Is It Too Late to Start Blender and Get Good?
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 3 сен 2021
- Is it too late to be a 3D artist? Did you miss the boat? There's no doubt the last couple of years have seen thousands enter the space, so is it too late for you? I discuss this in this video.
- 📲👍Grab a free CG Animation Time Saver eBook here, learn about the industry and get lots of shortcuts and links: gum.co/LpWCWO 
Развлечения
I only started a few months ago and it's definitely worth it. I've already added a photorealistic UFO to a music video. I never expected it to look so good.
That’s awesome Roy!! Keep it up.
What the name of this music video? I want to watch it 👀🦉
I just turned 50 and I’ve only been doing 3D animations for 2 years in Blender. I’ve been compositing for decades but that feels like kids stuff now. I’m stubborn and I make everyday. I fail and figure it out. I know Kung Fu, I forget Kung Fu and have to find that Kung Fu tutorial again… But there’s a core satisfaction knowing I’ll never master this. There will always be more to learn
That’s awesome Jason! Most of the 3D artists in my office are either pushing 50 or are in their mid-late 50s. I’ve also heard at SIGGRAPH from people whom know that age is a number and the reel is everything. I’m sure ageism is an actual thing but 3D isn’t a physically demanding field aside from eyesight and sitting. It’s one of those things you can do as long as you can see and move your wrists. Many people in their 90s can still do that, so... 😁. Also, failing is the best teacher, right? The ability to dust yourself off is the trick. Thanks man!
@@KevBinge yup. Failures are gifts. Some cost more than others. I tend to walk away and say “I’m going to bed” then a few minutes later, once I’ve decided to give up on the problem bc sleep will help fix the problem (which it does sometimes), a solution will pop in my head and I’m walking back to fix the thing and get less sleep. When I’m deep in a project it’s like a relationship I’m fighting with to make work. It’s never easy if it’s something I’m excited about and requires way more effort than I planned for
Even after over a decade of 3D and becoming a professional getting paid and trying to teach it, still huge imposter syndrome. On one hand I don't envy beginners having all this ahead, but on the other hand, very jealous of beginners getting to go through all of these things ahead.
I totally agree Erin! It’s crazy how many tools and training is available now vs a decade ago. It was worse 20 years ago when it was like, written tutorials, CG magazines, and forums... if that... I still get impostor syndrome, especially with film stuff!
Very good advice! I have been working in 3d since 1994, and what I envy is all the tutorials a beginner has nowadays available, even for free here on YT! Not only didn't we have any resources online back then, because the www was only a couple of years old and platforms like YT, that was stuff we only could dream about. But also, 3d was really new and there weren't a lot of people who could teach that. We had to book super expensive workshops with people from the 3D software companies, that was the only way to learn something.
And after 27 years in this job, I am still stuck with some things I usually don't do (I am specialized in modelling). Like lighting, that is something another department takes care of, and although I often watch them and theoretically know how to do "good" lighting, my own attempts for private projects just suck. And I am blown away by the work of beginners and think to myself: why the heck can't I? But I guess that has more to do with the fact that I am a perfectionist. What I am doing, I want to be good at. Maybe I should stop that sometimes and just try to enjoy the learning path. Next time I will remember your video, and it should be easier, so thanks. Liked and subscribed.
Yeah haha! I started in 1998 and there was slightly more than in 1994 but not much. The web was a baby and there were books and maybe a few websites up. The only schools teaching it were maybe CalArts and SVA, and it was only like one or two classes. We fought through it and learned it anyway.
I hear you on the compartmentalism of the larger facilities. It’s often been in the back of my head to make the jump to features but I fear I’m too much of a generalist. VFX supervision is great for that but it’s a political path and a tough job.
Keep going if you want to break out into different areas. Being an industry veteran will help you in ways you might not realize at the moment. Keep going and we’re all here to help 😀
Amazing advice. Not just for blender but anything!
Yeah, I guess that’s true 😀. Thanks!
About the rocket science/maya bit...
Once upon a time I'm configuring a file server from a remote console.
