An intriguing interview with Richard Diamant, who is the Lead Character Artist of Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (a PS3 game currently in development). He works for Naughty Dog, Inc, which, in case you didn't know, is famous for their popular series of games - Crash Bandicoot - as well as Jak & Daxter. Also make sure to check out the samples of this guy's work.

Here's an interview with Richard Diamant, the Lead Character Artist of Uncharted: Drake's Fortune at Naughty Dog. He has also provided some models of the two leads from the game.

"3DTotal : What is your main role at naughty dog?
Rich : I was initially hired as a character artist but was quickly promoted to Lead Character Artist, in charge of overseeing anything character related. I deal mostly with character pipelines and coming up with both new and innovative ideas. I also get the honor of working on all of the main characters in the game.

3DTotal : How does it compare to previous jobs you have had?
Rich : Naughty Dog is on the forefront of technology which allows me to be on the forefront of next generation character development. I’ve never actually been at a place that is all about setting new standards and has the means of doing so. Naughty Dog also has an amazing relationship with Sony, which allows us almost complete control of how our game turns out. The freedom we have to explore and innovate is truly amazing."3DTotal : What inspires you? (video games, films etc).
Rich : Everything really inspires me. I love video games, art, movies, music, computers and technology. If something is new and cool I’m all over it! I also get inspired by the people around me. I’m a very passionate person with my work so anytime I see that passion from someone else, regardless of the field, it motivates me to make a difference. I also try to inspire others around me. I’m all about pushing the envelope and getting everyone else excited to be a part of something special.

3DTotal : Do you get any time for personal artworks any more?
Rich : Not as much time as I would like. Its really hard trying to juggle a full time job that is very demanding and a family across the country that I’m trying not to miss. Not to mention a social life! Every once in a while I make sure that I get the chance to do some personal work. I think it’s an extremely necessary thing. It’s the one time I get to really experiment and learn new things without worrying about deadlines. I’m also really big on learning and playing with new tools and programs. I think I’d go nuts if I wasn’t able to do at least some things at home.

3DTotal : One piece of professional advice for our readers?
Rich : Don’t stop learning! The most successful people I’ve met are the ones who are always on top of their game. They know the latest and greatest methods of working and are constantly trying new ways to enhance themselves as artists. A vast knowledge of tools and pipelines will easily give you an edge over someone else whose knowledge is very limited. This industry is not easy. To be the best, you have to work for it. Good luck to all and thanks for reading!

Sayyed via 3dtotal.com »