The Generalists

A new episode of The Generalists your honest and unedited game-art podcast. Important Links:

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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?

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

Times...

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<...

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...

F...

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...

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...

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/

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 po...

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 (se...

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

Today I’m joined by Joppe, a VFX and technical artist. He shares how ADHD shaped his journey into VFX and why blending art and programming is the future of game development.

Links:

- Joppe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joppemin/

- Mad VFX: https://www.mad-vfx.com/

- Mad VFX 20% OFF: https://courses.mad-vfx.com/?ref=c2474d 🚨 Code: Jack20 🚨

- Linktree Jack: https://linktr.ee/jack.the.generalist

We cover:

- Why VFX is a perfect fit for ADHD creatives

- How...

Today I’m joined by Aleksandra Rutkowska, Senior Technical Artist at Twin Harbor. Alexandra bridges art, code, and performance, specializing in shaders, VFX, and UI.

Links:

- Ben Cloward’s Shader Tutorials: https://www.youtube.com/@BenCloward @BenCloward

- Real-Time Rendering (Book): https://www.realtimerendering.com/

- Applied Mathematics for 3D Graphics: https://www.essentialmath.com/book.htm

- Shader Toy: https://www.shadertoy.com/user/iq

- GDC Vault (free talks): https://www.gdcvault.com/free

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro & who Alexandra is

02...

Welcome to The Generalists Podcast! Today I’m joined by Zoë Klein, Lead Technical & VFX Artist. Co‑founder of SpookiCG, who shares her journey through VR, technical art, and creating healthier workplaces in gaming.

Zoë on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoeklein-spookicg/

SpookiCG Studio: https://spookicg.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro & VR beginnings

03:15 Education & mentorship

07:40 Founding SpookiCG for a better culture

12:05 Generalist skills in tech art

16:30 Tackling gender imbalance & toxicity

21:10 Leadership with empathy & adaptability

25:45 Industry-wide call for inclusivity

29:00 Closin...

What if lighting could tell stories, guide players, and even reflect your deepest experiences?

In this episode, we talk with Maria Yue a Principal Lighting Artist, BAFTA member, and creative force behind the lighting in games like Far Cry 4, Gears 5, and many more.

Maria’s journey started in photography and stage design, far from the world of games. But when she saw "lighting artist" in the credits of Mirror's Edge, everything clicked. Since then, she’s been shaping emotional, immersive environments in AAA games across China, the UK, the US, and Germany.

Links ment...

Today’s guest is Coralline Charrier, a real-time VFX artist who transitioned from 3D animation to VFX in games. We cover the REAL journey of breaking into VFX as someone mid-career, the mental load, teaching yourself efficiently, and learning how to learn.

Links & Resources mentioned

- Coralline on Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/coralline_charrier

- Caroline on BSKY: https://bsky.app/profile/coradventure.bsky.social

- Caroline on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/coralline.charrier/

- Caroline on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coralline-charrier-ba2a2159/?locale=en_US...

In this episode of The Generalists, I sit down with Michał Potakowski (aka Manus) a senior real-time VFX artist who's worked on The Witcher: Monster Slayer, Immortal: Gates of Pyre, and more. He is part of FX Chamber and also works with Mad VFX.

Links:

Michał on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/micha%C5%82-potakowski-49bb35166/

Michał’s Portfolio: https://www.artstation.com/manusvfx

Jack: https://linktr.ee/jack.the.generalist

We discuss:

Why optimization in real-time VFX is critical

The lack of educational resou...

In this episode, I sit down with Razvan Ciobanu, aka Rez, founder of @voxyde , a leading platform teaching stylized VFX using Houdini and Nuke.

Links:

- VOXYDE: https://voxyde.teachable.com/a/aff_fj9p6mg4/external?affcode=2090249_b6u56ogs

🚨Use VX20JACK for 20% off!🚨

- Razvan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/razvan-ciobanu-6b0724174/

- Jack: https://linktr.ee/jack.the.generalist

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro: Meet Rez

03:40 Why Houdini?