The company owner (A really frigging good lawyer) stood next to me in awe how I knew all these commands by heart.
(DOS days 50 character command lines, you remember)
I look up and behind her is a wall full of law books.
I go uhh yeah, and you know all that stuff. Amazing!
Yeah, you get it! Crazy right?
Wow, this video was what I needed at exactly the right moment, and boy, did it help. Thank you. I'm 51 now and started compositing when i was a kid by cutting out pictures from a Sears catalog and making scenes by gluing bits of furniture, objects and people onto a living room scene, or a kitchen, or a field. After I learned how to use a computer and Photoshop became a thing I learned how to photomanipulate. Then came Daz3D, my entry into the world of 3D, and gradually became really good at it, but all I ever wanted was motion. I studied lighting/rendering and what made a scene look photorealistic, and that was all well and good..but I knew I had to go to the next level. I saw Blender years ago but was terrified of it. I heard it was too hard to learn. It was truly next level in my mind, and I severely doubted my ability to learn it. I was suddenly afraid to step out of my comfort zone. I wasted heaps of money on a Maya subscription, thinking it was 'the way', only to have to bite the bullet and sit my ass down and get a few beginner courses under my belt and learn Blender. This community is what ultimately sold me to the software. It is so enriching and embracing, I wondered what took me so long to learn it. But now I am at a point where I find myself sitting through tutorial after tutorial, almost scared to be the person I once was and just experiment and explore. I kept thinking I have to learn a bit of everything in order to use it efficiently, but now I have come to the conclusion that the best way to learn it is to, as you say, get a scene in mind, know what you want it to look like, and learn each facet until you complete the picture. So far, with this practice I have noticed I am skill building again and beginning to make connections, and experiment. I know when I feel disheartened and frustrated I have this video to come back to, to remind me to have fun learning and to enjoy the journey it takes to get there, thank you again.
That’s quite a journey! I’m happy that this video helps create a positive outcome for you. 3D can be scary and difficult to grasp initially, especially for those of us whom didn’t grow up with 3D gaming. Making the jump is hard but once you’re in the pool, floating and swimming becomes second nature, and sooner or later you’re doing the butterfly lol. Thanks for sharing! Keep going, and good luck 😀😀
Great video. Falling isn't bad, but then you don't stay down. I started learning Blender six months ago. It is a gift for our children for a small presentation. They will marry in March 2022. I'm an absolute rookie. And at the moment I've finished seven scenes of the little animation film. I'm a little bit proud of myself. Learning means making mistakes and starting over. I am 67 years old and will never stop being interested in new things. It refreshes my brain every day.
That’s really cool! Dick Van Dyke animates. It’s never too late, and animators and 3D artists will age into a new paradigm for sure. Keep going, it’s inspiring!! Thanks! Oh, congratulations too on the weddings!
Dude is reading all 102 comments. Thats dedications. I cannot do that. You have my respect.
It’s tough but I usually do unless I miss seeing them haha!
I have known about Blender since it first came out in 1998 but only started to learn it when I sort of retired at the age of seventy, three years ago. Although I do not spend as much time as I would like I am getting the hang of it and am now able to model the Audi R8 car and some architectural visualization projects. If you really want to learn something new age is not an obstacle.
That is really inspiring! I hope you’re loving retirement. I have friends who are a little bit older than you and they call me to gloat when they know I’m in the office Hahahaha!!
I first downloaded Blender around the time Big Buck Bunny came out (google informs me that was v. 2.46). I had no idea what I was looking at, no idea where to even begin. RUclips was only about three years old, so none of the wonderful Blender content we have now was anywhere in sight. So, Blender sat on my laptop unused for years. I wish I had gotten this advice then, but it's still good to hear it now. That being said, I've now been learning Blender uninterrupted for just over a year. Sometimes I surprise myself. So, no, it's never to late to get good. Sometimes you just have to wait for the world to catch up to you.
