By Timothy J Alt (Groodwanderer) (134.121.19.17) on Wednesday, February 05, 2003 - 10:58 pm:

My passion is 3d however it doesn't seem like a very stable carreer so I am really torn as to what i should do whith schooling. Some ppl tell me that i should go for it and do what i love, while others say that i should get a stable carreer. I was just wondering what some of you had to say about it who have carreers doing 3d. I read the articule in 3d festival and got mixed reviews there as well.

By Digital Freak (Trilogy) (203.31.48.70) on Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 01:11 am:

I say, you already know what you really want to do, so do it!

The Mind and Body always know the answer, you just have to listen.

I have always felt it's better to try and fail, then not to try at all...

Go with what you love, even if you don't make it, you will enjoy your time.

But if you believe that you have what it takes to make it in any industry, it may as well be in the one you love.

You will have doubts, and you will have hard times, but that will happen no matter which path you choose.

Life's to short to wonder what might have been.

By Timothy J Alt (Groodwanderer) (134.121.19.17) on Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 01:21 am:

thanks for the support it just seems such a hard decision to make. but even my wife tells me she would rather have me doing something i enjoy than just getting a degree for the and working for the money. I suppose i've always been happy with what i've, got even though it was never much. I just want to be able to provide for my family and give them opportunities that i never had due to a large family and poor income.

By Digital Freak (Trilogy) (203.31.48.70) on Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 01:49 am:

I guess the decision is that much harder,
when you have others who rely on you...

It's always possible, but it's never easy...

If your work is good, and your good is work...
everything will work out... You must have faith..
And self confidence must not be lacked.

3D is still and emerging market, even if the pace has dropped a little.

Of course it never hurts to put eggs in multiple baskets...

But i say go with instinct, it's never wrong!

By Timothy J Alt (Groodwanderer) (134.121.19.17) on Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 01:55 am:

yeah if only one could be assured all his hard work would be paid off. It is just so hard to figure out. I mean i am surfing the net checking out all the ppl out there that create 3d and there are some pretty amazing artists. I know i could do well if i had the time and training to put into the applications. But then again one never knows if the time spent will pay off in the end. I agree that one has to have faith if they are to accomplish tasks and goals, but like anything in life it is always the first step that is hardest.

By Beam Tracer (Beamtracer) (203.109.241.109) on Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 03:36 am:

It's not what you know! It's who you know. Contacts are more important than ability.

By kevin phillips (Kevman) (210.48.25.176) on Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 04:22 am:

I gotta agree with Beam - Almost every 3D job I've ever done is not because I looked for it, it found me through people I've met or talked with...

My current job, a *contract* role as a LightWave artist, has been stable for several months (almost a year!) - My first time out on my own, away from full time employment (Gulp - Gotta remember NOT to spend the tax money!) - It was nervewracking, but I figured if I think about it too much, I'd never do it - but I took the risk, resigned from a 3 year senior programmer role at a multimedia company and its been paying off for me so far!

In fact, the company I'm with is really starting to move forward and mature fast compared to when I started there! It was a gamble that appears to be paying off...

Of course, running the NZ LWUG also helps with contacts too... I've met some great people, and a lot of people I've never met before have emailed me from all kinds of wierd places around the world cause 'they heard about the LWUG'.

I suggest you find out if there's a LWUG in your area, and use it to network with other people. Meet people, get your ears around the gossip and you might start to find theres freelance work available, or better yet, opportunities in the industry!

If there isn't one, start one! (That's what I did) - You'd be amazed how many people just appear outta the cracks in the local area to hang out with you!

Also, get a web site - Post your work to forums, participate in forum chats (like this one) and get yourself seen...

By david maas (Dobermunk) (195.211.178.146) on Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 09:03 am:

Geez.
I'd say - do it. Love your work.

But I haven't had a single job fall in my lap. I think a realistic expectation as a freelancer (in many fields, not just 3D) is to spend about 30% of your time doing acquisition, 25% hunting down due payment and tax and stuff, and about 45% remains for actual work, including training yourself and presenting internet stuff.

By Randy Sharp (Randog) (198.211.88.11) on Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 10:49 am:

Timothy,

I have no idea where you are in your skills as a 3D artist. I will assume that you are considering going to higher education once you leave the 12th grade?

Anyway.....my advice to you...

