Is there any hope in 3D?

[odinseye2k]

I guess that depends on the type of 3-d you're interested in doing. For example, I've found that I can do a fair amount of decent modeling for comic book/toon style, but am completely lost in photoreal.

The dirty secret to most 'next level 3d' (read: photoreal, as that's what has Square and Pixar looking so good) is probably at least 60% shading (if not more like 80-90%). There are some amazing models with just the basic sculpting, but they don't really hit their prime until surfaced beautifully. And surfacing takes one back to traditional skills.

Heck, the modeling even is related to traditional skills, since it relies on sketches and referencing. A lot of the stuff that I've done is roughly on the level of my drawing ability (well, perhaps a little better because you can't tweak sketch lines as blatantly as a computer code) - i.e., really comic-book styled characters. The stuff I was drawing at 12, which is when I stopped progressing.

[jmcalpin]

Yes and no...

What I mean is that you don't have to know how to draw to be able to make 3d objects.

Now will it be easier than drawing to make 3d? Yes.

Making great looking 3D? No it will take just as much time as learning 2D.

Both require an attention to details, an eye for seeing shape and form and a good dose of Imagination.

I was a mediocre illustrator, but having made 3D people for so long I have begun to draw better as well. That is because the same mental muscles are being exercised in both so skill in one helps with the other.

Dive in and try it out. Hell Jeff Lew started with a lump of brown with legs and arms. It eventually went on to star in the killer bean and a well know icon among AM users so don't let a lack of illustration skills stop you.

Jason

[tjnyc]

I agree wholeheartily with what Jason stated. Understanding the mind set of an artist is as important as having the skills of an artist. There are those who have it naturally, but there are those who strive to learn, but it takes time. I would recommend reading books on anatomy for the artist and sketching drawing, that doesn't except you to copy what they are doing, but analyze what is being done. One I can recommend without hestitation is the sketch drawing manual from Glenn Vilppu, a famous instructor for many of Hollywood's studios from Disney to Dreamworks. His manual is one of the best that I have ever learned from, and I am self-taught.

Glenn Vilppu (http://www.vilppustudio.com/)

[LT Fox Fire]

I'm really trying to buckle down and create some anthropomorphic characters for my story line but I barely got through the drawing part. I still have so much to understand about features and movement and I'm 27 years old. I don't see this becoming much of a job choice; it's more of a hobby. Still, I do like the viewers to be visually astounded as well as intellectually challenged when it comes to my stories. I’m belevling, well, smoothing it out since I found away around beleveling, a battle ship posted on my site and it should be done soon. For the audience that my stories appeal too, I really do need visuals with the words but this will take time. It’s gona take a while.

[ewdean]

Originally posted by tjnyc
There are those who have it naturally, but there are those who strive to learn, but it takes time.


I think everything is learned. You have to be taught how to be an artist. Someone even had to teach you what ART was before you even started. That natural born artist concept is a myth. But I do agree with you that there is a mindset. It's just not given to anyone naturally, it's developed.

[Bill_Young]

Originally posted by ewdean
I think everything is learned. You have to be taught how to be an artist. Someone even had to teach you what ART was before you even started. That natural born artist concept is a myth. But I do agree with you that there is a mindset. It's just not given to anyone naturally, it's developed.

I partialy disagree. There are people who are naturaly talented, and can just do somthing well from the start. Now I agree that practice make perfect, and so these people tend to just get better at what they do the more they do it, but then that is what your talking about. People can learn to get better, but some people are naturaly more talented than others. For those that arn't naturaly talented it takes alot longer to get to the same level as one who is a natural at it.

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