Blender Guru

Gleb Alexandrov is one of those artists, that somehow manages to consistently pump out amazing works. Timecodes: 03:30 - The rise of VR 09:00 - Making money using Patreon and Gumtree 14:33 - Tips for better lighting 26:45 - Lomography 42:00 - Adding that special "something" to your art 01:08:22 - Gleb's Typical Day 01:16:45 - The Biggest Myths in CG 01:59:23 - Resources for Composition 02:13:03 - Q&A from Twitter! Check out the show notes: http://www.blenderguru.com/podcasts/ep-79/

Struggling to learn Blender? Keep hoping to find the time to get better but somehow end up on reddit? In this podcast I share a simple but *extremely* effective way to get better at anything fast. It's not fun, but it works. Also, I answer these questions from twitter: -Advice for finding freelance work? How do you know when you're ready? -How come I'm never voted by client work, but I am if it's my own? -Do you recommend a tablet over a mouse for 3d work? -Do you ever feel like your work is discredited when people learn that it has been made on a computer, they assume that makes it easy? Got a question for next month's podcast? Use #bgpod on twitter. Also, if you partake in the challenge mentioned in this podcast, please use #bgpod so I can follow your progress :)

If you're new to Blender or are feeling stuck, this episode is for you. In this episode Pablo Vazquez (Sintel, Caminandes, Cosmos Laundromat) gives lots of great advice to help you through slumps in the future. In this episode we discuss: -Some of the biggest myths and wastes of time when learning Blender -Whether it's better to be a jack-of-all-trades or become specialized in one area -Some side hobbies that will help you in Blender -Advice for making your own short film Plus! Blender Q&A from the Twitterverse: -How can I learn Blender when I don't have any free time? -How can I get past the fear of how much there is to learn? Got a question for next month's podcast? Use #bgpod on Twitter!

A chat with one of the lead developers for Blender, Campbell Barton! Campbell began over a decade ago as a regular Blender artist like you and me, and has worked on all of the open movie projects from the very beginning. He eventually became one of the core developers paid by the Blender Foundation, working full-time on coding Blender itself. In this episode we talk about: -Why some awesome features (like coloured wireframes) aren't accepted into master. -What happens when things go wrong - like big mistakes or accidents in the code. -Why Blender doesn't collect anonymous usage statistics. -Where users who want to suggest a change or request a feature should go. -How many (or few) Blender developers there are currently. -What role does Ton really play? -How priorities are set. -How UI topics and disagreements are handled. -Hiring a developer to implement your feature request. -Where aspiring developers should start. Check out the full notes and links on Blender Guru: http://www.blenderguru.com/podcasts/ep-76-awesome-features-dont-make-blender-wcampbell-barton

Another chat with Colin Levy - he's a layout artist at Pixar who recently worked on Inside Out and the lava short. In this interview we discuss: -How successful Inside Out was, compared with Colin's expectations -Jurassic World director's sudden rise to fame -How to make money from short films -Crazy action and backwards story telling in Mad Max -Differences between making live action and animated films -Tips for realistic camera movement -What Colin would have done in Sintel if there were more time -Advice for Blender users who want to make their own short film -My terrible experience with driving and car hire in LA Plus Blender Q&A at the end as always :) Got a question for next podcast? Use #bgpod on Twitter.

Chat with Nick Campbell of Greyscalegorilla.com - an expert in motion graphics and Cinema4D. In this podcast we discuss: -How to accelerate your learning with deliberate practice -Why you don't need to be an expert on every area in 3d -Why everyone should make at least one tutorial -Why holding onto your "secrets" isn't doing you any favors Plus, at the end I answer questions from the twitterverse. Use #bgpod on twitter, to ask a question for next month's podcast.

