http://thommyboy.cgsociety.org/art/furniture-3ds-max-architectural-final-arch-viz-render-quads-3d-models-visualization-interior-design-part-4-sofas-lounges-settees-17695971

 

 A Sampling of my Couches Lounges and Settees I have made. [ Full SIZE Image]

3D Models
for Architectural Visualization
and Interior Design
Part 4 Sofas, Lounges, and Settees

Today I am posting the fourth installment for the Architectural Visualization work I do in building virtual Furnishing for my Arch-Viz clients, and today I am focused on Sofas, Lounges, and Settees.

My library is near 1000 models just for architectural visualization, and I have built dozens of Sofas, Lounges, and Settees for various clients from fully rendered scenes for Arch-Viz, and simply providing 3D assets for Architects.

Much of what you see in the above sample image shows that I have done extensive Mid Century Modern work, as well are Arts and Crafts furnishing. 

If these are done for 3D Modeling delivery, I  always deliver these assets as Quad Subdivision models ready to drop into the scenes with mapping and test rendered in a ambient material to check the surfaces for flaws prior to delivery. I can send them as 3DSmax files, OBJ and FBX exports for my various clients in 3DSmax, Maya, and C4D. As sub-D models they are fast to work with until render time as that can be activated and applied at the end of production, to achieve the high resolution needed from the low rez Pre-Viz to very detailed for close ups and all Catalog work.

I also use these for walk through animations for Architectural work and stills.

If you are doing an Architectural Visualization or walk through and need a custom furniture made, please contact me for an  estimate from one small 1 Hour piece to an entire collection.

PART I on Furniture-Chairs is Here.
PART II: Lighting and Electrical is Here.
PART III Tables, Cabinets is Here.

NOTE: Blogger reduces the Image size for FULL SIZE click here to view it over on CG Society in my smaller Portfolio.

                                                                          Cheers, THOM

3D Illustration Characters: 3D Character Design for Print and Animation, 3D Robot Design, and 3D Figurative Design and 3D Character Modeling for Key Art.

Here is a sampling of the 3D Characters work.  Full size image can be seen here.

 3D Illustration Characters

3D Character Design for Print and Animation

3D Robot Design, 3D Figurative Design,

and 3D Character Modeling for Key Art.

Today I am showcasing my 3D Character work I have done over the years for a variety of clients, I have done character design in 2D and for 3D as well as building the 3D Characters myself. They range from cartoon styles to Robots to figurative and specific to film.  I have designed characters for TV Animation, Video Game, Anamatronics, as well as for Key Art in Print, MGFX as well as well for a wide range of market use. 3D Illustration is slowly being used more and more in a wide range of media for Key Art replacing pure photography, so custom modeled props and characters are part of this growing business.

3D Design and virtual photography has many advantages for the production and design teams, as well as for the accounting budget, as the asset is easier to manipulate that photography, due to the nature of the creation process involved. I have written about that here and here before.

If you have a need for a small 3D Character for still or animation, please contact me for Freelance, part-time, full-time, Contract or relocation possibilities.

NOTE: Blogger reduces enlargements on Images, so full size at this link.

Cheers, THOM

3D Illustration Finishing: Key Art for Movie Posters, Television Series, Billboards, DVD Packaging, Home Entertainment, Book Covers.

3D Illustration Finishing samples

[ full size Image can be seen here ]

3D Illustration Finishing

Key Art for

Movie Posters, Television Series, Billboards,

DVD Packaging, Home Entertainment, Book Covers.

Today I am showcasing my 3D Illustration Finishes I have participated in over a wide range of markets, from Advertising and Packaging to Book Covers Illustration. 3D Illustration is slowly being used more and more in a wide range of media for Key Art replacing pure photography manipulation and traditional 2D illustration. Hybrid use is what primarily is being done, where a small element or a large one is given to a 3D Illustrator to create for an overall 2D Comp for many markets, and photography ad 2D Illustration is mixed in.

3D Design and virtual photography has many advantages for the production and design teams, as well as for the accounting budget, as the asset is easier to manipulate that photography, due to the nature of the creation process involved. I have written about that here and here before.

