Although Nikita Dryzhyruk identifies as a Blender hobbyist, his 3D models are truly exceptional. In the interview, he shares insights from his creative process.
Check out his gallery
Hi Nikita, would you please introduce yourself?
I am from Ukraine and I live and work here, despite the chaos going on in the country. I really enjoy working in the 3D community and love recreating things I've already seen and using them for my artwork.
What attracted you to 3D modeling?
After graduating from the University of Architecture, I was looking for something to do. I saw some architectural visualizations of buildings made by my father’s company and it fascinated me. I decided that I want to learn how to model. Originally, I worked in 3D Max, but I didn’t like the ugly interface and was bothered by the lack of usability. Over time, I discovered that Blender 3D was significantly updated. I moved to Blender and have been working with the software ever since.
Garden snail
What was your learning process like?
Like everybody, I started with YouTube video tutorials. I then made many copying exercises in order to train my hand. Afterwards, I created my own projects and that’s about it.
I was inspired by Clément Moreau and Ivan Santic among others and also by various game environments. I really like games and basically wanted to do the same.
Your work is remarkably versatile. You model many different types of objects. How do you decide what to model?
I usually prefer to do something new that I haven't modeled yet. Doing the same thing over and over again is extremely tiring. This allows me to gain experience and not die of boredom.
Generally speaking, my approach to modeling is quite universal. I first define the desired outcome. Then, I search for references, primarily on Pinterest or through a browser search. The next step is to create low-poly and high-poly models in Blender and subsequently export them to Marmoset or Substance Painter to bake normals and begin the texturing process. I have a large library of materials that I adjust for each model individually. Once the model is textured and looks like the reference, I export it back to Blender. I test how it looks under different lighting conditions, and if necessary, I adjust the textures.
While I love modeling new objects, I often create a series of objects from the same category. For example, I uploaded to BlenderKit a series of containers. If you work on objects with similar characteristics, it saves a lot of time. The textures are identical and alphas or parts of objects can be reapplied.
You have uploaded to BlenderKit an extensive collection of industrial models. What interests you about the subject?
As I mentioned, I’m interested in game environments. I noticed that most of the assets in my favorite games have industrial attributes. Furthermore, during my studies, I had to deal with such objects on numerous occasions. My goal is always to reiterate and recreate something I observed with my own eyes.
What do you enjoy modeling?
Honestly, modeling in Blender is one of my hobbies. It gives me the opportunity to unwind by delving into the creative process. I deeply enjoy creating and experimenting in the software. As a child, I was particularly fond of LEGO, and that may have influenced my current interests.
Why do you sell your models on BlenderKit?
BlenderKit is a great platform for sharing your models. You can get free help and your work is appreciated. I couldn't have gotten this far without the BlenderKit validators. They were my first 3D mentors. However, it is not my only platform for selling models.
Do you have any projects planned for the future?
I am currently engaged in three projects that I find particularly interesting. The first is the creation of midpoly modern firearms. The second is dealing with the development of lowpoly Soviet artillery weapons that can actually be used in present days. Additionally, I am attempting to create character models.
Do you have any tips for starting 3D artists?
Don't forget that experimentation and practice are the keys to success.
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