作者：Neil Gowland

前言

在我的美术职业生涯中，我觉得自己一年比一年更有进步但变化不大，不过在过去一两年中我在生活和工作方面更有规律了，并且获得了目前为止最大的进步。我认为有必要列出自己的进步方法，希望对大家有所启发。

1.不要对身边的人才心存恐惧

当然大家都希望自己是所在工作室最棒的美术人员，所以当你觉得还有人更有才华时，就会心生恐惧。不要被为此所惧，应该坦然接受这一事实，要相信同更出色的人才共事你才会更快进步。那些没有任何同事可仰望的人，经常会发现自己的技能到达一个瓶颈状态，因为他们身边已经没有什么人可以让自己不断突破新目标了。

2.努力工作并在规定时间内完成任务

就我个人经历来看，多数游戏美术人员都是刚入行的新人，他们总是无故比前辈投入更多时间。他们经常把任务尽量拖长，但这却会对你和同事带来消极影响。首先，你自己很快就累垮了，你的作品质量下降，你会开始恨自己的工作，这会影响到你的同事，因为管理层会开始质问为什么大家不投入更多精力？最好的做法就是努力工作，在规定时间内完成任务。这样会让你感觉更好，因为你会觉得自己恢复了精力，老板也会很开心你们在截止日期内完成了任务。

Become-A-Video-Game-Artist(from g4tv.com)

3.即使上班了也不要放弃私人工作

你获得了行业的正式工作，也不要忘了在自己的个人时间内磨练技艺。我看到许多进入这一行的人，最后大多放弃了个人美术工作，因为在他们看来自己已经实现梦想了，但我认为这是一种糟糕的想法，有三个原因：首先，这个领域很小，工作岗位供不应求，总有一些出价比你低的人会取代你的位置。其次，你有一天也会想跳槽到其他公司，如果你的文件夹中100%都是工作中的作品，那就很难取胜（尤其是你参与制作的游戏不那么出色时）。这会让你看起来有点自满，没有雇主会喜欢这种人。最后，你要记住自己当初为什么要进入游戏行业。最主要是因为你喜欢美术，就我自己的经验来看，投入制作自己的项目远比参与他人的项目更有趣。

4.找时间给予反馈

要成为更优秀的美术人员并非成天都在画画，还有其他方法磨练你的技艺。我最喜欢的方法之一就是通过www.polycount.com或其他美术人员论坛给予其他同行一些反馈。我认为给予反馈之所以重要是因为它可以在潜意识中培养你的美术方向。在这一行的工作中，对他人的美术工作提供优化建议也是一种重要的技能。

5.不要变懒

这是我对游戏行业中多数人的最大牢骚，我讨厌这种现象。人很容易变懒，无论是个人工作还是公司工作。从根本上说这要归结于他们对自己工作的自满，开始将自己的工作视为谋生的一种手段。懒惰的端倪就是为自己不能完成个人项目而找借口。最好要将每一天看成是自己第一天投入工作，并投入100%的精力。毕竟这可是你从小就梦想的工作。

6.腾出时间陪家人

游戏美术人员经常要加班，但不应该令此影响到你的家庭生活。我发现许多人一直很纠结于家庭人际关系，因为他们将工作看得比家庭还重要。通常人们没有意识到这种情况，只有在他们退一步从另一角度思考人际关系时才会发现问题。让工作和家庭保持健康的关系可以让你过得更开心，这也会让你的工作受益。

7.不要惧怕失败

我发现人们没有完全发挥自己潜能的最大问题就在于害怕失败，因为惧怕失败而不敢尝试新事物。每个人在自己的职业生涯中都会遭遇失败，你越快从中释怀就越容易获得重生。犯错显然不是好事，但人无完人。最重要的是从错误中汲取教训，避免重走弯路。

要成为一名进步的美术人员，你还要敢于接手那些自己并不熟悉的项目和任务。那些让你紧张的项目，多半是因为你此前从未接触，或者上次你执行任务时它未能如期完成。这是最快的进步方法，因为你成功完成一个任务后，你所从中学到的经验都会存储在脑中，而这些知识可能令你终身受益。