I recently built a 3D couch for a virtual photo shoot, and with my Virtual 3D Furniture Asset, it can be any shape, design, or material. It can be rendered at any size, and the image is royalty free, fully owned by the client. There are no furniture pieces and accessories to find and rent,  no sound stage to rent or set to build, no camera man and scenic crew to hire, or lights to rent, and the virtual set is never taken down, and can be revised and adjusted years, and in some cases decades later, on a pixel by pixel accuracy that cannot ever be matched with photography.

Cost wise it is extremely difficult to match the price of the 3D asset.

As time goes on as a 3D Illustrator your library of 'parts' gets bigger and bigger, thus economically getting better in price over time for your clients.

3D Illustration still has many hurdles to jump over, even after doing this myself for near two decades, but it is here to stay.

If you have a need for a small prop or 3D Logo, all the way to an entire 3D Environment interior or exterior, please contact me for Freelance, part-time, full-time, Contract or relocation possibilities.

Blogger reduces the scale of the enlargements
full size Image here.

                                    Cheers, THOM

3D Design for Environmental Graphics: Neon Signs, Marquees, Chasing Bulb, and Signage.

A sampling of the 3D Neon, Marquees and Bulb Chasing Designs I have done.[Full Size Here]

3D Design for Environmental Graphics:
Neon Signs, Marquees, Chasing Bulb, and Signage.

I have done thousands of 3D Logos for many applications from Film Posters and trailers, to designing signs for businesses and themed attractions. Today I want to highlight the ample use of Environmental Graphics as a 3D Designer, and the popularity of Neon.

I love old neon signs, the more aged the better, There is a great demand in environment design to create outdoor signage that works in themed applications from Themed Restaurants and Retail, to Them Parks. This work spills over into my bread and butter of doing 3D graphics for Entertainment, with building out a 3D signs or Marquees as a film logo itself.

Earlier this month I was part of a Silver winner for a Clio for the Standee for Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2, and even though the film logo itself was a block type design, they went with pink neon for the standee.

I love building virtual Neon, I have dozens of examples of them, and I have a large set of parts to work with from clips and hardware that support the tubes, to the rivets and small insulators, down to all materials dialed in for them.

Marquees with the chasing light bulbs exposed on edges and as holding devices also are a staple in my 3D Design work. I love the look and have built out simple spherical balls for lights down to a full detailed light bulb with filament inside, a nipple bulb glass with the base insulator with mounting hardware.

Most of these images have posts in my blog here covering them in detail, so search them out using the Goggle widget search on the TOP LEFT of the menu.

If you need a bid for a Neon Sign Logo Design, contact me.

Blogger reduces the size of the image for full size go here on CG Society.

                      Cheers, THOM

3D Models for Architectural Visualization and Interior Design Part 3 Tables, Cabinets, and Cases

Here is a sampling of the Custom Tables, Cabinets, and Cases I have built in 3D virtually for my Arch-Viz Clients.[Full Size Link]

3D Models
for Architectural Visualization
and Interior Design
Part 3 Tables, Cabinets, and  Cases

Today I am posting the third installment for the Architectural Visualization work I do in building virtual Furnishing for my Arch-Viz clients, and today I am focused on tables, cabinets, and cases.

I was a professional cabinet builder during a hiatus from Art Center up in Tacoma Washington in the late 80's and I am an avid woodworker still, so I live to build in reality and virtually.

These jobs really are great as they stretch me as a designer. Whenever you build another designers work you get a bit inside their head. You start to grasp their sense of proportion and style. At Art Center in Viz-Com we did a similar exercise 3rd term and had to draw the persons design next to us in our style, then theirs. Really is a great way to break out of your safety zone as a designer. It broadens your reach so to speak.

Much of what you see in the above sample image shows that I have done extensive Mid Century Modern work, in which I already had a great love for. Now it's even stronger after building hundreds of classic designs from that era.

