10 Ways to Punch Up your Game Art Portfolio

Creating a compelling game art portfolio isn’t easy, but Human Head Studios’ Senior Artist Brian Pelletier is here to save the day with some helpful pointers. Brian has been hiring and directing artists for most of his 25-year career. He has reviewed over one  thousand portfolios and conducted hundreds of interviews, hiring more than 50 people directly. Now, he’s going to help you put your best work forward:

1. You will always be judged on your worst piece, so be very diligent about the consistency of your portfolio. It’s better to have a few high-quality pieces than a larger number of pieces with varying quality. Find friends, educators, or coworkers you trust to give you honest input when choosing your best work.
2. Most art directors will look at your art first and your resume second. Your portfolio will almost always trump the contents of your resume.
3. Your online presence is part of your portfolio. Be prepared for the possibility of your online presence (including art uploaded to other sources) to be evaluated as well. This includes your contribution to online art communities - are you supporting other artists? Do you leave thoughtful, constructive criticism? Art directors aren’t just hiring an artist, they are hiring a person who they feel will be a good fit for the team. Make sure that your online presence reflects this.
4. Ideally, have a project piece in your portfolio. This could be a game mod, a game jam, or any project that demonstrates you’re a team player.
5. Show your process on at least one piece. If you’re a concept artist, show the color studies, breakdowns, and rough paintings that lead to your final product. It’s also a great idea to share ideation from your sketchbook, as this demonstrates how you think about design. If you are a 3D modeller, include the reference and concept art that you built your model from. It’s okay to use other people’s concepts as long as you credit them. Don’t forget to show the maps and UV page of the art along with the mesh.
6. Most entry level jobs are going to involve modeling props, not creating concept art or modeling characters. If you’re looking to break into the games industry, you should have a number of world props in your portfolio to demonstrate your ability as an environmental artist. Environmental artists primarily focus on set dressing and creating props. When you’re building a set dressing portfolio, especially with a purchased asset bundle, work from real world photo reference to ensure that objects are placed realistically.
7. The objects you design and create should tell a story. How old is the object? How often is it used? Is it placed indoors, or is it outside in the elements? How does sun and rain affect it? Many people miss these details when set dressing or creating props.
8. It’s always good to have some examples of foundational art. Include drawings that demonstrate your understanding of perspective and lighting.
9. Always give credit where it’s due, be honest and specific about your contributions to a project. Point out specific objects or textures that you created, and be careful not to generalize. If you borrow someone else’s model and only make the texture for it, be clear about that!
10. Your portfolio should be easy to navigate. The images in your portfolio should be easy to access with the fewest clicks possible - the more that an art director has to dig to see your work, the less they will want to explore. Allow your work to speak for you.

Every hiring manager is different, but following these tips can help you get started in creating a persuasive and professional game art portfolio.

Keep an eye on Human Head Studios’ careers page for open positions in the art department, and be sure to check out our blog for more professional development tips!