Keepin’ it Real (in the 3d industry)
Posted on 16. Jul, 2010 by Andrew Price in Articles, Episodes
In this video you will learn how a rapper, blogger, and comedian, became successful by simply being them self.
Everybody has heard such pearls of wisdom as ‘be yourself’ or ‘be different’. But frequently these words fall on deaf ears, and they have every reason to. In a world where bosses and professionals seemingly want you to fit in with the industry and follow the norm, it’s very easy to become jaded and less motivated to break the mold.
In this video I’ll show you why it’s not only a good advice for your personal life, but why being yourself may be the best thing for your career.
What are your thoughts on Keeping it real? Do you find that you are more motivated when creating things you truly believe in? Join the discussion below!
If you enjoyed this post you may also like How to stay motivated during long projects.
46 Responses to “Keepin’ it Real (in the 3d industry)”
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
-
-
18. Jul, 2010
[...] Probably the main reason that I admire him is that he’s clearly found his niche, perhaps you could even say made his niche. [...]
Leave a Reply
Follow Blender Guru
Tutorial Collections
AlexanderL
16. Jul, 2010
Great video with a lot of good points, as always.
I think that it is important to pay attention to the jobs market, though. Yes, if you work very hard, you can probably get any job you can set out for, but the likelihood of succeeding is dependent on the environment. The degree of passion in your work has a lot to do with how much success you attain with it, as well, so even if you don’t initially like one form of work, if you succeed in it, you can still be very happy with it in the long run.
Connor
16. Jul, 2010
I agree, and about the part of people saying the gaming industry is to full, its all lies i visited several different game websites and very quickly found open jobs. I have always gamed, and one of my friends showed me a program called milkshape, and i actually ended up making good models even though I didn’t have any experience with model, didn’t look at tutorials, I didn’t even use reference images and I was able to create a high res human, and that jump started it, but then my trial ended and i didn’t want to buy it, so I looked for awhile, didn’t find anything then Blender was recommended to me and I didn’t start using it until these past few months, there ended up being about 3 or 4 years of a modeling gap for me, so I am planning on joining the gaming industry, what I’m gonna do is get a internship at hopefully blizzard.
bruno
17. Jul, 2010
I totally agree with you. If you really love what you do you will be scessfull.
Andrew Price
17. Jul, 2010
Hey guys, I’ve just uploaded the video to Youtube instead of Vimeo and that seems to have fixed the audio problem :)
Oscar Baechler
17. Jul, 2010
I HATE architectural rendering. I also hate cars! And when I started out in school that’s what we had to create. It was awful, and I started to dislike 3D a ton, until I finally realized that I loved anything character-related, and started only doing character stuff.
Good stuff!
P4blo
17. Jul, 2010
Hi Andrew, and because of the honesty of this video I´m pretty sure a lot of people will post it in Facebook as I´m doing now!
Ross
17. Jul, 2010
I was disappointed that this wasn’t a humorous rap about yourself, but I still found it informative and, yes, inspiring!
Pixel
18. Jul, 2010
Thanks for that Andrew, I’m new in the 3d stuff but only 16, I havent done anything with blender for the last two weeks because I was kinda dissapointed by my “work” and then I realised that I haven’t spent more than 2 months with blender, and then your mail and video came and got me pumped up
timmylynn
18. Jul, 2010
Hey Andrew,
I’ve been into 3d for about 7 years just playing when I can with it. It is the greatest pleasure for me in life. At this point I can’t really see working for some 3d corp. What I wanted to say is that I really admire you for making your own dreams come true and sharing so much with others. I understand you are trying to make money which we all must have but you are also providing so much knowledge from your experience for free. It is awesome. I really enjoyed this video and the message it is giving. I totally agree with you. In this economy you have to “make” your own job. And from one with experience in life ‘YOU NEED TO BE HAPPY WITH WHAT YOUR DOING’ Life is just to short. Don’t ever lose your attitude and I’m with you.
Chills and Thrills
Leighton
18. Jul, 2010
Yeah, controversial is good, but so is family friendly. Just make sure that the new generation of 3D developers can watch a tutorial without hearing stuff like “That son-of-a-bitch cube!” :|
Andrew, agreed? Profound episode as always. :D
Jason
18. Jul, 2010
I fully agree that following your dreams is one of the most important parts of living a successful life, and this “successful” is defined by you and you alone, no one should even try to tell you what you can be and what you can’t be. I’ve worked with blender for maybe a year now and I can see my self improve with every render. Your tutorials have helped me a lot, I hope you keep it up.
