Khalid Al-Muharraqi “In The SpotLight” Pt. 3 & 4
Hey Everyone, I am so glad to be unveiling my new video podcast, I want to thank Khalid for being my Guinea pig so to speak, and helping me to try out this new format. He was so cool and I know you’ll enjoy the interview. It was tough editing down 1-1⁄2 hours of great footage, I ended up doing a 4-part series, here are the first 2 parts. I used iMovie for the editing which is kinda limited, I think I’ll try After Effects on the next one, and that is going to be another great spotlight! Any comments on the new format would be greatly appreciated, and see YOU NEXT MONTH!
Video Interview
Print interview
Khalid, tell us a bit about yourself. your background?
Well, My name is Khalid Muharraqi, my last name is Muharraqi which is a name that is well know in these parts due to my father, he has always been a well known artist in the region, over 40 years. I currently live in Bahrain, my home town, and I do 3D art and animation for a living. Like other artists I know I have always been interested to learn as much as I can in the creative field.
What made you seek education in this country?
Well, after I got rejected to be a pilot because I did bad in physics, I then had to do my second choice which is art, as I have been painting since I was 9, and I sold my first painting when I was 15. So then my young brother and Dr. Mohammed helped me find the best school that suited me in the U.S.. Also the U.S. is well known for it’s creative education, and I really wanted to learn from the professionals there how to think and how to make a business in this field.
What made you move into 3D?
Yes.. my background is visual communication, advertising, marketing and branding. I worked in that field for over 12 years now, but I have always been fascinated with the 3D art work that was online from different artists, also I had been playing with 3D applications for a long time but never really stuck with one, due to the fact that I used to be a Mac user only, and Mac at the time had very few good applications that are considered as professional. Mainly I did it as a hobby, I’m self taught, and I used to practice 8 hours a day after my working hours at the office, so when my friends used to go fishing, or wax there sport cars after there work day, I would practice 3D as my hobby.
What made you like Modo? Lightwave?
Well… I was using Lightwave first, the first version I worked with was 5.5 I did not like it at that time, but when I tried version 6 I fell so much in-love with the simplicity and from there onwards, I continued to use it and love it’s tools, they just fit with my hands. Modo, well I was using Modo’s demo version as practice, just to see if I would like it, that’s after I’d seen all the amazing reviews. I created my first image using the demo Modo “Myth of the Floating Islands” all of a sudden.. a lot of people from the Luxology forums got shocked, well it was easy for me to adapt to Modo, it is simple, well thought out, and feels close to LW, so.. Lux gives me a gift, a full version, so from then on I always us Modo in everything I do.
What do you hope to see implemented in future versions?
Many things, but mainly I wish that they have better tools for character animation, the ability to record actions and the ability to blend motions together with more control, something like Motion Builder from Autodesk, at the moment LW has Motion Mixer, and that is amazing… but still it’s old, and it was good for it’s time, but needs to be addressed, modified, simplified, and most of all optimized to be fast in OpenGL, especially after putting more tracks in the time line. I think the product just needs some tweaking, renaming… etc.
You do awesome work, what part of the 3D process do you like? Modelling, texturing, the whole process.
I do all of the above, concept to modeling, texturing, sculpting, rigging, lip-sync, animation, lighting and rendering, and the VFX. A lot of these topics are different professions, but as I said before, I did this as a hobby, so I did not care about the amount of time it took me, I was more focused on the results…and the fun and satisfaction it gave me to achieve. My fun parts are sculpting and rendering the final. 
What was the best advice that was given to you?
Well.. I was once told by one of my instructors that I needed to specialize, that I can’t be good at many things, choose a direction and go for it! Well, at the time I took it personal and that I wanted to prove him wrong. And in the years that I have been in the industry, I have been involved in so many different majors in the creative realm, my portfolio is very colorful so I could show work under the Art: painting, design: product design, industrial design, interior designs, design-books, stamps, money, logos, concept for advertising campaigns, slogans, architectural visualization, cities, buildings, islands, interiors, landmarks & monuments, landscapes. CG ART: 3D illustrations with concepts as final artwork, character development. You see the trick is.. that I don’t learn it all at once, I learn one.. be good at it then move on to the next after a few years of work.
What would you say are some of the differences in 3D, between Western & Middle Eastern styles?
LOL!, there is no Middle Eastern, we don’t have high quality standards in these parts, and that is for many reasons, one of them is that clients don’t have a quality of standard, and taste is not linked to professions, what I mean is anyone that has money or a position is automatically a designer, or an artist that has a full right to comment. Usually things look like crap when you get clients that enforce their ugly ideas that just don’t work… but I usually say my opinion, then back off.
Where does a lot of your inspiration for your work come from?
A lot of it comes from my father, and his work, also he had a great big collection of books and magazines that I used to look at and study, like Frank Frazetta, Eerie and the Creepy Magazine, the original old Mad Magazine, comic books… etc.
What other software packages do you use?
Zbrush, After Effects, Painter, Photoshop, Sketchbook, Motion, Combustion, Vue
How have you found the new updates with LW10 & Modo 501?
I love LW10, all the new features are just amazing… I love the colors, the look… all of it… still needs work on things like the FiberFX, and the dynamics for it, the VPR is really nice but still needs to be faster. I like that it is built in, but I still like FPrime more, 3D stereo is amazing, and all the new MDD stuff… I just love that.
Modo 501, to be honest with you I did not get much of a chance to work with due to the lack of time, but soon I will have to upgrade to 501. I saw the reviews, and it seems really nice… but I will have to get back to you on my test drive.
Did you always have intentions on returning back to Bahrain?
Umm… yes… and no… If I enjoy my Job, I will stay anywhere… a few years ago, about two years, a friend of mine that works at Weta Digital, asked me if I was available to work there, some of his directors had seen my art, and needed me on the team. What he said was that, they have a film that they were working on and they needed someone like me to be on the team, the film was called AVATAR, and if would be interested. I did not know what AVATAR was at the time, and I was so full with my work that I said, not now. 
Funny I wish I went…..
Can you tell us a bit about your work process? Do you start with sketches or jump right in?
Always sketch… then I work, sketching to me is like my map, my plan, this saves me time.. and the quality is better.
