Our new featured model– a fighting fit spider tank– was made by 3D artist Thibaut Claeys (or bitonicus, as he’s known on TurboSquid). We had a chance to ask Thibaut some questions about his work, and he gave us some tips for his fellow artists, as well as an insight into the fantastic world he’s built with the models in his catalog, giving them a “new life.”.
How long have you been an artist?
I’ve been drawing since I was able to hold a pen. I started with animals and went on to draw anatomy and portaits. Later on, I made my first digital paintings on an old program called Dr Genius– I only used a mouse and 256 colors, drawing pixel by pixel, which was pretty hard.
When I started to work in 3D about 15 years ago, I completely abandoned 2D drawing (except when I’m making textures). I don’t even hand draw anymore, even when I want to sketch a concept. I make everything in 3D.
How did you get your start as a 3D modeler?
I saw a TV spot showing the “best of” of Imagina (a long-running European 3D showcase), and I was absolutely stunned by it. It was just a “wow” moment, a simple camera traveling inside a tunnel, but it was amazing.
I said to myself, “That is what I want to make,” so I began to learn 3d Studio DOS. I bought a book about 3d Studio, read it, and follwed all the tutorials in it… that was in 1993. My first model was a simple boat, and since that one, I’ve been addicted to modeling.
What’s most the most important thing to remember when making 3D models?
There are lots of important things to remember when you make 3D models, and it’s difficult to say which one is the most important. But you can’t go wrong if you make good topology (which is well described in the specifications of CheckMate Pro), good textures, and, of course, a good presentation.
Make your models as accurate as possible, using good references. It’s also important to pay particular attention to the small details that give some credibility to the model.
It looks as though many of your models could almost come from the same fantasy universe. Is that a decision you made deliberately?
Lots of my models come from a medieval universe or a sci-fi universe. The medieval part was originally a game project of mine that unfortunately died, but thanks to Turbosquid, the models all have a second life.
What inspires you to make these highly detailed industrial pieces?
There are many cars, vans, and plane models in the TurboSquid catalog, and I just wanted to add some more original ones. I’m very proud of my unusual collection.
What has been your experience with CheckMate? Do you have any opinions on CheckMate Pro v1 versus Pro v2?
I only have positive things to say about CheckMate. You have to make nice, clean models, even with CheckMate Lite.
I’m still studying CheckMate Pro v2, and I’m working on some models for it.
How long have you been with TurboSquid?
I’ve been with TurboSquid since April 2012. I immediately liked the site and how easy it was to add objects and manage them. I uploaded a few models, and just waited to see what would happen next. After 3 months, I was surprised to get my first sale, so I decided to add more models to increase my sales.
Would you recommend TurboSquid to other modelers?
I have recommended TurboSquid to some of my friends who do 3D. And to everyone who wants to share their models: you can do as I do, breathing new life into the older or unused models that are collecting dust on your hard drive.
Want millions of people to see your best 3D model? TurboSquid attracts customers and artists from all over the globe, and we’re always on the lookout for our next featured model. Find out how to have your work spotlighted on our homepage!