Rock on!
regards
jason
filip
18. Jul, 2010
First I thought you were old, because of your name and that you were an assistant at some university.
You are very literate, you write without errors and you can express yourself.
jean philippe
18. Jul, 2010
Hello Andrew,
I am completement all right with you! And I wish you to succeed even more in your way.
I am a fan of your articles. And nevertheless I am French.
Thus you will excuse me for my English…
Jean-Philippe
Ruth
18. Jul, 2010
I’ve been keeping things true to myself, and keeping it real, but I’ve met with no success over the past 10+ years. I have a formal education to degree level, and years of experience. I make no money though and things are very hard.
I think it’s more down to chance, circumstance and who you manage to get to know more than anything else.
Derek Gardiner
18. Jul, 2010
Doing what you love gives you a head start over people just marking time in order to pick up their pay check, it doesn’t matter what area of life.
All in all an inspiring video, please keep it up.
motorsep
18. Jul, 2010
Very inspiring video! I can relate to the subject.
- motorsep
stvndysn
18. Jul, 2010
you know what andrew.. as a modder for “The Movies Game” and machinima in general i totally agree about keeping it real. im no way as good in 3d as you andrew, and i know it but i still havent found something truly me, to create in blender yet. but i am getting there slowly. i have no interest in working in the industry, i dont sell my mods im a free ware only man.
if the 3 examples you gave, inspire you then you are my inspiration, and my mentor. (sorry had to say that)
Ryan Bailey
18. Jul, 2010
Great video man. those were some excellent people to spotlight although its probably no surprise i never heard of the blogger lol. those were some great points you made throughout the whole thing. Eminem is the best :D
filip
18. Jul, 2010
I am very good in writing hate mail in my mother tongue.
Is there any money in that ?
Ryan S.
18. Jul, 2010
this is my slice of life. (response to the email ^ ^) I’ve enjoyed 3d since I saw my first final fantasy cut scene. I’ve played around with 3d since junior high and have loved it every step. I’ve been working and going to school full time. At the moment I’m at a 2 year school getting the credits needed to transfer and get my degree in animation, but for now I have to settle for Web Design. So most of the classes have been pretty bland, till last semester when I took a rendering and animation class. The teacher was a real young guy, but was an awesome teacher. Squeezed in so much stuff in such a small semester (i.e. rigging, modeling, etc.) I learned so much and enjoyed it a lot. Made some of my best art and even impressed my teacher so much that he asked me if I ever wanted to work on any projects with him. He also offered to let me tag along on freelance jobs with him and his friend. It’s just nice to have a little validation and to feel like I’m in the right direction for a career and to follow my dream. :) I love the website Andrew, you are also a teacher to me.
filip
18. Jul, 2010
Or should it be : “I am good AT ..” ?
brandon
18. Jul, 2010
I can’t agree with you here, Andrew.
I mean, first of all you’re right. You should only do what you love. But some people like me don’t have the choice, the opportunity to only do what they love.
I have to fight for making a living, fight for every order or contract I can get. I can’t say “I don’t like architecture, I’ll wait for a character animation job, cause I’m real.”
It’s hard these days, my portfolio has to cover a wide field, otherwise I wouldn’t get a job at all.
Vince
18. Jul, 2010
Hi,
I`m watching your tutorials quite a while now and I`m sharing your point of view in relation to what is importent in life and about things should be free!
If you don`t have to pay your rent and you don`t need any food, there wouldn`t be any discussion. And if you got a child (like me) things are getting more and more complicated!
It is such a hard decission to do a work for earning money and do your art “free”, or to say: “hey, 3D it is what I want to do, so I need to get my money from that work!” The second decission means, you need to do things you don`t like.
But keep on that road, don`t let it get you down. It has never been easy to do your own thing – follow your dreams and they become (maybe partly – maybe more) real one day! If you don`t try – you got no chance! I think you are young, you got power – and a lot of attention `cause of your blog – and you got entusiasm. That doesn`t mean you need to be successful (in a way of making money) but maybe the only way to live a happy life, I think.
Keep up your good work and thoughts!
-sorry for my bad english…
Edward Kaze
18. Jul, 2010
Hi Andrew,
my passion is programming. Now you could ask: “What is a programming-freak doing on 3D site?” Well to answer that question i’ll have to talk a little about me first. Since childhood (well okay, in my case that’s not that far ago… i am still going to school…) i just loved building stuff. Modells, Robots, always something to do with art or tecknology… but as contradicting as it may sound i also like to “destroy” things, blow em up or most of the time just opening up my parent’s car and look how it works or my laptop… anyway i am just fascinated with this cicle.
