TWITSKETCH

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                                                         DOODLING FUN FOR EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a CG Artist, VFX Artist or Concpept Artist - If you’re an Artist you love to draw, right?

This is why I’m telling you about a Fantastic site called Twisketch.

So…do you doodle all the time? Do you aimlessly sketch when in meetings? Do you deface napkins in your local cafe? Well now you can focus all your latent talent with Twitsketch!

Follow the simple steps below and join the Twitsketchers by following @southerngfx and getting the daily sketch topic.

OR visit www.twitsketch.com and look at the most recent Twitter post for the latest topic

As you come across time in your day when your scribble hand gets twitchy then draw that theme and upload it with Twitpic or Twitfire and share with all the other daily doodlers

Remember, follow @southerngfx and search for #twitsketch on twitter

Don’t forget to add #twitsketch to your twitter post or people won’t be able to see your image when they search!

CAN I SUGGEST A #twitsketch Topic?

Of course you can, most definitely! Email topic@twitsketch.co.uk
We will take on board your requests and suggestions and maybe use one in coming Twitsketches

#Twitsketch DAILY SPECIALS go live! Adding to your daily #twitsketch fun are the daily specials.

Occasionally we will post a one-off special that will be taken from a number of specialist categories including caricature, evolution, vehicle, superhero, open-ended, historical. These are not numbered twitsketches but it is important that you add the category to your post. Your Twitter post should read `#twitsketch Caricature: Obama` for example. That way we can search by category as needed.

Some examples would be:

Caricature: Quite simply you take the name supplied e.g. Obama and Google- Image-search the name. Use one of the images as a reference to do a caricature sketch of the person.
Evolution: You will be given two creatures e.g Rhino x Stag Beetle and you need to meld the two species together in some interesting way.
Superhero: The challenge here will be to create a be new superhero from the topic supplied e.g. Chicken boy or Sponge Girl. Or, they may be an existing Superhero with a twist e.g. Overweight Spiderman or Skinny Hulk
Seasonal: Haloween, Easter, Xmas, Chinese New Year etc.
Anatomy: Straight forward anatomy. You will be given a subject that includes some part of the anatomy of a human or animal and you work on that part all day or until you get bored.

Get involved in this popular past time - It’s great fun!

CG Artists: Let Your Team ‘Add Value’

CG Artists: Collaboration is key

In my last post ‘What Has Twitter Done For You? ‘ I underlined how important it is to connect with your fellow professionals in order to grow in the CG Industry, this is because you are exposed to the different thinking methods of other CG Artists.

I also hinted in that post, that it is very easy in this day and age, to connect with others with the help of the Internet.

So why benefit from the Internet and start to connect with you fellow Artists in a different sort of way…COLLABORATE!

Every time I see inspiring CG Stills, Concept Art or a great 3D model on a forum, blog or magazine, I always think to myself, ‘I’d love to work with that guy/girl’.

Six months ago it dawned on me,  I can work with these Artists (provided they agree) whenever I want.

All it takes is an email, tweet or forum post to get you started, the important thing to remember is that you’re able to effectively sell your skills, obviously you need to have a pretty clear idea of what you want to create in order to convince the other Artist that it’s something for them worth doing.

I’m not saying the first person that you email will say yes, but I’m sure you will find another CG Artist who is willing to collaborate towards a common goal.

There are endless CG Communities and forums out there on the web, try CG Society, 3D Total, 3dm3, ImagineFX, there are literally hundreds of sites where you can find your ideal candidate.

The next time you come across a some CG Art or Designs that inspire you, why not think of a way you and the other CG Artist can collaborate on a project together, combining your specific skills with theirs to produce something fresh and new.

In my opinion it’s not always the best option to go for glory yourself, if you help others and they help you, you can collectively work on the same goal and have more of a chance of succeeding.

Yes…you have to split the glory, but that beats splitting nothing, do you agree?

Are you interested in finding another CG Artist to collaborate with?

