ZBrushCentral

member profesionality

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#1

Hi everyone,

I know that I am probably one of the least profesional artists on the forum. The extent of my artistic training and experience is lessons back in middle school, 3d modeling for a private-usage game, and doodling on ZBrush, but I was wondering what is the general level of experience of most users on the forum. I know there are several people with as little artistic experience as me, or less, whos art is fantastic, so this is in no way meant to diminish anybody out there. I’m wondering because i’m interested to see how many people who are using 3d programs such as ZBrush are people who have, say, studied fine art compared to people who do it for fun, or some other reason.

David

#2

I have a BFA from CIA, the only 5 year BFA program in the country. I run the 4th largest VFX studio in Ohio. P.S. I’m 25

#3

A long time ago in a state not so far away … I got a BFA.

After graduating in the late 80’s and moving to Orlando,FL in hopes of getting a job with Universal Studios or Disney, the economy went down the you-know-what and there wasn’t any hiring for entry level “artists”.

So I moved back up north to my home town, and since by then the economy was even worse, I was forced to take any kind of work I could find, so I could work on earning enough to move out of my parent’s house (again).

Fortunately, I was good with computers and machinery so I ended up doing CAD and CNC programming, which at least paid the rent with a little bit left over.

Now its like 8 or 9 years later, have changed jobs a few times, but still in the same line of work. The last company I was working for ran out of funds (they are a startup), and so, now I’m looking for a job again. I would like to try for an “artistic” type career again, but the economy is down the you-know-what again, an obviously bad time for a career change.

The good thing is, in spite of all my frustration, I think (finally!) the fact that a job is just, well, a job, and does not define me as a person, is beginning to sink in.

So even though I’m not in an artistic career, I still can define myself as an artist, because that is me.

And I greatly respect people here on this forum, or anywhere else for that matter, that do what they do because they truly enjoy it. So it doesn’t matter where you work, or what degree you have, if you make “art” (extremely broad interpretation intended)and it pleases, frustrates, challenges, whatever … makes you feel alive … then you are an artist.

My 2 cents,
Chris

#4

I totally agree with ChrisD about what constitutes an artist! I have been drawing my whole life and I always knew that it was what I wanted. I still actively pursue it! Self taught in several ways and life taught in others. I pride myself in my knowledge of fine arts… I do study on my own.
Long ago in '93 I got my AAS degree in Mechanical Drafting from DIT Heavily focused on Machine design (Autocad certified) and am now only an externship away from getting my degree in Graphic Design as well. I currently run a freelance graphics and drafting business from my home and have been working with CGI for more than ten years(3dsolid modeling in Autocad10,11 started my whole fascination with 3d and rendering of polygonal models), with computers in general for more than twenty years.(I wrote my first program when I was twelve on a Texas Instruments PC back in '83) Some of my past jobs include compaction/moisture density testing using radioactive meters, project coordinating of precast concrete buildings, programming of IC’s(integrated circuits), PCB(printed circuit board)building and component prepping. It was only about three years ago I discovered Bryce, Poser, Truespace etc… I’m thrifty… And about a year since I won Zbrush in a contest over at 3dCommune.com.
Lately I have been delving into website design and webmastering as a whole.
My goal is to form a big house studio as a contracted artist and or modeler/texturer.
I think that about covers it, what a mouthful! LOL
Michael

<font color="#949494" size=“1”> December 06, 2002 Message edited by: PusGhetty </font>

#5

Hi PusGhetty!

I don´t know the graduation title I have in the american scale but in portuguese I have a graduation if Fine Arts. I also have Graphic Design qualifications (in a profesional institute, not college, so it was really intense and hard). By coincidence I´ll start tomorow a CAD graduation(Autocad2D, Autocad3D and 3DS Viz)
By self learning I use 3DS Max, Zbrush :wink: ,Terragen(I love it), and I´m learning Blender3D. I don´t use Poser a lot but I´ve seen terrific thing done with it in Renderosity. By someone sugestion I entered in Sketch Up world(I´m an architecture lover and next year I´ll go to college…5 more years and I can design houses that don´t fall :smiley: :smiley: )

I know people that don´t have any profesional qualifications on arts and are magnificent artists: graphic designers, painters, scupltors, etc…because they´ve learned how to use the artist most powerful tool:IMAGINATION!

#6

hey zbgm, these are good topics you have raised

from my pov, the questions of who are pro artists and who have studied fine arts (formally or informally) are distinct questions

speaking as more of a hobbyist myself, it is cool to find out here and there that there are professional (money-making) artists contributing to ZBC – though of course we shouldn’t expect everyone to blab their secrets

it seems to me that ZBrush would accelerate the output of people with skills and that sometime we might see more book covers, CD covers, comic books, coffee-table books, etc. done with Z

on the other hand, with the tools of art in the hands of more people, maybe the art market is more competitive than ever, especially in the digital field – it might be that some watercolors on torn rag paper with some feathers stuck to it will bring in more money :wink:

as for studying, I believe that artists are essentially self-taught in that they learn how to analyze what they appreciate so that they can do something similar or cooler, although I do recognize the value of mentors who are farther beyond in their sifting and sorting

additionally, with the web it is easier now to informally study the works of many present and past artists, e.g., the excellent gallery links that Frenchy Pilou has posted

and with many artists, commercial or not, there is the granny-in-the-kitchen or shaman-back-from-the-woods [or misguided dream-imposer] aspect: “here, brought you something” – uh, kind of rambling now, meaning that they felt like making something and it’s a gift

wanders off …

#7

Actually it’s kinda funny, I had 3d animation classes in school, but I am actually a stone sculptor. I just happened to be really good at CG, and shortly after school I started freelancing at a great post production house. Before I knew it, I was my own company. No fun or games here though. This work is hard. Try using Paraform or Boujou or Maya under strict production deadlines. I love ZBrush though, and what I can give back to this forum is in no measure of what I have received.