Dara Anya’s Post

✨ Taking Time to Level Up! ✨ Over the past few weeks, I've made it a priority to step back and refine my skills. In a fast-paced world, it's easy to keep pushing forward without taking a moment to assess where we can improve. I'm excited to share that I've been diving deeper into [specific skills or tools you’re focusing on, e.g., 3D modeling, advanced animation techniques, React frameworks], working on perfecting my craft and expanding my expertise. Growth doesn't happen overnight, but with persistence, I believe we can all become better versions of ourselves. Grateful for the journey and eager to apply what I've learned in future projects! 🚀 Feel free to connect and ask me anything about my projects so we can help each other to grow more #ContinuousLearning #SkillBuilding #GrowthMindset #AlwaysImproving

🤩 After a month of internship and creating a game prototype with Hology Engine, I've created several 3D assets using Blender and learned how to implement game economics into a game. 🙌 This week I learned how to implement character movements with lots of help from Adam Ringhede to code characters movements, I also learned how to use VFX from Annie T. to make snow and fire effects, and made a short Christmas demo using the Hology Engine. 🎅Merry Christmas everyone and happy holidays! ❄️ ☃️ 🎄 See you again next year! Stay tuned for more exciting updates on my journey.. big things are coming! ✨ #gamedev #3D #gameengine #blender

It has been roughly a year since I graduated Uni, a year of entering the "Real world" as all adults like to call it, when reality gives you a nice kick in the face and all the routines and day to day activities either vanish completely for become harder to do. I have been a little fustrated, mainly at myself because of this, I grew stagnent over the year after loosing alot of my schedule and routine. Gone are my needs to get ready for School, gone are the ideas of homework and studying late nights for assignments due in the next morning, I grew comfortable in the parts of my life that didn't involve these stresses, I have grown comfortable and that fustrates me. I have learnt through the last year through a mix of job searching and some work in my spar time that in order to achieve my dream, I can't accept comfortable, I have two bits every day, you don't climb a mountain in one day, you have to start small and build yourself up, I have been given the skills to climb my mountain but I also need to more open to the world and showing everyone what I can do. So, one post a day. I will post at least once a day, progress on my practice, anything interesting that I see or people/words that inspire me, if I can manage to keep one post a day I not only build up a "Comfortable" feeling towards social media in general, but I can show everyone what I can do and get the critique and awareness needed to get to the top of my mountain. It has been my dream to become a VFX artist, to be involved in the Media industry, I worked hard to get my degree, i know now more then ever that i need to work even harder to see my passion become my future career and so the path to that goal starts now.

Chroma 0111 - In Which the Author Talks about the Art of Detachment As an instructor, my primary focus is on equipping my students for a fulfilling career in compositing, not just securing them a job. My approach is grounded in the belief that true success comes from mastering the art of detachment and pursuing genuine desires. Navigating the path to the life you envision often starts with a powerful realization: not wanting something can be as fulfilling as possessing it. By embracing this mindset, you can focus on a single goal while cultivating indifference toward everything else. This strategic advantage allows you to care less, giving you the upper hand in negotiations, relationships, and business opportunities. This timeless wisdom suggests that detachment is necessary for inner peace, which is crucial for happiness. Although society often encourages passion for multiple pursuits, it's essential to realize that not everything is within our control. Being overly passionate about uncontrollable factors can lead to frustration and unhappiness. The concept of mimetic desire sheds light on our understanding of desire. It suggests that most of our desires are not original but copied from others. This leads to unnecessary competition and conflict over things that aren't genuinely important to us. In our journey through life, it's crucial to be mindful of the desires we adopt and the attachments we form. By embracing a mindset of detachment and focusing on our authentic desires, we can move closer to a life that is not only fulfilling but also true to ourselves. The journey to the life you want is not just about material wealth or external success. It's about staying true to your genuine desires, finding peace and happiness within, and pursuing a career that aligns with your values. As you contemplate your next steps, consider what truly matters to you and how you can pursue it with a sense of detachment and contentment. As an instructor, my goal is to train my students to the best of my ability, preparing them for a career in VFX that is both rewarding and aligned with their aspirations. I'm not particularly concerned with what studios want from my students; I'm focused on what my students need to thrive in their chosen path. 💬#AlphaChromatica #HeyGanz #Chroma #PersonalBetterment

Visual Effects (VFX) have transformed the way stories are told, enabling filmmakers to create worlds, characters, and moments beyond imagination. At the heart of this industry lies VFX software development—a specialized field focused on designing and optimizing the tools and software that make these effects possible. VFX software developers bridge creativity and technology, crafting advanced solutions that allow artists to animate, composite, and render complex visual scenes with precision. They ensure that the software supports high-performance workflows, empowering studios to deliver breathtaking visuals that captivate audiences globally. Interested in learning more about how VFX software development powers cinematic storytelling? Drop a comment or connect with us to dive deeper into this creative technology! #VFXInnovation #SoftwareDevelopment #GamutX #vfx #animation #education #training #learning #coding #coder #softwaredevelopment #developer #animation #instagrampost Gamutx, VFX, software developer, animation, coder, education, training, learning, Instagram post, coding, students,film, development, technology