That’s awesome! I downloaded Blender every year and checked in on it. I used it for freelance in version 2.79 and fell in love with it! It’s so true that sometimes you just have to be patient 😀
I abandoned a 28-year career to work with CGI. I studied for 4 years and this year, in April, I left my profession to start working only with cgi. I don't regret it and it's working out more than I expected. Another detail, I'm 45 years old and I didn't let anything stop me because of my age 😉💪🏼
That’s great Rubiano! 45 is the new 27 anyway haha. I find the older I get the more I can accomplish simply due to a much more robust and vast life-experience. The arrogance I had when I was young blinded me to opportunities and possibilities that are really clear to me now and much easier to grasp and operate on.
@@KevBinge Absolutely that Kev ....
... and patience is a virtue that only age can bring, and this point is essential for everything, whether learning CGI or playing the piano, and it is what we lack most when we are young.
Man, you are a great value to the community... Thank you so much for the video, also the ebook it's an amazing tool for all of us who are starting out!
Thanks Warwick! It’s a great time to start.
Kev, a sincere thank you for this whole video. Your voice lends a needed perspective to the 3d world.
You’re welcome Woody, and thank you!
What a great video Kev! Thanks for that ,people need to hear this kind of stuff to just chill and keep developing their skills. I completely agree that the 3d world is becoming more and more dense with 3d artist almost as much as audio engineers...but none of that should matter when it come to your personal goals. Always follow your passion and quit comparing your self to the cream of the crop. Just put in sometime and learn from your previous renderings ,attain growth and gain mastery. Just wanted to say I appreciate 🙏 you man, your stuff has inspired me to pursue visual story telling and make cool stuff! Love your channel always a pleasure
Thanks Dmitry! You’re right about audio engineers. Musicians too! The personal computer really made this stuff all accessible. That’s why I really believe in focus, because there are so many possibilities now that it can get overwhelming really quickly.
Thank you ❤️ I'm going a little bit back and forth with my Blender learning. Currently slowly going back after 3 month break. I worry that I never get to the point where these teenegers get in 3D these days. I always feel not good enough. Your video reminded me the most important thing - I've already chosen 3D for life and it doesn't matter if I ever be a total master. I just know that I want to do this for life and if so - I'm in this lifelong learning process anyway. Thank you a lot for this video ❤️
That’s great Aleksandra! You don’t need to be as good as teenagers to do this for life. You just need to be good enough for the job, have a great attitude, work well with a team, and always be learning. Just get as good as you can at whatever area you’d want to work in.
Brilliant! If this isn't already a Ted Talk, it should be. Behooves... 👌 Dilenema!! 🤣
Thanks Andy!!
I started blender a year or two ago but stopped because lack of motivation. I started back earlier this year and am trying to motivate myself to keep going. I enjoy modeling environments inspired by video games.
Keep going. You’ll see small improvements then giant leaps.
Really needed that. Thank you
You’re welcome Eric 😀
I started learning blender about 1 1/2 years ago and now its a full time job for me. not saying its easy but if you put in the work it will be worth it.
That’s great to hear! You moved quickly!
Thanks🙏 thats the Video I needed, because everytime i see William Landgren´s work Im thinking: "Dude wtf this kid is younger than me and it looks soo dope"
Thanks for the new motivation
Yeah, I still feel that too haha. It’s normal lol. Thanks!!
Man this is so inspiring! I need to apply this to myself, I know that I´m young and I have a lot to learn and a lot of time (don misundestood me I love to learn and create) but this path its sometimes so frustrating and so hard, thanks for sharing this, I know that you talk from your experience and this gives me hope for no surendering
Thanks! It’s all experience at this point. I know I need to do this stuff as I’ve tried to leave it and it always pulls me back in lol!
Loved this Kev, also thanks for the puppy 😆
I thought you’d like the puppy haha! Thanks Curtis!!
Definitely agree if you love learning for learning sake and you do something long enough with with a thirst to do it and just enjoy/have fun with it and you don't put your own road blocks in the way, you will begin to learn it, just enjoy it, and at some point others will notice and opportunities will come from it, regardless of money, it is the opportunity to do what you enjoy and make more inspiring things for yourself and others! Never be afraid to start anew, as a mature learner, what you lack in speed, you make up for in context and life experience! you are never too old, unless you live in a cave alone and just found civilisation, then it will be more challenging!
learn some visual art basics such as perspective, spacial awareness, light and shadow, colour, along with photography and film aspects based things while you learn Blender it will enormously benefit your images and story telling from a visual perspective.