Did you come from a traditional art background?
Yes.. I painted all my life, my father was my teacher, he made me appreciate and understand how and where to start as an artist.
Has there been a project come along that you weren’t sure how to pull it off?
Umm… to be honest with you, I never think this way… I always think forward, I always have a clear understanding on how this will work or how to achieve such a job, I almost always think from the end to the beginning. So rarely do I remember going like, shit… it’s not gonna happen!! Well only when my render farm breaks down…
Tell us about Muharraqi Studios? What type of work do you mostly do?
In the last 5 years, I’ve worked on mainly architectural visualizations, projects to be built. These days I do more creative work, related to TV shows, advertising, and story design for films.
Do you find it hard being a small studio doing the work sometimes?
Yes… it is, the expectations are high as I do go head to head with the big boys, and that’s because my work is compared with some of the top studios that have big teams working for them, I have to keep the level up all the time… (so, no matter what, the show must go on)
What are some of your hobbies you enjoy doing?
I love working out… I do Brazilian Jujitsu 4 times a week with my instructor Mr.Mohamed Mirza, and he makes sure that I am fit, especially since I sit in front of the PC for many hours. We do spar all the time, and the keeps my level up.
What would be a dream project for you?
My film project.. to start it .. and then finalize.
What advice would you give someone just starting out in the business?
Follow your dreams, and never look back… listen to people that are professionals, and put more then 7 hours a day on practice. Do not stop practicing! That’s all really.
Finally, I would like to thank you Don, for asking me to share and to participate on your amazing site, it is a great pleasure for me to have had this conversation with you.
Thanks for taking the time out to talk with us it was truly awesome! Go to Muharraqi-Studios to see more of Khalids work.
Thanks Khalid
Khalid Al-Muharraqi “In The SpotLight” Pt. 1 & 2
Hey Everyone, I am so glad to be unveiling my new video podcast, I want to thank Khalid for being my Guinea pig so to speak, and helping me to try out this new format. He was so cool and I know you’ll enjoy the interview. It was tough editing down 1-1⁄2 hours of great footage, I ended up doing a 4-part series, here are the first 2 parts. I used iMovie for the editing which is kinda limited, I think I’ll try After Effects on the next one, and that is going to be another great spotlight! Any comments on the new format would be greatly appreciated, and see YOU NEXT MONTH!
Video Interview
Print interview
Khalid, tell us a bit about yourself. your background?
Well, My name is Khalid Muharraqi, my last name is Muharraqi which is a name that is well know in these parts due to my father, he has always been a well known artist in the region, over 40 years. I currently live in Bahrain, my home town, and I do 3D art and animation for a living. Like other artists I know I have always been interested to learn as much as I can in the creative field.
What made you seek education in this country?
Well, after I got rejected to be a pilot because I did bad in physics, I then had to do my second choice which is art, as I have been painting since I was 9, and I sold my first painting when I was 15. So then my young brother and Dr. Mohammed helped me find the best school that suited me in the U.S.. Also the U.S. is well known for it’s creative education, and I really wanted to learn from the professionals there how to think and how to make a business in this field.
What made you move into 3D?
Yes.. my background is visual communication, advertising, marketing and branding. I worked in that field for over 12 years now, but I have always been fascinated with the 3D art work that was online from different artists, also I had been playing with 3D applications for a long time but never really stuck with one, due to the fact that I used to be a Mac user only, and Mac at the time had very few good applications that are considered as professional. Mainly I did it as a hobby, I’m self taught, and I used to practice 8 hours a day after my working hours at the office, so when my friends used to go fishing, or wax there sport cars after there work day, I would practice 3D as my hobby.
What made you like Modo? Lightwave?
Well… I was using Lightwave first, the first version I worked with was 5.5 I did not like it at that time, but when I tried version 6 I fell so much in-love with the simplicity and from there onwards, I continued to use it and love it’s tools, they just fit with my hands. Modo, well I was using Modo’s demo version as practice, just to see if I would like it, that’s after I’d seen all the amazing reviews. I created my first image using the demo Modo “Myth of the Floating Islands” all of a sudden.. a lot of people from the Luxology forums got shocked, well it was easy for me to adapt to Modo, it is simple, well thought out, and feels close to LW, so.. Lux gives me a gift, a full version, so from then on I always us Modo in everything I do.
What do you hope to see implemented in future versions?
Many things, but mainly I wish that they have better tools for character animation, the ability to record actions and the ability to blend motions together with more control, something like Motion Builder from Autodesk, at the moment LW has Motion Mixer, and that is amazing… but still it’s old, and it was good for it’s time, but needs to be addressed, modified, simplified, and most of all optimized to be fast in OpenGL, especially after putting more tracks in the time line. I think the product just needs some tweaking, renaming… etc.
You do awesome work, what part of the 3D process do you like? Modelling, texturing, the whole process.
I do all of the above, concept to modeling, texturing, sculpting, rigging, lip-sync, animation, lighting and rendering, and the VFX. A lot of these topics are different professions, but as I said before, I did this as a hobby, so I did not care about the amount of time it took me, I was more focused on the results…and the fun and satisfaction it gave me to achieve. My fun parts are sculpting and rendering the final.
What was the best advice that was given to you?
Well.. I was once told by one of my instructors that I needed to specialize, that I can’t be good at many things, choose a direction and go for it! Well, at the time I took it personal and that I wanted to prove him wrong. And in the years that I have been in the industry, I have been involved in so many different majors in the creative realm, my portfolio is very colorful so I could show work under the Art: painting, design: product design, industrial design, interior designs, design-books, stamps, money, logos, concept for advertising campaigns, slogans, architectural visualization, cities, buildings, islands, interiors, landmarks & monuments, landscapes. CG ART: 3D illustrations with concepts as final artwork, character development. You see the trick is.. that I don’t learn it all at once, I learn one.. be good at it then move on to the next after a few years of work.
What would you say are some of the differences in 3D, between Western & Middle Eastern styles?
LOL!, there is no Middle Eastern, we don’t have high quality standards in these parts, and that is for many reasons, one of them is that clients don’t have a quality of standard, and taste is not linked to professions, what I mean is anyone that has money or a position is automatically a designer, or an artist that has a full right to comment. Usually things look like crap when you get clients that enforce their ugly ideas that just don’t work… but I usually say my opinion, then back off.
