Quote: Original post by Genjix
study is shit. Many pros just train hard. Learn to draw.

I have to disagree with you first statement. Studying is essential. Now this doesn't necessarily mean that you have to study in an institutionalized setting but you have to practice somehow.

It really depends on the position you want in the field. For example, a basic understanding of anatomy is good, but you don't need to be Leonardo daVinci if you want to be an asset or environment artist. For those you'd be better off studying objects, plants, and the like. If you want to be a character artist, then you should develop a deeper understanding of anatomy. Read some books, take some classes, draw some naked people.

Right now I'm entering my third year at SCAD and have had extensive training in foundation and computer arts. I've easily improved my skills ten-fold just by being there and working so much. My suggestion to you is if you don't feel like paying for schooling, pay for some tutorial DVD's or watch videos on Youtube. It's a slower learning process but it will work in the long run. The beauty about school, though, is that there's people to help you learn, whether student or professor.

Whatever your choice, it all comes down to this: PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE! When you're working in this industry you do NOT have the luxury of spending long amounts of time on a model. The last project I worked on this year was a level for Unreal Tournament 2004, and my group produced over 75 static meshes and about 125 textures in 5 weeks. It was an unbeatable and invaluable experience, and that is the kind of practice that everyone who's serious about modeling needs.