London Calling!

#1

Hello All! :beer:

I’m Trevor Ley. Last year I changed my life by learning Maya!! After working for various ISP’s and IT companies for about 8 years I decided to try and get a career where I would get the chance to be creative fulltime (2D illustration was a job on the side over the years). So I took a course at Escape Studios last year. Up till that point my cg experience was based on Deluxe Paint on the Amiga and various versions of photoshop over the years! So far on my new path I’ve worked for a large post production house in London (as a render wrangler) and now I’m doing low poly modelling and texturing for a PC title that should do quite well at xmas!! :wink:
As I’m just starting my career in modelling and texturing learning from my peers and sites such as this have made this time an exciting one!! Long may it continue!

Cheers!
Trev

#2

long it may continue… actually it will never end :slight_smile: , but cgtalk makes it a lot easier!!!

welcome

#3

haha! i heard that!

welcome aboard treyZ =)

#4

Welcome !! And I got a question already. You said you worked for ISP and in IT before. How did the move over to the CG industry go ? I mean, it probably is hard work and all, but would you advise to take it slow and keep your ‘regular’ job on the side until you know you can pay your bills with a CG job ? Or did you perhaps need to go back to a temp IT job just to stay alive ?

I’m pretty much fed up with my current IT job and thinking of changing course. But on the other hand. It’s easy money. I have a pretty luxurious lifestyle because of that. But I’d have a pretty hard time joining financial ends every month if I didn’t have a steady income like I do now. Not sure if I can get myself to give up some things, to get in the CG industry.

Guess I need to clone myself. On version can go to work and earn money. The other one can enjoy the better things in life. :smiley:

#5

Thanks all!!

thx1138: The move from IT to CG has been creatively rewarding and much more interesting on a day to day basis. I find myself looking forward to Mondays!!!

Downside is the money - as I have no games or post production experience, I’m working my way up - wrangler and low poly modeller money is no where near what I used to be on! My hobby used to be classic and modern sportscars - they had to go!! Its tough as I dont have any ongoing IT contracts to add to the monthly income - but I’m glad I work with Maya everyday and that I’m learning production processes. I try to work on my showreel in my spare time and get as many crits on my work and hints and tips as I can from my peers.

Another reason why I quit IT and jumped into CG is that I didnt want to waste my Fine Art and Illustration background. I’ve found those skills have helped with texture painting and digital painting. I think if you have a talent or drive to reach a goal - no matter what it is - the worst thing is to let it go to waste.

Thanks,
Trev

#6

Congratulations to you Trey!

THX let me tell you. I originally got into the PC trade to earn enough money to buy gear and software to do 3D work professionally. 10+ years later I’m still in the PC industry and I’m still doing CG work very very part time. If this is really what you want to do then do it man. I don’t know how long you’ve been doing computers but you will spend every bit of money you make no matter the job. Right now I own 6 houses including our dream home. To be able to afford all of this I have to stay in the PC trade. I suppose it’s my choice and we do have everything we will ever want in a house but I’m looking at a long road ahead. Some things are in the works that will make it shorter but unfortunately I’m relying on other people to be responsible and that is scary.

Bottom line, get some monthly service contracts that you can collect on without doing to much work other than maintenance. That will help.

Its up to you and what you are willing to give up to achieve your goal.
Wow, that was really vauge, let me know if you have more specific questions.

#7

Well it’s not that I don’t like the IT world anymore. Perhaps I like it just as much as the CG world. I’ve even been looking at combinations of the two, since there are many similarities. It’s just the current job I have. I basically run a worldwide network of 7 offices (400 people, 600 machines, 50 servers) by myself. There’s a team of 6/7 people helping me off-course, but I’m technically responsible. Lot’s of opportunities, but with that also comes the worries and troubles, and spare time for CG is difficult to find that way. So perhaps looking for something ‘lighter’ in IT, will get me going in CG more. And I wouldn’t have to worry about the bills, perhaps only my lifestyle but I could live with that since I’m getting something in return.

Fact is, many moons ago, I always was busy with my hands. Drawing, model kits and so on. Mostly technical stuff. I see that I’ve taken that across to CG, where I mostly do modeling and texturing. For about 10 years (part-time/hobby) now. It’s like you said, I wouldn’t want that go to waste.

[WyattHarris] 6 houses ? :eek: What’d you do ? Scored a contract for all the PC’s at the CIA or something ? :smiley:

#8

He he, no, just good credit. Pay your bills on time for long enough and make good relationships with the bank and they’ll loan you goodly amounts of money on faith only.

Have you considered teaching IT. I started a few years ago and let me tell you, little to no stress. The pay is not quite as good as I’m teaching at a private college. (My certs don’t qualify me for a 4 year college) But because there are none of the off hours responsibilities I’m free to work without expecting to go on call at 2 in the morning.

It’s a thought.

#9

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