Writeblr, if you use an online portfolio, what site do you use? Is Wordpress worth it? Should I try Squarespace?
I can’t decide if I should update/rework the Wordpress site I have to use as an online portfolio (it’s connected with my university, has .edu and the school initials in the url, free) or if I should register my own domain on Wordpress (not connected to university, costs money). Either way I’m essentially starting from scratch.
I need advice. I’m trying to get hired and expect I’ll need an online thing sooner or later. I have so little experience building and curating a website I’m out of my depth. I don’t even know how to code a custom theme on Tumblr.
The Business of Art w/ Jeremy Cranford (Blizzard Entertainment) @ The Art Institute of California Inland Empire (7/29/17)
Special thanks to Jeremy Cranford and Thomas Brilliante for making this event possible. For more updates on future events like this in the southern California area, please consider following Inland Arts on FaceBook. (Text-only version of this document available on FaceBook)
James Cranford’s life
Humble beginnings: migrant parents, food stamps, etc.
Attending college was difficult because of finances, but he ended up studying graphic design because he got a scholarship
After doing graphic design for years, he got an art directing job with "Magic the Gathering” and working in games/illustration since 1996
Worked on “Metal World” style guide for “Mirrodin” set (2002)
What would environments look like on a metal planet? Rust, things hovering with magnetism, rolling silver plane, big metal spikes, mercury seas, retina green forests
Environments help you solve what the humanoids/creatures will look like in the environment
The humanoids/creatures? Enamel/scabs is replaced with metal, big metal bracers on humanoids
Also worked on "Spirit World” style guide for "Kamigawa” set (2003)
Started with the desire to help MtG sell better in Japan, which was a challenge because traditionally MtG is based on Arthurian lore/visuals
Unsure about just having American/Western artists riff on Japanese imagery, so he hired some Japanese artists to create more authentic content, which resulted in a very different feel
Example of a brief he didn’t like that he turned around into an engaging project
Also worked on “Ravnica” style guide
Brief: “overdeveloped urban fantasy setting”
Mountains = smelting buildings
Lead was very against having buildings on land cards, but this is an example of Jeremy challenging convention… why could land cards have buildings!?
Risked his job on this point because he really believed in it, and it ended up being a great decision
The creative solution may be an uphill battle, but it will always win out
Plains = created by the tops of buildings, inspired from looking out at the city from the World Trade Center
Swamps = city sewers, obviously
Forest = where they grew their food
First set when they started mixing colors (which are like “cultures” in MtG lore), which was an awesome opportunity to expand and develop new ideas
Blue/green = technology elves
Black/green = voodoo elves (inspired by New Orleans)
Black/red = fire demons, obviously
White/black = basically Catholicism
Red/white = military
Blue/red = mage + technology
First set to have a promo video (inspired by game cinematic trailers, intended to introduce the world)
Began working on World of Warcraft at Blizzard when they released a trading card game
Style was a bit of a learning curve (less realistic, more stylized)
Soon after, started working on miniatures game, which taught him a lot about manufacturing and allowed him to travel to China, etc.
He took a risk and left Blizzard to start a start-up with his friends called Solforge
It was fun for about 6 months, but he never regretted the experience because he learned a lot
Goal was to push things more sic-fi (nuclear winter world)
His philosophy over the years has been to take risks, embrace junctures in life, and have faith in the direction you’re going
Every time he took a risk, the pay off ended up being worth it
The universe has a way of showing you the path that’s most right for you
He says most of what he’s tried never works out, and he just ends up doing the next best thing - which turns out to be his career
Doesn’t always know what he wants to do, but definitely knows what he doesn’t want to do
Always wants to challenge convention
“Don’t try to make the art you do what you think it should do, rather let the art take you where it wants to go.” - Ben Thompson
“Leap, and build your wings while you’re falling.” - Ray Bradbury Finds inspiration from Borge Ousland (first human to go from Russia to Alaska)
Saw people’s discouragement as feedback/critique
Constant failures for 10 years, but learned a little every step of the way that led to his eventual success
Stick with it
Also finds inspiration from Richard MacDonald (inspirational sculptor, experienced a lot of misfortune, embodies the blind faith Jeremy talks about)
Advice for mastering your craft, building a portfolio, and being a professional
Being an art director is like being a coach - if the product isn’t performing well, the company looks to replace the art director
It may take you longer to master your craft than 4 years in college (DaVinci took 7 years)… be patient with yourself!