Where does a lot of your inspiration for your work come from?
A lot of it comes from my father, and his work, also he had a great big collection of books and magazines that I used to look at and study, like Frank Frazetta, Eerie and the Creepy Magazine, the original old Mad Magazine, comic books… etc.
What other software packages do you use?
Zbrush, After Effects, Painter, Photoshop, Sketchbook, Motion, Combustion, Vue
How have you found the new updates with LW10 & Modo 501?
I love LW10, all the new features are just amazing… I love the colors, the look… all of it… still needs work on things like the FiberFX, and the dynamics for it, the VPR is really nice but still needs to be faster. I like that it is built in, but I still like FPrime more, 3D stereo is amazing, and all the new MDD stuff… I just love that.
Modo 501, to be honest with you I did not get much of a chance to work with due to the lack of time, but soon I will have to upgrade to 501. I saw the reviews, and it seems really nice… but I will have to get back to you on my test drive.
Did you always have intentions on returning back to Bahrain?
Umm… yes… and no… If I enjoy my Job, I will stay anywhere… a few years ago, about two years, a friend of mine that works at Weta Digital, asked me if I was available to work there, some of his directors had seen my art, and needed me on the team. What he said was that, they have a film that they were working on and they needed someone like me to be on the team, the film was called AVATAR, and if would be interested. I did not know what AVATAR was at the time, and I was so full with my work that I said, not now. Funny I wish I went…..
Can you tell us a bit about your work process? Do you start with sketches or jump right in?
Always sketch… then I work, sketching to me is like my map, my plan, this saves me time.. and the quality is better.
Did you come from a traditional art background?
Yes.. I painted all my life, my father was my teacher, he made me appreciate and understand how and where to start as an artist.
Has there been a project come along that you weren’t sure how to pull it off?
Umm… to be honest with you, I never think this way… I always think forward, I always have a clear understanding on how this will work or how to achieve such a job, I almost always think from the end to the beginning. So rarely do I remember going like, shit… it’s not gonna happen!! Well only when my render farm breaks down…
Tell us about Muharraqi Studios? What type of work do you mostly do?
In the last 5 years, I’ve worked on mainly architectural visualizations, projects to be built. These days I do more creative work, related to TV shows, advertising, and story design for films.
Do you find it hard being a small studio doing the work sometimes?
Yes… it is, the expectations are high as I do go head to head with the big boys, and that’s because my work is compared with some of the top studios that have big teams working for them, I have to keep the level up all the time… (so, no matter what, the show must go on)
What are some of your hobbies you enjoy doing?
I love working out… I do Brazilian Jujitsu 4 times a week with my instructor Mr.Mohamed Mirza, and he makes sure that I am fit, especially since I sit in front of the PC for many hours. We do spar all the time, and the keeps my level up.
What would be a dream project for you?
My film project.. to start it .. and then finalize.
What advice would you give someone just starting out in the business?
Follow your dreams, and never look back… listen to people that are professionals, and put more then 7 hours a day on practice. Do not stop practicing! That’s all really.
Finally, I would like to thank you Don, for asking me to share and to participate on your amazing site, it is a great pleasure for me to have had this conversation with you.
Thanks for taking the time out to talk with us it was truly awesome! Go to Muharraqi-Studios to see more of Khalids work.
Thanks Khalid
Dan Ablan – In The SpotLight
Dan, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Well, what’s there to say? I’m married and have one daughter, and live in Chicago. I’ve worked in the 3D animation industry for 17 years, and before that in broadcast and corporate television. Part of my work involves writing books on computer software and photography. I also own a portrait studio along with my wife.
What first drew you to 3D?
Honestly, it was about 1990 and I saw a Video Toaster with LightWave 3D 1.0. I quickly realized that I could create my own production environments in the computer. I love the look of 3D and the fact that I could create anything I could think of.
What were some important principles you learned on your early jobs?
Well, one of the main things I learned is that I wanted to work for myself. After college, I worked for 4 different companies doing video production work, and some 3D. It was through those jobs that I realized I wanted to have my own studio. I also learned that I had a lot to learn
You offer training in a wide variety of applications, is there one you prefer over another?
One application of the other? Not really. It all depends on the job. The software I use (LightWave, Modo, Cinema4D, Motion, Final Cut Pro, Photoshop, Lightroom, etc.) all have their place. I do a lot of medical animations, and Modo is great for that. Sometimes I have more cut and dry type of animation work, and LightWave is great for that. I’m getting back into Maya now too, with version 2011.
Do you find it difficult absorbing, learning & keeping up with updates with so many apps?
Not really – I think in many ways, learning software is like learning a language. That first one is tough, but then there are similarities in the second. Once you get that, you can use what you’ve learned there to help you learn the next, and so on.
What type of 3D do you enjoy doing? ie: medical, product, architectural
I really enjoy medical animation. Doing a lot of it this past year as well for the American Dental Association and Johnson & Johnson. But I also like architectural. It’s actually what got me going in 3D in the first place. I enjoyed re-creating places I had visited or lived. Product shots – I’ve done tons of them over the years and it’s a great way for me to incorporate my video production and photography skills into a 3D projects, utilizing lighting techniques from real world scenarios.
What’s been the most fun project you’ve worked on?
Hmmm…. Hard to say. I worked on safety animations for United Airlines that play on board all of the aircraft. That was a fun project. I did some work for a military contractor last year, building mobile offices and showing them deployed in different environments. Jobs like that are a blast.
Where do you see the medium of 3D/VFX headed?
I think 3D will continually evolve. There’s so much of it integrated into just about everything visual today already. But, for content creators, I think we’ll see more real time solutions.
What’s been the most challenging project you’ve worked on? Why?
Ugh… over the past 17 years, there’s been a lot of fist pounding, stress and more with many jobs. But if there were one that sticks out I’d say it was last year’s job with the American Dental Association. The project called for about 80 3D animations of teeth, gums, root canals, root planing, scaling, adult teeth, child teeth, etc. There wasn’t always a clear direction for each animation, and the frustration was that it was being rendered in high definition, more than one person was commenting on what had to be done, while others were simply wanting it to be done, in order to edit them into the final videos. On top of that, we were opening our portrait studio at the same time, doing a new training course for 3DGarage.com (for Modo 401) and working on another 3D animation project.
