DEVELOP A STYLISED ANIMATION PROJECT

Guilherme Campos explains why organisation was vital to his workflow as he follows the studio approach to a personal piece

- Guilherme Campos

MAYA BLENDER | V-RAY | NUKE | MARI | SUBSTANCE 3D PAINTER PHOTOSHOP | DAVINCI RESOLVE

Managing a 3D animation project as a solo artist has its own set of challenges and opportunities. In this article, we’ll explore the steps taken by an artist in making a demo reel to break into the industry, from initial inspiration to the final product and the choices made to deliver on time.

01 INITIAL INSPIRATION 

It all started when I stumbled upon Braydan Barrett’s concept on ArtStation (artstation. com/artwork/zOvKr2) and it ignited my mind with various story ideas. The style of the piece perfectly matched what I was seeking, and it had the potential to tell a story that would feature the passage of time and diverse lighting conditions.

While I had some experience with character and product lighting, I was keen on venturing outside of my comfort zone by exploring exterior lighting.

02 STORYBOARD 

Storyboarding offers the advantage of having the freedom and flexibility to experiment with various ideas. During the initial pass, the focus was on developing the narrative and visual storytelling. Once a solid foundation was established, I proceeded to a second pass, refining the lines and colours, which played a vital role in enhancing the storytelling.

With the storyboard complete, I could assess the workload for animation, assets, and rendering time. This stage presents a crucial opportunity to determine which story elements are absolutely essential, and which ones can be omitted to save time.

03 FIND REFERENCES