Matthieu Negrier is quite a well-rounded 24 year old 2D/3D artist living near Paris in France. For work, he is part of the 3DVIA Web Application Team and in charge of developing Virtools applications. He also works on reconstructing 3D models from photography. For himself; he keeps busy doing 3D modeling, game creation, writing plays and novels, developing web sites, keeping up on most scientific subjects, playing video games, going out and even finding some time for sports like running and tennis.
We’re happy that Matthieu has been taken time to be our Featured Artist and to give his thoghts on a wide range of topics to help us all get to know him better and to put our own modeling experiences into a broader perspective.
Matthieu (3DVIA username Balgin) is also our current 3DVIA Challenge Champion! His model of “Jack” made me glad that my kids are older and won’t be scared! He used 3ds Max to create his ghoulish goblin.
Now, on to Matthieu’s answers…
Q1: How did you first become interested in 3D modeling?
I remember my first contact with 3D; like everybody, it was using the the first PC games and spending hundreds of hours alone (and with friends) to my parent’s despair. The current debate about children spending too much time in front of their computers is not new. Ten years ago I was impressed by the power of 3D as a medium. I have to admit that my fascination with the medium has only increased over time.
“Giving life to 3D” is fantastic stuff. Being able to visualize and share what you have inside your head brings a great sense of satisfaction, like a writer who can put his story on paper to bring it to life. Today we have very powerful tools which dramatically increase the possibilities. Yesterday, 3D was like a “virtual Lego game” with limited pieces to use. Today we can invent whatever pieces we need.
When I was only 15, I began creating images and 3D animations using PowerPoint (yes, it is possible). It was very hard, but it allowed me to create things in 3D and that made me very happy. Later I began use other tools like 3ds Max, which allows both simple and complex 3D modeling through a powerful range of parameters that I could learn to manage. I spent many hours reading the tutorials just to create a small animation, but even though it was a lot of work it was also very interesting and gave me great satisfaction when I watched the results. I think the most important thing is the pleasure you can get from your results, no matter what software you use.
Whether your model has four polygons or four million, the only really important thing is the creative passion you bring to your work. Sometimes you may hesitate to show your results, but usually the reactions and feelings of other people are very positive. In fact, you cannot always create Square Enix’s state-of-the-art animations, but even with today’s free modeling software you can easily create a lot of things. The challenge of creating something fabulous is even more exciting. With a triangle, everything is possible, isn’t it?
Q2: What types of 3D models do you do?
Until now, I have rarely made independent models; that is to say objects or characters without a precise goal. In general, I have the idea for a more global project like an animation or an illustration for a story or a game. My modeling really depends on the project. Because of this I use a little bit of many 3D tools with more or less success. Usually, my models are more oriented towards fantasy and entertainment and don’t tend to be photorealistic.
Q3: What role do your models play in the work you do?
I do not need to use or import 3D models in my day-to-day work, at least for the moment. I actually work on 3D object reconstruction from images.
This is one of Matthieu’s models created using 3DVIA Shape. It’s called Magic Castle and has amazing details when you zoom in, including a topiary animal!
Q4: How much time do you spend, on average on one particular model?
I prefer not to count the time spent on projects in order not to know all the things I could have done instead. Anyway, I need a lot of time to build a model, especially when I want a more precise result than usual. I often need to dig deep inside the documentation to understand how to create a particular effect or how to use a new tool. I think a lot of casual users are like me.
I would say that it also depends on the software and the complexity of the model. In general, I’m working in my free time and I would really like the days to be longer. I often work on a model in the evening, look out the window and am surprised - “Wow, is it that late already?”
Q5: What additional software do you use to create your images?
When I had to create animations or needed to add effects, I usually used Photoshop or After Effects. I speak of the past because as a student I had free access to the software and today I can’t afford to own them. Now I’m using free tools to save money and it is sufficient for what I want to do. I don’t need to use complex products.