What Has Twitter Done For You?

Connecting with your fellow professionals is important in the CG Industry, when you connect and build up a relationship with others in the same industry, it allows you to see things from a different perspective.

Twitter (in my opinion) has proven to be a fantastic and effective platform for CG Artist to connect, build relationships, network, share ideas, share tips/techniques and all much more exciting stuff.

Twitter is so many things, it’s a central HUB for people to announce pointless things, such as ‘I just got in the bath’, ‘I’m picking my nose’ and other stupid stuff, but it’s also very ‘value adding’.

There are tonnes of CG Artists adding value on Twitter, sharing tutorials, CG News, looking for work…Twitteris a discussion board, a forum, a chat, it can be whatever you want it to be.

The reach Twitterhas is extraordinary, you can ask a question and expect a reply from people that aren’t even on your follow list, this is because on some occasions some of your followers spread the word by RT (Re Tweeting) your questions to ‘their’ followers, and the followers of ‘their’ followers, exponentially until the question, which (in your eyes) was only intended for a few hundred people, can be seen by thousands.

Now that’s a very powerful reach.

I personally have met some very good people (CG Artists and other) through the use of Twitter and I can say that a few of them, have opened me up to a world that has literally changed my life, Twitter has given me the chance to connect with my fellow professionals and individuals who share the same passion and outlook on life as I do.

I have grown as an artist by interacting with my followers on a level I wasn’t presented with in any ‘forum’ format, Twitter has given me a platform to create CGTweetUP, which is a CG Networking community aimed at helping  CG Artists / Digital Artists to better connect and build relationships with their fellow professionals.

For me Twitter has a very strong CG community which is thriving and one I hope to add value.

If you’re a CG Artist, Digital Artist, VFX Artist and you’re not on the Twitter Train, YOU’RE MISSING OUT!

There are some very approachable, WORLD CLASS talented Artists out there ready to connect with you, so what are you waiting for?

Sign up for an account today, introduce yourself to your fellow professional roaming Twitter and make the most out of this amazing and FREE networking TOOL.

The opportunities which will present themselves will be endless.

What Has Twitter Done For You?

CG Artists: When to Hold or Fold Ideas

CG Artists: ‘Be the expert in your team’

Do you consider yourself a CG Artist with expertise in a specific field? Is your expertise used in your current Job Title/Role?

CG Artists: Your hands are your tools, take care of them.

Hi everyone

Today’s post is a little different to any that I have done previously, this isn’t going to be a rant nor is it an article about anyone else.

Today’s post is about me, (well sort of).

Recently I have re-discovered the passion for traditional art skills, specifically…2D drawing, actually I can’t take full credit for the new found passion I now have for digital painting, I have to thank a very talented CG Artist who I work with.

I can’t mention his name because I don’t know whether he’d appreciate it or not, but I will tell you a little bit about how this has come about.

The other day I was talking to this CG Artist about some sketching he’s been doing lately (which I thought were excellent), he told me that he was practicing, which impressed me, especially when I see a top CG Artist working harder and harder to hone their skills.

I asked why he was going back to traditional art and not doing working on 3d, he told me that he had problems with his right hand and a Doctor (specialising in RSI), had advised him to stop working or risk the chance of permanent damage to his right hand.

This very determined and passionate CG Artist, has taken the advice given to him by the specialist and as consequence, has stopped working with his right hand, he has been working for the last 3/4 years only with his left hand, he is not left handed nor is he ambidextrous, he is just a determined and talented CG Artist who was not going to let an injury to his hand, stop him from doing what he is so passionate about.

The work he is currently producing is amazing, excellent 2D and 3D skills and all with his ‘weaker’ hand.

I was so impressed an inspired that he would show so much commitment, determination and passion to essentially ’start again’ and learn all traditional artist skills, that I would do the same…obviously I am not using my weaker hand but I am honing the skills I have neglected for so long.