8.确保完成你所开启的项目

每个项目的生命周期中，总有一段时期让你一看到它就生厌，通常这是因为它看起来很空洞，而你觉得自己还可以做得更好，但你不断重新开始项目时却是件很糟糕的事情。你会因此而落下坏名，让人知道你从未完成过一个项目，你的作品夹中毫无值得骄傲的内容。要投入精力完成项目。我保证你最终会为自己的坚持而欣慰。要知道一个彻底完工的平庸美术作品，总比未完工的优秀作品更棒。

9.不同的工作室体验

显然多数学生刚出校门时都会先向AAA工作室投放简历，因为后者通常能制作很棒的游戏。但是，我建议大家在求职时不妨放宽眼界。你可以试试在小型独立工作室或大型发行商工作室都体验一把，因为它们各有不同优势，而你并不一定知道自己更喜欢哪一种。例如，独立工作室一般都是小型团队，你会觉得自己在其中扮演的是更重要的角色，而在发行商工作室里，你会觉得自己不过是一台机器中的一个螺丝钉。

10.尝试不同角色

如果你是就职于一家小型工作室，你就有机会参与自己原来并不熟悉的工作。我建议大家接受这种机会，因为这会为你的工作注入新鲜感，你可以扩展不同团队的知识，因为你并非只做自己的主业，这样你在家制作自己的项目时会更拿手。虽然我擅长的是场景美术，但我常有机会扮演不同角色（例如粒子美术人员，关卡设计师等），我正是在这个时期制作了大部分成功的个人项目。

11.将自己的作品与商业游戏进行对比

将自己的作品与周围其他美术人员进行对比是常见现象，但如果同那些商业产品（游戏邦注：尤其是那些你所向往的公司所发布的游戏）进行比较，你可以获得更大的好处。原因在于这些游戏原美术内容可以让你知道自己需要多优秀，才能够为这些公司效力，这样你也才会清楚它的设计是针对哪个平台。我常看到一些人制作了极棒的个人美术作品，但在商业游戏项目中，这些设计并不具有技术可行性。

12.学习如何接受反馈

成为富有进取心的美术人员最重要的事情之一就是学会如何接受反馈。你初次接受一些消极反馈时可能会觉得心灰意冷，但要意识到接受反馈是一件积极的事情，即使这并非必要的积极反馈。原因在于如果真有人肯花时间向你提供反馈，是因为他们认为你值得他们花时间，他们希望看到你完全发挥自己的才能。

13.学习如何有效管理时间

对我来说这一点真是极为重要，因为我曾经认为自己没有时间做个人美术工作，因此我没有在个人项目中投入足够的精力。但通过www.worldofleveldesign.com网站上由Alex Galuzin所写的一系列关于效率的文章之后，一切都改变了。我推荐你也去看看上面的文章，我认为其中最重要的一点就是每天抽出30分钟不受干扰的时间，30天后你就会惊讶地发现自己的工作成果很可观。我开始用这个方法至今，总是发现自己很有激情地做事，每天也能抽出超过30分钟的时间。现在我发现自己最烦的就是听到有人说自己没时间。我有一份全职工作，两个孩子要照顾，还有一个房子要打扫，有个未婚夫要取悦。如果我都能找到时间，那么其他人也可以。

14.与其他志同道合的美术人员交友

作为美术人员，我做过的最棒的事情之一就是在www.polycount.com及其他类似网站上发布了我的作品。最初这很让人恐惧，但我获得了一些奇妙的经历，遇到了很棒的朋友，而我如果没有发布作品，就不可能这样了。这些经历令我不断保持激情，因为你永远不会知道下一段经历会是什么。

15.尝试在技术上先行一步

在我的职业生涯中，最有帮助的事情之一就是在技术上先行一步。我的意思是，尽量多掌握一些技术方面的知识，例如使用游戏引擎、学习下一代技术，掌握一个新程序（例如Quixel DDO或Handplane）用法，或者跟进GDC演讲内容等。如果你是那种经常能够为团队其他成员带来新知识的人，你会发现自己在团队中更加不可或缺，也会让雇主看到你的领导才能。（本文为游戏邦/gamerboom.com编译，拒绝任何不保留版权的转载，如需转载请联系：游戏邦）

15 Tips To Improve As An Artist

by Neil Gowland

The following blog was, unless otherwise noted, independently written by a member of Gamasutra’s game development community. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of Gamasutra or its parent company.

