The Generalists with Jack Gutmann

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. SUPPORT THE PODCAST - Donate: https://ww...

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. SUPPORT THE PODCAST - Donate: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=3VHRDYNMFJ3KW - Get one of the...

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 SUPPORT THE PODCAST - Donate: https://www.paypal.com/d...

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! SUPPORT THE PODCAST - Donate: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=3VHRDYNMFJ3KW - Get one of the Courses: https://linktr.ee/jack.the.generalist/shop Links - Diana...

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! SUPPORT THE PODCAST - Donate: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=3VHRDYNMFJ3KW - Get one of the Courses: https://linktr.ee/jack.the.generalist/shop Links: - Nicholas on LinkedIn: https://www....

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. SUPPORT THE PODCAST - Donate: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=3VHRDYNMFJ3KW - Get one of the Courses: https://linktr.ee/jack.t...

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...

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. SUPPORT THE PODCAST - Donate: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=3VHRDYNMFJ3KW - Get one of the Courses: https://linktr.ee/jack.the.generalist/shop Links: - Joppe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joppemin/...

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. SUPPORT THE PODCAST - Donate: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=3VHRDYNMFJ3KW - Get one of the Courses: https://linktr.ee/jack.the.generalist/shop Links: - Ben Cloward’s Shader Tutorials: https://www.youtube.com/@BenClow...

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. SUPPORT THE PODCAST - Donate: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=3VHRDYNMFJ3KW - Get one of the Courses: https://linktr.ee/jack.the.generalist/shop Zoë on LinkedIn: htt...

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 credit...

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. SUPPORT THE PODCAST - Donate: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=3VHRDYNMFJ3KW - Get one of the Courses: https://linktr.ee/jack.th...

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. SUPPORT THE PODCAST - Donate: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=3VHRDYNMFJ3KW - Get one of the Courses: https://linktr.ee/jack.the.generalis...

In this episode, I sit down with Razvan Ciobanu, aka Rez, founder of @voxyde , a leading platform teaching stylized VFX using Houdini and Nuke. SUPPORT THE PODCAST - Donate: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=3VHRDYNMFJ3KW - Get one of the Courses: https://linktr.ee/jack.the.generalist/shop Links: - VOXYDE: https://voxyde.teachable.com/a/aff_fj9p6mg4/external?affcode=2090249_b6u56ogs...

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. SUPPORT THE PODCAST - Donate: https://www.paypal.com/donate...

Quynh shares her journey from coding to VFX artistry, working on titles like Hamster Hustle . SUPPORT THE PODCAST - Donate: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=3VHRDYNMFJ3KW - Get one of the Courses: https://linktr.ee/jack.the.generalist/shop Links: - VFX Apprentice: https://www.vfxapprentice.com/a/39323/54Tqp7Ae - Quynh Ton on Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/quynhton - Quynh To...

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. SUPPORT THE PODCAST - Donate: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted...

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. SUPPORT THE PODCAST - Donate: ht...

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 V...

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. SUPPORT THE PODCAST - Donate: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=3VHRDYNMFJ3KW - Get one of the Courses: https://linktr.e...

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 experimentati...

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 dra...

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. SUPPORT THE PODCAST - Donate: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=3VHRDYNMFJ3KW - Get one of the C...

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. SUPP...

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. SUPPORT THE PODCAST - Donate: https://www.paypal.com/dona...