But i’m getting offtopic… How love for creating/fire/destoying is connected to 3D is obviosly enoght, but what does it have to do with programming? Well i have here to stress that i doun’t love “creating” for the result, no what i enjoy is the actuall process, and programming is all about that process…
So to answer your question.
I really belive that if u have a passion for something one schould persue it. Why? Well even though i haven’t arraived somewhere i wan’t to go or bacome what i want (i am still not sure where or what that is anyway…) i have made considerable progress through following my passion of science and building… I clechend my teath as a school student into university, meaning i’m attending bouth at the same time, into a job involving programming and modelling and as a matter of fact the complex field of the psychological research of all sorts of phobias…
And i don’t plan on stopping there…
Sebastian Bratu
18. Jul, 2010
I relate to that too. I am in the process of creating the same thing as you, only focusing on Blender+Flash+php+mysql and in general everything advertising related. I had to work for the past 2 years after my dad left this world ( getting probably a job in programming in Heaven’s Advertising Commision ) and the condition in Romania is really low.
After making a complete solution worth 2000 euro for 200, I slapped myself in the head: WHY ???
So, I will do the same as you: hoping to make money posting complete solutions ( and focusing on the logical and learning part ) on http://www.thedevelopertuts.com
I am working on making a webseries with a developer’s life. Maybe one day we’ll collaborate on a great documentary about how Blender changed the lifes of a couple of people. Cheers!
piotao
18. Jul, 2010
Great. It’s nice to see you are right, because of your young position and your way of life. As somebody before mentioned, there is far more things which can influence you against your will and which are decreasing your freedom. For example money. Some impressionist painters usually got hungry, because nobody wanted to pay for their paintings. Now theirs paitings are worth milion of dollars.
It’s nice you share your opinion with us, and give us something to think. I would also like to give you something to think of. You said you were fired because you “didn’t want” to do some simple job. Now think of it: who can do it enthusiastically? How much people can you find who will be able to work for fun, doing simple, repetitive and boring jobs? Mentally disabled? :) Unfortunately, it seems to be most of such jobs in comparision to the interesting jobs. For example, everybody have to clean something, you have to make shopping etc. If we get to work for only things we love to do, there will be nobody to make the simpler and more boring tasks. Then the slavery was good thing :) [i'm kidding]. Just tell me, what do you think. Do you think, your advice is working never-ever and in every environment? For everybody?
Actually, I’m a scientist and I really LOVE my work. I also like very much 3d and blender, but I still learning. But there are plenty of things which I don’t like to do, and unfortunately, they are quite well paid for some reasons. Scietific research, however, gives most of the creative freedom you are talking about :)
So, I can say thank you, I can share your point of view, but not globally. Keep up the good work, and do not leave blender! :) Also, sorry for my english, I afraid it’s rather poor. :)
rex
18. Jul, 2010
hey andrew, just yesterday i said to my self what do i really want to do, and the real answer was 3D, i just can’t get enough of it, you have been my main inspiration to 3D, i love the way that you look at 3D and how you teach it, i really want to work in 3D, doing Blender is kinda a daily thing to me now, i used to play games everyday, now blender has taken that place, and its more productive and more exciting.
anyway, i will be going in to a 3D course in 2 years time for a 3 year period to give me a boost in the 3d life, thanks for the great post, i loved reading it, you life is very inspiring and interesting
Rex
Andrew Price
18. Jul, 2010
@piotao
I am aware that some people cannot afford to be picky. I am fortunate because I don’t have a family to support, but I do have a mortgage so I understand the reality of paying bills.
Everyone’s situation is different but I really do believe that settling for a job that doesn’t interest you in the slightest is bad idea for any number of reasons. If you love science and you are a scientist, then you are doing what you love! Everyone has their own dreams and you seem to have reached yours. Well done! :)
clecle
18. Jul, 2010
First I’d like to say that I love Eminem’s songs. As you said his lyrics are full of emotions. Unlike a great part of the fans I loved the “Relapse”, I loved his style in that album and I really enjoy leastening to songs like “Beatifull”, “Dejà vu” and “My Darling”.
And I love his new album too, my favourite song of the moment is his featuring with Rihann, “I Love The Way You Lie” – it’s a great some and inspires me a lot.
I didn’t know the blogger but I know the comedian. Well I don’t know he really well, I saw him starring in “The Ivention of Lying” and liked it a lot.
Finally, I totally agree with you – if we don’t do something we like we won’t be happy doing that, and every day of work we’ll fell like hell. So I think people should worry about doing what they like.