Go to college and pursue a degree. While doing so, continue to develop your skills as an artist. I would look at majoring in computer sciences including programming. Many of today's high end artists can also program. Not all by a far stretch. But many. In hindsight it is how I would have proceeded.

While there also take some classes in art. If applicable to your humanities I would try to take a drawing, sculpting, art history, and film related classes.

As you advance your 3D skills you will also enable yourself to establish a career that may be applicable to production in many studios. And, if you cannot obtain a position as a 3D artist you have a career that you will be able to make a very nice living at.

Do you have any examples available via a URL or gallery?

-Randy Sharp

By Larry Shultz "SplineGod" (Larrys) (209.179.51.10) on Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 06:54 pm:

Tim,
This is an issue thats been around forever: How do I make a living at what I love rather then find a job I hate but pays well?
I would do two things:
1. Prepare by learning to do what you love to do 2. Have a backup career for those times when you cant find work in your preferred field.
Most people I know in this industry didnt start out in this industry. Randy was an engineer, I started out in the Laser field and so on.
On top of those things, learn to be frugal with your money, avoid debt, learn to live within your means and save money. If you can reduce financial pressures it makes it easier to focus on a specific career.
Learn to market yourself. Put up a website so others can see and critique your work. Most people in this field are not very good about marketing themselves.
Learn to make good contacts via the internet, your website, user groups, trade shows and online forums such as this. You stand a much greater chance of being hired if you know a lot of people who think you do good work as opposed to just mailing out demo reels.
Being flexible about where you are willing to move to get work helps too. Go where the work is or where it takes you if at all possible.

By Ken Mac (Kenmac) (67.83.211.28) on Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 07:22 pm:

I just had to have my hot water heater replaced. The plumber charged $105 per hour....

By Larry Leung (M_Shady) (141.155.23.74) on Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 08:17 pm:

I have never live for a single moment of my life as a plumber charging $105 per hour. I have a feeling I won't like it very much even if I have a chance. =)

Here's something I picked up recently from one of the best motivated minds I came across. And I am only paraphrasing what he said. He said like so:

"It's not an accident that we are born with that special gift...do something with it...everyone have a special song to sing..."

I think you should give it a shot, considering that you have a supportive wife. I think that's very positive. All my relatives and my folks are quite skeptical of me every find my way in this field. I sure like to prove them all wrong one day, soon. =)

By Ken Mac (Kenmac) (67.83.211.28) on Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 08:48 pm:

Larry,

I agree with you completely. You have a talent you should use.


The plumber sure did.
LOL

By Ken Mac (Kenmac) (67.83.211.28) on Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 08:50 pm:

Actually I figured it out.
Follow your dream and still become a plumber.

By Timothy J Alt (Groodwanderer) (134.121.19.10) on Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 10:09 pm:

Thanks a bunch on all your views, I was actually thinking of something like what Randy Sharp said:

"I would look at majoring in computer sciences including programming"

I was going into Pharmacy but just couldn't see me doing it for very long without getting completely miserable and bored. so i have decided to get a degree in computer science and maybe minor in art or something along those lines. I think i need to be practical, but i will never let go of my dream. If an opportunitie arises i will take it.

I will start posting things as soon as i get DSL at my place (a couple of days, oh please, oh please). I really enjoy all of the work you guys produce, and will keep you posted. Also make a webpage that I wont have to share with my wife, LOL. She likes to be in charge of the one i recently made.

By Rory Little (Rory_L) (61.117.20.33) on Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 10:12 pm:

Hello Timothy,

I`ve been lucky with my CG career, but before, when I was trying to be a freelance `traditional` illustrator I had no end of trouble making a go of it. I found that the secret was to have a part time job that paid for food and rent, but left me with enough time and energy to develop my portfolio and go hunting clients.

It`s a delicate balancing trick. At times I had all the time in the world, but zero money, with no job. At other times, when I`d found a paying job I`d be eating well enough, but would be too exhausted to work on the art!

Are there any part time plummer jobs??

R

By Timothy J Alt (Groodwanderer) (134.121.19.10) on Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 10:18 pm:

I've actually done the whole construction thing. I was an Air Conditioning installation and repair guy for about two years. Yeah they make good money, but when you look around and see these guys in there thirties complaining about a bum knee or back cause of the work i decided that i really didn't want to follow that path.

Oh and don't even get me started on the plummers they got it the worst, why do you think it costs so much?