What's up, Generalists! Jack here, I bring you another one! This time, I sat down with the incredible Valerie Belan a Lead VFX artist who's working in mobile gaming for years!

Links and Resources Mentioned:

Valerie Belan's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-belan-309915245/

Valerie Belan's ArtStation: https://www.artstation.com/lerorero

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Welcome, Valerie Belan! Get to know our awesome guest.

00:00:34 Lead VFX vs. Regular VFX Artist: What's the real difference?

00:01:52 Mobile Game VFX: Are artists diminishing their skills or finding new power?

00:05:13 Football Analogy: How limitations can actually boost your creativity.

00:06:40 The Solution: Industry issue or mindset shift?

00:08:30 Niche Skills & Market Edge: Finding your unique spot in VFX.

00:10:40 Landing a Mobile VFX Job: Where to start and what matters most.

00:12:47 Balancing Artistry & Optimization: The truth about proprietary engines.

00:15:31 Lead Artist's Eye: What really stands out in a portfolio?

00:18:13 Don't Be Afraid to Apply: Overcoming imposter syndrome and perfectionism.

00:23:21 Valerie's Journey: From graphic design to VFX lead.

00:25:54 Learning with Purpose: Immediate feedback and growing on the job.

00:27:16 Jack's Vision: Revolutionizing game dev education.

00:32:56 Personal Projects: Doing it for fun (and growth!). 00:35:44 2D Background's Impact: How past skills shape current VFX work.

01:04:15 Tight Deadlines in Mobile: The reality of shipping effects fast.

01:23:44 The Lost Art of Mentorship: Why teaching culture needs to return.

01:32:50 Freelancing vs. Full-Time: Freedom, negotiation, and job security.

01:42:50 Why Transparency Matters: The ugly truth about job security.

02:00:20 Making a Difference: Individual impact in a "dark place" industry.

02:10:58 Final Thoughts: Thank you for listening!

#GameDev #VFXArtist

Yo! Just dropped a fire chat with Nadine Gutiérrez Barcelona-born VFX Artist & Game Dev. breaks down her path into game dev, balancing technical art with creative vision. Learn why diversity fuels better games, how to leverage multiple skills without burnout, and practical tips for juniors. We also geek out on resources like Freya Holmer’s shader tutorials, GDC talks, and game jam strategies.

Links:

- Nadine on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadine-gutiérrez-pociño-b87b95197/

- Nadine on ArtStation:

https://www.artstation.com/nadine_044

Timestamps:

00:01:09 - Growing up Nintendo & finding game dev

00:03:32 - VFX artistry meets coding & level design

00:05:11 - Portfolio DOs/DON’Ts for juniors

00:07:16 - Why real-time VFX? Interactivity = magic

00:13:58 - Top learning resources (Freya Holmer, GDC, mentors)

00:29:03 - Women in games & inclusive studios

00:37:38 - Generalist survival guide

00:44:45 - Nadine’s indie dev side hustle

Hashtags:

#GameDev #VFXArtist

Yo! Just dropped a raw convo with Mandy Karlowski a Houdini FX artist who’s been melting CPUs and GPUs since 2011. We go deep on why Maya almost killed her passion, how Houdini saved her soul, and why perfectionism is the silent dream-killer. Plus: real talk on AI panic, freelance red flags, and why VFX is still a damn art-form. If you’ve ever felt stuck between passion and paychecks, hit play.

- Mandy on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandy-karlowski/

- Join The Generalists

Discord: https://discord.gg/8NZWcu2gTN

- Linktree

All links & tools I use: https://linktr.ee/jack.the.generalist

Timestamps:

00:00 - Mandy’s Origin: From Photoshop procrastinator to FX queen

00:04:24 - Perfectionism Paralysis

00:12:19 - VFX Industry Bloodbath: AI, strikes, and streaming wars

00:17:40 - Maya vs. Houdini: The software showdown we needed

00:28:00 - Freelance Survival: How to say "HELL NO" to bad clients

00:41:07 - Tool Ownership: Who keeps your Houdini magic?

00:53:15 - Burnout & Balance: Touch grass, pet cats, stay human

01:01:11 - Women in VFX: Mandy’s truth bomb on respect & pay

#VFXArtist #HoudiniFX #FreelanceLife

Yo! Just dropped one of the realest convos I've ever recorded. Freya Holmér (the Swedish powerhouse behind Shader Forge, Shapes, and Budget Cuts VR) gets brutally honest about her way into game dev, burnout, and why she's building Half Edge to flip off Autodesk. We also go DEEP on ADHD, why sleep isn't negotiable, and how capitalism feeds on crunch culture.

Links:

Freya Holmér's website: https://acegikmo.com/

Her burnout recovery notes: https://publish.obsidian.md/acegikmo/...

