Interview with Cristina Martinez Benita: Contrast between Strength and Lightness in ArchViz

Exclusive interview about 2019 ARCHITECTURAL 3D AWARDS

When wandering in a gallery, you may stop by a painting that’s compelling or would also get confused about why you feel so lost in a picture. The reason lies in the composition and lighting, which determine the visual effects and the viewer’s engagement of an image. Cristina attempts to make her ArchViz image rational and focused while illustrating the contrast between strength and lightness. Let’s read the interview about how she illustrates the Guna House by Pezo von Ellrichshausen in a calm and harmonious atmosphere.

• Cristina Martinez Benita
• From: Madrid, Spain
• Architectural Visualizer
• School: School-ing

LAKEHOUSE: Nominated work in Student (Image) Category of CGarchitect 2019 ARCHITECTURAL 3D AWARDS

CREDITS:

Adán Martín, Eduardo Rodríguez and all the schoolmates for each word of advice. Pezo von Ellrichshausen for his amazing Architecture and the fascinating house which inspires this image.

Fox Renderfarm: Hi, Cristina, would you please give a brief introduction about yourself?

Cristina: Hi everybody and really thanks for the opportunity to share my personal story. My name is Cris and I am an architect who has always felt a great attraction for everything visual: photography, painting... That’s why 9 months ago I decided to make a huge change to my professional life and enter School-ing, the new 3D school of Adán Martín and Eduardo Rodriguez in Madrid; an amazing experience and a total revolution of knowledge . Thanks to my time at the school today I can work doing what I like most in one of the companies I always admire, Play-Time, based in Barcelona. So I am just landed in the ArchViz community but it is my true passion.

Fox Renderfarm: How do you feel about being nominated in The CGarchitect Architectural 3D Awards?

Cristina: Being nominated in the CGarchtiect Architectural 3D Awards was a complete surprise. It was a mix of happiness and incredulity but of course I felt really lucky, I had no plans to take part in the competition but at the last moment (to be honest last day) I decided to submit the image encouraged for our teachers and schoolmates. Attending Viena event was an amazing experience I will always remember.

Fox Renderfarm: What’s your inspiration for this amazing project? Why did you select this artwork to participate in the competition?

Cristina: The image started as an educational exercise to practise several parts of the ArchViz process. We had to choose an existing architectural project and I took Guna House, an incredible house of Pezo von Ellrichshausen. I was starting with modelling so I wanted to take something really rational and focus the effort to create an atmosphere of contrast and a story around the Architecture and its location. I thought those two elements could help the image to get attention. Guna House emerges as a concrete rational sculpture in the middle of a wild surrounding nature. The contrast between strength and lightness, Human and Nature.

Guna House by Pezo von Ellrichshausen

Fox Renderfarm: Could you introduce the light design and the composition of this project?

Cristina: Since the first sketch I was really clear about an image with a square format and a really static composition, with the house as a solid focus and many details happening around it. I was imagining an atmosphere which inspired (apparently) harmony, calm...and I got it with one of the HDRI of a 3D Collective. Then I just had to add some Vray spots to emphasise the interior of the house. The lake in the scene really helps me with reflections and shades.

Fox Renderfarm: How long did it take you to finish the work?

Cristina: It is difficult to say since we use the scene to practise several things along the classes, but yeah I do not want to trick anybody, for sure it takes more time than the available in the daily work ;)

Fox Renderfarm: What’s the most unforgettable and interesting part of the creation process?

Cristina: The most interesting part was the process itself, the constant growth of the image along the time, how the idea was taking shape and at the end, compare the initial sketch with the final result. I also enjoyed a lot creating all of the details along the lakeshore including some hidden little friends. The main idea was the image invited you to become an observer among the bushes, paying attention to small gestures.

Fox Renderfarm: Did you meet any difficulties when creating this work? And how did you solve it?

Cristina: Well when I started this image it was barely a few months since I started my relationship with 3D Max so everything in it, was a kind of challenge for me but also a great opportunity to apply all the knowledge. Thanks to each piece of advice from teachers and the support of schoolmates the journey was much more easy to live.

Fox Renderfarm: How long have you been in the architectural visualization career? And how did you make the decision to step into this career?

Cristina: As I mentioned in the introduction, I officially started in the architectural visualization last January but the curious and interest for this world was there since I started to work as an Architect. Especially, when I got an internship in ETB Studio a really inspirational italian studio where they had an incredible way to tell and communicate projects. The final decision was just a perfect combination of time, personal moment and great school.

Fox Renderfarm: Who or what project inspires you most in this industry?

Cristina: I sincerely think almost everything can inspire you in this industry. It is clear that Photography or Painting are directly influences but also travelling itself, visiting places or living landscapes and cities can improve your eyes and your visual background. About who...it is always difficult to choose someone but if I have to give names I love the works from Darcstudio in UK and SixNFive in Barcelona.

ArchViz Works by Darcstudio

ArchViz Works by SixNFive

Fox Renderfarm: As an outstanding architectural visualization artist, what do you think are the qualities that will make a great artist greater? And what do you do to enhance your professional skills?

Cristina: I believe that as in every industry, the most important thing is the passion and the non-stop wish to learn everyday, to be curious. Also, I personally like to believe that emotions and feelings are important parts of this job. I try to improve my professional skills listening to all the talented people I am surrounded and trying to learn from their experiences. I also try to exercise the way I look spending a lot of my free time reading images and watercoloring.

Cristina’s artwork

Fox Renderfarm: What’s your next step?

Cristina: Currently I do not make many plans for the future. I am just focus on learning and improving to grow professionally. The industry is changing so who knows....

Fox Renderfarm: Any other things you want to share with CG enthusiasts?

Cristina: I just want to say thanks, I feel really grateful for taking part of this industry . Hope it also encourages more women to begin in this inspirational world.

For more artwroks

Cristina’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soyeme/

Behance: https://www.behance.net/cmb1

Play-Time’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playtime.barcelona/