KILLER PORTFOLIO TIPS - ArtStation Magazine

portfolio tips6 Keep your portfolio updatedYour portfolio should always be current and show whatyou’re capable of doing now. It’s fine to display someof your old favourites if you think they’re still part ofyour best work, but if you’re continually growing as anartist, you’ll no doubt have some exciting new art toshow – and recruiters want to see it! Even if you’veworked as a professional for some time and want toshow some of your older work from big productions,you should also include more recent work.“I delete my worst works,and relocate the rest to leavethe best ones always onthe top” Pablo Carpio,freelance concept artist7 Make your portfolioaccessible and availableTo maximise the chances of having yourportfolio seen by potential recruiters, makesure that it can be found easily. What goodis an amazing portfolio that nobody sees?Include a link to it in your resume and post itacross your social media channels. Puttingyour portfolio on ArtStation makes it morereadily accessible to other artists andpotential recruiters for browsing.“The more you work and post, the more you’ll get noticed bythe community, art directors and clients, and of course, you’realso getting better all the time!” Milan Nikolic, concept artistGet a pro account today! www.artstation.com/proKILLER PORTFOLIO TIPS9

8 Be consistentThis should apply to the quality andstyle of your art, and the level ofskill on show. This doesn’t mean allyour work should look the same,but it should have a sense ofhomogeneity. One of the pinnaclesof being recognised as an artist iswhen somebody can look at anartwork and identify it as yourswithout seeing your name.“If you try to getmany different kindsof jobs by postingeverything you’veever painted, it’sgoing to exposeyour weakness, too”Tan Zhi Hui, conceptartist and illustrator10KILLER PORTFOLIO TIPSWant a free edition of ImagineFX? http://ifxm.ag/apple-ifx

portfolio tips9 Showcase your strengthsWhile this might seem like a no-brainer, you’ll besurprised how many portfolios are filled with a jumbleof work. Even though in practice it’s always fun toexperiment and try different things out, your portfolioshould demonstrate what you can do very well. Identifythe projects and assignments that you excel at and besure to highlight them in the presentation of your work.For example, if you’re a character artist and you’reparticularly good at painting hair, make sure toemphasise that in your portfolio.“Never show work you’re not proud of”Bastien Grivet, art director and concept artist10 Include work in yourportfolio that you love doingRemember that you’ll likely be hired to do work basedon what recruiters saw and liked in your portfolio. Makesure that this is the type of art you’re happy producingday in, day out. You’re better off developing the skillsfor future projects at a company you’re keen to workfor, rather than finding a job that you’re proficient at,but don’t love. And bear in mind that you might beworking on these projects for a long time, so you’llwant to be doing something that won’t tire you out!“Keep doing what you love to do.Be aware of the competition, buttry not to let that influence you.Treat your practice tasks like playand it won’t feel like work. Thisis one of the most importantthing for longevity as an artist”Alex Figini, senior artist, BioWareGet a pro account today! www.artstation.com/proKILLER PORTFOLIO TIPS11

How to get yourdream art job today!Superstar AAA games recruiter Alejandro Rodriguez reveals hiswinning resume and interview tips to get you ahead of the packWhat should my resume say?Many applicant-tracking systems enablerecruiters to find keywords and applyother filters to a studio’s database. Somefirms sort applications depending onpreviously selected filters, so tailor yourresume to the company that you wish towork for. Ask yourself if your resumereads like the job description?If not, study the job description andpersonalise your resume to it. Make surethe recruiter doesn’t have to make a leapof faith to understand if you’d be a goodfit for the role.What should I put in my resume for thetime I spent working on my portfolio?I can understand why the “How long didX take you?” can be off-putting, but youshould answer truthfully. The personinterviewing you wants to quantify howlong it will take to complete the workthat will be assigned to you.Focus on efficiency, understandingthe tools at your disposal, and ways toshorten your development time withoutsacrificing quality.How do you narrow down applicants?One trait that’s always exciting to astudio is if the artist is always growingand hungry for improvement. I look forGuild Wars 2 artA character conceptby Ruan Jia.candidates who can hit the art style andwork well with our culture, and if theyhave a voice and creativity. I’m also abig fan for candidates that show anunderstanding of the fundamentals.AlejandroRodriguezWith years ofexperience underhis belt as arecruiter for thegames industry,Alejandro hashelped firmssuch as ArenaNet,WB Games andMicrosoft employnew art talent.“Make sure the recruiter doesn’thave to make a leap of faith to knowif you’d be a good fit for the role”12KILLER PORTFOLIO TIPSWhat are the deciding factors inchoosing the best candidate?Can their personality fit the studioculture? Can they do what the positionwill ask of them? Art is generally acollaborative process, so how wouldthey be a valuable addition to the teamand be able to add a helpful opinion tothe critique and development pipeline?What mistakes do you regularly see?The biggest mistake an artist can makeis to plateau, or not continue to grow.If it’s clear that you’ve plateaued withthe amount of rising talent out there,you’ll most likely be passed up. Workhard and you’ll be rewarded.Want a free edition of ImagineFX? http://ifxm.ag/apple-ifx