I  always deliver these assets as Quad Subdivision models ready to drop into the scenes with mapping and test rendered in a ambient material to check the surfaces for flaws prior to delivery. I can send them as 3DSmax files, OBJ and FBX exports for my various clients in 3DSmax, Maya, and C4D. As sub-D models they are fast to work with until render time as that can be activated and applied at the end of production, to achieve the high resolution needed from the low-rez Pre-Viz asset, to very detailed assets for close ups and all Catalog work.

If you are doing an Architectural Visualization or walk through and need a custom piece of furniture made, please contact me for an estimate from one small 1 Hour piece, to an entire collection.

PART I on Furniture-Chairs is Here.

PART II: Lighting and Electrical is Here.

                               Cheers, THOM

NOTE: Blogger is limiting the file size, so for a full size image from above go here.

2D Themed Environment Design: Theme Park, Retail, Restaurant, and Virtual Worlds[ Websites, Video Games etc.]

 

 Here is a sampling of my 2D Design Work sketches for Themed Environments.

2D Themed Environment Design Theme Park, Retail, Restaurants,and Virtual Worlds[ Websites, Video Games etc.]

With decades of 2D design work under my belt I have been privileged to assist in the creation of themed entertainment venues for a variety of clients in my career as a 3D Conceptual Designer. Environmental Design is a part of our training at Art Center when we go into Industrial Design, as we are prepared to interface with professionals of various disciplines to accomplish the themed look for whatever the end use may be.

I have worked for the larger Theme Park companies Walt Disney Imagineering, Universal Creative, as well as Landmark Entertainment Group. I have also been able to work for a few of the boutique studios like Sotto Studios, as well as the application of themed entertainment into retail, especially restaurant thematic design.

This skill set was also called upon for a virtual location for online work with Cyan Worlds up in Spokane WA back in 2000, to develop virtual worlds for the online versions of the popular games them make. I was connected with them while still at Imagineering and brought up to assist with those needs starting with 2D themed concept designs that would be built in 3D with a full architectural team and game team.

Themed design environment creation and Concept Art is also used in TV Animation work for various projects I have been on, including The Phantom 2040, Flash Gordon, and others.

If you have a need for thematic design from as small as freelance work, to a full relocation and full-time work, you can contact me here.

                                                         Cheers, THOM

NOTE: Blogger has limited file size, for the full size image go here.

2D Character Design Development: TV Animation, Toy Design, Theme Park Anamatronics, Corporate Mascots.

 

A sample of my 2D Character Design Development for 2D Television Animation Series, Animation Series Presentations for Toy Manufacturing, Theme Park Anamatronic characters, and Corporate Identity Mascots.

2D Character Design Development

TV Animation, Toy Design, Theme Park Anamatronics, Corporate Mascots.

One year out of Art Centers Transportation Design Program in the Fall of 1991,  after doing Set Design and a bit of Themed Restaurant Design, I plunged head first into Television Animation mostly 2D at the time, however we had 3D tech which was still emerging back in 1993 and had this incorporated as well into the work I did. I was Art Director and Conceptual Design for Phantom 2040, as well as development of Flash Gordon.

Designing characters, creatures, and fashion might seem distant for an Industrial Designer, however at ACCD, we all followed Syd Mead the pioneer Concept Artist doing all these things throughout ourtime at Art Center, and many of us went directly into Entertainment Design to do exactly that. 

Design is design, and creating full worlds required a multi disciplinary approach to our work, a Renaissance Designer who can create everything around the products we created was ideal, and most of my fellow graduates all have in some way or another done this in there careers as well. Transportation Designers are utilized all through the Concept Artist world, as well as in shoe design and high end products due to our multiple filed we are comfortable in and our advanced surface training hands on clay.

Today I have a sampling of the work I have done  over the span of my career with creating characters and fashion and outfits for these characters. Humanoid animal and Alien, realistic to cartoony, all designs have been a challenge and a joy to create. 

If you need character design feel free to contact me for 2D or 3D. [Future Post coming showcasing 3D Character Designs]

                  Cheers, THOM

NOTE: Blogger has limited the Image size, go here for the full size Image with more detail.

3D Models for Architectural Visualization and Interior Design Part 2 Lighting Fixtures

Here is a sample of the many 3D Lamps and Light Fixture models I have built and designed for Arch Viz work.

