Frustration question - off topic.

I've been here for nearly two years, and in all that time I've modeled single (maybe complex, maybe not) objects with maybe background images, but I have yet to try and make an actual modeled scene with multiple foreground and background objects.  I'm also a little nervous to try it for some reason, so don't feel like you're alone!

As a newbie, this is my current aproach : I registered for the current contest. 

I have no choice now, I have to do a complete thing. 

The reason I see things this way is because on my free time I'm also trying to run frequently. And registering for "official" races gives me a reason to train frequently, to try to improve, and to go further in what I do, one step at the time. When I started running, I was doing small 5km runs. This summer I completed my first half-marathon. 

I'm "forcing " myself in larger and larger scale goals, and I'm enjoying it more and more doing what needs to be done for it.

Hey Yaki,

I was also facing this same issue before I joined CGcookie. What made me "panic" was the thought that everything I did had to be perfect in each and every way, and I wanted to build a bunch of small, perfect objects before building a large scene. What helped me over come this "fear" was understanding that in my final render, you couldn't see most of the objects that I would have painstakingly put together and even if you did, it was only for a second, but you could clearly read what the object was supposed to be.

Remember - when you're trying to render a large scene (a kitchen for exmaple) that weird bump in your coffee cup or that slightly obtuse leg on that table? No one will notice (unless they're actively critiquing!) especially if you're just starting out. 

Set a goal to build something, no matter how large or complex or crazy. Just build it and finish it. Forgo any perfectionist qualities and just get it done, once you take a step back and see the scene come together, you'll forget about those small imperfections!

Good luck, and I hope this helped.

otowa This is a good advice. Thank you, Thibault.

ppglos It sure did. I know I have to fight my OCD, especially when it comes to modeling. But I have to let go of some things. I think seeing other people's works is also something that affects, and in a bad way sometimes, because we need to strive to be like other good artists instead of thinking we'll never be like them.

Funny you mention this, I made a similar post exactly one year ago (so happy anniversary to that post), which you can read here.

The bottom line is yes, it's completely normal, and it's something you never truly get out of. I'm assuming the reason you want to make complex scenes is because you feel it's the "next step" into becoming a modeler and you feel frustrated when you can't reach it yet. This is perfectly understandable, despite me asking those questions one year ago I still feel the same way at times. There's quite a few tips in that thread so I definitely advise giving it a read. 

If there's one piece of advice I'd recommend above all others, it's that you'll never get better by sitting there worrying about how far away your goals seem. Results require action. It may not be great the first time, or the second, or the third or however many it takes but what it will do is refine your skills and give you something new to learn, until before you know it your scenes are getting staff picks left and right.

Feedback is great for this, as it results in a mini goal in and of itself. Not only will you generally want to make another scene as there's a few more things you'd like to try out or improve but "MinecraftLover06" pointed out that the composition was fairly lopsided and made one half of the scene barren, which is something you hadn't noticed until you showed people.

I understand the daunting task of getting your feet wet in these more complex endeavors may seem, but remember it's okay to fail. It's something we all do and no one great ever got where they were by being flawless. Failure is only bad when you let it dictate your life, or by not learning from it.

Above all else though, enjoy it. Whilst there are people here who do it purely for the enjoyment art gives, obviously some of us have dreams of doing this as our dayjobs and making it our livelihoods. Either way, we both have (or at least should have) some level of passion with what we do, and that's what will keep you going. Study hard, but not so hard that it makes you hate it.

Hope some of these words may have helped, and good luck on your 3D journey. We're here if you need us.

I think most beginning modeler/designers have that problem.  The first thing to do is not overwhelm yourself with thoughts

of " I should make the greatest scene now!".   If you do want to transition to making a complete scene, do start small.  First

gather an idea of what you want to create.  Write it down, make a list of things you want in your scene.  Then,  one-by-one, 

start to make them.   You don't have to complete them all at once.  For example, you want to make a chair, then you want to make a table to go with the chair.  You want to make a plate to place on the table, then utensils.    Each step brings you closer to inevitably modeling a house to go around that table, chair and utensils.    Then the trees grass and flowers to surround that house.    Remember you're making this one at a time.  Most studios, have a team that works on the objects that come together to make a complete scene.  

Don't stress yourself out so much that you're too  frozen with fear to make the next move.   Do use the critiques and advice of your 

fellow creators here to help you with  those individual pieces to help make the whole.   Also, while you are making this piece-by-piece, you're continuing to learn and become faster and better.    😊

Thank you all for your great advice. Really nice knowing I'm not alone in this :)