We all love CGI Art but we must not become static on the traditional front, by bettering our traditional skills we become a more powerful CG Artist.

It is extremely important never to become static or complacent in this career.

There is so much to learn, especially when we are still able to, physically and mentally.

Your hands are your tools…take care of them.

What would you do if a Doctor gave you the same advice?

Anthony

CG Artists - Invest in yourself…not just in a piece of paper.

Scenario: I want to work as a CG Artist in the CG Industry, but every job I apply for says ‘previous experience required’ how do I get my first experience as a CG Artist if I need experience to get my first experience?

Confusing? Yes. Impossible? No.

Most of us have been faced with this dilemma at one time or another, we are after our first gig as a CG Artist and we come across our dream job, only for it to read ‘previous experience required’, so we skip over the job ad  thinking we have no chance of landing this job.

We go from one ad to another, then another and another until we finally get our lucky break.

In my opinion you shouldn’t give up that dream job just because you haven’t got the ‘experience ticket’, what you need to consider is alternative ways you can get yourself into that company, even if you have to become tea boy/girl or even work for free.

If you really want to work for a particular company, why not ask if you can offer your services for free, OK, OK…I can hear you all saying…Anthony, are you mad…work for free? Yes, work for free!

Think of it as giving yourself a better chance of landing a job than if you came straight out of University, now you wouldn’t think twice about getting into thousands of pounds/dollars into debt, to invest in a university course, so why not invest in yourself, if a company is willing to accept such a proposal to work for free or for a minimal amount, bite their hand off, take the job, especially if you haven’t had too much luck in other job applications.

Even if you’re not working as a CG Artist right away, at least you will have your foot in the door, then it’s down to you to show that you have what it takes to become a CG Artist.

Once you’re in a games studio, or production house, you will be exposed to some of the best form of training you could possibly ask for, you will have access to some of the best CG Artists, Animators, Character Artists, and various other creative professionals anytime you need them.

If at anytime you want to ask for advice, it’s all in the one place, you would grow as a CG Artist quicker than if you were in university, at the same time acquiring the ‘experience’ that you originally needed.

Working for free isn’t for the mad, it’s for the smart, if you’re passionate about working in the CG Industry as a CG Artists and you believe that all you need is the a chance to shine, consider this option as your way of entering the CG Industry.

By doing this you will be showing the prospective employer, that you are keen to learn, that you are passionate about becoming a CG Artist, that you are ambitious and that you are confident in your abilities.

Employers love employees that have all these qualities, all these qualities will take your far in any career, especially in the CG Industry.

Try Investing in yourself…not just in a piece of paper.

Anthony Filice

CG Artists - Do you know where you are going?

As a CG Artist is it important to know where you’re going?

 If you don’t have a plan or any goals as a CG Artist it’s just like peddling on a bike without a set destination, of course if you peddle for long enough you will master the art of peddling, but you went on a journey you never planned and left it all to chance, which means you never controlled the outcome of your goal.

As a CG Artist this is the worst place you want to be in, stuck in a job which doesn’t inspire you or give you any opportunity of expressing your Artistic talents and passions as a CG Artist.

You would be surprised how many talented CG Artist are suffering this fate, they hone their skills as CG artists, they create incredible works of art in their spare time, but in their ‘day to day’ CG Artist job, they seldom get to show off their true Artistic talents and passions, the work they create in their spare time is the work they should focused their future goals on, they should focus on their Passion.

If you create goals as a CG Artist, you can plan the  necessary steps in achieving those goals.  Whatever your goal is, you must think big (of course you also have to be realistic), when you think big you become inspired and motivated about the higher self you just created in your mind and you will want to live up to that image.

You need to be a heretic, believe in your capabilities as a CG Artist in regards to achieving these goals, If you can vividly imagine yourself in that job or possessing a certain skill set, it will be the most important step towards taking action.

Have you ever asked yourself where it is you want to be in the next 6 months, 1 year, 3 years or even in 5 years?