Neil
18. Jul, 2010
Andrew, that was an incredible video! The story you told us about your life was amazing. I wish all the best with you trying to get a career in the 3D industry. Stick your mind to it and you can accomplish anything.
madmoto
18. Jul, 2010
screw the man, true art is’nt recognized until after the artist is gone. make youre mark on this world now while you can…
like the song says, keep on rockin in the free world..!!
befor it’s gone..
Megisus
18. Jul, 2010
I can seriously relate!!! Just swap the costruction stuff and replace it with the restaurant industry… I would write the story, but I just got off the airplane with an 8hour layover in Puerto Rico. GOOD TO BE HOME IN ST. CROIX (very small island in the Caribbean) I will tell the story soon when I am not seeing stars. Good night everybody…
Megisus
18. Jul, 2010
Hey Andrew,
I have to say, I really appreciate what you do.. Keep up the good work, perseverance is key.
Reyn
18. Jul, 2010
Thanks for sharing, Andrew. I definitely agree with you, in all points that you’ve said. There’s nothing more difficult in this twisted and funny world than pretending to be somebody that you aren’t actually are. Each one of us is unique in some way and we should take advantage of this. If we don’t get the dream job we were aiming for then so be it, as long as you were true all the way to yourself and never kept pretending to know something.
I have met so many people and by far the most successful and closest I have been with were those who stayed true to themselves. Whether they wore socks with lots of holes on them or had bad and irritating habits, it didn’t really matter because they stayed true and that’s just how they are and it’s such a wonderful and comfortable feeling being with these people.
Since I started my blog, there have been several angry comments which stated why the hell am I posting some things which doesn’t even relate to CG at all. The very reason for this is because I felt like it and I wanted to share it to people, not because I want them to but because I feel happy about it and that’s the most important thing.
Though sometimes scientists imitate great scientist to become even greater, it has its own denotation and case to case bases.
If you want to be happy and successful, follow your heart and be true to yourself, no stupid pretensions.
Do the best of what you do. If you’re a janitor then be the best janitor you can be and be glad you still have a job and is existent.
Best regards, Andrew. And good luck on your life journey. =)
brandon
18. Jul, 2010
@Sebastian Bratu
That’s one thing I experience now on a regular basis: people or companies want a 2500€ job done for 500€. It’s just a joke.
@Andrew
You say you “have to pay bills too”. Honestly I’m wondering how you do it. That’s not meant as critics, I’m glad for you, you made it.
But “The Wow Factor” seems to be your only product, is it?
Is it selling that well, that you actually can make a living and even pay a mortage? Is life in australia “cheaper” than in europe?
You say, you don’t have a family to support. I do have a wife and a child, but my wife’s got a full time job too, still we hardly can affort food, rent, insurances, telefon/internet, we can’t even afford a car.
And we are not the exception, most people suffer like this or worse, world-wide.
sonam
19. Jul, 2010
I am from Bhutan. I am recently got in touch with blender. You tuts are great and the story is inspiring. Keep it up!!!
need2blend
19. Jul, 2010
This is so true, Andrew. Your story resonates with mine. I also left my job because it was unfulfilling and never gave me any real satisfaction.
That is when I seriously started pursuing Blender and I have never looked back since. Well the money may not be all that yet but as I gain more experience, my portfolio gains momentum which will be good for me soon.
Thanks for sharing.
Loonatk
19. Jul, 2010
I have also been down the same road as you Andrew. I however have not been quite as succesful as you though. I do however own my own business doing 3D modeling. Unfortunatley the majority of the work that I do get is either production machines or architechtural. I have the most fun though when I am creating something for myself, something that I really want to create. I also am part of a OPEN Source Game Dev. Team, and I love being able to be creative in what I do. Everyone that I work with says that my models are one of a kind I have a certain flare or style that they have never seen before. I guess that is just part of BEING YOURSELF. I may not be as good as some modelers out there but if anyone would like to check out my site and see what I have already done both non-professional and professional works that are on the web please go to http://twisteddesigns3d.webs.com/. please leave comments so I can get better! And thank you again Andrew for all that you strive to do and for all that you have already accomplished. YOU GIVE SO MUCH TO THE BLENDER COMMUNITY. I speak for everyone and say IT IS VERY APPRECIATED!
Ian
20. Jul, 2010
Hi Andrew, great video. It really gives me food for thought. I agree with what you say about focussing on what you want to do and if you have the passion, you will get there. I think that can be applied to most, if not all aspects of life. I currently work in a menial job to pay my bills. I decided a few months back (thanks in a big part to your work) that all I want to do in life for my career (not job – there is a difference) is work with 3D. I have not yet decided which area would bring me the most excitment, but I have narrowed it down to the Games Industry or the Film Industry.
