on that platform :D

[@royalecrafts6252]

insane that without a single problem solving design in there you got hired at blizzard

[@XonixDerps]

When Zoe was being designed I saw what you said: A separate sheet white facial expressions I assumed it was because shes verrry goofy in -game compared to most champions with a lot of face expressive added in. ( Interestingly it was done in greyscale too!)

[@EctoGamer]

He made zoe?

[@XonixDerps]

@@EctoGamer idk I was talking about what he said not did lol

[@EctoGamer]

@@XonixDerps oh ok

[@martinmikkelsen8183]

they just want to steal the original thought of the 0:45 character... he is like a lazy space monk ninja... i really like this...

[@martinmikkelsen8183]

the 10:00 "bird" also looks really sick... i want you to team up with the guys behind grim dawn and make a horror MMORPG...

[@TrentKaniuga]

Who? Creed?

[@bushrakanwal3506]

Hi! I wanna ask if I make my portfolio then on which website should I post to be known and get noticed and get hired by other companies or anything Basically... wanna ask "where to start?"

[@no-sleep]

yes, standards were a lot lower back then

[@user-jd1hy9bg1d]

You have to imagine yourself great first, and AFTER you BEcome ! You cannot become first, imagination is first, the mental image is first ! Everything ever made was first a mental image.

[@user-jd1hy9bg1d]

@Dion St. Michael Well , if YOU don't have faith in yourself then WHO ??? Anyway it's your choice to make ! What I said is valid, what you said, comes from a weak mindset. Growth mindset is needed to be successful at anything, hope you understand this ! Just listen to some interviews of successful people, and see how down to earth they are !

[@user-jd1hy9bg1d]

@Dion St. Michael UR COOL ! But nobody wants to waste their time, so don't waste yours ! Read Bruce lee book on philosophy !

[@djokotriono7787]

All the big names, like those during the golden era: their works should look pale in comparison by today's standard. But. Today's standard won't have something to ponder for improvement if it weren't for those golden era works. They've been pushing with their spirit where there were no standards like today exist; they WERE the standard. They're strolling the drums. They're raising the banner. This is how things are, this was how things were and this is how things will be. Good stuff, Trent.

[@SE6077]

3:36 top right, route 66 in overwatch

[@TrentKaniuga]

Naw. I actually have the concept art for that in another video.

[@SE6077]

@@TrentKaniuga almost looks like it but layout is different, same idea/inspiration I guess

[@ioioire4684]

@@SE6077 stereotypical 50s diner

[@astromonkey1757]

One day i'll react to my first videogame made and probably chuckle, right now i'm not chuckling at being pirated all over the globe.

[@badcatzgamedevelopmentcomp4808]

The day I graduated from art college I told a rep for blizzard that I would NEVER work for blizzard, I'm glad your happy, I knew an animator at bliz' that was one of the OGs on WOW, he said they just wanted to do better than everquest, for real.

[@badcatzgamedevelopmentcomp4808]

I didn't want to work for any big corp producers, especially Disney, nothing personal against bliz'

[@drawingaccount1793]

When I'm making portfolio should I include everything like landscapes, environments, characters, objects, machinery

[@TrentKaniuga]

Check out my many videos about portfolios for answers to these questions.

[@drawingaccount1793]

Trent Kaniuga thanks il just binge watch all your vids

[@user-yj5qf8yl4h]

우와~**

[@dominickkhan7554]

Trent, for a new comer would you say it’s harder to get in the entertainment industry since the standards and expectations are higher then before, I feel like it’s to much to bare all at once. If you have the chance could you possibly review some of my work on Instagram @doms_1doodles. It’s been a while since I’ve updated I mainly focus a lot on my personal work which is secretive at the moment

[@portalj]

That would be cool, but I’m not too creative. I’m trying to see what I could do that in terms of work where you draw. Any ideas?

[@XxBloopGirl]

Portalmaster 9 you could be an illustrator and draw really refined and good art based on concept art

[@portalj]

Ok, I’ll look into it. Thanks!

[@Renegade-Sam]

You're a fucking beast!!!! Sorry just wanted to say that

[@jyveco.575]

Hi, Do you still review portfolios? Can I send it to you? I would be glad to be reviewed by you.

[@regiluthfi]

Im not even surprised if warner bros hire you

[@Vladi_AK47]

I guess trying to run a YT channel is better than working uber after hours 😂

[@lavbas2107]

Trent the frat bro?

[@Lia-gd2gd]

I wish I could draw lmao

[@erickh555]

someone know a channel like this but with videogames 3d? (not blenderguru, i know him) like other professional with a youtube channel that shares his experience in the industry but specialized in the 3d field!

[@sophialopez128]

I'm not sure, but maybe try flippednormals? They do some 3d sculpting-related videos and I've heard them talk about some of their experiences in the industry; I don't remember the specific industry, but they might still be helpful for you to look into

[@factorx7965]

think like them be like them and youll become one of them >=D

[@aadeebmonowarkhan3273]

After seeing the portfolio I think blizzard will call you again someday!