A chat with Manu Järvinen - one of the most creative artists I look up to. Currently working on Gooseberry, but a long time user of 3ds Max and recent convert to Blender. In this podcast we discuss: -Why Manu switched to Blender -Finding your art "style" -Ways to stay motivated -Working on Gooseberry in Amsterdam -The good and bad of Deadlines -The best way to learn Blender today -Getting past mental blocks Plus Q&A from twitter at the end. Use #bgpod on twitter to ask your question for next month's podcast :)

Discussion with the legendary painter and sketch artist Stan Prokopenko - creator of Proko.com In this podcast you'll discover: -Why drawing is so important for 3D artists -How to get started drawing -What beginners who are struggling to stay motivated should do -The importance of a mentor -The difference between learning online and in person -Why people study art and how to earn a living with it -How to filter criticism -Why learning other styles and mediums is good for you -The best time of day to be creative And at the end I'll be doing the usual Q&A from Twitter. Use #bgpod on twitter to ask me questions for next podcast!

Drinking, gambling and art. In this very casual bonus podcast I talk with Reynante Martinez about many topics unrelated to Blender, and some that are. Among others: -Managing your time wisely -Photorealism Importance -Motivational Quotes. Use #bgpod on twitter to have your questions answered on the next podcast.

A full 80 min chat with one of the most respected artists in the VFX industry, Andrew Kramer from VideoCopilot! In this interview we chat about: * How VideoCopilot got started * Transitioning from Artist to Business owner * What Andrew thinks of seeing video copilot stuff everywhere * Handling criticism * Working JJ Abrams and Adobe * Plus, rapid fire questions like favourite music, coffee, books & daily routine Hope you enjoyed the podcast! Check out the notes at blenderguru.com

In this episode we chat with one of the talented artists behind Blender Guru's promotional images: Rob Garlington. You likely haven't heard of him before, but he's been in the CG industry for almost 20 years and knows a lot about creating images that sell. In this episode you'll discover: -The workflow for creating a beautiful scene from scratch -The power of feedback - and why you should take it -Why drawing, painting and other art forms are beneficial in cg -Tips for being more productive in your art creation -Whether too much inspiration can be negative -Tips for getting an authentic render -The importance of exploring master of art through history -Whether or not you should pursue perfection -Tips for new artists to get ahead Plus Q&A at the end of the podcast, from twitter. Got a question for next month? Use hashtag #bgpod on twitter.

THE blender modelling guy joins us for a full hour on tips for improving your modelling skills. Discussed in this podcast: -Is knowing how to draw something essential for modelling? -How new technology has recently changed the modelling workflow -The importance of good 'form' in your model -Some tricks for avoiding the horrible uncanny valley -How Jonathan got started with Blender -Will 3D scanning ever replace modelling? -Artificial intelligence, and how it could possible replace artists -How CG Cookie got started -How to get started modelling characters Also discussed: -Jonathan's encounter with a dog-hating runner -Video games and unwinding -The Balmer Peak -Jonathan's beer brewing hobby Plus! Stay till the end for Q&A from Twitter: -Should Blender ditch the non-modal UI? -Should you give up Blender if you get frustrated or easily distracted? -Best pipeline for working on an animation with a large team?

In this podcast, Reynante and I talk about some of the events that happened over Christmas (both the good and the bad) as well as something very important... a change to the podcast frequency. In a recent survey, I asked you "What posts do you like most?" and 2,378 of your responded! Not surprisingly, the #1 response was Tutorials, with #6 being Podcasts. Now as much as I'd like to do both, there simply isn't enough time to do regular podcasts and tutorials. So based on the results from the survey, I'm making the decision to switch to doing monthly podcasts. In this episode we discuss: -Thoughts on V-Ray and Blender -Best practices for sending developers your ideas -Thoughts on NVIDIA's PhysX -Blender's green screen keying features -Optimizing animations rendered with cycles -Tips on matching your scene's lighting with a footage -Free normal map generator alternatives The next podcast will be the first week of February. Got a question for the next podcast? Use #bgpod.