I will confess to not really having much of an interest in 3D, CGI or Digital Art until maybe a year ago. It was always something that existed and I was conscious of it, but it wasn’t something that occured to me as a hobby. Getting hold of Blender and trying some of your tutorials is what has really hooked me. I still have a lot to learn and until I know where my strengths lie (Character, Environment, Effects etc) I can’t truly start on this long ladder of my CG career. but here is my point. I know and see so many adults in my life who are of an older generation than myself at 26. They are fairly happy people but nearly every one of them has a job, not a career. They are good at their jobs and they work hard but you could rarely say they are passionate. They seem to have given into some reality that says ‘stick tto what you know’ and they have no aspirations in life at all, as far as work goes. To give an example, I worked in a supermarket when I was 18 with a woman of 43. I found one time, that she had been working for that company since she was 20 (23 years at the time) and she was still a shop floor assistant stacking shelves. Now her loyalty and stamina in that job are certainly to be commended, of that there is no doubt, but I always felt sad to think that from such a young age, her working life took such a straight path with no change, and in cush a menial role as well. I had decided some time ago that it was not going to be me. If I have to kick scream and bite my way through life, I will not fall into the trap of keeping a bad job. I have my goal now. I want my own studio (in whatever area that may be) and if I have to work for 15 years to get good enough, it will happen but I will make my dream come true.
I share this with you because, in some small way Andrew, you have helped me see that I just need to work at it.
Thanks again Andrew. If you’re ever in Liverpool, UK, the beers are on me :)
Matt Hurley
20. Jul, 2010
Wow, I just learned this lesson on a project I finished yesterday. My church asked me to do illustrations for Vacation Bible School this summer. It took me 2 months to get the first 3 posters painted. I was running out of time and realized that it was just taking me way too long to work in the children’s book illustration style of thick outlines and bold, simple shapes. I’m a sketcher. It took me 2 days to do the last two posters in my own style and people loved them so much better than the first three. The content was the same, but the style was my own and people could see the difference between me doing something that I wasn’t any good at, and doing something that not only was I more familiar with, but I also enjoyed a lot more.
G-rav
22. Jul, 2010
awesome stuff right there! dude I’ve been learning 3d animation for 2 years now i couldn’t find anything that i liked, except 3d sculpting, so in a weak i learned mudbox n I started to do sculpting n i loved it. i was wondering how can i make a good career out of this, like what should be my next step. thanks again for this great video! :D
Mads
24. Jul, 2010
Hey Andrew! I agree with you… i have been using Blender for about four months now… but – i really suck : ( i´m 12 years old and i have NO sparetime. (because of my homeworks) But i´m “playing” with blender in my very short sparetime. its a little problem for me to follow your tutorials because i live in denmark…. – and i´m not that good at english.
good luck in the future : )
Wolf
27. Jul, 2010
Hi Andrew, you’re so right…
let me first tell you something bout me. now i’m 33 years old, i left school when i was 15. I have made an education as an electrician, cause my father told me “that’s a good job…” after the 3 years of learning that stuff i’ve fired my boss because of the kind of work i had to do…then the employment center forced me to do an 1 years school in fine mechanics in that time it was satisfying me to see how the machines work and stuff was created out of a block…so i made 2 years more of education in that job…
Then i got a full-time job in the industries…8 hours a day making bolts, screws –> boring.
And yes i fired my boss again.
After that i where without a job, without money…and i had to made a decission: what would i do in the next 35 or 40 years of working? i haven’t known the answers at this time. therefor i became a temporary worker, i just wanted to see which jobs are out there, what can make me happy…
It was a long time…but i found a job…and when i was 25 years old i’ve become an apprentice for the 3rd time. one year after finishing this. my big boss made me a small boss. why? …you know the answer…
i was staying there as a teamleader to get experience, but when i should become chief storekeeper i fired my boss again ;-)
i left the company to get back as a temporary worker and started an additional training to a foreman…i took just a half year then the company i was working for get me “arrested” – i had to sign the work contract. why? …i’m just love logistics…
Last week i was asked by my boss: “could you imagine to be our chief storekeeper?”
i could, because i love my job…but to get there where i want to in the future i need to modelling in blender (i love 3d art too) – logistics is my love, planning material-flows is my dream ;-)
Rutger
19. Aug, 2010
Hey Andrew, that was a very inspiring and informative video! Thank you for posting it.
Greetings from Holland.
Adhir Pandit
23. Aug, 2010
Hay Andrew,
Thanks a lot dude… it help me a lot…
I love your tutorials…
Keep it up… :)