Want to write your own blog post on Gamasutra? It’s easy! Click here to get started. Your post could be featured on Gamasutra’s home page, right alongside our award-winning articles and news stories.

Introduction

Over the course of my art career I feel like I have steadily improved year by year with no great change, however over the last year or two I have become more disciplined in how I approach life and my job and I feel like I’ve made my biggest improvement yet. I thought it might be good to document some of the methods of improvement that I try and stick by in the hope that someone else finds it useful and inspiring.

1 // Don’t Be Intimidated By Talent Around You

Obviously everyone wants to be one of the most talented artists within their studio so it’s easy to feel intimidated when you feel someone else is more talented. Instead of being intimidated, you should embrace this as you’ll progress so much faster with talented co-workers. People that no longer have any peers to look up too, will often find that their skills will plateau as there’s no one around them forcing them to go above and beyond what’s expected of them.

2 // Work Hard And Get The Job Done During Core Hours

In my experience most game artists that are new to the industry will often work many more hours than veteran employees even when there’s no real reason too. They’ll often make a task stretch for as long as possible (you’ll find this is easy in an art career as art is never truly finish. but this has a negative impact on both you and your co-workers. Firstly you’ll get burnt out, your production will drop and you’ll begin to resent your job and it affects your co-workers because management will soon start asking why all employees aren’t putting in as much effort as the guy stopping back every night. The best thing to do is work hard, get your job done and leave on time. You’ll feel better because you’re more refreshed and your employer will be happy that your meeting all your deadlines.

3 // Do Personal Work Even If You’re Employed

Once you land an industry job it’s still super important to continue practicing your work in your own time. I see people coming into the industry all the time and most give up doing personal art because in their opinion they’ve made it and their dreams have become a reality but I’ve got three solid reasons why this is a bad idea. Firstly the industry is incredibly small so the amount of jobs available compared to the amount of people wanting a job means that there’s always someone willing to take your place and often for half your wage. Secondly one day you’ll want to move onto another company and quite frankly a portfolio of 100% professional work is unlikely to cut it (this is especially the case if the games you’ve worked on haven’t been that great). It makes it look like you’ve become complacent and no employer wants this. Finally you’ve got to remember why you wanted a job in the games industry in the first place. Most likely it was because you loved doing art and in my experience 90 percent of the time working on your own projects is more fun than working on someone else’s.

4 // Find Time To Give People Feedback

Becoming a better artist isn’t exclusively about doing art all day, everyday. There are other ways to hone your skills. One of my favourite ways is to give other artists feedback, often on www.polycount.com or other game artist forums. The reason I think giving feedback is important is that it subliminally trains you in Art Direction without really knowing it. The ability to suggest improvements to other people’s artwork is an important skill in this line of work.

5 // Don’t Get Lazy

This is my biggest gripe with most people in the games industry and I hate to see it. People get lazy, both with personal work and professional work. Essentially this is down to becoming complacent with their job and they start to see their role as exactly that, a job to pay the bills. Laziness results in finding every excuse under the sun to not work on your own personal projects. Do yourself a favour and treat everyday like it was your first and put in 100% effort. After all this is the job you most likely dreamed of as a kid.

6 // Find Time For Family

Being a games artist can be a pretty demanding job but don’t let that affect your family life. I see people struggling all the time with relationships because they let work become more important than family. Often people don’t realise this is happening but it’s obvious when you take a step back and view relationships from a different perspective. Being in a healthy relationship will keep you happy and this will bleed through into your work.

7 // Don’t Be Afraid To Fail

The number one issue I come across with people not reaching their full potential is the fact that their scared to fail and often hesitating to try new things for fear of failing. Everyone will fail at some point in their career and the quicker you learn to relieve that pressure and be comfortable with the thought of failing, the more free you will be to live up to your potential. Obviously making mistakes is bad but no one is perfect. What is most important for an employer is that you learn from your mistakes and don’t repeat them.

