3D Career Advice

[Pirateguybrush]

Hey guys,

I've been teaching myself 3d art for a short while now, and I really want to develop my skills to the point where I could get a job doing this, as it's something I really love.

I've been researching a few different options, and was wondering what you guys could tell me about them, and what might be the best option to go for. Unfortunately I don't have a strong traditional art background, and can't really draw or sketch to save my life. I'm having a fair amount of success with modelling in 3D so far, but my traditional art skills are extremely lacking. It's something I want to work on over time. While I want to get a solid enough grounding in modelling, texturing, lighting and effects, my real interest is in character animation.

I live in Western Australia, and these are the options (that I can see) I have available to me:

1) Teach myself, follow tutorials, practice, and learn as much as I can, put together a demoreel and look for work. So far I've been following tutorials here, and I've got myself a couple Gnomon DVDs that look really promising (but I haven't tried following them properly yet)

2) Teach myself while saving money for:
a) SAE college in Perth. They're a fairly widespread place and I'm sure some of you would have heard of them. I hear mixed reports about their animation class, so I'm somewhat wary of going to them.

b) AIE. This would mean moving to Canberra (urgh), and I only discovered this place tonight, so I don't really know how good they are. I was looking at their "Certificate IV in 3D Animation for Games & Film" followed by "Advanced Diploma of Screen (3D Animation & Visual FX) - autodesk Maya". I'm not so keen on living in Canberra, but if they're really worth it I would consider it.
www.aie.edu.au

c) Gnomon School of VFX: Cost (especially because I'd be an international student) is an impassable barrier for doing their full course, but I could conceivably get the money together for their 9 week Maya Fast Track course, which could potentially significantly speed up the process of teaching myself enough to get an impressive showreel. (I'm not naive enough to imagine it'll get me good enough to get a job, but it sounds like it could help get me up to scratch on the basics)

I'm open to suggestions for other schools (worldwide), but preference does go to Australian locations (I can get a student loan that way, but not internationally). I'm aware there's a couple other schools in Australia, but I'm yet to hear many positive comments about them. At the moment I'm leaning towards going down the Gnomon route and then continuing to improve myself. but I'm not sure what to do.

Advice please?

[sufined]

belive iin your self hve some patience and then work and learn with will dedication..i m too of your level but thats what keeps me alive and my passion for graphics/multimedia make me learn more and more.
best of luck

[Pirateguybrush]

Thanks for that =)

Anyone else who's been in a similar situation and succeeded care to share their story or advice?

[PixelPusher40]

Be wary of "Computer Graphic/Animation" Trade Schools. I always said if I could go back in time, I would have put a hi-end computer and some software on a credit card and learned myself. The school I went to in California (Cogswell Polytechnical) was pretty bad, teachers don't care and they just want your money.

I'm not saying don't go to school, just do your research. The best part about school is you "network". You meet people, learn about the industry, perhaps land a job through a friend. That's what happened to me. 10 years later, I've got great skills and I've secured a very nice living.

Here's the rub: I've also seen people apply for employment with my company who have little artistic talent. Unfortunately, those are the last people we hire. That's not to say you can't enter the game industry or film, it's just very hard because 90% of companies want to see a portfolio full of nice looking artwork.

Good news: Character animators (in my experience) have excelled without having the traditional art skills that other artists have. If fact, one of the best Char Animators i've worked with couldn't very well... but his animations were fluid.

note: learn to animate by hand (ie: pencil and paper). You can do this at home either with your computer or video camera on a tripod taking snaps of your drawings.

[Pirateguybrush]

Thanks for the tips, that's good stuff to know. As far as the schools are concerned, I've done a fair bit of research on Gnomon, and heard a large number of good things about them from former students, so I'm pretty sure they're a good school. I'm trying to teach myself a lot though, so hopefully I'll be able to work from there.

[L3XICON]

hey pirateguybrush its actually quite strange reading your original post, as apart from location (i am in the UK) its almost identical to my own situation. I've been teaching myself now for a couple of years, and the price of software and of training has been a real boundry impossible to overcome. personally my intention is to continue learning as much as i can, and produce as much as i can from the resources available. (Be interested in seeing what you think of the gnomon tut's you have bought, I havnt bought any but am considering it). With a decent portfolio of work, that shows artistic talent, and an ability to learn, I think it maybe possible (at least i hope so) to overcome the lack of a degree when it comes for applying to entry level jobs..

good luck mate!