Recruitment adviceWhat a recruiterwants from you Art fundamentalsShape, colour, line, design: doesthe artist’s work follow thegeneral rules of art?Kite CityAn environmentconcept for GuildWars 2, createdby Ruan Jia.New Lion’sArchConcept artby Theo Prins,painted forGuild Wars 2.A lack of basic understanding offundamentals, bad presentation, andartists who don’t act like professionalsnever helps. Furthermore, recruiters andart leads have to review a large numberof candidates in a short amount of time,so we urge you to focus on your bestwork and enable us to understand yourartistic purpose.How can a candidate impress you intheir interview or portfolio?Have passion, heart and enthusiasm! Ifyou show an employer how interestedyou are in what they’re creating, it goesa long way. Show an employer that’swhere you want to be and that’s exactlywhat you want to be doing.What questions can candidates expectto be asked during the interview?You can be sure that if you’ve made itTechnical execution: 3DPolygon distribution, texturemap usage: does it look like itcan fit the targeted specs? If it’sfan art, will it fit into the productthat it hopes to pay homage to?Technical execution: 2DIs the work clear? Does it fitwithin the world it’s supposed tobe in? Is it done with the thoughtof it being handed to someoneelse down the pipeline? Forexample, does a beauty shothave a guide for a 3D artist?Overall presentationSometimes great art suffersfrom bad presentation choices.Overall visionDoes the artist show directionand passion for what type of artthey want to follow?Passion for their craftDoes the artist push themselvesin their work?Can they finish projects?Does the artist know how tosuccessfully complete a project?Pause for Thought3D views of a sci-fi character designconcept by Gareth Beedie.Get a pro account today! www.artstation.com/proKILLER PORTFOLIO TIPS13

What toexpect fromthe interviewprocess manager will speak withthe artist and furtheraccess their technicalability and culture fit.Contact from arecruiter/studioOnce a recruiter and artstudio determine thatyour art is a match,they’ll reach out to youfor a conversation. Thisis called a pre-screen.During this stage, initialconcerns such as salaryexpectations, culture fit,work history, and abilityto perform in studio willbe addressed.A testMany studios requireproof of ability to work.Others use your resumeas an indicator for yourability to hit the art style.In-house interviewBy now, the art lead isfairly certain that you’llbe able to do the job.Now the rest of theteam will determineculture and technical fit.Hiring managerphone screenA hiring manager isusually an art directoror lead. The hiringJob offerYou’ll be contacted by amember of the teamand a verbal offer willbe made.past the initial calls and art test, thenthe studio isn’t too concerned with youractual art skills. Once you’re invited intoa studio for an interview, the team willneed to determine if you’re a good fitand will want to make sure you’re notimpossible to work with.Sometimes studios will try to throwquestions at you that will raise thepressure and back you into a corner, butremember that they aren’t trying to bedeliberately mean – it’s mostly to seehow you handle yourself in toughsituations. So keep your cool!Here are some questions that youshould expect during the interview.What got you into art? What’s yourprocess? What part of the process isyour favourite? Least favourite? Do youlike to collaborate with other disciplinesor are you a solitary artist? Where doyou see yourself in five years? Do youwork on personal art? What projects14KILLER PORTFOLIO TIPShave you enjoyed the most? Do youknow “X” software?How much does a degree in the fieldcount for getting hired?In truth, it’s all about your talent andyour ability to work with a team. Hiringmanagers don’t worry too much about adegree when it comes to consideringcandidates for art roles.However, you should heed the wordsof digital sculptor Jon Troy Nickel, for hebrings up the main reason for you tohave a degree. “The bottom line is thatmost Visas require professionals to havedegrees or the equivalent relevantexperience: three years of relevantexperience per one year of lackingeducation. So even if you’re a greatartist, and if you’ve done five years offreelancing, or even seven years inhouse at a local studio, but you don’thave a degree, then your chances toenter the US, for example, are greatlyreduced for a standard H1B Visa.”Unnamed artNew environmentconcept art fromTheo Prins.Should candidates ask questions?An interview is a two-way street. Notonly is the studio trying to find out ifyou’re a good fit, but the candidateshould also figure out if the studio isright for them. The candidate should beinspired to ask all kinds of questions.What are the present and future plans ofWant a free edition of ImagineFX? http://ifxm.ag/apple-ifx

