How My Kids Learned CG Art Skills at Home

WHAT IS A CG ARTIST?

According to Indeed.com, “a computer graphics (CG) artist, or a computer-generated imagery (CGI) artist, is a professional who creates moving images, still images or visual effects with computers, digital tools and software programs.” Think Pixar or Disney animation studio.

DISCLAIMER

I am not a CG artist. I have zero skills in this area. My kids have graciously provided me the information on how they taught themselves CG skills from middle school to college. If I fail to properly use the vocabulary of this trade, please forgive me! The purpose of this post is to share how my kids got started in CG arts, how they improved their CG skills, and how they promote their artwork.

TRAITS AND INTERESTS OF A POSSIBLE CG ARTIST

My two children who are passionate CG artists possess the following traits and interests that make digital arts a good fit. My daughter has slightly different interests and traits than my son. Likewise, each has taken up different focus areas in the digital arts (see end of post for a sample of their work).

WHAT IS NEEDED TO GET STARTED

A 3D software program. My kids use Blender which is free and powerful enough for their needs. There are software programs such as Maya, 3D Studio Max, and Modo that can be purchased.

A computer. My kids started on older laptops when they were in middle school. These computers got the job done, but there were setbacks with the hardware capabilities. A better option is a more modern laptop or desktop with 16 GB of ram, Intel i5 or better, and a discrete graphics card (not required). Blender has suggested hardware requirements posted on its website.

Lots of time. Like any skill, the more you practice, the better you get. Ever heard of the 10,000-hour rule to achieve mastery of complex skills? Homeschooling allows my kids to spend many hours a day creating digital artwork.

Patience, motivation, and passion. There is a steep learning curve with digital arts especially if your child will self-teach. If your child cannot focus intently or has limited interest in this art form, consider a different hobby.

WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH 3D SOFTWARE

3D software allows an artist to create 3D digital objects that can be used in video games, movies, architecture, illustration, engineering, and commercial advertising. Like with any art, people find a particular niche. My daughter prefers animation, animals, and game development; while my son prefers automobile modeling and engineering. There are different aspects of the process: 3D modeling, animation, rendering, and look development. Artists may specialize in any of these areas.

3D MODELING

In 3D modeling an artist uses polygons to create geometric shapes that will become a 3D object. The object can be a real-world object or an imaginary object. My son suggests starting with real world objects so you can look at its actual 3D shape. With more experience, you can use images of objects and then move on to imaginary objects if that is your interest. My daughter creates animals, and my son creates cars, tanks, and buses.

RENDERING

Rendering is the process of applying textures, colors, shading, and lighting to a 3D model. For example, my son creates a 3D model of a Volvo car, then he selects all the parameters just listed and applies them to the model making it look realistic, almost like a photograph.

ANIMATING

To animate a created object, the artist puts bones in the object. Frames are created of the object in slightly different positions. The software calculates how much the bones have to move between frames to create a smooth motion. Short movies, gifs, and animated objects can be created. My daughter loves creating cute animals that move.

LOOK DEVELOPMENT

Look development addresses the big picture of a scene, advertisement, or movie. Will the look be stylized, realistic, or minimalistic?

HOW TO IMPROVE SKILLS

Learning a program’s techniques and secrets requires a lot of practice. If you get stuck, you can research what other digital artists have done. YouTube tutorials help my kids learn Blender techniques from experts. They also participate in forums for CG artists on Discord and Reddit. These forums provide the opportunity for feedback and critique of their work. Using the money earned from the sale of his models, my son paid for several online courses which greatly excelled the speed of learning. Growing CG artists can increase the rate of skill development through online tutorials, forums, and online courses.

HOW TO PROMOTE ARTWORK

Most artists want to get themselves and their artwork noticed. It gives them a chance to do free-lance work for individuals or a big company. My son posts his artwork on Artstation and Behance. Volvo noticed my son’s Volvo models on Behance and invited him to do an internship with them. Unfortunately, he was too young to do that! But it sure made him feel good to be noticed.

HOW TO SELL ARTWORK

My son began selling his 3D models when he was 13 and continues to sell quite a few models. He sells on Sketchfab, CGtrader, Turbosquid, and Blendermarket. Unfortunately, Sketchfab recently disallowed minors from using its site. It’s a real bummer because he had 50 followers and 10K views. Besides selling his own models, my son has been commissioned to design models. Recently, he was contracted to model an SUV for an automotive company which provided an impressive paycheck.

There are competitions out there too. The-Rookies.co holds an annual worldwide competition for non-professional artists to compete in different categories. My son has submitted entries for artists under the age of 18. He received honorable mention for one of his models. The company offers prizes like computers and software licenses. They also offer jobs.

FINDING A JOB OR INTERNSHIP

If your child ends up having the talent and passion for the digital arts, it could very well turn into a career. Successful digital artists don’t need a college degree. Those with a degree are not necessarily using it for their career. My son would love to be a professional digital artist, but I’m insisting that he get a four-year degree even if he doesn’t directly apply it to a profession.

As with all artists, developing the skills and getting noticed are key to success. Work on developing an impressive portfolio and post your work wherever you can. Look for job postings in your area of interest and see what skills employers are looking for. For example, Epic Games lists available job and internship positions along with the requirements. Apply to positions just to get a critique of your work. Use this information to gain new skills and make yourself more marketable to employers.

MY SON’S PATHWAY IN 3D SPACE

My son’s art pathway began at a young age with pencil drawing, Legos, and photography. When he was eight, he created amusing stop motion videos with Legos and posted them on YouTube. He began self-teaching CG skills at the age of eleven after taking a coding course at a teaching co-op. Below is a model he made at the age of fifteen which is about the time he began taking on contract projects. The contacts he’s making in the marketing field are helping to increase his visibility and opportunities. His most recent endeavor was modeling the new Hyundai Exter SUV for the India market which he completed during his junior year in high school. Here is a link to his work on the Hyundai website: https://www.hyundai.com/in/en/find-a-car/exter/highlights.

https://www.hyundai.com/in/en/find-a-car/exter/highlights

MY DAUGHTER’S PATHWAY IN CG ARTS

My daughter began self-teaching CG skills at the age of twelve. What inspired her was a coding course she took at a teaching co-op which used Super Scratch Programming Adventure! This led to a passion for coding and the desire to create a game. She combined these skills with her love for crocheting amigurumi animals – a 3D art form. Her CG interests are cute fantasy animals with movement. During high school she took simulation and game development (SGD) courses at the community college. Even though these credits were not transferrable to a four-year college, they helped her earn a STEM scholarship as well as boost her skill level. She’s now at a four-year college majoring in computer science and minoring in music. Music is another aspect of game development. She has composed over 100 pieces of music. I’m looking forward to seeing where these skills will lead her in the future. Hopefully, she will find an internship that will give her application experience. Below is a sample of one her fantasy creations. You can find her work on Sketchfab under creator DreamNoms.

REFERENCES

What Is a CG Artist? Definition, Jobs and Skills | Indeed.com