1) Get a good set of headphones.

Visual Effects Studios can get surprisingly loud at times. It’s just something that happens when you have a room full of people running on nothing but caffeine and processed sugar. So good headphones can be a sanctuary when you need to zone out and do some roto. Wireless ones are pretty nice, but they’re also kinda bulky. I personally like the ones with the cord that retracts and keeps things nice and portable.

2) Toys aren’t just for kids.

Your desk is your home away from home, so make it feel like that! On my first day I brought in a big box of toys and action figures. Sure, I might get weird looks from Producers when they interrupt an epic battle between my Zombie bust and Cylon action figure. But it’s the best way to stay sane when working long hours and keeps you feeling like a kid. In the end, it’s all make believe anyways!

3) Take a break!

Whether that’s by getting a cup of coffee, or wasting time on YouTube. If you don’t take a break every now and then, trust me…you’ll burn out FAST. It’s easy for new artists to forget this. I guess they feel like they’re going to get in trouble with a Supervisor or something. But the most talented artists I know have mastered the art of balancing laziness with meeting deadlines. And as long as the work gets done and gets done right, most people won’t care what you do between points A and B anyways.

4) Your an Artist, act like one!

When you eyes start to burn, that’s your que to get away from the computer! A lot of VFX artists out there get so wrapped up with the technical end of things, that they forget to recharge their creative juices. Draw, paint, tinker, garden, something! Anything creative will do. And if you make time for those things I promise you’ll notice a increase in the overall quality of your work.

5) Just because you’re working, doesn’t mean you can stop learning.

A lot of people I’ve met during my career have fallen into this trap. They figure that since they have a steady gig now, then all they need to focus on is keeping that going. Wrong! Sure you have a steady gig right now, but it’s a sad fact in this industry that that could change at any moment. So don’t just settle for just knowing what you know. If you’re interested in lighting, watch some lighting tutorials. If you’re interested in modeling, MODEL! Don’t become a one trick poney, because that’s the quickest way of being turned into glue.

________________________________________

Anyways, those are my top 5. Stay tuned for the rest of this series!

But in the meantime if you have a tip of your own, write it down in the comments section of this post!