Freya Holmér's BSKY https://bsky.app/profile/freya.bsky.s...

Freya Holmér on Twitch / acegikmo

Freya Holmér on Patreon / acegikmo

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

02:13 - Mapping and level design journey

10:21 - Collaboration with Valve and career reflection

14:10 - External Validation as Motivation?

19:29 - Lerp smoothing deep dive and challenges

32:12 - Perfectionism and handling criticism

41:14 - Challenges of streaming

42:52 - Interest in Maths and Shaders

48:17 - Shader Forge

53:21 - Burnout experience and recovery

01:13:04 - Mindfulness and presence

01:17:13 - ADHD diagnosis and coping mechanisms

01:24:18 - Burnout & depression

01:37:02 - Neat Corp

01:46:07 - VR design challenges and motion sickness

01:53:42 - Leaving Neat Corp and personal growth

01:54:21 - Half-Edge

02:00:01 - Half-Edge goals

02:04:52 - Industry software critiqued

02:10:24 - Closing

I sat down with Julian Bragagna a technical artist at Cloud Imperium Games (yep, Star Citizen). Julian spills the beans, shares war stories from projects like Skylark, and drops truth bombs about ego, communication, and why conferences are career rocket fuel. Trust me, you wanna hear this.

Project Skylark Credits:

Simon Verstraete - Project Lead, Bottle Tool, Cloud Tool, Birdhouse Tool, Plant Tool, Trim Sheet Tool, Rock Tool

Marn Schokker - Building Tool

Julian Bragagna - Wooden Bridge Tool, Stone Bridge Tool, Fence Tool, Scatter Tool

Lea Kronenberger - Lead Artist, Environment

George Hulm - Natsura Foliage Tools

- Project Skylark: https://www.sidefx.com/learn-main-menu/tech-demos/project-skylark/

Links and resources:

- Julian’s Bolg: https://www.artstation.com/julianbragagna/blog

- Project Grot: https://www.sidefx.com/learn-main-menu/tech-demos/project-grot/

- Project Skylark: https://www.sidefx.com/learn-main-menu/tech-demos/project-skylark/

- Julian on BSKY: https://bsky.app/profile/jooleanboolean.bsky.social

- Julian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianbragagna/

Timestamps

00:00 - Julian From Vienna to Star Citizen

04:22 - Houdini Love-Hate Relationship

08:45 - Skyllark & Grot

15:30 - Tech Artists NEED Communication

22:10 - Conferences & Networking

30:05 - Start Ugly, Ask Dumb Questions

37:40 - Outro

Join host Jack Gutmann and Julian Bragagna: Tech Artist at Cloud Imperium Games (Star Citizen), as they unravel the art of procedural magic in game development. Julian shares raw insights on overcoming imposter syndrome. Perfect for aspiring tech artists, Houdini newbies, and anyone who geeks out about game dev’s unsung heroes.

#TechArt #GameDev #Houdini

Hey friends, this one turned out amazing! I sat down with the amazing Maïa Desfour, Lead Environment Artist.

We talk about the real side of game art learning the craft, finding your own style, dealing with burnout, and surviving this industry as a kind and creative human. This one’s packed with wisdom, laughs, and real talk. You’ll feel it. :D

Links:

Polycount : https://polycount.com/

The Bazaar : https://playthebazaar.com/

My portfolio : https://www.artstation.com/mayakuza

The mouse: https://www.corsair.com/fr/fr/p/revival-series/CH-930C011-EU-RV/katar-pro-ultra-light-gaming-mouse-eu-revival-series-ch-930c011-eu-rv?utm_source=1370333&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=497992_CORSAIR%20FR%20Product%20Catalog%20Ad&utm_content=Corsair&clickid=3vvxZ31K-xycUHd2f13jz3KZUksSQMwBATpvXA0&utm_coupon=&irgwc=1

Resources & Links Mentioned:

🛠 Blender (Free 3D Tool): https://www.blender.org/

🖌 Krita (Free Photoshop Alternative): https://krita.org/en/

💬 Glassdoor – Company Reviews

📺 The Bazaar: https://playthebazaar.com/

Maïa on:

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maiadesfour/

- Twitter: https://x.com/Menelween_

We get into:

How to build your own stylization instead of just copying trends

Why Ghibli-style art has become overused and how to break free

The dangers of over-optimizing as an artist

What leadership really means in a creative team

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro & who Maïa is

01:15 – “You work in games?!” misunderstandings

03:00 – What new artists misunderstand about stylization

06:30 – Why copying stylized work isn’t learning

11:00 – The Ghibli trend problem

14:30 – What tutorials don’t teach

17:00 – Ethical “lying” in job interviews

25:00 – What juniors should really do in interviews

29:00 – Soft skills vs hard skills in hiring

35:00 – What being a “lead” really means

41:00 – Can a junior be a lead?