Which do you prefer doing, writing books or training DVDs?
I like both – but for the most part I like the training DVDs. I started 3DGarage.com about 7 years ago, and have slowly been developing and building it into a larger training site. We have 17 titles now, with three new ones on the way this quarter. I’ll also be creating some photography related titles for 3DGarage.com as well as with my friends at ClassOnDemand.net. The DVDs allow me to really explain my point, and they take much less time to create. However, the books are great references that can clearly list out various specifics.
Where do you think the economy is as far as 3D/VFX work?
Years ago, it was tough. You had to be a big boy, in a big studio, with lots of people and lots of fluff. But thanks to technology, it’s all different today. Many of the large post houses in Chicago are gone, and top notch players work from home, small boutiques studios, or even from a laptop at Starbucks. I’m thrilled with this migration because it’s no longer about your address, but about what you can do. I’ve been on both ends of the spectrum. I’m finding that my work is different than it was 10 years ago. Back then, it was many small jobs. Now it’s just a few large jobs, and I’d like to see that continue. 3D/VFX work in many ways is like desktop publishing. Everyone can do it. But, it doesn’t mean everyone is good at it. Same goes for photography. Just practice your craft, experiment, and listen to the client, and I think we’ll all be fine. At least I hope!
Who are some of the people whose work inspires you?
Hmmm…. while I’m not a character animation guy, I think John Lasseter at Pixar was someone who was inspiring in the very beginning. What these guys were doing was simply amazing and ahead of their time. Today, inspiration comes from many of the users that contact me who are doing 3D on the side, or the animator who has just that right gift for creating 3D art, regardless of whether or not they get paid.
How does a typical day for you go?
Well, we’re up about 6:15, get the kiddie ready for school. Then some breakfast, and off to the studio. I spend a good part of the morning following up on emails or doing bills and paperwork. Sometimes we’ll have a photo session in the morning and I’ll prepare for that. Our portrait studio is also where the 3D work is done. After lunch, I generally get into Photoshop to edit images, or work on 3D as needed. Sometimes I’m at the studio late until the night, other times I go home about 6 and then later work on my laptop. It’s at night at home that I’ll write articles or work on a book (if I’m doing one at the time) or update our websites.
There are other days that I’m on the road – training. This year sow many trips around the US helping people learn Modo, LightWave, and photography. This summer I was at the University of Notre Dame teaching LightWave, then Harmon International teaching Modo, then off to Washing to DC in July. Recently I was at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Labs teaching some Modo, then a week later at HallMark Cards, also teaching Modo.
I know be able to do what you do is a blessing but what would be a dream project for you?
A dream project? Well, I’ve animated and work on just about everything – so I’d have to say it’s the job that has a tremendous budget, and is easy to create, and there are no changes. Another dream project is to win the lottery, then not to have to worry about the jobs! When this happens, I’d probably start a 3D or Photography program for inner city kids.
What was the best advice anyone’s given you?
The harder you work, the luckier you get.
Do you find it hard balancing all your different work with family/personal life?
Not at all. In fact, I don’t know how I could do just the same thing every day. I’m constantly jumping from 3D work, to photography, to training, to family events, to answering emails, working on new deals, and so on.
What are some of your other interests besides 3D & photography?
Love movies. I see just about everything. Ironically it’s not because of the 3D aspect of the movies today. 17 years ago – maybe. Today, when I’m done with 3D work I generally forget about it. Movies are an escape. Other interests (although I don’t do them really) are travel and cooking.
I love your photography work, especially your b&w city images. What do you see & feel when you look into some of your pics?
Thank you! Those black and white city images at www.ablangallery.com are mostly from my high school and college days studying photojournalism. I’d say it’s not about what I see and feel when I look at those images, but what do YOU see and feel? Many of those old black and whites are lonely images. If you look, there’s a single person in a lot of shots, disjointed from the other people in view. Needless to say, this was before I was married and into my career. If you look at more current images, there’s a lot of color, and families and kids. I don’t set out looking for anything when I’m photographing, I just shoot. I still get around the city from time to time and just walk and take pictures. In fact, this is part of a two-day one-on-one workshop I created a few years ago. One person comes in for two days. I take them through the city with their camera and help them learn photography, learn their camera and learn to “see.” The second day, we process and edit the images learning Lightroom and Photoshop. And what’s great about teaching photography (as well as 3D) is that I almost always learn something new as well.
What new projects or training are you currently working on, if you can say?
Have a new project coming up for J & J, and then a new book for LightWave 10, new training for LightWave 10, and new training for Modo 501.
What advice would you give someone just starting out?
Well, it’s different today since I started. Back then, there was no 3D industry. There wasn’t digital photography. Yes, I’m that old. In 1989 when I got out of college, digital was at least another 10 years away. 3D software was simple and expensive. The advantage though is that as long as you got your head in the right place about 3D, it was really just about learning what buttons did what. As the software improved, I learned and grew with it. So today, for people starting out, I’d say don’t be overwhelmed by everything. Baby steps. Try to understand what a button does – don’t just click and hope for results. This goes for 3D, Photoshop, or any other applications. Take the time to learn why you’re doing something, not just how. From there, experiment, and learn to work with clients. Doing 3D or photography for a living is fantastic, but that doesn’t mean you can just create whatever you like. You have to create what they like. Once you find that balance, it’ll all fall into place.
It’s been great fun talking with you and getting to know you a bit better. We look forward to your future training and projects! If you would like to see more of Dan’s 3D and photography visit him at 3dgarage.com or danablan.com.
Thanks Dan!
William “Proton” Vaughan – In The SpotLight
William, can you tell us a little about yourself, where you’re from?
Sure! Upon my release from a mental hospital following a nervous breakdown, I joined my friend Dignan, who was far less sane than myself. Dignan hatched a hare-brained scheme for a crime spree that involved his former boss, the (supposedly) legendary Mr. Henry. With the help of our pathetic neighbor and pal Bob, we pulled off a job and hit the road, where I found love with a motel maid named Inez.