 3D Models

for Architectural Visualization

and Interior Design

Part 2 Lighting Fixtures

Today I am posting more about my experience in building virtual Furnishing for my Architectural Visualization clients, and today I am focused on lighting.

Lighting design is a favorite of mine as I am also a avid collector of antique lights. I have near 6-8 table lamps per room in my own home and I love accent lighting of all kinds.

Also since I work in themed entertainment the lighting fixtures themselves are the jewelry for each room and space and make or break the mood of each place. Having the professional lighting designers light spaces I have created helped me understand the role that the fixture and the amount of light they create makes or breaks a specific space.

Today this post is showcasing 3D modeling of specific lights, mostly MCM[ Mid Century Modern] again with Arts and Crafts copper lights as well. Being a entry level Coppersmith myself I have a deep love for mission lighting. As with my chair post, I usually get a tear sheet with basic dimensions and a picture or two and I go and build each piece.

I  always deliver these assets as Quad Subdivision models ready to drop into the scenes with mapping and test rendered in a ambient material to check the surfaces for flaws prior to delivery. I  send them as 3DSmax files, OBJ and FBX exports for my various clients in 3DSmax, Maya, and C4D.

If you are doing an Architectural Visualization or walk through and need a custom lighting fixture or electrical piece for a steampunk build, or if you want a custom design for 3D Printing, please contact me for an  estimate from one small 1 Hour piece to an entire collection.

PART I on Furniture-Chairs is here.

                                      Cheers, THOM

NOTE: Blogger has limited the Images size, so for a full size Image with much more detail you can go here.

3D Models for Architectural Visualization and Interior Design-Part 1 Furniture Chairs

A Sample of 3D Modeled Chairs I build for Architectural Visualization Clients.

3D Models

for Architectural Visualization

and Interior Design

Part 1 Furniture-Chairs

Today I am posting about my experience in building virtual Furniture for my Architectural Visualization clients. I especially love doing furnishing and earlier in life I was a professional Cabinet Builder, and I am still an avid woodworker, so this is a great fit.

Since I have built and designed my own furniture, doing this in a computer is an extension of that skill set. I do architectural Visualizations myself, however I do a bit more assisting larger companies with that task, as custom furniture is difficult to find in stock models, and for any higher end clients they want very specific pieces as they usually have an interior designer as well hand picking them online from auction houses, so I am tasked throughout the year with various furniture building.

I usually get a tear sheet with basic dimensions and a picture or two and I go and build each piece. Sometimes I do a bit of internet research as well to get added angles, since I am constructing each piece by hand I need extra reference as much as possible.

I deliver these assets as Quad Subdivision models ready to drop into the scenes with mapping and test rendered in a ambient material to check the surfaces for flaws prior to delivery. I can send them as 3DSmax files, OBJ and FBX exports for my various clients in 3DSmax, Maya, and C4D which makes up the bulk of my clients needs.

As of the past few years Mid Century Modern Furniture had jumped in popularity, so I have been doing some historic and very amazing pieces from the mid 50's and 60's. Some are $15,000.oo pieces on line at Auction Sites. I build a virtual asset of the chair so that the prospective client can see the piece in their space first. I have an extensive collection of American Arts and Crafts furniture with custom pieces and Stickley reproductions that have populated various project I have done. I also sell a few generic stock models online of these still.

If you are doing an Architectural Visualization or walk through and need a custom piece contact me for an  estimate. From one small 1 Hour piece to an entire collection, I can assist.

                                      Cheers, THOM

NOTE: Blogger limits the Image size, so if you want to see the full size with more detail go here.

Project Review: Buzz Lightyear Planet Rescue Shanghai China 3D Designer-Modeler 2011 PART II

A Color Pass test on the Round one Colossus Bot [ Robot ]

Round two Colossus Robot. This was to be on the far backround on the matte painted wall for the Themed Attraction. 

The Crane Bot was excavating the the foreground and would be place up front to the guests.

I loved the Roller Bots. The torso on wheels so-to-speak.

 One of my own designs with 'shrimp like' feet that would move very slowly[ comic relief]

Crawler Robot from the underside has a bode section based on a spider. 