It’s important (in my opinion) to set rough deadlines as to when you would expect these things to happen, the reason it is important is that it validates what you’ve set out to do and keeps your goals in check.

If you is to be working as CG Artist in the Computer Games, Motion Picture or Film Industry and the deadline you set was 2 yrs but you took 3, that’s fine because it’s not how long it takes you to get there, the important part is that you GOT there.

If you think of a goal as a difficult achievement and you think that you have to work hard, fast and furious to get there, this will only de-motivate you, you will be put off by the scale of the project and you will never take action.

No matter how small the first step is, you must finish it! It will give you a huge boost and the desire to proceed to the next step.

This is why I suggest to look at smaller goals, of course you will have more goals if you break down the larger goal into smaller ones, but what you will have is a collection of manageable, achievable and realistic goals,  for example if you wanted to build a house, you don’t just think up a house and it gets built, there are smaller tasks which need to happen first so that the house can be built correctly, like laying a foundation or building a frame

Without these basic steps, you can’t get to the end goal.

All the tools are out there to better yourself, there are no goals too big for you.

There are million of tutorials on 3D Modelling, Concept art, Character Modelling, the list is endless…however all these tools are useless if you don’t have the passion and desire to make it happen.

If you want to better yourself as a CG Artist and become inspired once again, set yourself career goals, make sure you take action and remember there is no rush, do things at your own pace, just make sure they get done…it’s not a sprint it’s a marathon.  

Believe in yourself
 
Good Luck

Anthony Filice

CG Artists - Why you’re not being noticed

 

How many of you CG Artists (3D Artists, Concept Artists, VFX Artists, and so on) that have your own Websites or Blogs are keeping tabs on how many unique visitors you’re attracting to your Websites or Blogs? (You can check all your website stats through your host provider).

Do you know where these unique visitors are coming from? Are visitors typing your name or service directly into Google (or similar) or are they getting to your website via a link located on another CG Artists Blog, CG Artists Website or CG community?

All these questions are important to a CG Artists exposure on the Internet, all this information allows you to see where these visitors are coming from, so you can better understand who is interested, who isn’t and how and where you should expand your connections.

Spend more time researching and understanding who your targeted audience is, find out where on the Internet your audience hangs out and go to them.

Retailers have this down to a Tee, example; they put new socks near the new shoes, because they know that people are more likely to buy socks if they are interested in shoes or the sweets and magazines by the check out because they know that customers can be easily tempted while they are waiting or bored queuing up at a packed check out, so there an example of the product going to its customer.

If you have a great CG Art website/blog and you have amazing artwork and content, but you’re not exposing the right people to it, then having a Blog or Website becomes pointless.

 

 

 

Attracting the right audience (potential clients or Employer) doesn’t happen by chance and it certainly doesn’t happen if you just sit back and wait.

To get your CG Artwork noticed, CG Artists have to network, this means, Blogging, linking to other websites, writing valuable posts on forums, and joining CG Groups…just to mention a few. Once you get the momentum going you’ll get noticed a lot more, by your fans, your fellow CG Artists and by potential clients/employers. 

If you like someone Else’s CG Artist Blog, comment on their work, it’s likely that they will return the favour, this way you build a better relationship with other CG Artists and if they ever need help, they might come to you.

You have to use the Law of Reciprocity, which goes a little something like this ‘do unto others as you would have others do unto you’.

It’s ok to work on a joint CG project, the way I see it is like this - ‘100% of nothing, is nothing…50% of something is better than nothing’.

So, in a nutshell -

1. Do your research, find out who you want to show your blog or website to.
2. Find out where these people are.
3. Go to them, hang out in these places, it might be Twitter, it might be a CG Artist forum.
4. Build relationships with your audience.
5. Go by the Law of Reciprocity…trust me it works.

If you want to be noticed as a CG Artist or you want more work as a freelancer,

Don’t sit back and wait…no one can see you if your sitting down, stand up and be seen.

Anthony Filice

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