…Actually, that’s the plot summary of Bottle Rocket, one of my favorite movies that was filmed in Texas where I was born, raised and lived most of my life.
I’ve since left Texas and I’m currently a Co-Owner and the Creative Director of AppleHead Factory, a design and toy studio based in Philly, as well as the Animation Director at World Wide Biggies in Manhattan. I live in South Orange, New Jersey and commute to Manhattan, which is an amazing daily experience that has no equal.
How did you first get introduced to 3D?
I was a major fan of Will Vinton Studios when I was growing up and followed their work closely. When they started getting into 3D, I started gaining interest as well. I went to school for design and illustration. Towards the end of my schooling another student started showing me his 3D work and suggested I start looking into it.
That student is now one of the best CG artists in the industry, so be sure to check out his work on his site: http://muharraqi-studios.com/ I think it’s wild that neither of us went to school for 3D but both ended up in this field using the same software. Khalid is an inspiration and I always enjoy seeing what he’s been up to.
I first became familiar with you when I started in LightWave, how long have you’ve been using it?
It’s been a little over 15 years now. Wow… I can’t believe I’ve been at this for so long, as it feels like only yesterday I was struggling with the concept of Inverse Kinematics.
I slowly introduced 3D into my workflow and tried to make it fit with every project that came through the doors at the multimedia studio I was working at. I learned LightWave on real projects with real deadlines. It was a sink or swim situation, and I think it helped speed up the learning curve. Within a six month time period, LightWave went from being a secondary application to my primary.
What was some of the best advice someone gave you when starting in 3D?
The best advice I was given was simply to “Give LightWave a try”. I knew that Will Vinton was using LightWave at the time, but the entire industry in Houston was using 3D Studio release 3 or 4. Everyone I talked to told me that if I wanted to be a 3D artist, I needed to learn 3DS. I gave 3D Studio a go for about 2 weeks… and was pretty sure I was not cut out to be a 3D artist after that experience. I was very discouraged as I couldn’t model the type of character work I wanted to create. A friend of mine suggested LightWave and within 8 hours I had already created a character model and felt right at home. It was scary how different the two apps were for me.
Your nickname is Proton, where did that name come about?
I was given that nickname in school and it kind of stuck. One of my instructors told the class that he had never seen someone so “Positively Charged” and the students started calling me Proton as a way to make fun of me. I actually saw it as a positive and took on the nickname with pride.
Years later when I started joining online communities, no one was using their real names so I used Proton for my user name. Of course now it is more common to use your real name, so Proton has slowly faded into the background.
I’d suggest to anyone just getting started to save nickname’s for your games and use your real name in your career as it is important to sell yourself and build your brand. I can’t tell you how many people don’t realize that Proton is William Vaughan. I’d avoid that kind of confusion at all costs if I were to do it all over.
What other software do you use?
Anything I can get my hands on that will help me make my deadline. My main 3D applications are LightWave, Zbrush and Modo. I also use Photoshop and After Effects on a regular basis along with a collection of other applications that get used from time to time.
Over the last year I have found myself working more and more in After Effects and have really fallen in love with compositing. I have the same excitement level about compositing as I did during the early days of me getting into 3D.
What part of the 3D process do you like most; modeling, animating, texturing?
This is an easy one… Modeling. To be even more specific, character modeling. My day to day work involves being a generalist but the only freelance work that I take on these days is character related projects.
I would like to add that I have found being a generalist has made me a better modeler. I believe that until you experience the other aspects of production, you are modeling in the dark and missing out on ways to improve the functionality of a mesh, especially a character model.
I always suggest to artists that they should have a key skill that sets them apart from other artists, though it is still very important to be as familiar with all aspects of production as possible. It can only make you a more valuable team member.
What are some of the projects that you worked on?
I’ve been pretty fortunate to get to work on a variety of projects over the years. My work can be seen in all types of media like Children’s books, Print (Fortune, Macworld, Rolling Stone, Entertainment weekly, to name a few), Multimedia, Toys (Sculpted toys for Pokemon, Polly Pocket, Littlest Pet Shop and more), Commercials (Compaq, Care Bears and Sky Dancers), Games, and Film.
Illustration by Joe Zeff Design at Splashlight
I’m a toy collector, so getting the opportunity to model Pokemon and Littlest Pet Shop toys for Varner Studios in LA was a real treat for me. (Cheesy segue in 3…2…1…) Speaking of treats, I recently worked on some of the celebrity m&m’s like the band Kiss and Brooks & Dunn while at Splashlight. A couple of months ago, I worked with Joe Zeff Design modeling hundreds of heads and faces for a website that allowed people to build mannequins that looked like themselves.
Illustration by Joe Zeff Design at Splashlight
Earlier this year I directed a pilot episode for Nickelodeon and I’m currently working on properties for SyFy and Spike in my role as Animation Director at World Wide Biggies. I look forward to being able to show some of the work soon. Until then, here are a few frames from the Nickelodeon pilot.
What was the most fun project you’ve worked on & why?
This is another easy question to answer. Getting to work with the amazing crew at Pixar on the animated short, “Partly Cloudy” is a tough one to beat. It was definitely a dream project getting to create a cast of characters for Pixar.
Copyright© Disney Pixar
If you would have asked me a few years ago whether I’d be working on a Pixar film or not I would have probably laughed at you. It’s an experience I’ll never forget. I keep going back and forth on which character model is my favorite but it changes every other week. This week it’s the Croc but last week it was the Ram.
Tell us about your time at The Dave School?
For several years, I was the Director of Industry Relations and Head of Curriculum at the Digital Animation and Visual Effects School at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. I have trained hundreds of students to become professional animators at major studios such as Rhythm and Hues, Digital Domain, EdenFX, Zoic and EA Sports ,to name a few. It’s an amazing feeling to watch a television show or movie and see one of the students names scroll by. Getting to see several of my students names at the end of Avatar was probably one of my favorite experiences.
I’ve always enjoyed teaching and I wouldn’t trade my time at the DAVE school for anything. I’ve become close friends with many of my students and I think it’s safe to say I learned just as much during my time there as they did…if not more. I have a passion for teaching and I can definitely see myself getting back into teaching at some point in the future.