Well said! I agree with all of this. Thanks!!
I started learning blender in 2017 than took a break in late 2019. Trying to get back into environment work again. Taking it nice n slow. :)
That’s a wise idea. There’s no rush and we are all here to help too.
Thank you so much for this video. I'm an industrial designer and use blender for product and design visualisation and always want more. I always want to make short movies and I would lose my focus. But I have to keep my specialisation in mind. Your tips helped me to refocus on my strengths.
That’s awesome Hugo! Keeping focus while expanding is difficult but it helps me. I do industrial animation and that’s bread and butter, but love entertainment as well. The only way I can do that is with measured focus, and it works well for me 😀
Needed this. Just starting Blender.
Thank you.
You’re welcome 😀
Awesome stuff Kev! So inspiring, thank you!!
You’re welcome Jeremy!
This advise is just so good! I started blender over Christmas, with the goal of animating my favorite guitar player's guitars. I just wanted to make something they would think is cool, and hopefully put a smile on someone's face.
Since then, blender has become my main source of income, and I've even met some of my guitar idols. It's all possible because of the amazing blender community, and fantastic content creators sharing their knowledge. It's never too late to start learning.
long comment, i no read
That’s awesome!! I’ve met a few as well (I play but can’t remember the combo on my PRS case lol!). I’d love to meet Satch and Yngvwe(sp). Guitar is salvation. Such an awesome instrument.
Lol
merci d'avoir pris ce temps pour nous tous ,
to be or not to be !
De rien... J'ai failli échouer en français 😁😁
Needing a mental dilenema here. (ahem). Spent a good chunk of time (almost a year) getting some grips on Blender then let "things" get int he way and now I have to re-learn it all. I'm sure it will be quicker. But still ... would have been better to keep it op at least a little bit. My biggest problem was not me vs. other people (I always lose) but rather Me VS The Ideas in my head not getting realised. Really appreciate these words of encouragement. Even dilenemas.
Gene! It’s been a while, and I hope all is well. You’ll get back in, and you can always hit me up if you have issues lol. Happy New Year!
Good vid Kev. The other thing we do often is compare our individual work to work that was done by a team. Never a fair comparison.
Underrated comment!
That’s very true. I should have mentioned that.
Thank you so much for this video. I just started blender and I'm not even sure if I want to learn it but this video has made feel.... good about myself. I think the doubts I had have subsided, even if just a little bit. Not about blender but life in general. It feels kind of dumb saying it out loud but yeah, thanks.
I'm glad it resonates and helps. It means a lot for me to be lucky enough to help other people, so thanks for this message.
Amazing video, and couldn't agree more.
I had this phase too, and just want to u to know that you'll always get better.
One day, YOULL have YOUR render on the Blenderartists featured page.
Thanks!! I made a video that I’d needed to hear once in a while and to keep myself positive and I’m happy that it’s helping others! We all lift each other up.
@@KevBinge We do indeed
Been watching you for a while. Keep up the great content!
Thank you!
No it never is, learning a new CG software is like working in a new kitchen. It takes time but eventually you will be a pro in a while
I never get pro in a kitchen haha. You’re right, it does take time.
Great thoughts. Thank you..
Thanks Joshua, and you’re welcome!
I am glad that I use Blender, I remember modeling this famous donut, these materials, etc. And it just so happened that I only model in Blender, and I create textures in Quixel Mixer. But I find Blender an amazing 3D graphics software.
I’m happy using Blender too! I’ve used so many dcc platforms over the years and Blender brought the fun back to 3D and reminded me why I got into it in the first place.
Thanks for the pep talk.
You’re welcome 😁
great advice.. thanks...
You’re welcome 😀
Thanks for the pep talk buddy!
You’re welcome!
Thanks! I think these reasurance videos are as important as all the technical knowledge. It's so easy to just give up sometimes. Bezier Curves are my new best friend. So thanks for that one too!