06:00 Houdini’s Learning Curve (ADHD-Friendly Approach)

13:00 Building Voxyde: Rez’s Jo...

In this episode, I sit down with Mustafa Al-Aobaidi, VFX Artist founder of Mad VFX @mad-vfx the learning platform focused on realistic VFX for games. Mustafa shares his full journey: from Iraq to Syria and then to the US, all the way to real-time VFX, and building a platform to teach production-ready VFX to the next generation of artists.

Links:

- Mad VFX: https://courses.mad-vfx.com/?ref=c2474d

🚨USE JACK20 TO GET 20% OFF! 🚨

- Mad VFX Discord: https://discord.gg/txhpRwfETf

- Mustafa on Linkedin: https://www.linked...

Quynh shares her journey from coding to VFX artistry, working on titles like Hamster Hustle.

Links:

- VFX Apprentice: https://www.vfxapprentice.com/a/39323/54Tqp7Ae

- Quynh Ton on Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/quynhton

- Quynh Ton on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quynh-n-ton/

- Hamster Hustle on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3597930/Hamster_Hustle/

- Magesbox: https://www.magesbox.com/works

- Mentioned in the podcast: Dante https://www.artstation.com/dantezieher

- Jack Gutmann: https://linktr.ee...

In this episode, I sit down with Robin Wouters, also known as VFX-Labs, a freelance real-time VFX artist with over 13 years of industry experience, including time at Guerrilla Games (Killzone, Horizon). We go deep into his journey: From starting in concept art and illustration to finding his true creative calling in real-time VFX.

Links:

- Robin on Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/robinwouters

- Robin on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinvfxlabs/

- Jack the Generalist: https://linktr.ee/jack.the.generalist

Robin shares how working as a...

What happens when a 3D generalist discovers the magic of VFX and decides to go freelance?

In this episode, we delve into the journey of Marijn Tollenaar, a freelance visual effects artist known for his work on games like Fablecraft, From Space, and Devil Jam. Starting as a Generalist Artist, Marijn transitioned into VFX, seeking creative freedom and new challenges.

Links:

Marijn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marijn-mt-fx/

Marijn on ArtStation: https://www.artstation.com/marijntollenaar

We discussed these points:

- The transition from studio...

In this episode, I talk with Crisley a Brazilian real-time VFX artist whose story starts far from the tech hubs, deep in the north of Brazil, where internet was a luxury and game development felt out of reach. What followed was a self-made path: from studying design and learning Unity alone, to landing VFX jobs, moving across cities, facing instability, and finding her place in a growing, global VFX community.

We get into what it means to build a career from scratch when you're not in the "right place" or don’t have the "right background." Crisley sh...

I sat down with Anna Mauro, a Brazilian real-time VFX artist who made a fearless jump from publishing into the world of real-time VFX at the age of 30, with no formal art background. Just drive, curiosity, and a love for building stories through movement and light.

Links:

- Anna Mauro's Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/anacjmauro/albums/8506780

- VFX Apprentice: https://www.vfxapprentice.com/a/39323/54Tqp7Ae

And as always we also dig into the difference between AI art and human intention, and why the little imperfections we bring to our...

In this episode we have a concise dive into the evolving role of Creature Effects (CFX) in VFX, featuring insights from Jarrod, a Lead CFX Artist at a London studio, on his career path, the impact of tools like Houdini, cross-studio collaboration, budgeting hurdles, and hands-on learning advice for aspiring artists. Learn how dedicated CFX teams have emerged over the past decade, why experimentation and community sharing accelerate skill growth, and how the industry’s shift toward contract and remote work shapes today’s creative pipelines.

Highlights

🎨 Growing Recognition: CFX roles have gained significant recognition in the...