Where did the idea of Tofu the Vegan Zombie come from?
I’ve been a Zombie fan since I first saw Night of the Living Dead and wanted to put my own twist on the genre. I love the idea of a friendly zombie that also has the risk of turning at any moment. The basic story of “Tofu” is he is a friendly zombie, created from a botched experiment in Professor Vost’s laboratory. Monkey # 5, one of Vost’s lab animals, stuffed a block of tofu into the zombie boy’s open skull after accidentally losing the brain. As a result, “Tofu” eats only vegetables and grains and has no taste for human meat. However, if “Tofu” ever loses his “tofu-brain”, he turns into a dangerous zombie creature, craving human flesh.
You can read the birth of it in the teaser comic that was released at Toy Fair a few years ago here.
Although I have created thousands of characters over the years, Tofu by far one my favorites. I’m drawn to the story and feel he has a lot more potential then what we’ve seen from this little guy. I loved him so much I had him made into a Vinyl toy a couple years ago, which was my first step into the toy industry and Applehead’s first vinyl toy.
You can watch the animated short, play a game and even add the toy to your collection by visiting the official site here.
What’s a normal work day for you like?
My days at Biggies are so random it’s hard to say. One day I might juggle three different properties/projects. I’m usually the first one to arrive at the office which allows me to tackle any last minute tasks before any morning meetings start. I’m lucky in that I get to work on character designs most of the time as well as develop show concepts with an amazing team of people that are passionate about developing Characters.
For lunch, my choices are endless although I keep ending up at a Thai restaurant at least once a week. New York offers any type of food within walking distance no matter where you are located.
By 6 o’clock, I’m off to Penn Station to start my commute home where I now have the time to get back into sketching. I’ve filled over 20 books since I’ve moved here and feel I’m starting to get my traditional skills back to where they were before I got into 3D.
You seem to like the cartoony style, have you always done that?
It’s why I got into 3D to begin with. What most people don’t know is that for the first 4 years of using 3D I mainly produced technical animation for the Oil and Gas Industry in Houston. That type of work afforded me the time and tools to hone my skills on character work which is where my true passion is.
I’m lucky enough now that I get to focus solely on character related work, which sometimes I feel is getting paid to play.
Whose work do you enjoy looking at and that inspires you?
The list is endless. I’m inspired by everything around me, from artists that are just getting started, to the masters with years of experience. I get inspired when I visit online galleries, head over to the Museum of Modern Art here in NY, or when I’m staring at my toy collection in my home office.
I get inspired by the artists that I work with as well. I recently had the opportunity to work with Glenn Southern, who is simply brilliant and brought an amazing amount of talent to a project we’re in pre-production on for SyFy. I also follow the work of Rocco Tartamella, an amazing toy sculptor that has mastered the art of wrinkles. I have an entire toy shelf dedicated to his work and anytime I’m looking for inspiration I just look over at his work.
I have hundreds of sites bookmarked that I visit on a regular basis for inspiration. Like I said… the list is endless.
How do you find the process of getting projects? Is it mostly referrals?
I used to get all my work from my personal website, but haven’t had one in years. That changed a month ago, when I launched pushingpoints.com. I haven’t really been out looking for work for many years as all of my freelance work has come from referrals.
The trick is to remember that the 3D industry is very small and word travels fast. Always do your best and do what is possible to take care of your clients. They’ll keep coming back and can become your primary sales tool as they will come back with new projects and will even send new clients your way.
I also try and stay very active in the community and have had over 150 articles published in magazines and online sites like HDRI3D, 3D World, Computer Graphics World, and more. All of those have been a big help in bringing in new clients and projects.
What do you like most about Lightwave & Modo?
Ease of use! It’s obvious that both of these tools have been created by teams that understand the way an artist thinks. I’ve used just about every 3D application out there and have yet to find anything that matches the ease of use of LightWave and Modo.
You can read a small making of that I created for 3D total that talks about some of the things I love about Modo here.
I’m currently teaching an intern at work LightWave that has had a few formal years of Maya training in school, and it’s fun watching his expressions as he realizes how easy modeling really is with tools built with the artist in mind. Every application has its workflow and the trick is to find one that works the way you think. LightWave and Modo do this for me.
Where do you see the 3D market going?
It’s scary to think about sometimes.
I think we’ll continue to see smaller studios popping up which will increase the importance for artists to become proficient in all areas of production. This has been common for broadcast work for years but we’re already seeing more and more feature work being handled by smaller studios.
What do you attribute your longevity in the business to?
Luck!
I’ve always tried to stay active in the community and keep up on not only the software, but the industry itself. I try and be extremely open to every opportunity to that comes my way which has afforded me some amazing experiences that I would have missed out on if I was close minded.
Keep in mind… I’m a Texan living in New York City! (said with my best Pace Picante accent) If you’re up for trying new types of projects in new locations then you’ll stay busy without question.
What are some of the challenges you’ve had in balancing family, fun & work?
I’ll be honest…. I’ve struggled for years and still don’t have the balancing act down, though I’m getting better at it. The problem for myself, and most people that I know in the industry, is that we get paid to do what we would do as a hobby, which makes it difficult to walk away from the work after a full day.
I also have so many things I want to accomplish outside of work ,that I never seem to find enough time to stay ahead with my personal projects. I’m without a doubt a workaholic, but I’ve changed up my schedule over the past year to allow for time with my grandson and my new interest in motorcycles. I recently got my motorcycle license and a Russian bike with a sidecar so that my dog Jack can hit the road with me. You can follow my ride reports here.
What advice would you give someone starting out in 3D?
Love it or Leave it!
If you don’t have a passion for this kind of work you’ll never last. Although I believe 3D is an easy thing to pick up, it requires a massive amount of time and patience. If you’re in it for a cushy job with a 9 to 5 schedule, you’re looking down the wrong career path. Don’t expect there to be a plug-in or script to do all the work for you. Sometimes the only way to accomplish a task is to muscle your way through it. Remember that knowing a piece of software isn’t as valuable of a skill set as problem solving. Hone your problem solving skills and you’ll be more valuable then someone that knows what every button does in a given piece of software.
