I have had mixed reactions when I explain doing Graphic Art. I have had both family and friends try to tell me to give it up, it’s a waste of time, it’s not real art if it’s on a computer, it’s not a real job, and the best one of all…I will never be any good at it or go anywhere with it. Normally I have no problem explaining what I have learned from Graphic Art in 3D, most know what CGI is thanks to movies and cartoons, yet in spite of knowing how the entertainment industry uses this type of art, most still consider it useless.
When I explained about 3D models and art, I explained about the program on the computer has a room, much like a room in a building and in that room I have a model (I usually refer to V4 in the case), that model is a base, then proceed to explain you can buy morph packs that allow you to change the shape of that model and I can even make the model look like them. I explain about bones and poses to make the various parts of the model move, then I explain textures for skin, eyes, hair, clothes. I even managed to explain dynamics in a way they could understand. Once I have explained this, I explain how you can make money doing this kind of art.
I explain how you can make a character for V4 or several textures for an outfit make for V4, then package it up and have it sold through one of the various sites or even several sites to broaden my exposure to sell and make a mark as an artist. At the time I was explaining this, Renderosity had over 1 million members, Daz had over 800,000 members, Content Paradise had over 600,000 members and that was just to name a few places, to give a person an idea of how many people are into this kind of art (yes I know a person can be at all those places and the numbers are not exactly as I stated, but the person I am talking to doesn’t know that…lol). So with about 1 and a half million people and my product (if it’s made well enough) goes for say $10 I would only need to sell to 5000 people and I would have $50,000 in a relatively short time. To get that kind of sales, timing is everything with seasons, holidays, etc. I did explain how part of that profit goes to the place I am selling my product through with the different percentages based on which place I choose.
Of course I came up with these figures about 5 years ago before everyone got hit on a financial level thanks to our glorious politicians around the world (dumba$$es). So they wanted to know why I was not yet making loads of money in this type of art, to which I explained it costs about $35,000 dollars for a 2 years course at the Art Institute near where I live and I simply don’t have the money, so I am learning the hard way (though in my mind it’s easier cause so many are so helpful and generous with time and freebies), it just takes longer to learn everything necessary to create something worthy of sales that people will want and the market is always changing as well as the programs used always changing.
One thing I have learned about explaining 3D Graphic Art, you can only explain it once, after that they don’t want to hear about it anymore and any attempt to do so is met with a glazed look and change of topic. Another thing I have learned, I get more support and compliments for my art from complete strangers half way around the world, then I do from my own family and friends. Having a love of Graphic Art is a lonely hobby unless you are surrounded by people who share it.