🔎 Unlock Your Potential: Align Your Skills with Industry Demands! 📚💼 Dear CG artists, here's a pro tip to boost your career: Research job requirements and industry standards to align your skills and portfolio with precision! 📊✨ In the competitive world of CG, staying up-to-date with the latest job requirements and industry trends is crucial for success. Take the time to thoroughly research the skills, software, and techniques that are in demand. This valuable knowledge will guide you in honing your craft and positioning yourself as a valuable asset in the industry. 🎯📈 Start by studying job postings and descriptions to identify the specific skills and qualifications sought by employers. Pay attention to the software proficiency, technical expertise, and artistic styles that are prevalent in the industry. Tailor your portfolio, projects, and learning goals to align with these expectations. 🖌️📋 Keeping abreast of industry standards not only ensures that your skills are relevant but also allows you to anticipate future trends. Explore online forums, industry publications, and professional networks to stay connected and learn from the experiences of seasoned professionals. Embrace continuous learning and adapt your skill set accordingly. 🌐🚀 By aligning your skills with industry demands, you position yourself as a competitive candidate for job opportunities and open doors to new career possibilities. Employers will see your dedication to growth and your commitment to delivering work that meets their needs. 🌟💼 Remember, your journey doesn't end with acquiring skills; it's an ongoing process of refinement and adaptation. As you align yourself with industry requirements, you'll unlock doors to exciting opportunities and propel your career to new heights! 🚪💫 Join Creature Garage, where we empower artists to bridge the gap between skills and industry demands. Let's embark on this transformative journey together and make your mark in the CG industry! 🎨✨ #CreatureGarage #CGArtists #IndustryStandards #SkillsAlignment #CareerGrowth #ContinuousLearning #ArtisticExcellence #OpportunityKnocks

🚀 Exclusive 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 for the Upcoming Batch of '𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐢'! 🚀 Hey everyone! I’m excited to share some great news! In light of the recent challenges our industry has faced, with many losing jobs or just starting, we’re seeing a recovery with new shows and job opportunities on the horizon. To help you make the most of this time and prepare for these opportunities, we're offering an exclusive discount on the '𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐢' course starting 12𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭! 🎉 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭? The VFX industry is bouncing back, and there will be a surge in job opportunities soon. Now is the perfect time to learn Houdini and build a strong showreel to showcase your skills. This course is designed to be flexible, with classes on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, along with online recordings and extra help whenever needed. 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬: 🎉 10% 𝐎𝐟𝐟 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐨𝐮𝐭 - That's a saving of ₹3000! 🎉 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚 ₹2000 𝐎𝐟𝐟 for the first 10 joiners! 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦: 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘦-𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘺𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘌𝘔𝘐𝘴. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐥𝐥 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧: - 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐢: VFX Industry Overview, Houdini Workflow, UI, and more. - 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐬: Attribute Data Types, Geometry Spreadsheet, Practical Exercises. - 𝐕𝐄𝐗 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐕𝐎𝐏: Basics of VEX, Practical Projects. - 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐎𝐏: Particle Simulations, POP Networks. - 𝐏𝐲𝐫𝐨 𝐅𝐗: Fire and Smoke Simulations. - 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐝 𝐁𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐃𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐬 (𝐑𝐁𝐃): Simulations, Forces. - 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐝𝐬: Crowd Simulations, Optimization. - 𝐅𝐥𝐢𝐩 𝐅𝐥𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐬: Fluid Dynamics, Practical Projects. - *𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: Techniques and Optimization. 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧? ✨ 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬: Previous batches loved it! ✨ 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: From basics to advanced. ✨ 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭: Personal mentorship. ✨  𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: Classes on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your VFX skills and be job-ready! For more info, DM me or visit this link https://lnkd.in/dFafsG7f Let’s create magic together! ✨ #VFX #Houdini #LearnHoudini #VFXTraining #Animation #VisualEffects #VFXBOI #DamnHoudini #CGI #3DModeling #VisualEffectsArtist #FXArtist #AnimationSchool #HoudiniTraining #MotionGraphics #DigitalArt #CreativeLearning #VFXCommunity #HoudiniFX #3DAnimation #FilmProduction #SpecialEffects #FXTraining #VisualStorytelling #HoudiniArtists #BeginnerToPro #ArtisticJourney