Always remember that no one started creating Pixar/ILM quality work right out of the gate and that anyone can over time. Set realistic goals for yourself and take full advantage of all the free resources that are available online.
William, I have to say that I really enjoyed your responses and look forward to doing another interview in the near future, Thanks for you support and we look forward to seeing what comes next from you.
Thanks William!
Andrew Brown-In The SpotLight
Andy, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I’m 40 years old, married, with two kids. I live in a town called South Shields, which is half way between Sunderland and Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in the North of England. It’s a beautiful part of the world. Lovely countryside and coastline, I just wish it was bit warmer!
Art and drawing has always been a huge part of my life. My family didn’t have a television until 1978 so I had to be creative to keep myself entertained. I spent a lot of my childhood living in imaginary worlds that I used to create on rolls of plotter paper that my dad brought home from work. I’m still a bit of a day-dreamer.
I was lucky enough to be part of the Star Wars generation. I can still remember my father taking me to see it when I was eight years old. It had a huge effect on me at the time, and not having a TV at home made it even more impressive. It really fueled my imagination.
I graduated from art school in 1993 where I studied Fine Art. As well as painting and drawing I made short movies with a friend of mine. We were both huge film fans and used to regularly go to all night film festivals at the Scala Theatre in Kings Cross, London. I have very fond memories of eight hour David Chronenberg all nighters! Some of the films we made are sill in existence. It was all 16mm film back then, nothing was digital. In fact computers weren’t that available then. We had one room in college that contained ten PCs and they were for writing your essays. It’s no wonder they were universally hated!
After leaving college I set up in business as a printer but it was really tough. Times were changing, and I soon realized that if I was going to get anywhere I had to learn how to use a computer. Back then computers were really rubbish. Everything was slow and expensive and the internet in the UK was even worse. It took a few years for things to get faster and cheaper and that’s when 3D became more accessible.
The angry art student in me still has a problem with computers. I remember watching a film that a fellow student had made in which he smashed an old computer up. We thought it was great. Little did we know the effect they would have on our lives. I’m just glad I jumped on the digital train when I did!
You are originally from London, I think, how do you like it on this side of the pond?
Actually I’m not from London. I was born in Liverpool but moved around a lot when I was a child, although I did live in London for three years when I was studying. I get over to the US a few times a year thanks to Luxology, and most of the work I do is for US clients, so I do have a ‘special relationship’ with you lot on the other side of the water. Every time I’ve visited I’ve loved it.
How did you originally get started in 3D? Modo?
I was working for an advertising company about 10 years ago and a co-worker brought a copy of Bryce into work. From that moment I was hooked. I tried just about every application out there at that time and soaked up as much information as I could about the subject. There were lots of late nights. It was a difficult time, wanting to learn something as complicated as 3D, holding down a full time job, and bringing up a young family, but when you want something enough you go for it! As far as Modo is concerned I just saw it as a natural progression from Lightwave in terms of modeling. I bought it as soon as 101 was released.
You seem to do a lot of traveling for Luxology, what do you enjoy most about going to some of these places?
There are lots of things I enjoy about the trips I go on. It’s always exciting to visit different countries, and the food is always good, but the best thing is the opportunity to meet other 3D people face to face. The internet is a wonderful thing, but at times it can make the world you inhabit appear to be a mirage. When I go on a trip, that world is made flesh.
Where’s been your favorite place that you’ve gone to? Why?
That’s a difficult one. The coolest city I’ve been to is Berlin. The old East Berlin is very atmospheric and has become a hot spot for artists to live and work. I always like going to San Francisco, mainly for the fresh air and sunshine, but I think Shanghai had the biggest impact on me. You read on products that they’re made in China, but it’s only when you go there that you realize the extent to which China has become the world’s factory. I have a vivid memory or driving over a bridge and seeing the Shanghai docks, it was literally container ships and cranes as far as the eye could see.
The best thing about the traveling I’ve done is it’s made me realize how similar we all are. We all share the same hopes, dreams and daily concerns. The only barriers in the world are language and politics. This is where the art student in me love’s the computer, because in terms of global communication, and freedom of expression, the internet really has changed the world for the better.
So the best answer I can give to the question is ‘everywhere’. No matter where I’ve been I’ve always been made to feel welcome, and I’ve always come home with great memories.
Which do you enjoy more, training or working on actual projects?
I like both, and they go hand in hand. Working on design projects gives me the ideas and inspiration for tutorials, and because I also get paid to do tutorials I don’t see them as being of any less value, although I have to say I find making tutorials harder. When you work on a design project you may have a week to build some models and you put as much time into it as you need, but with a tutorial you have to boil something down into 90 minutes, not make any mistakes, and also entertain people, it’s tough.
What was the hardest thing to grasp when working in 3D?
When I started I found everything difficult, mainly because it was such an alien way of making things. I found topology a difficult thing to grasp initially because back then you had to model things in a very technical way. Nowadays we have sculpting, which is bringing more and more fine art people into the industry, and the quality of some of the modeling you see these days is insane. Topology is still there, but it’s now just a technical problem.
I also had to learn how to look at things differently. When I was drawing and painting I always looked at things in terms of two dimensional areas of color and tone. Suddenly I had to think about three dimensional surface qualities. I still find that tough!
Something I tell students all the time is that computers and software don’t make the business of creating something any easier. They allow you to do different things, and some things faster, but at the end of the day you have to deal with the same creative issues that you would face if you were using a pencil and paper. The hardest thing is to get past the software, so you’re being creative without worrying which button to push, and the only way to do that is through experience.
What part of the process do you enjoy more; texturing, modeling, animating?
Modeling. The reason is it’s such a direct process. When I’m building something I can see what’s taking take shape in front of me and everything happens in real time. Creatively that’s very important for me. I find texturing and rendering a very technical and slow process which is why I find it less rewarding.
What other software products do you use to create your images?
I have a number of 3D applications, Modo 401 of course, Maya, Z-Brush, an old copy of Lightwave which I still use for some things, and also Cinema 4D. For images I just use Photoshop CS3 and Illustrator CS3. I think people can get obsessed with tools, and collect them like trophies. I’m a great believer in the phrase ‘less is more’, which by chance is a Modo development mantra.