Crawler bot in a smoothed Subdivided render to show the full surface.
 

The above Crawler Zorg Bot in low poly base mesh[ quads ]. I mirrored the bot to show two views per render for each design presentation. 

The Round Two Stealth version of the Crawler bot. This one made it into the attraction. 

The Scavenger Bot for Round One that follows the Zorg Bot from the film[ modified torso] 

A much earlier version of the Scavenger bot incorporated a target that could fly off the robot.

The final Scavenger Robot with the Stealth look developed by Scot Drake.
 

A back view of the Bot with the built in Jet-Pack.
 

Back to my favorite Robot, the Roller Bot is stealth design now. This made it into the Theme Park Attraction in China as well.

Project Review Buzz Lightyear Planet Rescue

Shanghai China

3D Designer-Modeler 2011
PART II

Client: Walt Disney Imagineering.
Creative Director: Scot Drake.
Art Director: Christopher Lee.
Project Date: October 2011-May 2011

Today I am posting my second part for the 3D Visual Development work I did at Walt Disney Imagineering back in 2011 for the Shanghai China theme park attraction, "Buzz Lightyear Planet Rescue", based upon the Pixar Toy Story property.[ PART One]

I was brought to assist the Design Team in 3D development of the 3D Robots and 3D Characters for the attraction that they were developing a look. Scot Drake was the Creative Director, with the Chief Show Designer Christopher Lee.


Today is PART II I have posted many additional robots I created for the Planet Zorg. Some are the first round to match the look of the Bots in the first Toy Story film,and some are the 'Stealth' second round with an updated sharp edge look to bring the designs into a modern context.

To see the attraction as well as Christoper's Lees great work go check out his development at his site here.

I will post continue in the future and post additional PART's.

To View PART I: Here is the Link.

If you need 3D Character Visual Development / Conceptual designs, or a 3D Models built of your design, do not hesitate to contact me for a bid. Available for Freelance and for Full-Time work.

Cheers, THOM

Transportation [Car Design] 3D Rendering, Design, and 3D Printing for Automotive

A Sample of my 3D rendered Car Designs and Illustrations.

Transportation [Car Design]

3D Rendering, 3D Design, and 3D Printing for Automotive

Automotive design is what I was trained in at both CCS in Detroit, and finished up at Art Center in Pasadena California with a Degree in Transportation Design Fall of 1991. My first few jobs were sketching Car commercial mood boards and storyboard frames out of school, a typical path for many aspiring Entertainment Design seeking Transportation Design majors going into work in Hollywood. I worked on a dozen or so commercials in 2D for Mitsubishi, Chrysler, Lexus, Cadillac, Lincoln, Ford, and others. The directors liked to hire car majors as we were specifically trained to get the product right, the car. so we also ended up developing the futuristic set designs behind the cars as well as most of us were all Science Fiction geeks as well.

As time went on the development of 3D rendering has become photo realistic, with over 90% of the television and print work you see is actually not photography any longer, but 3D rendering of a Digital or Virtual Car.  For 3D Automotive work I have worked on Lotus, Mitsubishi[ again], Honda, Hyundai, Smart Car US, and a few others.

I have been working on virtual cars since my first full car in 3D back in 2003 for a pitch we made at The Cimarron Group to Lotus for the US launch of the Elise. At the time the cars were not in the US, though they did the show circuit and were at an LA auto show. I found a full set of pictures online as well as a blueprint for basic dimensions and proceeded to hand built the car from scratch in 3D.

As an advanced surface artist, 3D modeling a car was a virtual version of working in clay,. only the speed was much faster. A clay model was about 200 hours or work to finish, and I build out the full exterior of the Lotus in about 50 Hours. Mirroring objects that is available in 3D allows for perfect symmetry and you basically build half the car at a time and then modify each side for side specific details.

I have built my favorite car as well, a Vintage Volkswagen Bug for the rebooting of the Herbie franchise for Disney and got to build a 1963 Rag Top bug, from every part inside out and x-ray. This was used in the advertisements on TV and trailers in theaters.