As I said last week, I recently reviewed 78 portfolios from students seeking their first job in the entertainment industry. I created custom Loom videos ranging from 5 to 15 minutes to help students in the best way I could. I quickly noticed that I gave similar feedback to many aspiring artists, so I thought I would share the most common mistakes made by students and how to fix them. (Due to LinkedIn's maximum characters per post, it will be divided into 2 parts.) ✍ As a disclaimer, this is, as always, based on my own experiences, opinions, and talks I had with colleagues and friends working in the AAA industry in Europe. Depending on where you live, you might want to take a step back and ask around if this feedback applies to you too. 🙏 Let’s get started 🙌 ❌ People only comparing their work to the ones of their classmate. ✅ What you should do instead is look at the people ahead of you in the industry. They could be 2, 5 or 10 years ahead of you, it doesn’t matter. What matter is, they should be doing what you want to do later on. Start by looking at their portfolio and take an honest look at yours. Use PureRef to be able to put them side by side, compare and take notes. Their work is your goal, it’s you benchmark. Of course, their work will almost always look better than yours as they have years of experiences but if you managed to get 70% there, you’ll find a job once new opportunities arise. ❌ Thinking school is all you need to get a job. ✅ Art schools are vastly different from traditional schools such as medical schools, where a diploma means you can directly practice and find a job. Art schools are different, very different. The video game industry is somewhat unregulated, where diplomas don’t mean much compared to pure skills. Try to view school not as the end but as the beginning of your journey to becoming a professional artist. Think of it as an introduction to 3D, but know that it will probably not be enough on its own. You have to be curious and proactive to grow your skill set while being at school and after! ❌ Projects done during school are enough to get a first job. ✅ Don’t get me wrong. You can definitely find a job in a AAA video game studio with just your schoolwork. However, it highly depends on the individual, and continuing to work after your graduation is key to getting a job. Depending on your circumstances, it might be easier for some than others, but all you really need to do is spend an hour a day working consistently and making steady progress. This way, you keep growing and learning! I hope this was useful to you! You can find the Part II right here : https://shorturl.at/7KTLl See you there! 🔥

Most common mistakes and how to fix them for aspiring artists in the entertainment industry after reviewing 78 portfolios - Part II. The first part was posted on my profile last Monday. Missed it? No worries, click here to read it : https://shorturl.at/O4gHN 🔥 Disclaimer, this is, as always, based on my own experiences, opinions, and talks I had with colleagues and friends working in the AAA industry in Europe. 🙏 Done catching up? Let's get back to it: ❌ Using custom websites ✅ When it comes to the video games industry, using a custom website like Wix or Squarespace is more annoying than anything else. What you want to do when sharing your work is to reduce the friction as much as possible between your work and the leads looking at it. Having a custom website with a custom navigation and layout goes against that. By using ArtStation, you keep people in their comfort zone as they already know how to navigate through it - quickly. This is especially important when applying to a large studio which might receive several dozen applications. No one wants to learn how to go back to the home page when you have five seconds to spend for each candidate while all you can see is a “build a free website” banner at the top. ❌ People making themselves extra hard to find online ✅ I completely understand that most people want to protect themselves and their personal life online by using pseudonyms. However, here we’re talking about your professional career and to get a job, you need to be as much visible as possible. Meaning, your LinkedIn name should match your ArtStation name which should also match your email, making it easier for everyone to know who you are. I had several students who forgot to link their ArtStation, and since it wasn’t the same name, I couldn’t even find it on my own. Most studios won’t have time to deal with this kind of issue, so keep your professional presence online consistent and easy to find. ❌ Students don’t know what is expecting from them ✅ Most students that I gave feedback to had a strong foundation regarding their 3D artistic skills. However, when looking at their portfolios, it was easy to understand that they had little to no clue about what was expected from them. My advice to students reading this is to find a mentor, a master of their craft, and ask them to share their knowledge and time with you. They will offer advice and guidance on your core skills, but more importantly, they will give you context about the industry and how a production usually works, allowing you to have a better understanding of what is expected of you from the studios. To be clear, this is an extra investment from you, but in my opinion, it’s totally worth it to speed up your path to becoming a professional artist, so why not start now? That’s it for me! I hope you found these two posts interesting and useful. If you need anything, feel free to reach out through email or in the comments below. Always happy to help! 👋

🌟 Excited to Share My Latest Student Houdini Project! 🌟 For my recent student project, I wanted to create a magical particle and smoke VDB effect inspired by Harry Potter’s Patronus spell, where the effect grows dynamically inside a magical mushroom. This idea pushed me to explore new workflows and build on the skills I’ve developed so far. Project Highlights: ✨ I customized this tutorial to achieve the particle/smoke effect while incorporating techniques from my CGMA Foundations of Houdini for 3D Artists class for the Vellum/Hair grass effect. • Particles: I worked with particles, advect particles, smoke VDBs, and a sparced pyro solver to bring the magical effect to life. • Grass: I used vellum hair constraints and a vellum solver for a natural grass effect. • Rendering: The project was rendered using Solaris/Karma, showcasing Houdini’s powerful rendering pipeline. Challenges and Growth: While the effect didn’t initially look as good on my mushroom model, my instructor, Bryan Holt, helped me construct a VOP workflow to push the particles upwards. This exploration of VOPs made me appreciate their incredible potential and opened up new possibilities for controlling and shaping particles. What I Learned: • I’ve strengthened my passion for working with particles and exploring advection techniques. • This project reinforced the value of experimenting with workflows and being open to feedback. • I’m excited to continue expanding my knowledge in VOP workflows and particle control for future projects. 🎥 Check out the project attached—I’d love to hear your thoughts! If you have advice on how to refine particle workflows or resources for learning more about advection and VOPs, feel free to share in the comments. I’m always eager to grow as an FX artist! Thank you so much! #HoudiniFX #ProceduralSimulations #Particles #SmokeVDB #VellumHair #StudentProject #OpenToWork