Today we’d like to introduce you to Rosy Fu.
Hi Rosy, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started my career as a cg artist with a passion for oil painting, using traditional techniques like underpainting and layered glazes to create my pieces. When I began working as a technical artist at Naughty Dog, I was surprised to find that my experience as an oil painter overlapped with my work in-game art. We use similar layering techniques in both mediums to create materials that accurately represent real-life objects. In game art, we also use math models to simulate the way materials respond to light in order to achieve the desired look.
As I developed my skills as a game artist, I also found that my experience creating stylized animation in school was helpful. However, the support and guidance of mentors and friends has been invaluable in my journey. It’s not always easy starting out in the industry, especially when you don’t have much experience. I remember sending out job applications and not hearing back for weeks, which can be disheartening. But I’ve learned that it’s important to keep pursuing your passions and not be afraid to ask for help or embrace failures as opportunities to learn and grow.
Now, as a technical artist at Naughty Dog, I continue to be inspired by my love of traditional oil painting and the boundless creativity of the gaming industry. I’m grateful for the journey that has brought me here, and I’m excited to see where my career takes me next.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There were definitely some struggles along the way as I pursued my career as an artist. One of the biggest challenges I faced was the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on my education. While in school, I found it difficult to complete my coursework and projects because of the limited access to resources and the challenges of studying remotely. For example, I wasn’t able to access the motion capture lab on campus, which made it hard to complete “rhythm”, the animation I was working on that required that technology.
Another challenge I faced was the high volume of job applications and the limited number of job openings, especially during the recession. It was frustrating to send out job applications and not receive any replies for weeks, and I found myself feeling discouraged at times. It was hard to stay motivated and keep trying, but I knew that I was passionate about my work and that I needed to keep pushing forward.
Despite these struggles, I’m grateful for the journey that has brought me to where I am today. I’ve learned a lot from my experiences, and I’ve gained valuable skills and knowledge that have helped me succeed as a technical artist at Naughty Dog.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As a technical artist at Naughty Dog, I specialize in bridging art and engineering teams together. Communicate across disciplines to create game scenes that are both visually stunning and well-optimized. My background in traditional art, including oil painting, has helped me develop a strong eye for detail and a love of layering and glazing techniques.
I’m proud of the work I did on an indie game called Flood of Light while I was in university. I was able to collaborate with the development team on both programming and art. I was also able to communicate with Nintendo’s development support team in Japanese, which helped smooth out the development process.
One of the things that set me apart from others is my experience working on both stylized and realistic projects. In school, I worked on a number of projects that were rendered in Unreal Engine 4 and entered into film festivals. I art directed an animated film “rhythm”. This involved creating the storyboard, developing the concept, and overseeing the look development of the characters and effects. I was particularly excited about this project because I had the opportunity to experiment with a traditional Chinese ink art style, which required extensive research and attention to detail in order to achieve the desired look.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Curiosity. I believe that it’s important to stay curious and open to new ideas, and to approach my work with a sense of excitement and wonder. This means tapping into the “inner child” in my heart and remaining sensitive to new things, even when I’m facing challenges or setbacks.
I love the word “jamais vu”. I see it as pretending life as a game that I want to play, not just as a means to an end. This helps me stay motivated and engaged in my projects, and it also allows me to enjoy the process of creating and collaborating with others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rosyfuart.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosyfuart/