When he looks for an artist, he looks for a professional
Master your skills
Master drawing, anatomy, and rendering light onto form
Go to life drawing regularly… even if you’re not in school
He oftentimes looks at the hands
Master design, not just drawing realistically
Creaturebox is a great example
Large, medium, small shapes
High density detail (busy) vs. low density detail (rest)
Master painting and color theory
Nathan Fowkes is a great example
The best color is not always the most “realistic” colour
Master composition, eye flow, value groups, and negative shapes
Wayne Reynolds and Frazetta are great examples
If you’re struggling, check out Edgar Payne’s book on composition
Have a plan before you paint and add all your detail
Jomaro adds “working in threes” is a good idea - working in twos becomes “equal” and too “balanced”
Master story, emphasis, mood, and point of view
Ian McQue's work in the “John Carpenter” art book is a great example
Just because your rendering is perfect doesn’t mean people will care about what you’re drawing
What are you trying to communicate? Write that down and make sure you execute it!
Creating without a clear objective is a waste of time
Don’t cheat yourself - if you’re trying to hide your flaws… fix them!
Don’t use effects/tricks to hide your shortcomings
After you master your skills, target a market and advertise yourself (ArtStation, DeviantArt contests, etc.)
Send out cold-emails
See if you can get current employees to refer you to art directors
If you get rejected, evaluate your work and actually assign yourself tasks to improve on it
Pro life tips!!
Don’t be a drunk (why party when you can improve your skill?)
Dedicate yourself to your career/something higher/something you love
Have some range (in your portfolio) - never say “that’s not my style!”
Consider: reality vs. fantasy (in content), realism vs, abstraction (in style)
“I’m on it!” Never be an emotional tax on your team/leads - art directors will always go back to the artists that make things easy
This doesn’t mean be a pushover
"Show me the Money!” Think about how much you’re being paid and how many hours you’re putting in… are you even getting paid minimum wage?
If you’re being paid less than you’re worth/less than minimum wage, it’s not worth it… and you’re hurting the whole industry!
You’re better off investing in yourself - work at Starbucks and build a strong portfolio at night/on the weekends
As your skills go up, the money goes up (you need to go from good to great if you’re going to make it)
Do you know why you do what you do?
If it’s for the money… maybe you should just go into banking, because this isn’t really a path to make money
Jeremy does it because he simply enjoys it, which takes the pressure off
"You’re okay, I’m okay”
Growing up, Jeremy had a lot of depression because he was seeking external approval
If you get your approval from within, you aren’t giving the power to others to put you down
You’re the final authority on how you fell about yourself, how you treat others, and what you love and want to do
There’s beauty in diversity - just be good to each other and celebrate your differences
Question time!
Where should I go to school?
Depends on what you want and how your learn best - really successful people have not gone anywhere and really unsuccessful people have gone to great schools
Maybe consider non-traditional schooling like GumRoad and New Masters Academy
At the end of the day, you need the skills, and however you get them doesn’t really matter
How do you manage your time to develop range and show that range in a portfolio?
When you email an AD/recruiter, consider attaching 3 images that highlight what that contact is looking for in the email… and then lead them to the rest of your work if they’re interested
That’s all you need for “portfolio geared to a company” - you don’t need a full portfolio geared to a portfolio if you have 3-5 images you can attach to an email
Keep your portfolio updated! Don’t leave up bad work from a long time ago!