Q6: What are your tips for staying focused on a large project?
Talking about 3D modeling, my large projects are all personal projects. Therefore, I don’t have deadlines. What motivates me is the will and impatience to see my ideas turned into 3D. Sometimes I may be discouraged about the viability of my project, especially at the beginning, but usually the feeling doesn’t last for long. The hardest thing is to stay on course and focus on the long term; that is knowing my priorities and putting the whole thing together.
Q7: Where do you go (web sites, museums, race tracks, anywhere) for help, tips and inspiration?
It is great these days that 3D has been democratized and spread to so many users. Information and help is available from so many web sites with really useful tips, tutorials and very active communities. Being part of those communities opens many possibilities for sharing your projects with interesting people and discovering new ideas in return. Search engines make it easy to find what you’re looking for and the variety of 3D models available for downloading allow you to study and analyze many different ways of modeling.
I regularly visit these types of web sites to see and be “Wowed” by other people’s projects. I also like to go to Dailymotion or YouTube to watch short video clips from professionals and students. As far as inspiration, she usually arrives when you least expect her!
Matthieu also used 3DVIA Shape to create these two models: Airship and Zeppelin.
Q8: What part of 3D modeling do you find most rewarding?
What I find the most rewarding is the joy of seeing my idea in 3D after a lot of hard work. I like the excitement of making breakthroughs and realizing that I’m progressing through the steps of a project and nearing the end. It is a feeling that is quite euphoric and yet misleading too. I often look at my creations afterward and find the feeling is so different and strange.
I also love to show my work to different people to see their reactions. In fact, I don’t think 3D makes sense without the “sharing”.
Q9: Do you do 3D modeling on personal projects?
I only do 3D modeling for my personal projects and I have a lot of those, and not enough time to do everything. Currently I am creating games using Virtools and XNA. They provide me with well made engines and easy to use interfaces and features. I work on small games now and will move on to larger projects later. In small games there isn’t a lot of modeling, but I will do more on the larger ones.
Personal challenges like entering the Imagine Cup are important because they are interesting and motivating. When I was a student, some friends and I started creating a short movie clip for it, but we haven’t been able to finish it. There should be more challenges like the Imagine Cup.
Q10: Just for fun, what is your favorite game? Movie? Comic Book?
My taste in movies is wide-ranging, which makes it hard to pick just one. I like authors’ movies (they can sometimes be very strange) as well as classical Hollywood productions (even if I think that too much of the budget goes to special effects and not enough to the plot). I think that we are now so used to massive amounts of special effects that we are more demanding on the story and characters, hoping that they will move beyond “cliches”.
I don’t really like the mass-audience comedies except for chilling out with friends. On the other hand, I love old black & white movies from the 50’s and 60’s (especially American ones). I also like animated movies, especially the ones from Pixar and Tim Burton (I like his movies too).
In video games, my taste is more classical, like Final Fantasy and other games from Square Enix. I moved from the Nintendo NES to Sony PS2 playing Final Fantasy X and this game has definitely marked me! I love role playing games because of the long stories and immersive aspects of a complete universe. MMPORG [Massively-Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game] doesn’t really attract me, maybe because I’m afraid of becoming addicted.
I like Tolkien books and Robert Jordan. I also enjoy books that fully present a historical period, like those by French author Emile Zola.
Q11: What is your favorite subject other than 3D modeling?
I’m very attracted to all aspects of science: physics, chemistry, biology, astonomy, mathematics and archeology. I follow scientific news and keep up with articles and files from a variety of scientific sites. Another scientific interest is the environment, which I’m a bit pessimistic about right now. I’m working on a web site project in this area. I miss science and experimentation in my daily job and balance that by following all of these subjects.
Wow, thank you Matthieu for providing so much background and insight into what helps make you an excellent artist! We do appreciate the time and thought that went into your answers and look forward to seeing your new models here on 3DVIA - when you have time.
