Interview with Dan Fine

Example of commercial work as a 3-D Artist.

Could you give a brief introduction of who you are and what you create?

     My name is Dan Fine.  I work in the commercial industry as a freelance 3-D modeler in  NYC.

How did you get into 3-D Modeling/Animation? And how long have you been doing it?

     I started using 3-D packages my Junior / Senior year at Windsor High School. We didn't have access to any top tier 3-D software so it was mostly Bryce 3-D and Animation Master. The teachers in my art department were very supportive of my interest in computer art and were a big part of my decision to pursue some sort of 3-D related career at SCAD. I didn't decide to specialize in modeling until I had worked in the industry for a couple years.

Did you acquire your skills through a formal education such as a college/university, and/or are you self taught?

     Bachelors degree from Savannah College of Art and Design. 

What software(s) do you use? Which is your favorite one and why?

     Most of the work I do is in Maya but there are jobs where I'll dip into XSI or Zbrush. I can't say I have a favorite, I appreciate certain aspects of each package. I really like Maya's modeling tools, XSI has really solid curve and extrusion tools and a lot of other great strengths like ICE and Arnold that I'd like to explore more. Occasionally a job requires enough detail where displacement maps are needed and Zbrush has been my go-to for that, even though it's interface is pretty lack luster.

What type of modeling do you prefer and why?

     Character modeling. It's a really fun technical and artistic challenge to make an efficient, accurate, workable character from a design or concept. 

What do you like most about your job and why?

     The people I work with really make my job enjoyable. It's great feeling to be part of very a talented group of artists who get to make dope commercials everyday. Many bonds have been formed over long hours and bottles of whiskey. 

The other best part about my job, is that I get paid to make the weirdest stuff! 

What process do you go through for your personal modeling/animation projects?

     I don't do personal projects. I love what I do as a career but don't feel the need to go home and do more of it. Staring at a computer screen in my spare time is something I try to avoid. 

What was your first major project?And how did you feel about it?

     It's hard to say what my first major project was… Everything felt pretty major coming right out of school! Probably any of my first jobs at Psyop, maybe Milk or Michelin. I'd never worked with a team of people that size before and they had a proper pipeline, which was fairly foreign to me coming from smaller studios. Being around so many senior artists and knowing the expectations of the studio was very stressful. I was overwhelmed and found it really hard to relax until my booking was over. 

Is there any certain model that you have created that has been your favorite?Why?

    MiO - Naked Mole Rat. It's a simple / hilarious character, and there's a pretty great reason why his crotch is pixelated…

What is/was the most challenging part of modeling/Animation for you?

     Speed and efficiency. To me, the difference between someone who is a decent modeler and one who's really good, is being able to quickly and accurately interpret a design into a clean / workable mesh for production. 

What are some important lessons you have learned through your experience? And what are some typical mistakes to avoid while producing a good 3-D Model?

     Modeling is pretty straight forward when you have the basic concepts down. It would be a mistake to not have a good handle on the other parts of the production. How you choose to model something for a job is determined by what people are going to do with it later in the pipeline. 

What inspires you? And/or who inspires you?

     The Natural History Museum is a very inspiring place to be, especially the animal halls…I also look at a lot of photography and illustrations…I tend to gravitate towards the natural world for inspiration because it's so amazingly complex and came from such humble beginnings. 

If you had the chance, what company or artist would you like to work with on a project?

     I'm very happy to be working at some of the best studios in NYC. For right now, I'm exactly where I'd like to be. 

How do you stay motivated/focused?

     Coffee and Fu-Schnickens 

What advice do you have for people who want to get into Modeling/Animation?

     It's a really good idea to have a strong generalist background even if you decide you want to specialize in something.

Do you have any other hobbies besides 3-D Modeling/Animation that affects your style?

     Rock climbing, fishing, camping, taxidermy, stupid cat gifs… 

Is there anything else about Modeling that would be helpful for beginners to know?

     Always use references… Unless you have a photographic memory, chance are it's not gonna look like what's in your head.

What can we expect to see from you in the future?

     More weird characters, and probably a couple tampon commercials to pay the bills. 

Thank you to Dan Fine for taking the time to do an interview with me. I hope to see more from you soon.

Resources

Vimeo, Your Videos Belong Here. Dan Fine on Vimeo.Retrieved April 15, 2013, from http://vimeo.com/dansofine

Dan Fine. WORK OF THE DAN. Retrieved April 15, 2013, from http://www.danjfine.com/