David De Las Casas Is A 3D Artist On The Move

3D modeling is not the most globe-trotting of professions, unless you're really peculiar about your reference pictures. David de las Casas has a career that spans at least three countries. And not only is he not stopping, he's constantly moving forward. It's lucky that he found time to give us an interview!

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I'm a 3D artist from Canary Islands who enjoys doing his job. It doesn‘t matter what kind of project I am doing - modelling is the endless joy of my life.

I developed my skills in Spain, France and Germany; I never had problems packing my bags and going to work somewhere else. Now I'm living in Madrid again and working in several sectors, like architectural visualization, videogames, film and advertising.

How did you break into the industry? What helped you get your first job/sale?

My journey started in the world of fine arts. During that period, I was obsessed with hyper realism, but I could never find the style that suited me. When I exchanged brushes for digital technology, it was in 3D modeling that I found the perfect tool to capture the reality around me. Over the years, I was taken by the passion for modeling and I completely devoted my work to 3D modelling.

My father is architect. As a child, I was always surrounded by building plans and architectural blueprints. During the summers I helped my father together with my older brothers, doing this and that at my father's construction sites. I loved watching my father make drawings and sketches...

At school, my teachers told me that I had a good perception of the space. I liked to make artistic or technical drawings. In that I found my first job as a 2D artist doing paintings and drawings. I had worked in Madrid, Paris and Leipzig befored deciding to go from 2D to 3D. This helped me find my first job as a 3D modeller doing architectural visualizations. That was a long, long time ago...

What do you think are the most important skills for a designer to have?

Maintain order at work, have patience and consistency. This works for me.

Maintain order to maintain the correct workflow, have patience to work long and hard, and constancy to be always riding high.

What kind of research do you do before you start a project? Do you go with the flow or have a very good idea how everything goes?

I like to plan for the work I must do. I look for documentation, materials, make sketches... In short, I have a lot of work to do before I start a project.

How would you best describe your projects in three words?

Realistic, natural and soulful. Every one of my projects possesses a piece of myself.

What tool would you consider indispensable for your work?

The sketch. All of my works started as sketches, whether on paper or in my mind.

What would you recommend a beginner to start with and what to avoid? What would you have told yourself when you were starting out?

I don't like making recommendations. The things that work for me won‘t necessarily work for others. The most important thing is to be sure of what you want to do. Find it and run with it.

If you are a beginner, you must study hard and be patient. In this profession, you have to be constantly learning. Don‘t try to outpace yourself.

What/who are your influences in life?

Antonio López García: he is the artist that I always wanted to be. Obviously, I‘m not even half – not even one fourth – the artist he is.

How do you take a break from work? What are your hobbies?

Cycling and swimming. I need to exercise often to keep my mind clear.

Are there any future projects you can tell us about?

I have many architectural visualization projects. But I have others 3D projects that have nothing to do with architecture and they are the jobs I enjoy the most. For example, I currently putting the finishing touches on a 3D model themed on the far West.

Anyway, all projects are important and I do everything with the same amount of dedication.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I don't know where I'll be in five years, but I’m sure of this: I want to be at least five times more skilled, five times more motivated, and I want to have projects that are five times more interesting and challenging. Hopefully, I will have left Spain, too!