Are you a game designer, game artist or indie game developer? If so, welcome to my blog! I’m Ninichi and I’m a game music composer. I make music for indie games, films, shows and anything that needs music really! I also run this blog on my website, which tries to offer a place for people to learn, get inspired, share experiences, get tips and much much more.
I’m delighted to be sharing with you some thoughtful tips and insights today, from Lucy Jamie - a super friendly game artist and designer based in Melbourne. She has over 5 years of professional experience in the field and is currently
Who are you and how long have you been involved in game art and game design?
‘I’m Lucy (@LucyJamie3) and I’m a 22 year old Product Design student. I haven’t always studied this at Uni though. I use to study Social Psychology, however, at this point it was because I was scared of being rejected in the art field. Outside of this though I’ve been working freelance and contract for Indie Studios and Online Community for over 5 years. As a 3D modeler, graphic designer, photographer and concept artist. In this time, plus beyond in my free time I’ve built up a large skillset. This has helped me today find work in almost any art field, however my chosen areas outside of Product Design are Environment and Prop design for videogames and indie films.’
What top tips can you share with fellow game artists and game developers?
‘1. Your work is not going to look good to you - you’re going to think it looks bad and that’s never going to change. However, don’t give up, keep pushing and working and it will get better. We as artists and developers are too critical of our own work. This can be a good thing and a bad thing, just don’t let it get you down. Never give up and you have already succeeded.
2. Theory is important - what separates good artists and developers from bad ones is their extensive understanding of art theory. This is things such as light and perspective and anatomy. You can keep working and ignore these and you will get better, however you will always be held back from the great artists. Art is technical, study is required too, just like any other field.
3. There is no such thing as talent. This is a big one. Far too many people have a resistant attitude to starting art and design. Coming under the false guise of “I’m just not talented”, this is a lazy way out. Granted some artists start a bit better than others due to a whole range of unknown variables. However, everyone starts somewhere at the bottom. Just like riding a bike, you have to practice and practice. You have to increase your mileage and experience. It’s a process, you can’t just start good.
4. Self promotion is key - if you’re a freelancer or contract worker you’re going to rely heavily on self promotion. We don’t have the luxury of companies doing it for us, we must get out there. Showcase our portfolios and be constantly active in our field. This helps us to find work, increase our skills, network and even find full time work. Great services to do this are Art station, Twitter, Twitch and Discord. Yes, that platform that was built for gamers to connect with each other. A surprisingly large number of the gaming audience is interested in art and design and need work done. It’s a great place to get started and start people talking about you work’
What are the biggest challenges or mistakes you see people making?
‘The biggest challenges come from your own mind and your doubt of your work. You can doubt your work and this helps you to get better. You must though realize it has to stop at some point you need to push past this and not let the emotions stop you from working. You must never give up if you wish to succeed, it won’t be easy and it will take years but it will be a fun and worthwhile journey.’
What do you wish you knew before you started?
‘I wish I knew that art wasn’t a talent. This was a major hurdle that I had to get over. Realizing that even I can improve my skills and get better. I was stuck in the mindset of “I suck, I will always suck”. You might suck when you start, and realistically you probably do. But it’s unfair and unwise to compare yourself to top of the line artists. It’s just not realistic and it’s far too impactful on your mood. It’s great to have goals but know your limits, just realize that you’re not going to be at this level forever. If you just keep going you will get better, and maybe one day you will surpass those you once admired’
Thanks for these awesome tips Lucy! I hope that everyone finds something useful from these. It’s great to have your thoughts and perspective given your growth and experience so far in your field.
For further reading - here are a few other articles from the blog that could be useful to check out:
About the interviewer: Ninichi is a freelance indie game music composer who enjoys creating soundtracks for video games, film & media. She's composes in a wide range of styles & loves supporting indie game developers and indie filmmakers with their projects. Find out more about her game music or royalty free music and contact her to discuss your project and music needs.
Follow her @ninichimusic