43:30 – How technical is environment art, really?

48:00 – Tools & resources for aspiring artists

52:00 – What Maïa uses instead of a tablet

54:30 – Final advice: Be kind to yourself

Job interview red flags, how to lie ethically (yes, really), and how to protect your mental health

Maïa drops one gem after another—this episode is a must-listen if you’re doing stylized game art, leading a team, or trying to survive and grow in the industry.

I sat down with Diana and Ben to talk all things real-time VFX, from getting started with different backgrounds, Ben with a civil engineer, and Diana with a more traditional art approach. I really hope you enjoy this one too!

Links

- Diana

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/dianasimonyan.bsky.social

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianasimonyan/

Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/dianasyan

- Ben

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/benediktferlings.bsky.social

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benedikt-ferlings-b279b8246/

Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/benedikt_ferlings

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro & guest intros

01:30 Cultural differences

02:12 Diana’s VFX origin story

04:24 Ben’s leap from engineering

06:52 "Art is technical, not magic"

09:20 Why fundamentals matter

13:55 Do you really need to draw?

18:04 Working in different styles

26:13 Getting into VFX for beginners

34:46 Comparison traps & community

47:01 Portfolio struggles & how to push through

54:38 Where to find Diana & Ben

56:02 Wrap-up

Hey fellow Generalists! I am super excited to share this one. I brought back Nicholas Silveria for a second round, and honestly, this chat turned into a masterpiece! I hope you all will enjoy it!

Links:

- Nicholas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholassilveira/

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro & catching up

1:20 The real-time VFX community

3:00 How Nicholas started his studio

5:00 Surviving the funding drought

8:45 Pricing projects & charging less

12:00 Remote teams & global collaboration

16:00 Unreal Engine’s evolving workflows

20:00 The power of constant learning

23:00 Virtual racing simulation project

28:00 Why limitations can be good

31:00 Tech artists as indie devs

36:00 Networking without events

41:00 Sharing vs. hoarding knowledge

45:00 The importance of authenticity

47:30 Closing thoughts

#GameDev #TechArt #IndieDev

In this episode of The Generalists Podcast, I sit down with Viacheslav Makhynko, Senior Technical Artist and creator of courses on Tech-Art. If you’re curious about the real work of a technical artist and how to start your own path, this episode is for you.

Links & Resources:

- Road to Tech Art Course: https://www.reddit.com/r/TechnicalArtist/comments/1dwtg8i/technical_artist_learning_materials/

- Donate to Ukraine: https://u24.gov.ua/donate

- Viacheslav on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/viacheslav-makhynko-a25742168/

- Udemy Courses (search “Viacheslav Makhynko” on Udemy)

We cover:

- How Viacheslav transitioned from aviation engineering to game development

- The real day-to-day of technical artists—tools, pipelines, and soft skills

- Why empathy and communication matter more than code

- How he created courses to guide others into tech art

- Staying productive and creative while living in a war zone

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

01:00 From aviation to games

03:00 Early career as QA tester

05:00 9-month mentorship into tech art

09:00 Creating Road to Tech Art

12:00 Why he built learning materials

15:00 Tool automation in Substance Painter

20:00 Perforce workflow and version control

28:00 Empathy and communication as core skills

33:00 Unreal Fellowship experience

40:00 Learning to build landscapes

47:00 Working under war conditions in Ukraine

53:00 Soft skills and staying resilient

1:00:00 Closing thoughts

In this episode of The Generalists Podcast, I sit down with Regina Reisinger, 3D Artist, Art Director, and Co-Founder of Microbird Games.

Regina shares her path from studying graphic design to leading the indie hit Dungeons of Hinterberg. We cover:

- Building an indie studio during the pandemic

- Lessons learned about scope, burnout, and growing a team

- Why indie development is both thrilling and unstable

- The pros and cons of hiring juniors

- The future of freelance, small teams, and the indie scene

Links

- Dungeons of Hinterberg on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1983260/Dungeons_of_Hinterberg/

- Microbird Games: https://www.dungeonsofhinterberg.com/press/

- Regina on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/regina-reisinger-%F0%9F%94%9C-develop-brighton-58260353/

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

01:00 Regina’s background and starting Microbird

03:30 Building a studio in lockdown

06:00 How the project grew bigger than expected

09:00 Balancing no-crunch culture with founder crunch

12:00 Learning to prioritize and let go of perfection

15:00 Hiring juniors and growing the team

20:00 Pros and cons of remote vs in-person

25:00 Inspirations: Zelda, Persona, God of War

30:00 Indie trends and the future of freelancing

38:00 Advice for young artists and founders

53:00 Closing thoughts

#IndieGames #GameDevelopment #ArtDirection #WomenInGames #GamedevPodcast #MicrobirdGames #DungeonsOfHinterberg