HOW DO I BECOME A BETTER DIGITAL ARTIST?

What a loaded question! In my opinion the three most important things for any 3D artist to nurture are fundamentals, creativity and originality. Although I have taken on many different roles in the VFX industry, for now I will speak from a sculptor’s point of view. When I say fundamentals, I’m talking about the study of form, anatomy, lighting and colour. Don’t overlook these things, they are so important. Work practically every now and then. Don’t underestimate the impact that picking up a pencil or some clay can have on your work. These practical mediums force you to work slowly and think about what you’re creating.

Foster creativity. Sketch. Play around with ideas and don’t be over critical of the ones that don’t work. Sketching is a form of exploration and it can be a great way of getting ideas out of your head quickly and letting new, more interesting ones begin to percolate. Cycle through ideas quickly and come back to them later, you’ll be surprised at how many interesting ideas you have the ability to generate. You will often see things after distancing yourself for a bit that you otherwise wouldn’t have. It is a common misconception that the more refined your work is the better it will become. Creating clear images that can communicate ideas effectively does not always mean that you must take away all sense of ambiguity in a work. In fact, ambiguity plays an important role in activating the imagination.

Diversifying the sources from which you draw your inspiration is also essential. I think this could be one of the most important points. If you are only drawing inspiration from one place, you are potentially limiting your creative output. Read a range of genres, study a variety of artists, walk and immerse yourself in nature. There are some amazing sources of inspiration out there if you take the time to experience them. By diversifying your sources of inspiration you will naturally foster originality in your work.