What do you feel are Modo’s strengths? It’s weaknesses?
Modo’s strength is the people involved in it. Not just the developers but also the users. 3D software is very similar these days. We have a phrase in the UK ‘you pay your money and you take your choice’. At the end of the day you use the software that suits your needs and your pocket.
What I love about the Modo community is you have such a wide variety of creative people involved in helping to move the product forward. When I started in 3D it was quite a narrow field to work in, now it’s everywhere, and Modo really reflects this.
I’m also lucky enough to see Modo from the inside, helping directly with its development and communicating with the developers. The people working for Luxology are a wonderful collection of eccentric individuals, extremely bright, and totally dedicated to the cause.
Modo’s weakness is also a strength. Luxology is a small company. We don’t have the financial muscle of an Autodesk so development is perhaps not as fast as people would like. But I know what type of company I would rather deal with, and work for.
When starting a new project what is your work flow process?
Reference is always the starting point. It’s very difficult to experiment in 3D so you need a very clear idea of what you’re going to create before you start. Consequently good proprietary drawings and photographic reference is vital. Then you have to do a lot of looking. Before modeling something I spend a long time looking at images of it so I understand its form and structure. Once that’s clear in my minds eye I’m able to plan a modeling strategy, and only then do I start creating polygons. There are also other things to take into account, like what the intended use for the model is, is it going to be animated, and how close to the camera is it going to be. This all has a bearing on how you start the project.
Who are some of your inspirations and work you enjoy?
3D is a funny thing because the work you see in films is very rarely the work of one person so it’s difficult to pick out specific 3D artists who inspire me. I love the work that Passion Pictures produce. It’s very creative and they’re not afraid to use different mediums. 3D is just another tool to them. I know some of the artists at Passion and visit the studio when I’m in London. A lot of studios I visit are quite corporate, but Passion just feels like an art school. My kind of place!
You only meet a few people in life who are truly inspirational, and they’re never pop stars or celebrities. My lecturer in University was one of them. When you’re young you surround yourself with things in an effort to hide your insecurities but he had a talent for seeing straight through it, realizing what you were good at, and making sure you released what you were good at. I can honestly say I’m a better person for meeting him.
You have a wide variety of tutorials out, what do you enjoy working on; characters, automobiles, architecture, products?
I enjoy making something that allows me to learn something too. I loved making the real time content tutorial a couple of years ago because Seneca Menard answered lots of questions for me when I was preparing it. I learned a ton of stuff which was exciting, and if I’m excited about the information I’m tying to convey then that excitement is likely to come across in the video. I made a few mistakes in it, but I found out later that Black Rock Studios (Disney) used it to train new members of staff on Modo, and I’ve met people who had watched the videos and gone on to get jobs in the game industry. I’m not claiming credit for it but it’s nice to know I was a small piece of the process.
So to answer your question it’s not so much the content, but the motivation behind the tutorial that’s important.
modo 401 demonstration by Andy Brown from Brad Peebler on Vimeo.
What would be a dream project for you to work on?
Ten years ago I would have said to work on a Pixar film, but at my age and with my responsibilities I would find it very difficult to live the nomadic lifestyles that studio artists seem to live these days.
If I’m honest, every time someone is prepared to pay me to make something it’s a dream come true. It’s the best validation for all the hard work I put in at the beginning. Long may it continue!
What are some of your other interests outside of 3D?
I’m a big football (Soccer) fan. I used to play when I was younger but I wasn’t that good. Now I just shout advice from the crowd, sing songs and verbally abuse the opposition supporters. I take my son to watch Sunderland AFC struggling to survive in the Premier League every other weekend. It can be frustrating at times, but it’s great fun. It must be really boring supporting a team that always wins! Haway the Lads!
I also like to cycle. We have lots of cycle paths up and down the coast here which is really convenient. It gives me time to think, and helps me avoid the 3D artist physique!
What are some of the challenges in maintaining a family with your work and travel schedule?
When I’m not traveling it is ideal. My wife works full time so I get to do the school run. That’s definitely one of the advantages of working from home. When I’m traveling it’s hard on my wife as she has to deal with everything, but she’s very understanding and more than capable. Last year was crazy for traveling. I made eleven trips. That’s a lot of time sitting in airports.
What are some of the differences you’ve noticed between the English culture & American? What are some of the similarities?
We’re very similar, but the British have fewer guns. Seriously though, I’ve always found us to be very alike. I actually have close family in New Jersey so my connections to the US are closer than you may think. What I love about America, and Americans, is your willingness to take a risk. You seem to be hard coded for it. Us Brits tend to be more cautious, but we’re better at soccer!
How has your family and personal life helped in your 3D?
I couldn’t have done anything without them. It’s as simple as that. They’re the reason I get up in the morning. My wife had to put up with all the late nights I spent fueling my 3D obsession, and she supported me emotionally and financially when I left my job and started out freelance. I have a lot to thank her for, but don’t tell her that or she’ll want my credit card!!
What would be your favorite 3D movie and why?
That’s a difficult question. There are lots of films that have had a profound effect on me, but not many are 3D films. Films like ‘A Clockwork Orange’, ‘Dr Strangelove’, ‘Videodrome’, and everything David Lynch has ever made to name but a few. If 3D had been around then I’m sure they would have used it, but it would never have detracted from the story.
To many films these days are just a series of VFX set pieces held together by the thinnest of storylines. The 3D may be impressive but that’s not enough. Pixar gets it right though. Their films are so beautifully written that you forget you’re watching a 3D film, so I guess ‘Toy Story’, ‘Monsters Inc’ and ‘The Incredibles’ have to be some of my favorites, mainly because I watched them so many times when my children were babies.
More recently I really enjoyed District 9. It reminded me of the early Peter Jackson films that I used to watch when I was in college. If you haven’t seen ‘Bad Taste‘ then you’re missing a life changing experience!
Andy, I want to thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule and talking and sharing with us and hopefully you’ll grant us a chance to do a part 2. I really enjoyed it and like everyone else love your work and your great tutorials. Can’t wait to see what comes out next.
Thanks Andy!!