[PHE Ash]

For animation, there is only one place to go! www.animationmentor.com
awesome place awesome school! just check it out. if you have questions shoot away.
btw I work at the SAE in zurich! its also a good choice but not comparable to AM also i dont know your level and we dont have a specific animation course anymore.

[Pirateguybrush]

Animation Mentor looks interesting, what makes it so good? Has anyone else here used it before?

Edit: Had a browse through the site and it does look good, but it is expensive - particularly for an online course. If you wouldn't mind telling me a bit about your experience with them Ash, and anyone else who's used them, it would be greatly appreciated.

[Sir-Knight]

I fell in love with drawing purely by accident as a means to get to doing 3d.

Little did I know I would have to fight my way into a fine arts primer course, then fight even harder to get accepted in a classical animation program... 4 years later only to become a full 2d animator for 2 years and a pixel artist for another 2 years.

Now I'm finally back to doing a bit of 3d for work at my current job.

I've found that the hardliners will keep telling you that you need a solid foundation in traditional arts to become a 3d artist.

I say BS.

Everything I learned as a 2d animator holding a pencil and a piece of paper, I could've learned in max (or other 3d software package) with a good teacher.

animation principles are animation principles, timing is timing, you can learn to draw a ball bounce to demonstrate stretch and squash or you can learn to use a piece of software to make a ball bounce to project stretch and squash. It's the same result with a different tool, and you understand the principle the exact same.

The same goes for anatomy, you can study drawings and photos and reference and sculpt in 3d just as anyone would cut a line with a pencil, does that mean your knowledge in 3d is any different than what that other guy's is in 2d?

Maybe 10-20 years ago when 3d was first emerging and hard to work with, yes you needed to develop spatial relation and 3d volume, sense of depth etc, but the tools now are so easy to use and learn with, all the problem solving has been done and all it is now is pure creation, as long as you have the patience to sit through and learn what the tools do.


That said... it doesn't hurt when you can draw your own designs and then model them. Or convey an idea to the art director through a sketch. So there is a minimum competency required.

Put in the time and effort to work hard and smart, and you'll learn everything you need. The only thing is that you may need a degree in art if you want to work abroad. Some countries have visa restrictions for allowing people to come in and work.

[Pirateguybrush]

Thanks Sir-Knight, that's really encouraging.

[PHE Ash]

well you have big fish to talk to like animators from pixar disney dreamworks bluesky studios. you will have each week a lecture (about 1 h of fine cut fun video) but studiing it and making notes it takes a lot longer. then you have a question answer session of 1 h each week where you meet your class mates and can ask your mentor questions about anything animation related. your mentor (big fish) changes every quarter and also your class => you build a big network and meet lots of famous character animators. you will do an assignment each week which is due to sunday. what else do you want to know? if i was you i would look for blogs of students from animation mentor. because you look at the principles in an unimaginary depth. sure i did some bouncingballs and walkcycles before. but there is so much going on. and each week your mentor gives you a critique on your work. you also draw sketchbookassignment. thumbnails and stuff. the rest is like a forum where you have your profile and most important your workspace where you upload weekly 2-5 times and show it to the communitiy. they will critique your work and you post on their work.. thats basically the way it works.
I would recommend it to anyone passionate about animation. but if you arent sure yet wheter you want basic 3d or modeling or some other job than animation you should go to a different school like SAE where you learn a bit (important just a bit) about anything..
hope to be of help

[PHE Ash]

just what i think and was told about sir knights comment:
its easier for you if you have drawing skills because you are faster in drawing than posing out in your 3d software.. its only important what is in the sketch like basic proportions, hips and shoulder angles. the rest of the detail is in the 3D model. so dont wory if your drawing skills arent that high.

[Sir-Knight]

oh, another thing, do you know what you want to do in the field?

animation mentor more about learning how to animate better, how to get your characters to act and seem lifelike, moreso than a school of design or technical knowledge.

[Pirateguybrush]

Yep, I'm really wanting to focus on character animation, it's definitely my main interest. I enjoy modelling and sculpting a little, but what little animation I've done I've found much more rewarding. Seriously considering Animation Mentor now.

I really appreciate all this advice guys, thanks

[PHE Ash]

tell me if/when you join