CGTrader Interview: Charly And His Freelance Road To Success

Andrew Krivulya, also known as Charly, started small, yet always dreamed big. And here he is, telling us his life story and sharing his valuable industry insight with you! He also makes tutorials!

How did you start with 3D modeling?

When I was 12 y.o., my friend gave me a present – a 3Ds max 5 disc! I loved playing games and I wanted to create my own worlds and characters, so my friend said "you can do it with this amazing program!" I knew I wanted to learn to use this amazing program. But back then it was just a dream: there was no Internet connection or 3Ds Max books in my city.

So I only came back to this idea when I began studying at "IT Step" computer academy in 2009. When I graduated, I told my teachers: "I want to create characters and worlds. It is my dream. "

I had good a PC and internet at that time. So I started my long road to 3D in 2009.

How did you get into modeling for video games?

When I finished studying in the academy, I saw a 3D job vacancy in our city – 3D artist for video games. So I sent an email to this company and said: "I want to work with you. I'm ready to learn anything and I'm going to work hard". That is how I got a new job in this company. - Boolat Games. They were developing games for game consoles – Playstation 3-4 etc. After working with this company, I went to another game company – Vogat Interactive. There, I worked on hidden object games and learned many cool 3D tricks to create games for iPad.

What do you like about modeling for video games?

Characters, environments. I like everything that is connected to my work.

How different is modeling for a creative agency?

When I'm modeling for myself, I don't worry about time terms. I like adding lots of details while relaxed and not rushing. When you work with a creative agency, you have time terms, sometimes very little time to create something amazing. Although when I try to explain this, a good customer understands me and gives more time.

What do you like the most about freelancing?

When I worked in an office, I didn't have freedom, I was dependent on the location and couldn't travel. I couldn't do sports when I wanted! I spent a lot of time on the road, too.

Now, I just get up at 7 a.m and have a lot of time to work, do sports or other things. For this, I love freelancing.

What research do you do before you start modeling?

I look for many references for my theme. Then collect them in PureRef Software and make analysis of the references. Then, I start modeling!

How do you market models? Any tips?

I noticed one interesting thing. If you want better and numerous sales – you have to create many models, then PR them and PR yourself so that people won't forget you.

What tools do you use in your work process?

I often use 3ds Max, Ornatrix, 3D-Coat, Substance Painter 2, Marvelous Designer, SpeedTree, Unreal Engine 4, Quixel Suite 2, Keyshot, Vray, Octane, Knald and Magics in my work.

When I'm creating characters, I use 3D-Coat, Substance Painter 2 and Octane, Keyshot or Zbrush to render them.

If I'm creating environments, I use 3D-Coat for concepting, retopology and baking, Then use SpeedTree to create amazing trees and then render in Octane.

If I want to create amazing photorealistic hair for my character, I use Ornatrix and Octane.

What is the most important, basic lesson about modeling?

I think that every modeler needs to know good topology and be able to create good retopology from highpoly model.

What is your greatest creation so far? Why?

I have many good works, but like every modeler I think that there isn't no limit to perfection. So I can't point out my greatest work - but maybe my awarded works would count!

But when I create a new piece, I set a goal: it will be better then my other works!

What is your modeling dream project?

I want to create a very big world with many characters, nations and interesting details. Maybe create some amazing cinematics with them, too!

What are your plans for the future?

I want to make a lot of amazing work which will get awards and will be included in 3D Artist magazine; to create many cool models for CGTrader and 3dSky which will have many sales; to make many interesting tutorials which will be help people create something more then they can create now!

My greatest inspiration is…

Movies, games, books, music, other 3D artists like Marek Denko, Aeron Sims, Gustavo Groppo, Peter Straub, Glauco Longhi and other amazing artists from Artstation.

I abandon some of my works because…

They very bad and I don't like them.

When I catch myself procrastinating, I…

play games, travel and motivate myself.

I’m most productive when I…

Like what I do.

I take a break from my work when…

I get tired and want to "reload" my brain for other tasks.