I just started learning 3D Modeling a little over two years ago, but for some reason it feels like it's been YEARS. These are my first pieces, all done within Maya and Rendered in Arnold because I didn't know anything about the game art work flow yet. I didn't know shit about how to texture or UV at the time and somehow just sorta winged everything using Photoshop and Maya's Hypershade thingy. Those were dark days.
After about 4 months and my first attempt trying to use Substance Painter:
I don't miss those days, but sometimes I think it'd be fun to go back just for a day and feel that experience of being completely lost and confused again. There was a certain charm about not knowing what the hell I was doing. We're so sweet in the beginning...so innocent. Little people. Big dreams.
Interestingly I feel that the earlier work is what shows the artists innovation and personality. Bit of a shame that we have to train to be cookie cutter specialists to get a studio job. (Well that is the assumption but who the hell knows what to believe these days)
One of my very first 3d models, a Japanese temple which took me 6 hours to create. It didn't even have any UVs and textures. The first few months of learning was fun but was also very confusing. Looking back, I realized how important it is to have a mentor to give proper guidance. Could've shaved a year of learning if I had one.
the first thing I saved in 3D in google sketchup in school, still thinks that was pretty sweet The director of the art school afterwards was not impressed tho, despite nobody that age ever learning 3d, only got to art school after a recommendation of my art teacher, where we started C4D
Took me 6 months to find out smoothing groups (nobody in class knew either and all had 180° smoothing on all...) because our 3D teacher sucked and didnt teach us anything but "check out some videos"
(first realtime stuff for UE3, all reflections in diffuse lol)
starting to understand how to use subdivision decently like years too late after starting to use C4d..
Replies
After about 4 months and my first attempt trying to use Substance Painter:
I don't miss those days, but sometimes I think it'd be fun to go back just for a day and feel that experience of being completely lost and confused again. There was a certain charm about not knowing what the hell I was doing. We're so sweet in the beginning...so innocent. Little people. Big dreams.
Bit of a shame that we have to train to be cookie cutter specialists to get a studio job. (Well that is the assumption but who the hell knows what to believe these days)
this is probably the oldest one that's completely my doing- many of my really old stuff (pre-2006) was put together using other people's assets:
I'll spare everyone the mountain of Zanpakuto and other weapons I made when I was modding Jedi Academy
https://vimeo.com/62265872
the first thing I saved in 3D in google sketchup in school, still thinks that was pretty sweet
The director of the art school afterwards was not impressed tho, despite nobody that age ever learning 3d, only got to art school after a recommendation of my art teacher, where we started C4D
Took me 6 months to find out smoothing groups (nobody in class knew either and all had 180° smoothing on all...) because our 3D teacher sucked and didnt teach us anything but "check out some videos"
(first realtime stuff for UE3, all reflections in diffuse lol)
starting to understand how to use subdivision decently like years too late after starting to use C4d..