Need help with creating a kickass Game Portfolio

[TheDeterminedArtist]

Hey guys, how's it going?

I need help with creating a kickass game portfolio which is mostly character based.
I will be doing both 2D & 3D Art, comprising of 2D concepts(both WIPs & finished) plus high detailed 3D textured character models.

Here's what I've done so far.

I've first started with silhouettes & then chose a few that I liked.
Please bear in mind that I will still make changes until I'm fully happy with it

My character is a demon sorceror, set in the modern world who fights demons that plaque the city he lives in.

Character Silhouettes

First Clean lineart of character

[shiv0r]

And whats your focus? I mean for characterdesign it's too much focusing on just one character with different poses, which makes not that much sense because you try mostly in that stage to bring ideas on the table as much as possible. Than you choose some of them that fits more the direction and refine them. Here a examble:

That was the stage i just threw some ideas on the table topic was steampunk:

I choose some of the ideas and refine them:

Now i could just pick one of them and iterate them more and more.

And thats basicily is right now pretty wrong in your workflow if you're trying to do characterdesign.

Cheers!

[kurisil]

shivOr did a good job explaining the focus of character design.

Personally I would avoid spending too much detail work with silhouettes because its mainly for jotting down poses or very quick designs. I tend to do a lot of blocking, start off with a dark color for the main figure and lighter for anything I want to pop out. But you should avoid getting too detailed, leave that for refining like with shivOr's example.

[cherrylimeade]

I agree 100% with what @shiv0r and @kurisil said, but an extra tip I learned long ago...

Characters should be distinguishable by their silhouette.
Check out the characters for Overwatch (and beta versions of some chars lol). Even if you've never played the game before, you can tell these silhouettes have the potential to be interesting characters.

I know those pics you drew are all ideas for the same character, but you shouldn't hesitate to try making someone unique. The mask is a good start! Everything else however is incredibly generic. I recommend playing around with body shapes and check out websites like Pinterest for inspiration for outfits.

[TheDeterminedArtist]

Hey thanks for the tips. I did mention in the original post but the main focus isn't on character design. Its 3D character modeling. I want to model the character in 3D after I've done the character design.

Even so, I do want to show off the character design of how I got to the final design & 3D model of that character.

Thanks again for the tips, I'll use your approach to designing a character.

Previously I posted on both Polycount & CG Plus but nobody bothered to even reply with any feed back whatsoever. lol

[TheDeterminedArtist]

Hey Cherry

I've played Overwatch heaps on my PC
I wasn't hesitating to make that character of mine unique. The only reason why it ended up like that is because I wasn't having some difficulty with ideas lol

I guess the main mistake I made, was trying to pose him differently with some different clothes but didn't work out as expected.

Also I've using Pinterest while doing those silhouettes for the poses but only found reference for some of the clothes & not all of them.

Like told Shivor, character design isn't my main focus. I'm designing this character, so I can model & texture him in 3D.

Though I do want to include my character design, along side my 3D model so I can show how I got to that stage.

[shiv0r]

If you want more to go 3D modelling than I would suggest go to artstation pick some good concepts and ask the artist if you can use them for your 3D Portfolio.
Because that would be your job most of the time anyway if a company hire you. You get the concept and need to model it without to lose mostly the direction and mood from the concept.

I think you invest just to much effort in a area that the potential artdirector or character-lead dosen't really care, because your 2D Skills are not of a level to impressed them.

Don't forget the only function for your portfolio is to get a job in the industry that you prefer.

[TheDeterminedArtist]

I'll pass on that suggestion.

I don't like using someone else's work to model a character in 3D.

I'm gonna put a hold on my portfolio for the time being.
Instead I'll just improve my 2D & 3D skills more. Human anatomy is important & I need to improve on that, otherwise my portfolio wont be impressive regardless of whether its 2D or 3D.

Also I'll be looking at other 3D Artist's portfolio & ask them, how they got into that industry & what do they look for in a 3D Gaming portfolio.

Thanks again for your honest criticism.

[kurisil]

Just keep producing artwork and you'll see your skills improve. I would focus a ton on drawing from life or doing anatomy studies using picture references.

It's a good step but you should post your modeling work sometime as well for critique.

Otherwise I think you're on the right track for improving your skills, just keep at it and you'll see progress down the road.

[TheDeterminedArtist]

Of course!

I've got Cubebrush's Gesture drawing app plus nude life drawing photos as well.
Plus I'm doing Inktober & making a requirement to draw everyday or every other day for this whole month to improve my drawing skills.

I will post 3D work in future, even in its WIP stages

[zantiquex]

A-Are you a-a professional?...