You’re welcome Fyona! I was trying to put this video out for a bit but couldn’t word it right. People ask me this question all the time and I wanted to let people know that they aren’t alone feeling that and even professionals and veteran hobbyists fall into the traps at times. Yes, Bézier curves are awesome!! Freya has a great video on the math behind them too. Really good stuff from a super talented and brilliant game maker.
@@KevBinge Wow! Freya Holmer's video is incredible! That explains why my dolphin keeps floating upside down.
What a great community, you guys are really amazing and unbelievably generous with your knowledge!
Right? Freya is brilliant! What a mind! Also, someone once said, “don’t die with the music in you.” Lots of us take that to heart. 😀
@@KevBinge That's so sweet! I used to work in education, we used to say, "Being aware of your weaker areas, is the first stetp in making them your greatest strengths!" I keep forgetting that one!
That’s a really good one! I’d worked in education as well as a “professor.” It was the most rewarding job I’d ever had. It’s probably why I like doing YT so much. Thanks!!
thank you kev
You’re welcome Jas!!
Great advice and tight edit!
Thanks man! Coming from you that means a lot! I hate editing (my own stuff) lol.
If you want to be good at anything, you have to be willing to be bad at it first. This applies to EVERYONE.
Yes. Good point!
Really wise words, Kev :-)
Thanks David! Every now and then these thoughts come to me haha. Rare but nice.
I like how you zoomed in on ifunny as you were talking about insecurities.
You caught that lol! Thanks 😀
@@KevBinge glad to see a fellow iFunnier is out and about lol. Also thx for the words of inspiration lad. Rn I’m a student at a university and man…. It is super easy to get discouraged by the work that other students make. But honestly your video helped boost my confidence a bit. Thank you
i learned blender a while ago. not a pro but know what im doing. watched this cuz its in me reccomended and am laughing my ass off.
Thanks Bradley! Blender is for all people pro or not, and I’m happy to make you laugh lol!!
I wasnt looking for this "starting Blender" but i was really thinking it. THX! Before i jump into learning Blender, as a solo medical animator who has simple usage of 3DS Max and AfterEffects, will Blender allow me to do directional fluid and solute flow through tight spaces like veins and arteries? If so, please, direction toward tutorials?
It “can,” but Houdini is way better at that stuff. You could fake it in Blender but it’s not too strong on sims at the moment.
👏
Jacobs Krönung is best coffee. Come at me, Nescafe peasants.
Haha!!
Great video, for now... I'm off to binge-watch puppies looking in the mirror :)
Awesome!!
Hi thanks for the video, a query, would you recommend studying graphic design to be a 3D animator (also create your own characters, shorts, etc)? I know that in design they teach about color theory and that, would you recommend it? : )
Thanks Daniela! My opinion is just that, an opinion, so don’t take it as absolute truth. While graphic design does teach color theory, typography, layout, etc, it won’t help you much with animation, especially character animation. It might be good for motion graphics, to give you a background in making things look good (I could certainly use a refresher myself lol,) it won’t help animate characters. That is a whole different discipline.
I would get your hands on a good rig (the Blender Open Movies have some I believe,) then grab the book “The Illusion of Life” or “The Animator’s Survival Guide,” and start with the basics. Animating a flour sac will teach you so much about things like weight, timing, squash and stretch, emotion, overlap, follow through, etc...
Now, if you want to go that route in a school, look into Ringling College of Art and Design, Savannah College of Art and Design, CalArts, Vancouver Film School, Bournemouth, Art Center, Art Institutes, or a really good one, Animation Mentor Online. I’d left out lots but there are some great schools teaching this stuff. They are expensive so weigh your options accordingly. Every situation is different.
The most important thing to becoming a solid animator is practice and honest critiques. The 12 principles of animation will be way more important for that than graphic design. GD will become more important later on if you want to become an art director, creative director, etc...
Does that help?
@@KevBinge Yes thank you very much :), just an XD doubt... if I want to make script, storyboard, create characters and animate them, make environments, etc. that I should study? graphic design and animation? or just digital animation?
