Diana Hristova – student in the Game Dev program
Diana Hristova is 20 years old and is a student in our Concept Art Program at ARC Academy. She likes cinema as much as she likes video games. She devotes her free time mainly to those two things. However, since her career path is focused entirely on gaming, cinema has become nothing more than a hobby for her even though she would often imagine becoming a movie director. She also loves nature and for some time has a job that brings her very close to it. She has been painting more seriously and purposefully since the beginning of high school, but in her conscious life, she always knew that this was her thing.
How did you direct the ARC Academy and the gaming industry?
Some of my earliest memories include video games. I feel great sentimentality towards them. However, for a long time, I did not imagine myself in this industry and I directed to the film industry. ARC Academy played a significant role in my career path. I was just about to continue my studies abroad, but I found out about the Academy at the very last minute. I also have a parent in the industry who has always supported me in this endeavor and this has convinced me not to waste the chance at all.
What challenges did you go through during your studies at the Academy?
The hardest thing for me was to accept that criticism is a useful thing and that I should not take it as a blow to my ego, but as an opportunity for development. I have always felt uncomfortable expressing myself precisely because of my fear of being judged and criticized. I have made great progress in this regard. I also realized in a difficult way that in ARC Academy it is entirely up to you how much and what knowledge you will acquire. Because it’s a little shocking to leave high school and not be required to do things at any cost.
What do you think is the most important quality that an artist should have?
For a long time, I thought it was a passion, but over time I learned that it is much more productive, constructive and healthy for any artist to work first with his brain and then with his heart. An artist must rely on perseverance, not on a muse or enlightenment that happens very rarely. The best way to motivate yourself is to get around the competition. Personally, I also accept that being critical and dissatisfied with yourself is good quality. Although it can be exhausting and cause burnout, it gives you room to grow and deprives you of limitations.
What did you find most difficult during your training?
To understand that there are positions that are not given to me at all and that’s okay. It was also a challenge to find out what I was most interested in because I had been dedicated to Character Concept Art for a long time, only to find out at some point that it doesn’t give me real pleasure.
What are your future goals?
I would really like to be part of a game studio like Environment Concept Artist or Environment 3D Modeler next year (although this is a specialty I just took up recently). I also will be happy to grow my own freelance business, which has been my dream for some time.
If you want to start your career in the game industry, you can apply for the Game Dev programs of ARC Academy. The deadline is June 31.