FGT3D Explorer Challenge organized by the TPN-Accredited cloud rendering services provider, Fox Renderfarm, was started in March, 2021 and sponsored by our amazing sponsors, including Xencelabs, Corona Renderer, TopoGun, Friendly Shade, Graswald, Raysync, Textures.com, Texturebox and iCube R&D Group. After the selection by our jury, 3 Professional artworks and 3 Student artworks were picked and would be awarded the prizes provided by our amazing sponsors. Congratulations to all the winners! And thanks to everyone for participating!
The third place winner of Profession category is David Aguero! Congratulations! His artwork, Leaving the colony, stands out for its rich colors, exquisite details and excellent composition with a sense of depth.
“A spaceship is leaving a town on the bottom of a cliff. The town appears to be some sort of a mining operation or settlement. The artist used colors and surface materials very effectively. The color of the town is like the rocks and doesn't look like a very good place to live. The spaceship is painted green and looks very different from the town. It makes me wonder if the spaceship is escaping from the dying town or on a mission to save it, but it looks like a great adventure is waiting for the people aboard.” One of our judges, Miho Aoki said, who is the Associate Professor of Computer Art University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Here’s the interview between David and Fox Renderfarm, in which we can find out how he created this wonderful 3D render.
Leaving the colony © David Aguero
Fox Renderfarm: Hi, David! Thank you for accepting our interview. Congratulations for winning third place in the FGT3D Explorer Challenge, how do you feel about it ?
David: It feels amazing! I love to create art especially when the subject matter is one of my favourites.
Fox Renderfarm: Could you share with us your inspiration/references/mood board for the work Leaving the colony?
Project Eagle © Brennan Massicotte
Exploration © JULIAN CALLE
EXO - Mechanized Mars Exploration Rover © Daniele Solimene
Fox Renderfarm: How long did it take to finish the work? And what software and plugins did you use?
David: 10 days in free time, from 2 to 3 hours, I use Lightwave 3D 2020, World Creator and Affinity Photo.
Fox Renderfarm: The artwork builds a strong story, which is fantasy. Could you share with us the story behind it?
David: The back story: the colony didn’t progress as expected, so, resource to make a self sustained living wasn't possible, everyone is dead or left the colony some time ago, the last colonist put together a small shuttle (the shuttle was for low flight scouting, it took some years to be modified for planetary capabilities, also the low gravity of the planet was handy) .
Fox Renderfarm: Did you make the model of the colony and aircraft from scratch? Could you share with us the modeling process?
David: I made all from scratch, for the ship I first used a kitbash technique for rapid prototyping, then some classic modeling. For the city was made very low poly, and thinking like lego parts.
Fox Renderfarm: We were all impressed by the rich colors of the work, how did you set the color to make sure the harmonious colours and the right balance?
David: That took some serious tweak on the materials, the light and the atmosphere, but with some color theory in the head, oranges and blues are always great looking color palettes.
Fox Renderfarm: Did you meet any difficulties when creating this work? And how did you solve it?
David: The problem I encountered in order to put the ship in the foreground, I needed it to lower the contrast for the background with more fog, so the illusion of being quite far doesn't break, it was hard to get the right amount, so the background doesn’t get lost, too.
Fox Renderfarm: As the old friend of Fox Renderfarm, do you have any new projects or plans to share with us?
David: I have been working full time now as Art Director, so my job now is more to manage other artists. Also, my current job has an NDA.
Pwnisher Alternate Realities Challenge Submission © David Aguero
Healing © David Aguero
haunted hall © David Aguero
The Last Shuttle © David Aguero
The harvest © David Aguero
Fox Renderfarm: As a successful CG artist and entrepreneur, what do you think are the most important factors in making a successful commercial artwork?
David: Stay fresh, every new show, movie, artist, you need to follow the trend to stay updated with all the amazing art out there.
Fox Renderfarm: Any other things you want to share with the CG enthusiasts?
David: For young artists, try to enter as many challenges as you can. It is perfect to do your own things and practice, grow your portfolio and win some amazing tools along the way. Practice makes the master.
