Welcome unknown person who read those words. My name Is Jurand and this is my place to put thoughts in more constant way and some kind remedy for people around me who without clue about 3D were forced to hear about my ideas, challenges and problems.
I decided to create that blog post as part of preparation for long journey called - life of artist. My goal is simple - start to earn and live from my passion. I’m not sure how often new pages will be filed by keyboard ink but would be great to create dairy of person who from nothing with constant work, archived his goal - as some kind map for others.
So I think its important to tell something about myself right? First of all, English is not my native language; i was born, grow up and educated in Poland. After finishing university (human biology) i fulfill first of 3 biggest life dreams - to live in wonderful land of clover. I moved with my girlfrend to her father house. I had wild dream about become an artist and earning money from artistic things (like my grandfather who is a traditional painter ). First starting point was try to become a youtuber. Right now its quite common thing but in 2012 it wasn’t so clear that that mean. Doing such thing by a year i was forced to learn something about 2D graphic (how to create videos, thumbnails for uploads and effects).
https://www.youtube.com/user/OldshoolGamePl (i create profile for old-school and forgot password so i was forced to use old-shool nickname - for polish audience who not pay attention to English that wasn’t big deal )
Sadly, 2D graphic wasn’t something that bring me a joy. It was completely opposite - frustration, confusion and lack of motivation was my enemy that hit me day after day. Till now i still have my last artwork that i was keeping more like proof how much i already archived in 3D.
(based on online training so even concept wasn’t my)
It was end of 2015 when first time i saw and used software called Zbrush. Something new, something exotic - idea of creating 3D models by sculpting? WOW. All those possibilities! Well, with matter of years im aware that in that time Zbrush was best way to introduce me what 3D world is. My grandfather is traditional painter so artistic genes direct me always into creative direction than technical. Zbrush was like clay compare to rule, technical paper and schematic called Maya or Blender. (Even after those 4 years i still not doing any models in those software’s ).
I start do dig and learn Zbrush by doing some experiments and with true kid like fun create some ugly works. Small idea starts to grow day after day about recreating things from concept arts. And because second passion was/is games from past times, it was clear to start recreating things from instruction books (sadly such thing is now called "paid DLC artbook ).
Idea about become monster artist was quite tempting, but for alone person without any point of view, i was out of clue where and how doing things to develop myself. Of course i created few more models but it took me 9 months to first time use colors and mix different kind of maps to create more complex artwork.
It was 2016 and since then till 2018 i was wandering around without bigger plan. Start learn new program (Blender) because it was clear in that time (already, after 3 years) that i need self develop every single day and i can’t stick to one program because i limit myself. I mentioned that i prefer more practical 3D than technical, so after complex full course “from zero to hero - Blender” i was still not sure why i learn basics of that software, how to use it in some kind effective way, how to connect it with my zbrush skills. After those additional years i see it was waste of time because till now i still open Blender to clean up some wild vertex and sometime check topology.
Then in 2017 i saw that video (posted by Riccardo Minervino )
And that how my photogrammetry adventure began. In 2018 i apply for Creative Ireland grant with idea of make photogrammetry of “most forgotten and damaged tombstones from local graveyards”. Such idea was crazy because without any bigger knowledge about photogrammetry i made promise to delivery 15 models in 3 months. From perspective of time i see how big and heavy goal i setup - worth to mention that those grants required from applicant to put own money upfront and after proving that you you delivered what you promises - they give money “back” (back because from my own pocked i bought all hardware that was needed as bare minimum to do such thing ). Lucky thanks to determination, hard daily work and not bad weather condition i created what i promised - result can be see here
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/GXa3PN
and here
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Letterkenny - Ireland - Cathedral 4 by jurand m on Sketchfab
since then every single day i was creating new models, develop new skills, improved and changed my workflow. In 2019 i made similar thing but this time with co-operation with local museum i delivered few 3d recreation of museum objects.
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Helmet worn by Donegal Tunnel Tigers by Donegal County Museum on Sketchfab
In past 2 years i learn way more than ever and create clear vision where i want be - photogrammetry specialist who work in Museum or environmental artist in game industry world. To do that, i need prove my skills and make web of contacts - and above blog is one of way to achieve it.
I was thinking in past 2 weeks about my old passion and i think that i gonna record videos once again - maybe even stream. Some old-school games as inspiration for recreation monsters and other things in 3D plus some photogrammetry works. I work with 3D almost every single day so that addiction should be great material for others to maybe even learn something - or to find people who will help me become even better 3D artist.
Thanks a lot for read all of that. I’m aware that my English is not perfect but hope it wasn’t torture for your eyes to get here.
Cheers from Ireland
Jurand