RECRUITMENT ADVICEthe studio? Can you describe the studioculture, process and day-to-dayresponsibilities? What are the benefits ofworking at the studio, such as anyopportunities to learn new software?The candidate should do theirhomework before an interview. Writedown questions, research the studio andwhat it produces anything, really! Getexcited about the possibility of workingthere, and the rest will follow.Fallen LogsConcept art forGuild Wars 2:Heart of Thorns,by Theo Prins.How much does location really matter?Relocation expenses come out of thecompany budget and are a cost that canbe averted. Therefore, studios usuallywant to hire local people. Few studioshave the budget to relocate largenumbers of people into their company.But the cost can be justified if theteam believes in the candidate. If thiscandidate can help the team like no oneelse can, then relocation becomes anecessity. So yes, if the candidate iscrazy good and a great team fit, then astudio will gladly relocate this person!“Once you’re invited into a studiofor an interview, the team will needto determine if you’re a good fit”Get a pro account today! www.artstation.com/proWhat would be your advice for peoplewith social phobia?The creative world is home to some ofthe most quirky and weirdest peopleyou’ll ever know, and that’s a greatthing! We’re all human and have somesocial anxieties, phobias and otherquirks that hinder us from interactingwith others at our best. When speakingto a recruiter, just be yourself and don’tlet your phobias define you. Be sure tofind an inclusive team that will acceptyou for your talent and personality.Apart from obvious HR violations,what’s a sure way to fail the interview?Overconfidence, where the skills don’tmatch the attitude. This is known as theDunning–Kruger effect.Inability to learn tools and workflows.Inability to take on feedback.A blatant lack of humility.A negative outlook. It’s absolutely fineto have negative experiences, but don’tallow those experiences to shape whoyou are as a person.KILLER PORTFOLIO TIPS15

Get the most from yourArtStation accountYou’ve created an ArtStation account – now what? Follow thesetips and tricks from the site’s team to make your work stand out 1 Make sure that there’s a wayfor people to contact youBelieve it or not, we often see accounts whereartists forget to make it easy to contact them.ArtStation enables you to add ways for people toconnect with you, such as a public email addressand social networks (Facebook and LinkedIn).It’s also important to set your Hiring preferences,because this goes into the Artist Search engineand enables companies to find you. Note thatArtStation doesn’t publicise the email you use tosign up, to prevent spam.3 Create a websitewith a pro account2 Upload a header image to your profileThe header image serves as a good way for people to quicklygauge your art style. It also provides an image that’s shared onsocial media, so for example, when people share your profile onFacebook, it’ll use the header image as the preview image. If onedoesn’t exist, it’ll use the first image in your portfolio and this canlead to odd results! We give advice on the website on how to geta thinner image for the profile header.16KILLER PORTFOLIO TIPSLots of artists set up a website,but then abandon it. However,they’re happy to post new work totheir ArtStation page. Upgrading toan ArtStation Pro account gives youa website builder, where you cancreate your own portfolio websitethat’s separate from the ArtStationcommunity. And when you updateyour ArtStation page, your Prowebsite is updated, too! You’ll getdomain name support, premiumthemes, customisation options andlots more. You’ll find more details atwww.artstation.com/pro.Want a free edition of ImagineFX? http://ifxm.ag/apple-ifx

