Getting to Know-made: Stef Walker, 3D Artist
Glowmade Towers (which during lockdown has become more of a feeling than a place) is home to a team of talented and passionate creators, and support staff. Their creativity and care bubbles over into our games and studio culture daily, and - frankly - we all benefit from it!
It’s always fascinating to understand what makes people tick, and today’s Getting To Knowmade (do you get it?) is with Stef Walker: 3D Artist, keeper of cute bugs, lover of sharks, maker of cool stuff!
And don’t forget - WE ARE HIRING and we want to hear from you, even if you don’t see a role listed on our website that fits your skills - get in contact! And tell us what you would consider a perfect sunday afternoon whilst you’re at it!
Stef Walker
3D Artist
Stef, welcome to the Know-made series! *curtsies* It’s treat to have you, thanks for carving some time out!
What's your role at Glowmade?
3D Artist.
Describe what you do in your own words?
I make characters in 3D! Whether they be human, beast or a sentient wicker basket with six eyes.
What’s your story? How did you get to THIS point in your career?
I went to the University of Hertfordshire, graduated, joined Glowmade and *wam bam* I'm still here!
“I just want to make cool stuff!”
What’s the best thing about working at Glowmade?
I always feel listened to.
It’s been -a year- how have you and the team retained a connection whilst in lockdown?
This probably isn’t what you want to hear but… I haven't, lockdown sucks.
I feel ya, pal. It’s going to get better! And in the meantime, at least you and the team have been connecting over your daily show and tell-esque catch up! Speaking of which, I’ll be joining those catch ups soon and reporting back on some of the best topics in the blog. I hear Monster Hunter was a *hit*
Art is wizardry to me, where do you find day to day inspiration?
e v e r y t h i n g!
I’ve had a sneak at your Art Station and can confirm - much variation of inspo, with one common theme: heckin’ cute! (I would die for your Halloween Ivysaur, btw. Just throwing it out there…)
What motivated you to pursue a career within the games industry.
I just wanted to make cool stuff!
I hear ya! As will many others. With cool stuff in mind, what do you want from your career, Stef?
To keep getting better at Art. Sometimes you make something really good, sometimes you feel like you can't model at all. It's a cycle. So long as you keep making you'll always be improving. So I plan to keep making! That's how I'll become the best artist I can be.
Wise. Words.
Share something you love doing in Stef Time™️?
Fictional worldbuilding, doodling and making an incredible mess of my flat with 3d printing and resin casting! Pretty much anything creative.
If you had to pick one game to play for the rest of your life (and let's hope it never comes to that), what would it be?
This blog will never be finished if I were to try and answer that!… but games I love include Mass Effect (looking forward to the remaster!) and Borderlands 2 (dat art style!).
In your opinion, who is the keeper of the cutest Glowmade pet?
I have bugs and bugs are cute!
Stef, I know you’re busy, but can you draw your bug buds for me? Pleeease?
Inhibitions be damned! What's your guilty pleasure?
Listening to ASMR videos
If someone was reading this and thinking about getting into game development, what advice would you give them?
Figure out what kind of artist you want to be and really work on refining that path! Don't be afraid to let your own personal style bleed through, don't treat your portfolio like a shopping list of mandatory assets. When you're enjoying what you're making it shows, and others will pick up on that. There are lots of great artists out there, so make your passion stand out!
Stef, it’s been a pleasure! Please continue to create and inspire! You can email your bug doodles over to me whenever you’re ready, btw ;)