In this pixel-powered episode, we chat with @onetupthree (aka Tuppy), a stylized Real-time VFX wizard and secret game dev powerhouse. From coding to conjuring flame-bending flipbooks, Top breaks down the art of creating jaw-dropping effects in Unity, Godot, and Unreal, all while juggling YouTube stardom and secret side games. Expect deep dives into shader sorcery, procedural textures, game jam drama, and a touch of Elden Ring nerdery.

This one’s spicy, like hand-painted fire magic!

In this episode, we dive deep with Gabriel Aguiar, the mastermind behind real-time VFX tutorials on YT and the indie game "Rabbit's Tale." From quitting his job to creating a YouTube channel and launching a studio, Gabriel shares how he accidentally became the go-to guru for game effects.

Warning: may cause an uncontrollable urge to open Unity and make some sparks fly!

On this episode of The Generalists Podcast, host Jack_The_Generalist sits down with 3D Artist Heather Courage to discuss her artistic journey, from her beginnings at @Cgspectrum to being awarded Excellence and @TheRookiesCo Awards 2024 Draft. Specializing in stylized characters, Heather shares her creative process, challenges, and what it takes to stand out in the competitive world of 3D art.

🔴 Catch the podcast live on Discord every Friday:: - Discord: https://discord.gg/6mMGB2s4 - Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/jack_the_generalist

🌲The Generalists Linktree:

https://linktr.ee/jack.the.ge...

In this episode of The Generalists Podcast, we sit down with Jasmin Habezei Fekri. She is a Senior 3D Environment Artist with a stunning portfolio that spans from indie game studios to big studio names. This episode is packed with valuable tips for anyone in the 3D art. Don't miss this inspiring conversation that bridges 2D and 3D artistry.

🌐 Links mentioned in this episode:

- Light & Color Artbook: https://www.amazon.com/Color-Light-Realist-Painter-Gurney/dp/0740797719

- Jasmin on Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/curlscurly

🔴 Catch the podcast live on Discord every Friday:: Discor...

In this episode of The Generalists Podcast, we sit down with Simon Schreibt. He is a detail-oriented creator focused on digital content and visual effects. With a background in many software and practices, he specializes in VFX artistry. Simon is passionate about exploring and documenting new practices and techniques from other talented artists or himself on his blog [ https://simonschreibt.de ] 👈.

🔴 Catch the podcast live on Discord every Friday:: Discord: https://discord.gg/6mMGB2s4 Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/jack_the_generalist Find Simon on: https://simont.de/

🌐 Links mentioned in this e...

Efrain is a 3D Cinematic Artist who will also be focusing on tech Animation. He is currently working on a dead space shortfilm!

Relevant Links:

Katarzyna is a professional 3D-level artist with a passion for indie game development. In her free time, she’s creating Vampires Fable, a stylized 3D online co-op game that blends arcade and puzzle elements with a strong focus on storytelling. While continuing to refine her game, she handles everything from design to scripting, aiming for a full release that aligns with her creative vision.

Relevant Links:

Teodora Hushtinarova is a Tech Art student at Breda University of Applied Sciences, specializing in procedural content generation. She has developed tools like a Houdini-powered tree generator and a building generator for the game Pizzapocalypse, empowering designers with creative flexibility. Her work has been featured in Alice Through the Fey Realm and Mortal Remains. Teodora is passionate about combining technical skills with artistic vision to enhance game development workflows.

Relevant Links:

Nicholas Silveira is a creative technical developer who excels at building tools and frameworks that empower artists to bring their visions to life. With a background in 3D Animation and Visual FX from Vancouver Film School, Nicholas has worked on major titles like Arkane Studios PREY and Volitions Saint's Row 4, specializing in technical art, animation, and game development pipelines.

Relevant Links:

Grayson is a passionate creator who thrives on developing tools and watching fellow artists bring them to life. With a solid foundation from the Gnomon School of VFX, Grayson began his career as a modeling and prop artist.

Relevant Links: