We speak to Junior Character Artist, Caleb, about life at Firesprite.
In this interview series, we speak to some of the staff here to provide an insight into life at Firesprite from a variety of disciplines within the studio, and to celebrate the people who bring our projects to life. Today we chat with Junior Character Artist, Caleb!
Hi Caleb! What would you say is the most important aspect of being a Junior Character Artist?
I think one of the most important aspects of being a Junior Character Artist is having a willingness to learn. For me, this is my first role in the games industry and I’m constantly learning new things from the awesome people here at Firesprite. I find it’s important to be open to feedback, and in most cases seek out feedback in order to grow. As a Junior and at any stage in a career I feel that you shouldn’t be afraid to ask questions. Everyone is always super kind, helpful and willing to lend a hand or some advice. I’ve felt very welcomed here at Firesprite so to any new starters, especially those first venturing into the games industry, I’d say you’re in good hands!
What is your favourite thing about working at Firesprite?
It’s certainly been said before but for me it’s the people. Everyone is super friendly and that make’s working at Firesprite really enjoyable. There’s an incredible work culture at Firesprite and a big part of this is down to our exciting projects, but also the collection of such a diverse group of people and talent from various backgrounds. This creates an awesome and inspiring atmosphere which I feel grateful to be a part of.
If you could learn to do something new, what would it be?
I’d love to learn the process of making my own miniatures and collectables. Having recently gotten into resin 3D printing, I’ve been having fun fine tuning the settings and workflow to get a good print. The next step is to prepare my own models for printing, eventually learning casting/mould making, then it’ll be a case of learning how to hand paint the final models.
What advice would you give to someone who is interested in speaking at events such as Grads in Games?
Personally, I really enjoy getting involved with these events as they helped inform me when I was a student looking to get into the games industry. I find it rewarding taking part as it can provide you with a chance to double down on your knowledge and reflect on your own journey, which can be really insightful. For anyone interested, I’d suggest reaching out to event organisers/educational institutes directly as they’re always searching for speakers and will appreciate you getting in touch, just go for it! There’s no right or wrong way to approach talking at events, I find it helps to just be yourself and be honest. Generally, students like to hear your honest thoughts and your own personal story. I avoid getting too technical, keeping things broad and discussing my own experiences. Think about what you might appreciate to hear from other speakers. For me I like to hear someone’s story and passions and any fringe sources of inspiration they might have. This can help you to become re-aligned with your own sources of inspiration and get you excited about what project to take on next!
