Hello, this is my first time posting on the forums mainly out of my own frustration of not being able to grasp concepts in 3D art. I want to become an Environment Artist at my 'dream' studio, and I think being an environment artist requires mastering both organic and hard surface shapes. I can barely do even the basic hard surface modeling, let alone anything complex. I feel like I'm not grasping any concepts, and I've been going in circles for the past year or so. I haven't completed or even started my own project in ages. I'm stuck.Â
I feel like as someone who is more technically inclined, I don't have much grasps of the fundamentals of art. I was thinking if I went back and started to get the basics down - such as perspective, color theory, composition, light, etc. then I would have a much better chance at understanding art in the 3D world.Â
Anyone have this kind of experience? It feels weird if I become a 3D artist but cannot even draw something aside from stick figures. I just think something is missing. I have no idea what to do or where to go next in my career as a self-taught artist. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Fundamendals are important, however, able to draw to be enviroment artist in a studio is not required. take a look at polygon academy https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGXr6E_g91ue1rfhA9j4TLAÂ
Tim Simpson breaks down pretty much everything you need to get started with enviroments.
Congratulations on picking the hardest career of all time, working with animal hides would be far easier.
Total Science – Going in Circles (Artificial Intelligence Remix) is one of my favourite tunes.
When I listen to it I day dream of a humongous, rickety, lone world war two bomber in flight. The crew all gearing up, reading turrets and mounts, it’s weapons free as they approach a formation of 1000 fighters on the horizon. Completely outnumbered, it’s do or die trying. Their lives are now in the hands of the gods and as the tune kicks in, the fighters dive in and tracer fire lights up the sky.
Going in circles is not a bad thing, motor racing makes a fortune from it.
What you are experiencing is a centrifugal force, this comes from a general understanding of everything but not mastering one. By choosing to master one it unsettles the force and you will shoot off in that direction.
Have someone else model for you, it’s not expensive and if you had a Studio you would charge the customer anyway. Specialise in Lighting, refraction and wave lengths are beautiful mind-bending subjects that should suit a technical mind. Or your namesake, produce colour artificially.
By wanting to do everything you are making things exceptionally difficult for yourself, rewarding results will take far longer to achieve.
Personally, I purchase all of my textures because as I enjoy modelling and animation. It’s highly likely I will drop modelling in favour of animation.
When I have absolutely no idea what I am doing in 3D, I purchase a reference manual and read about it. A few ahhh moments like the moment calculus finally clicks and then it’s off the next problem.
Best of luck.
This is a great question!Â
I feel like as someone who is more technically inclined, I don't have much grasps of the fundamentals of art. I was thinking if I went back and started to get the basics down - such as perspective, color theory, composition, light, etc. then I would have a much better chance at understanding art in the 3D world.
Short answer - yes it would! That said, you don't have to completely drop 3D for a while, unless you feel like you want to. You can still focus 80% on 3D and 20% on sketching or something. At the very least, watch through the CTRL Paint composition basics videos.Â
I totally know what you mean! I'm certainly not great at 2D art, but I do see how practicing it improves my 3d work. Try sculpting for a while. It's kind of like the 3d equivalent of sketching, and will help you improve your observation / shape creation skills. Or, if you really aren't feeling it, dive into Rigging or Python and max out on the technical side.Â
Which 3d courses have you gone through on this site? As much as it may be frustrating not to make 'your own' work at first, following a tutorial can give you enough direction with which you can then expand on with your own ideas.Â
Best of luck and don't give up! We've all been there.Â