Jose Alves da Silva
Why sketching has reignited the character artist’s passion for 3D
Why did you decide to teach yourself how to draw?
Drawing is a really valuable skill when I’m planning my 3D characters. On a recent vacation, I decided to draw for a couple of hours every day for a month, to improve my skills. Since then I’ve been trying to do it consistently.
What do you think about the 10,000-hour theory?
I don’t think that it should be taken literally, but I firmly believe that if you’re passionate then you’ll dedicate all those hours to your craft. That’s what you wake up for every morning. However, there’s a danger that if you feel you’re an expert, your progression will stop. The best artists I know consider themselves students, and practise and research to keep evolving. They’ll go far beyond 10,000 hours in their lives.
How challenging has it been for you to learn 2D?
When you’re learning, everything is challenging. I decided to practise my drawing on paper so there’s no Ctrl+Z option – you learn to accept mistakes, and after a while you become bolder and embrace risks. Consistent drawing has really affected the quality of my work.
What’s been the outcome?
Developing my 2D skills has ignited my passion for 3D again. When I got back to work I wanted to put that creative joy back in my life. In addition, building the skill of my hand has directly benefitted my ZBrush sculpting work.
What advice would you for mastering a new skill?
Starting a new habit takes motivation and time. Get yourself a sketchbook and take risks.