Environment challenge winners have their say!

CGTrader continues the "it's been some time, but it's never too late to remember" series! Today, we're looking back to the CG Environment Challenge winners and enjoying the knowledge as well as their great works that they shared with us!

Best model Environement Bundle by Paolo Boissel

CGTrader: How did you get started in 3D modeling?

Anton: It just happened that one day I downloaded a simple program for modeling and tried it. I liked it so I began to learn modeling.

Paolo: I started experimenting with 3D modeling on my own and then I enrolled for a Bachelor's degree in 3D Animation.

Marina: I like working with 3ds Max and creating 3D models - it's a part of my work.

Martin: I started learning 3D modeling and during the first 6 months I spent 5-6 hours on training reading Learning 3ds Max book 7 every day.

Dave: From young age I had a huge passion for films and the magic behind how they were made. Whilst growing up I used to build a lot of lego models and always imagined them coming to life through animation. I studied Architecture at school and when got to college I took this further with VFX. Then I went to University and studied Animation & VFX. Along the way I found 3D modelling to be my favourite discipline. I am currently working on a 52 week project where I create 1 model every week of the year.

1st Runner-up Spartan Forest - Full 3D interactive environment by Dave Butler

CGTrader: Where are you searching for the daily inspiration?

Anton: I'm looking for them in video games, movies and books. I search through different sites with photographs and drawings.

Paolo: I search for inspiration in films, video games, other 3D artists, traditional artists as well as everyday life.

Marina: My inspiration is motivation. I want to be a fantastic CG creator.

Martin: My inspiration comes from everything around us. I mean the nature around us, people, animals... When working in 3D, I do not work - I have fun! When you do something on 3ds Max, I believe it to be complete when I look at the project I made and I do not believe I actually did it!

Dave: I am currently employed as a 3D Creative Designer at a pharmaceuticals company in London, UK. A large portion of my job is to create concepts/3D visualisations for pitches. I get my inspiration from everywhere I can take it, be it a film, video games or manga.

2nd Runner-up City Old Street by Martin Cvetkov

CGTrader: Why have you decided to try yourself in the this challenge and how have you came with the ideas for the models for this challenge?

Anton: I just recently found out about CGTrader and decided to put some of my works on it. At the same time I decided to put some of them to the competition.

Paolo: I work as an environment artist in games and I am very passionate for the creation of real-time environments and props, so when I saw the challenge on CGTrader I decided to try myself. I wanted to create a realistic landscape in UE4 using modular meshes and PBR textures in order to learn and try new workflows.

Marina: It was really a fortuity. I'm just making environment designs everyday, and I could imagine my models in the challenge.

Martin: I decided to try myself in this challenge, because I wanted to see what the other people think about my work.The idea was easy - interior design. There are a lot of beautiful places to put them inside 3ds Max.

Dave: Coming from an architectural background I have always been passionate about environment design. I often create large scale professional 3D environments for work related projects. I create the environment then port it into Unity 3D to let the user explore the world. The idea for the project I submitted for the 3D Environment challenge came from my University dissertation. My aim was to create an interactive 3D world which could be used in both games and film.

Best Portfolio Portfolio by UrbanDisplay

CGTrader: What are the main challenges you are facing in modeling?

Anton: The main challenges in modeling are to make it look realistic at the right level budget model: polycount, texture resolution and etc.

Marina: There are actually no problems for me.

Martin: The biggest challenge for me is the modeling of live objects such as people, animals, birds.

Dave: As I mentioned before I love modeling, it’s my main focus. Due to the nature of my job I have to create a lot of organic/medical objects. This challenges me to create models which are both realistic and can still function in an animation through the use of a low poly mesh.

1st Runner up Portfolio by Marina Alexandrova

CGTrader: Any advice for those who are just about to start their career as a 3D designer?

Anton: Learn the basics and take as many lessons as you can. Train constantly making models, try different techniques for a single task. And the most important thing - overcome your laziness!

Marina: You must look at the lessons, analyze other cool projects, improve your works.

Martin: My advice to those who are just starting - never give up. I've had moments when something is received in 3ds Max, but my stubbornness always puts me towards good results. Therefore, read books and take lessons - with horns forward (a saying from one Bulgarian tale)!

Dave: If you want to take your 3D to the next level then I suggest professional training through a University/online school. Not only do you learn the fundamentals of 3D, you also learn the pipeline process for working in a team on projects. Also, at no other time in your life will you get so much time to devote hours into 3D than at University.

2nd Runner-up Portfolio by Shitov Anton Viacheslavovich