Even when you’re not asked to, following up on feedback from ADs/recruiters with new work is a great way to stay in contact and establish your worth
If you gear your portfolio towards one company and you can’t get into that company, you might have trouble getting into other companies
However, if you have a very rangey portfolio, sometimes all you need is an art test to prove you can execute the style
Know your stylistic limitations, too - if you know you can’t do something, don’t waste your time and the AD/recruiter’s
Having trouble focusing? Set an explicit goal for yourself/make an assignment for yourself… and set a deadline for it (or else you’ll never finish it)!
How do you connect with an AD without being annoying but also not getting ignored?
ADs are busy people, at the end of the day
Consider joining a forum/contest… sometimes your peers are better critics for you than an AD
Develop a circle of trust (people you trust to give you good feedback)
When you do meet an AD, remember “everyone is people…” don’t be weird about it!
Don’t be embarrassed/ashamed of negative feedback… own it and be fearless!
Remember: it’s normal to ask ADs/recruiters to look at your work… just ask for permission, give them an opportunity to say “no,” and if they do say “no,” offer to follow-up or leave your email/card
Also remember to maintain relationships with professionals, because they might be keeping an eye on you and hire you in the future… address their feedback, explain how you improved, etc.
How do you form a good narrative in a painting?
“Create a picture that has a gap for the viewer to fill in”/“Don’t answer/render everything” (Jomaro adds - “like a trailer!”) - Frazetta is a great example of this
Engage the viewers curiosity and get them to want to know what’s happening
Maybe look at storyboard artists/sequential artists
Also maybe identify a feeling/single word/etc. that embodies your piece… and strive to communicate it fully!
You can execute a complex idea in a very simple way
Do ADs judge you on your backlog/old work?
Always be producing work, or else you’re stagnant!
Always update your work with your newest stuff
ADs love seeing jumps in quality!
ADs aren’t gonna judge you for old work they find in a deep-dive, but be sure to put your best foot forward and have that easiest to find
What can you do to stay in touch while you’re waiting for a response on an art test?
Once you submit the test, it’s out of your hands
If it’s been a week, try following up with HR asking if there’s anything else you can do
If you get radio silence, it’s not the end of the world - be positive about your experience and open to future opportunities
Do you need to master digital/PhotoShop/ZBrush/etc. just like you master anatomy/colour/etc.?
If you’re skills and design are good, they’ll show through in any medium, but at the same time, not knowing PhotoShop at all can get you dinged when working in-house
What was your favourite project to work on and what did you learn from it?
“Ravnica,” because he struggled with self-doubt and had to put his job on the line for something he believes in
HearthStone has also been a blast
Is there anything outside of art that helps you as an artist?
Everything he’s told you not to do, he did himself, which is why he’s trying to help you avoid it
Letting go of the idea that his self-worth was determined by how other people saw him… compete only against yourself
It helped to stop taking himself so seriously and just have fun… eliminated the pressure and lets the creativity flow
Stop trying to get everyone to like you and your work!
Don’t just be a theory expert… put things into practice!
The biggest thing people are lacking is the mileage
Don’t get deflated by feedback… actually integrate it!
Don’t get discouraged by people who are better than you that have been doing it for longer… that’s normal!
The Beekeepers || Acrylic on 9x12 Canvas
20 January 2017
The faceless masters of the industry who bleed their product as they bleed their producers. Their only concern is their profit, even at the cost of an entire species.
Although beekeeping is not at all a driving cause of bee population decline, I feel that their treatment of bees is not befitting of such fascinating and essential creatures.
Friends I need to put together a sample of my stage management work/a portfolio but I have no idea what to include.
The only “production book” I have access to is a book of templates I made for a theoretical production of The Tempest (which is incredibly comprehensive, and I used it as a final project for my stage management class taught by a particularly meticulous TD). I’ve kept it as an example of what I intend to do for a production at a minimum. Is it worth showing if a producer asks for it?
Otherwise, I only have a handful of forms I’m using for the show I’m currently working on (scenic shift/props tracking/performance checklist), and a few rehearsal reports and script breakdowns from the last show I managed (which was March/April 2017). Is it bad form to show rehearsal reports?
Basically, how much is too much and how little would be too little? I’m a little desperate and kind of panicking. I’ve never been asked to show a portfolio sample before.