GET MORE FROM ARTSTATION4 Make sure your profileor resume is completeArtists tend to be very visual and assumethat their portfolio speaks for itself. Well, itdoesn’t. You need to provide more completeinformation about yourself. The two mainreasons why you want to do this are:Employers will read your profile/resume.What you put in your resume becomessearchable. So if you list Maya and Nuke assoftware proficiencies and matte painting asa skill, companies using the Artist Searchfeature will be able to find you.When you complete your profile, you appearin the ArtStation search engine and meansyou can be found easily, as shown here. Youmay be missing out on a lot of potential workif you haven’t filled out your profile.“You may be missing out ona lot of potential work if youhaven’t filled out your profile”5 Use your real nameWe recommend that you use yourreal name rather than an alias.Unless you’ve already found fame,like Sparth, using an alias or artistname just makes you lookpretentious or, perhaps even worse,a fake user. We see a number ofthese accounts with a weird nameand no information providedabout the artist, and it just doesn’tinspire confidence.6 Include the breakdowns behind your artArtStation enables you to add many assets to a project.You can upload images, animated GIFs, video fromYouTube or Vimeo, Marmoset Viewer files andSketchfab 3D embeds. Projects with multiple assetsare, on average, 54 per cent more popular thanGet a pro account today! www.artstation.com/proprojects with a single image. People are interestedin seeing how you produced your work. So do yourselfa favour and include the WIP shots and breakdownswhen publishing your work, like Ben Regimbal has forhis Downtown Life image (below).KILLER PORTFOLIO TIPS17

7 Crop thumbnails cleverlyThe thumbnail that appears on the walls of art willencourage people to view your work. Some artists justupload their work and forget to create a decent crop ofthe artwork. By default, ArtStation will create a squarethumbnail by cropping a square from the centre of yourimage. Check that this works for your image, and if itdoesn’t, decide on the crop yourself and ensure that itshows off your work in the best possible way. You canalso upload a custom 400x400 square thumbnail.Don’t be cheeky like this artist (right). The ArtStationteam moderates the Trending wall and noticed thatthis artist created an inappropriate thumbnail. Beprofessional in how you present your work.8 Share on social networksArtStation is built to be a central portfolio thatpublishes to other popular social networks such asFacebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. When you publishyour work on ArtStation, it’ll pop up a dialog box askingyou to automatically publish the work to Facebook,Twitter and LinkedIn – and you should! By publishingyour work to other social networks, you gain morevisibility among your peers and potential employers.Here’s a tip: Make sure to add the link back to theArtStation project in the share description. Many artistson Facebook are also on ArtStation, and if they clickback and Like the project on ArtStation, it’ll help theartwork’s popularity and trending progress.“By publishing your work to other social networks such asFacebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, you gain more visibilityamong your peers and potential employers”9 Don’t dump all your workin a single projectSome artists on ArtStation make the mistake of placinga collection of different works into a single project,which then appears as a single square on the mainArtStation wall.A project should be considered as a single artwork,so you should post breakdowns for that single artworkinstead. Then, by posting more artworks, it gives moreof your work the chance to trend, appear on people’sactivity feeds and to be shared on social media. It alsomakes your profile look more impressive, because itvisibly contains a larger body of work.18KILLER PORTFOLIO TIPSWant a free edition of ImagineFX? http://ifxm.ag/apple-ifx

GET MORE FROM ARTSTATION11 Post new work regularly10 Consider categorisingyour work into AlbumsIf you have different art styles, you

and quickly. All your work should be labelled and presented in an easy-to-read way. Avoid making them flip or click through dozens of pages. The navigation should be concise and logical. Companies aren’t hiring you for