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Image Source: skuba3d.com
How did you get to where you are in the industry? When you are working in 3D or VFX sometimes you are approached by prospective students, or professionals who are looking for more from their career, and they will ask that question. Well there is no easy answer, unless you include hard work and lots of practice as easy. There are those who are looking for the shortcut or the easy answer, but in reality, everyone’s path can differ quite greatly. Wondering how people pick up the skills they do and whether its mostly through their school education, or through on the job learning, I asked a few people, how they got to where they are.
I will start with my own career path and learning curve. I went to school for 3D animation, specializing in 3D modeling. In my last semester of school I also interned at an architectural visualization company. I then got a contract job at an architecture company after school. From that contract job I later got a full time architectural rendering job at a different architecture company. I really did not know much about architecture at all. The industry was different than what I expected to get into, but that was fine with me, in fact it was exciting. It was all so new and I was learning something everyday. I learned that the things in the middle of windows that divided them up were actually called window mullions. I learned the process and stages that a building goes through to get designed and built. I learned, given a chance, people can adapt and learn the job you want them to do even if not formally educated in it.
Ask Questions
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Image Source: derekjenson.com
One of the best ways to learn while on a job is simply to ask questions. I knew nothing about architecture and the architects around me were very helpful and answered any questions I had. Take advantage of those kinds of learning environments. Talking with 3D Designer and artist Derek Jenson, he had a similar on the job learning experience. He said:
“I am a generalist, which means I’ve worked in all areas of production at a professional level. On the road to becoming a generalist I was lucky to work along side some very technical and artistic shading and lighting artists. At the time I was doing environment and hard surface modeling for the production. After realizing the talent I was working with, I picked the lighters brains every chance I could. I would practice on my own and show my work and progress to the lighting guys. Self study consisted of trying the techniques learned at work, doing tutorials, studying color theory, and studying the technical side of shading & lighting (learning the math foundations involved in cg lighting). “… “Asking questions to yourself and others leads to the discovery of what is important. Working on crazy projects forces you to apply only what is important and move on.”
Eventually Derek’s curiosity and pursuit of knowledge led to him being asked to light some scenes.
“During the project, some promotional posters had to be created. By that time the lighting supervisor knew I had been working hard on gaining a new skill. So he gave me two of the shots to light. I was thrilled.
I later took a job at a smaller studio where my primary role was lighting video game levels.
So I guess that is the really long way of saying that becoming proficient at lighting (or anything in life) takes having an instructor and doing the needed self study. Then do it again and again and again. “
In response to why he wanted to learn lighting, or why he thought lighting was so important Derek answered.
“Lighting is the single most important skill in cg environment work. It defines/enforces the mood and composition. “
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Image Source: derekjensen.com
Many 3D artists start out in a different career, or one closely related to the 3D career they are in now. I asked Shy “Skuba” Belgeiter, an architectural visualization artist, about the path that led him to a 3D career. Shy, after having graduated from the Israel Arts and Science Academy (IASA) studied architecture at the Technion (Israel Institute of Technology) where he “bumped into 3D applications and got hooked by it.”
“From that moment I realized I’m not going to be an ‘Architect per se’ but something to do with 3D art. The field and need of 3D imaging for Urban designers’ Architects and Interior Designers, is growing in the last decades, From the level of concept design and planning within the studios to what we most familiar of as promoting and selling by beautiful visualization.”
Because of Shy’s training in architecture he finds his ability to communicate with architects is very good, and the wide variety of skills required for him to complete his work has taught him a lot about 3D. As an ArchViz artist Shy is a 3D generalist; “I can offer many solutions and tools that many times affect the planning and design process (of projects).”
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Image Source: skuba3d.com
My path was the inverse of Shy’s. I came into architecture through a 3D background, and Shy into 3D through architecture. Of the different paths people can take to the same 3D career Shy had this to say, “I know of many great ArcViz specialists who grew from the 3D Art side of the profession, coming with great 3D experience on many different projects, while learning the trades of Architecture on the go. Each route has its advantages but both require passion to Architecture, Environments and Landscaping.”
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Image Source: skuba3d.com
I could not agree more. I may not have had a passion for architecture initially, but through working in it, and being surrounded by passionate architects, I developed a passion for it. It was that passion that pushed me to continue to grow and learn as an Architectural Viz artist.
Thanks to Derek and Shy for taking some time to answer a few questions. I think it is great that there are so many different ways that 3D artists develop and come into their careers, with the one common thread being following their passions and working hard for those passions. With that being said I leave you with a piece of advice Derek has for aspiring 3D Design students, and one I whole heartedly believe in as well.
“The best part of life happens away from work & school. Make some time for it.”