guitarboy

Hey everyone,

I’m just after any general or specific advice people might be able to give me as to ideas and subject material for a portfolio. I've searched and had a look thru older topics and found some good info, but I have also noticed that different countries and areas seem to look for different things, so I’m kind of hoping that maybe 1 or 2 Australian artists might lend me some of there knowledge and advice as to some things to try, and of course, anyone and everyone else’s advice is more then welcome.

A quick bit of background info on me so u no where I’m coming from. at the moment I’m employed in an architects office in Brisbane as a drafter and have been trying to get into the 3d section within the office, problem is that there not interested in any more 3d people because the work isn’t there for a person of any level, experienced or junior, so I’m looking at getting a portfolio together and seeing where the road takes me. Plus I’m also quite good at the drafting work and keep getting pulled back into it no matter how much I try to move towards the 3d, haha, no fair.

I’m getting to the point where I’m starting to get consistent results that I’m happy with for my level, though always trying to improve everyday, and really sick of straight drafting. Don’t mind the idea of moving to another state if the opportunity arises too.

Sorry if that sounds a little all over the place, but please, ask me any questions and ill be happy to answer, and any advice is always good advice.

Thanks heaps.

SandmanNinja

G'day...

I'm a firm believer in customising a resume or a portfolio for a specific market.
If you want Arch work, don't put a lot of 'Mechs in it. hehe

What part of Arch do you like? Interiors? Exteriors? combining renders with real life shots?

I think your best possible render of what you want to do should be the first thing they see.

Percentage wise, I think at least 50% of your portfolio should be targeted towards your primary goal. Then mix the rest up with really, really good renders of other aspects that compliment or otherwise show off your skills.

You might want to have traditional Aussie icon landmarks in the backgrounds or through the windows. Sydney Harbour from the lounge/family room of a nice apartment. The beautiful red centre behind a traditional house in a dry, desert environment.

Most of my portfolio experience is geared towards non-Arch renders and work, so sorry I couldn't be more helpful.

__________________
-SandmanNinja
website

Justin Hunt

There seems to be a bit of itchy feet going about.

From my experience once you are locked into a role it is next to impossible to break out of it without the need to move onto an other company. Its sad that your company isn't interested in developing both you, 3D and their company further.

As to what to put into your portfolio. You cant go wrong with a mix of commercial and residential projects , interiors and exterior. If you want an in-house job then have more conceptual style images. If going for a high-end job the only the best of the best of your work. Its better to have a small selection of quality than a whole heap of inferior stuff.

I am at the other end of the spectrum. I am tired of doing "SK to DD" 3D, I want to return back to the high-end, marketing wizz-bang work I was doing in London. I believe that there is a market for it in Brisbane, but the funny thing is that dedicated, quality archviz firms are rear as hens teeth here, as my searches have proved. I have steady freelance work, so I think it is a relatively short strep to go it alone. (Its the fear factor).

I too am putting my porfolio together so any suggestions (or job offers ) would be helpful to us both

JHV

guitarboy

Hey, thanks for the replys.

im wanting to get into the high-end level of renders, just my skill level doesnt get me there yet, haha, one day i will tho. nothings going to stop me, ill start my own business if need be. im not a huge fan of the low level SD-DD style work either, but ill have to learn how to crawl before i can walk first. im in no rush to get into things just yet, just keen and looking at the future. but i wouldnt say no to a job offer either like u Justin, haha.

as far as the sort of work i like doing, i love it all, ext, int, montage, residential, commercial, etc.. the more i do the more i fall in love with the work. im focusing mainly on lighting atm mainly because that can make or break a render and am really enjoying that aspect of the rendering, but as i get into more modeling, texturing, and the other processes involved, i can see myself enjoyin all them just as much.

i know of 1 or 2 brisy and goldy arch vis firms if your interested in talking to them Justin if you havent already, i know a bloke at one of them too, they do some cool work.

Justin Hunt

pm me , Im in the office for the next 10 minutes otherwise I'll check at home

JHV

mahorela

thought I might get in on this thread.......I think that Australian clients are definitely wowed and appreciate the high end archviz stuff.....I agree with Justin about the possibilities in the market for that. The problem is that I think that they have become used to the bog standard work that is around and assume that's all thats available. Archviz has become accepted by the market but I don't necessarily think that the market knows the quality levels that are possible. There are a few larger archviz companies around.....won't mention any names but I am unimpressed with alot of the work that they do. Perth is a big growing market at the moment (just turned down a job out there). But again I agree with Justin about the portfolio.....lots of variety....better to show a little of quality than alot of so, so work. I also think that it is a good move to have an online portfolio.....an easy way to get your work across to prospective employers.

guitarboy

Haha, we should get all the truely passionate and keen artists from around australia and form one solid national company that strives for the ut most excelence and highest possible quality work and best possible service avaliable and rock australias foundations, show them wat really is possible. show those firms that true passion and skill is better then sending work overseas for slave labour rates and tryin to make a huge super profit. thats just stupid. (no offence intended to the actually overseas companies, there not the ones at fault)

help give a stepping stone for young artists to break into the game while giving the more experienced artists the freedom and choice to work their magic in anyway they like on their renders and show how awesome things can really be.

i call company president and founder haha, only joking

Justin Hunt

Next time we are all in town we should getogther and have lunch. It would be interseting to put the faces to the names

JHV

mahorela

definitely

guitarboy

That would be cool.