ANOTHER MORNING IN THE TRENCHES

This dynamic sci-fi scene was an ‘on and off’ personal project for digital art freelancer Christian Hecker. “I used this project to learn Blender,” he explains. “About time! I have learned so many things since I started this project.” Creating variations of objects for kitbashing proved to be a steep learning curve for Hecker, who found the answers to all his questions on the internet. “More and more I learn how powerful Blender is,” he adds. “It has a very large community, so there is always someone that can answer your questions.”

Diving into the world he was creating proved to be a highlight of the process for Hecker, who started to struggle with the foreground of the scene halfway through. “I got the idea of someone sitting there and enjoying the sunrise after a night shift,” he continues, “and that it’s become a habit for that person. Along with two cats visiting. That small detail gives it a slight human touch, while the view itself is still the hero.”

A solid footing in Blender opens up a world of new artistic possibilities for Hecker, who is starting to explore cloth simulation. “Once you understand how Blender is structured things become much easier and accessible,” he explains. Movies, books, music, fellow artists and even random sounds or shapes inspire Hecker’s work. “You have to go through the world with an open mind and eyes,” he says, “there will always be something waiting to inspire you. Then you have to try and make something with it. Sometimes it works out. Sometimes it does not. The secret is to keep working.”

THE SMALL DETAILS GIVE IT A SLIGHT HUMAN TOUCH, WHILE THE VIEW ITSELF IS STILL THE HERO