To progress as an artist you need to be undertaking projects and tasks that are outside of your comfort zone, tasks that you’re scared of failing. The type of tasks that have you nervous because you’ve never done it before or last time you tried the task, it didn’t go to plan. This is the fastest way to progress because when you successfully complete a task, everything you’ve learnt gets stored in your brain and that knowledge will be with you for the rest of your life.

8 // Make Sure You Finish The Projects You Start

There comes a time in every projects lifespan where you’re sick of the sight of it, normally it’s because it looks quite bare and you feel like you could do better, however constantly restarting projects is bad. You’ll start getting a reputation of never finishing anything and you won’t have anything in your portfolio. Always put in the effort to finish projects. I guarantee you’ll be surprised at the end result and you’ll be happy you stuck with it. After all an average piece of finished art is 100% times better than an amazing piece of unfinished art.

9 // Experience Different Types of Studios

Obviously most students straight out of university almost exclusively apply for AAA Studios because they are the studios that make the cool games. However I recommend that people be more open minded about what studios they work for. Ideally you should try a bit of everything throughout your career such as small independent studios or large publisher based studios because they all have their own set of advantages and its not necessarily obvious which one you’d prefer. For example independent studios are normally much smaller teams so you’ll often feel like you can play more of an important role where as at a publisher based studio it’s easy to feel like just another cog in the machine.

10 // Try Some Different Roles

If you’re employed at quite a small studio chances are you’ll be encouraged to help out in other roles that you’re not necessarily specialised in. I would advise everyone to embrace this as it will keep you’re job feeling fresh, you’ll expand your knowledge of the different teams and because your not doing your main job at work, you’ll more than likely undertake more personal projects at home. While I specialise in environment art I’ve had several chances to takes on different roles (Particle Artist, Level Designer), it was during these periods that I’ve done my most successful personal projects.

11 // Compare Yourself To Artwork In Commercial Games

While it’s human nature to compare your artwork to that of other artists around you, You will get much more benefit by comparing your artwork to the artwork released in commercial products (especially those products that are released by companies that you aspire to work for). The reason for this is that the artwork in these games are essentially showing you how good you have to be to work for that company and you can also be sure that it runs on the platform it was designed for. I often see people doing some incredible personal art but technically it would never be viable in a commercial product.

12 // Learn How To Accept Feedback

One of the most important things for an aspiring artist to learn is learning how to accept feedback. The first time you receive some negative feedback it can be disheartened and it can take a strong personality to handle it well but it’s important to realise that receiving feedback is a positive thing, even if it’s not necessarily positive feedback. The reason for this being that if someone takes the time to give you feedback they obviously think you’re worth the time investment and they want to see you reach your full potential.

13 // Learn To Manage Your Time More Effectively

This point is a super important one to me because if I’m honest I used to feel like I had no time to do personal artwork so therefore I didn’t put in the effort to get my personal projects off the ground. However that all changed after reading a selection of great articles on productivity by Alex Galuzin over at www.worldofleveldesign.com. I recommend that you read them all but one of the most important points I took away from them is to try and find time for 30 minutes of uninterrupted work per day and after 30 days you’ll be surprised at how much work you’ve produced. I started with this and now I find I’m always inspired to do work and find much more time than 30 minutes a day. Now I find that I get annoyed when people say they have no time. I have a full time job, two children to look after, a house to keep clean and a fiancé to keep happy. If I can find time for artwork then anyone can.

14 // Network With Other Like Minded Artists

One of the best things I’ve done as an artist is start posting my work on websites such as www.polycount.com and other similar websites. It can be pretty daunting at first but I’ve had some amazing experiences and met some amazing friends and that would have never happened had I never posted. Having had these experiences, its kept me constantly inspired because you never know what experience might be next.

15 // Try To Be One Step Ahead Technically

One thing that’s always worked pretty favourable for me throughout my career is to try and be one step ahead technically. What I mean by this is try and soak in as much technical knowledge as possible, whether that be getting familiar with a game engine, learning next gen techniques, learning a new program such as Quixel DDO or Handplane or even keeping up to date with GDC talks etc. If you’re the guy constantly keeping the rest of the team knowledgeable, you’ll find yourself becoming much more indispensable and your showing your employer that you have leadership qualities.（source：gamasutra）