Some clients like Honda wisely provide the model to you, so your time is spent dialing in the materials and lighting of the car. For this part a fellow ACCD grad and I were honored to visit a ACCD Grad Jerry Garns a master at automotive lighting, and translated his studio lighting into our 3D world.

My most recent adventure in 3D Transportation work and been to build out a full 3D asset for 3D Printing of a 1937 Sterling-J Pre War semi truck. The truck is currently being constructed out is Northern California, and I can't wait to see the final results.

 I have added a button on the right to quickly reference this in the future.

If you need a visualization or a 3D Model build or a piece of transportation design please contact me.

Cheers, THOM

NOTE: Blogger is limiting Image Size, a full size detailed image can be seen at this link.

Project Review; The TANK 2017 3D Design and 3D Modeling

 The overall full 3D Model I build and Designed in 3D for the film The Tank 2017[ Quad Base Model]

  The overall full 3D Model I build and Designed in 3D for the film The Tank 2017-Subdivided Model

   The end with the entry that I matched the practical set for on The Tank 2017-Subdivided Model

 The end of the Virtual Set built in Quads, Subdivided with 3 levels of meshsmooth.

 The base mesh of the far back side of The Tank with the annex building Lab[ removed for filming]

 Sub-D back on the final model used in the film the Tank.

 A back side Birds-Eye view of the roof details with antenna ladders cell array etc.[Low Poly]

 High Ploy count Birds Eye on the Prop for The Tank.

 Low on the ground viewing the feet of the Tanks[ low-rez 3D model]

 Subdivided Quad 3D Model of the Virtual Set for the Tank 2017.

Entry shot in Low Poly Base Model for faster 3D Animation visualizations.

 High angle on the main Door[ Set Match]

 One of the couplings connecting the various sections of the Lunar Base in 3D.[ Low Poly View]

 High Poly Ambient render of the connection point on the 3D Model.

 Overhead of the most complex connection area [ Low Poly View]

 The final resolution with Sub-D[ three levels of resolution increased]

 Screen-Grab from the film: Opening shot flying to The Tank.

  Screen-Grab from the film: Entering The Tank, the round entry is a Practical Set the rest is Virtual.

  Screen-Grab from the film: Mid Film Exterior shot The Tank.

 Mid Film Closer to the tank with more show activity.

  Screen-Grab from the film: The Tank is half buried by a blizzard in the Arctic.

 Here is the Credit roll, a surprise, as I did not know I got a film credit[ I usually don't]

Project Review

The TANK 2017

3D Design and 3D Modeling

Client: Glacier Films via Big Sky Laboratories
Art Direction: Matt Hartle
Project Date September 2015.

I was called in to assist with the 3D Design and 3D Modeling in the building of a virtual prop for a film Matt Hartle at Big Sky Laboratories was doing the VFX on, back in 2015. The concept was to build an exterior set to match the interior principal photography as well as a the entrance that was a practical prop as well.

I was given a simple layout and a few reference shots, and off I went. I built it out in stage and blocked the octagonal shape to match the interior sets first. Once approved I added a large amount of detailing all over the prop.

This was build all quads as a Sub-D model[ subdivision mesh] as I work in 3DSmax, and my client works in Maya so I exported as both a FBX, as well as an OBJ as a base mesh, with stills rendered out in Ambient for surface testing only.

I ended up building more than was used in the film, which is typical. They simplified it for the film and removed an entire wing I built.

A fun film with a surprise screen credit for me, when I screen captured it this week as it is currently on Amazon Prime.

If you need a bid for a model and or a design for one, contact me for a quote.

                                 Cheers, THOM

3D Interior Design Rendering

3D Renderings of Interior Design by Thom Schillinger 3D Conceptual Designer

3D Interior Design Rendering

Upon graduation from Art Center I immediately started doing Set Design for Television Commercials back in 1992 out of Hollywood, CA. I have always had a love for Architecture both Interior and Exterior Design, so getting to jump into this right out of College was a great area to hone these skills.

I eventually moved into working on some Restaurant Designs, and with a background as a cabinet builder this assisted me with designing functional interiors which was also a part of the design curriculum at Art Center when you a part of the Industrial Design[ ID] program, called Environmental Design.