For all of that I’d say study film. Look at the curriculum from Full Sail, Ringling, and Vancouver Film School. They break it down pretty well.
@@KevBinge thank you so much 💟
You’re welcome, now go make awesome stuff 😀
Just here to say that i love your video, Have you consider create a discord sever ? I would love to join.
Thank you!! I don’t have one yet but may soon.
I still need to get enough money for a dang computer cause I only have a fricken school chrome book
Yeah, that’s a tough one. Look at used if you can.
And I have a lot of ideas for this stranger things animation of the mind flayer 🤩
Awesome!! Get a used machine and go for it if you can. Or a new one if you can swing it.
Awesome Advice !!! Well Done 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻😎 I'm a blender noob..jajaja. Well kinda..When I put my mind on it, the results are AWESOME / Happy with the results I get. Know that with time and consistency (design design design), we get good at this. You need to love what you do, to make it happen...
Whatever...jajaja.. This is for everyone..Put that mind of yours to work..👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻😎
PS. Can you do a YT Intro Logo Thingie 3D Animation (A cool one) 😁😁😁
Thanks !!! 👍🏻😎
Thanks! I have done a few logo videos actually if you go back about a year or two.
Noice
DeeeNice!! Thanks!
Wouldn't it be cool if people who work at 2D and 3D art are just machine-generated AI art-bots that operate to explore the possibility that we exist only in a cleverly disguised hologram?
Uh... ummm... want some coffee?? Lol. That’s deep stuff Land Shark! Now I’ll be all lost in the possibilities!
Idk man how am i supposed to do my dream thing when everybody around me says u cant do it wich messes with my mind 80% of the time, i literraly asked my dad to buy me a new laptop since my old one broke(just started doing blender😭) but he just doesnt believe that i can make it somewhere, ive been overthinking for months on what to do to get there but its really hard, ive watched alot of blender videos i like a lot of features but just not being able to try them hurts me alot 😭 i should just quit this dream
sorry if it feels cringy :(
Don’t quit. Convincing parents is really tough. I’ve watched people turn this into a career and start making money with it, which usually turns them (parents and haters) around. Everyone’s situation is different of course, but work with what you have and what your computer can do for now. Don’t lose hope, even though it’s easy to.
While I don't have to. If I wanted where can I get a copy of your Ultra! Super! Joe Rogain endorsed! Peacock dating VR ninja training thing?
I’ll have to write it first haha!!!
All the work on the internet is also done by 1000's of people.
Yes, true.
Nope, it's never too late. Just start, start right now.
Exactly! A future James Cameron is sitting their bedroom opening Blender for the first time right now.
is it?
Good question. 🤣
Like
Thanks!!
dilenema :D :D :D
You caught that lol. 😁😁
@@KevBinge I started on the 3D train as I wanted animated music videos for my tracks (and couldn't afford to pay even a semi-pro). Never looked back and sometimes my electricity bill has never been higher :D (rendering lolzzzz)
Wth are you spying 😱on me coz this is me and I was saying to myself this morning how sucky I am at it…🥺
Haha!
I'm simply a high functioning sociopath.... With your number. ;-)
Hahahahaha!!
What am I even doing here I'm 13..
Starting 😀
"since the age of fetus..."
Meant as an extreme example, NOT as any type of stance on what is going on right now, just to be clear 😁
@@KevBinge lol no worries man it had me laughing. I leave politics out of everything as often as possible. Since the age of fetus is how I feel about music production. 😆
Awesome!! I feel like that too and I’ve been a musician longer than a 3D artist haha! I wrote the music to this video lol
Yes. it is. Everyone who will ever be good with Blender already is. Don't even try. What an annoying title.
Yeah, admittedly I’d had trouble with titling this one, but it’s a question I’ve been getting asked a whole lot lately so I pretty much just word for worded it... it is what it is. 🥴
@@KevBinge "It's never too late to start getting good with Blender!"
That’s been my experience time and time again. I’ve seen people jump in to lots of things and get good at different times of life. Many during their retirements too! Thanks!