Back to basics
I’ve been a game artist for a mobile gaming company for the past two years. I was lucky to get the job based on its need for a flash artist, which I am.
It started off well, but I was more of a tech artist than an artist and I’ve been improving my art as I work. However, I don’t think the company believes I’m improving fast enough, so I may be out of work soon.
Which leaves me wondering if I should go back into full-time education. I’m 33 years old so have been working for about 10 years. I have saved enough to support myself and do a course in art foundations, which I feel I missed out on. I did a degree in animation, but it was awful. With so many short courses online these days, would it be better to create myself a more bespoke learning experience that way?
Also, is there an online directory for all of ImagineFX’s published articles? Rick, via email Beren replies First off, I hope you aren’t laid off Rick – that would suck. I’m also interested in why the animation course was such a stinker? But if you’re seriously thinking of getting back into art, the fundamentals are a pretty damn good place to start. I’ve just come back from a week at the art festival Trojan Horse was a Unicorn, in which I heard digital art luminaries Craig Mullins, Robh Ruppel and, well, just about everyone I spoke to, stress the importance of mastering the fundamentals of drawing.
Craig personally said that going to an actual school was important for him, as it instilled these basics into his art brain. But if you have the drive, I’m sure you can make the most of online classes.
As for our online presence, you will find a good selection of ImagineFX articles over at
www.creativebloq.com. It’s not all our stuff, but has plenty of workshops and shorter tips from the best artists around. Good luck!