I eventually started doing Theme Park design as a Show Designer, this furthered my contact with great Architects and Designers building themed entertainment venues. I worked on both interior and exteriors in this field.

During the Dot.Com boom in late 1999, I moved over to create virtual architecture for the Launch.com Launch City full design revision, this allowed me to fully use the past experience to create virtual environments to green-screen in live band performances for the DR CD ROM Magazine industry, though short lived as that industry was.

As I moved into Theatrical Entertainment doing Key Art for Movie Posters, this virtual set work continues to this day to be a large part of what I do on a regular basis. I will typically recreate a set piece from a film at a very specific angle for a one sheet, and this allows the client to have a pre-masked smart 3D asset, with total control for editing after the photo shoot is done. Also a virtual set is never taken down, so I can re-access it and adjust for new renders in the future[ Like a Home entertainment Key Art package after the film leaves theaters].

If you have a need for traditional Architectural rendering, or themed work, please contact me for a bid.


I also will have a new button to the right as well.

                                                   Cheers, THOM

NOTE: Blogger is limiting Image size in these posts, A full size can be seen here.

What is the difference between a 3D Artist and a 3D Conceptual Designer?

Traditional Sketching and Marker Rendering

 

What is the difference between a 3D Artist and a 3D Conceptual Designer?

     First off there is no hard-line difference per say, however there are big differences between these two titles. I myself, have worked as both and each position is a little different.

The title of 3D Artist usually is an artist who works in a 3D computer program to create dimensional work in CAD or one of the various 3D Software packages [ 3ds Max, Maya , C4D, Sketch Up,etc]. 3D Artists are primarily trained in the 3D Program or programs of choice , and work in a variety of industries to build out, light, texture, and animate their creation they have built. 3D is a dimensional world rather than a flat world like Photoshop and Illustrator tend to be. It is also not required as a 3D Artist to be trained as a 2D or 3D sketch artist, though many do this.

A Conceptual Designer is a trained designer that works on concept art, usually for the film and game industry. The first Conceptual Designer, or Concept Artist I met was back in 1986, Syd Mead. Syd did all the futuristic designs for films such as 2001, Blade Runner and Tron. His path took him through Industrial Design [ ID], and I followed this path myself. ID trained concept artists understand how things are made, and usually are builders in the real world on some level, and this real world training translates directly in the way they do 3D.

Once I saw Syd's work at a presentation in college, and more importantly, heard him describe his work back in Michigan in the Winter of 86'. I knew this was my path, so I transferred to Art Center in Pasadena to complete my training as an Industrial Designer with a plan to do Entertainment Design that last semester in Detroit.

A 3D Conceptual Designer is someone who is double trained in both of these disciplines. And this training takes place both in school and on the job. I have worked as all three, starting my career with 2D Concept Art, and now I do a bit of all three roles depending on the clients needs, but primarily I do 3D now.

The big advantage to being double trained is that, first I am open to more work opportunities, and second the client themselves get a two for one, in that I can design and build my own creations for them, cutting out the most expensive part in the middle of translating a design from one person to another so it can be accurately built as a final product. With me you get both. Finally, as a designer myself I can read and translate other designers work very fast, so I can build other peoples work much quicker and closer to their original concepts.

So today I am posting this link to my Traditional Hand sketching and Marker Rendering work that I do that is the basis for my title of 3D Conceptual Designer.

As a Industrial Designer trained in Transportation Design[ Car Designer], there is a moment in our education that we make a connection between our clay models and sketching. After this connection is made you sketch much more realistic, and accurately as the end product is real and dimensional. This is what happens when I sketch now, I draw more accurately now that I do a majority 3D.

If you have a need for 2D Concept work I still break out the velum, so contact me for a bid.

I have added a permanent button to the right menu like this.

                               Cheers, THOM

NOTE: Blogger limits file size, so for a full size Image from up top click here.

As to my 2D work here are some specific links for this work.
Phantom 2040 2D Animated:

Theme Park[ some 3D]:

Art Center[ some 3D]:

Napkin Sketching:

Frum-Unders 2D Character Development;