2015 is almost here! And I want to know what you want to learn in the next 365 days. So I've created a quick survey which you can do here: https://blenderguru.wufoo.eu/forms/what-do-you-want-to-learn-in-2015/ (only takes a few minutes!) For the rest of the podcast I answer these questions from Twitter: -When are you going to make a recommended books post? (next week!) -Do you bother naming everything in a blender scene? -What about a macro photography competition? -Can you effect a particle's color by an image? (see tutorial) -What programs are good for baking maps or textures? (Crazybump and Knald) -Do texture maps become distorted from using a subsurf modifier? -When do you find the best inspiration? Morning or night? -How to prevent particles from touching each other? -Can you create a model from a scan of photographs? (see tutorial) -How many hours in The Architecture Academy? -Is the Contours Retopo tool worth it? -Any reference images of the girl from the Siggraph video? O_o Got a question for next week's podcast? Use #bgpod on twitter.

Christmas is almost here so we're doing a quiet podcast of questions and answers from the community, and me complaining about mowing the lawn. Questions answered from Twitter: -How can I sketch ideas when I can't draw? -How do I start drawing? -Starting a blender website -Is torrenting okay? -Where to post tutorials online? Got a question for next week's podcast? Use #bgpod on Twitter

Gleb has slowly be steadily been building a reputation in the Blender community for his eye catching renders. You've likely seen quite a few of his renders already. He's now a full time artist working hard to build his brand and business at CreativeShrimp.com. In this podcast you'll discover: -Why Gleb switched from 3dsmax to Blender -Gleb's workflow for creating amazing images -When to "cheat" with post-processing -Finding the motivation to experiment -Why conferences are worth all the costs involved -Plus Q&A from Twitter with Gleb Got a question for next week's podcast? Use #bgpod on twitter.

Learning how to add emotion to your renders is vitally important in your career. Because an image that elicits an emotion from the viewer is an image that is shared, distributed and viewed by a lot more eyeballs than one without. So how can you add emotion to a render? Reynante joins for a discussion on what sort of emotions you can aim for, and how to achieve it. Got a question or theme suggestion for next week? Use #bgpod anywhere on twitter.

In this podcast we discuss artistic failure; that frustration you feel when you're working on a scene and it doesn't look right. What can you do to overcome these common roadblocks? I give 5 tips that I've used over the last 10 years. Plus blender Q&A as usual - if you've got a question for next week, use #bgpod on twitter :)

A chat with Reynante about: -The reason behind lackluster blender features -Investing in your own education -Whether to make blender a hobby or career -Upcoming Blender Guru Store -Q&A from Twitter Got a question for next week? Use #bgpod

New at Blender? Reynante Martinez joins to talk about his latest article, Things Blender Beginners Must Know: http://www.reynantemartinez.com/things-blender-beginners-must-know.html In this episode we discuss: -The importance of knowing the interface and shortcuts -Interacting with the community - the good and the bad -The OS war - and why it's infuriating -Blender's terrible file recovery system -The soon to be updated keymap system for Blender -Why paid add-ons aren't hurting Blender at all -Plus questions from Twitter Got a question for next week's podcast? Use #bgpod on twitter.

Short podcast this week on a count of me being sick. But in it, I discuss: -My recent experience of buying a car -"Luck" and why I find it dismissive -Frying a computer Got a question for next week? Use #bgpod on twitter.

After 3 years in Korea, I've finally returned to Australia. Yeeeahhh In this podcast I talk about: -Russians at the airport -Accidentally driving on the wrong side of the road -Addictive TV shows -Getting past creative roadblocks -Why you SHOULD do what you love for a living -Building a reputation in the blender community -Why I choose paid software over free 9 times out of 10 Got a question for next week's podcast? #bgpod

Only 7 days left in Korea! In this podcast I discuss: -Moving home -Saying goodbye to pets -My recent visit to Japan -A theory on why Japan is so weird -A possible racist experience? -Plus Q&A from Twitter Got a question for next week's podcast? Use #bgpod on twitter.

Reynante Martinez is well known online for his unique artwork. In this podcast he joins to talk about what inspires him, how he stays motivated and how to make an online presence. As well answering Blender questions from the community. Also discussed: -How Reynante's anniversary was partially ruined -Broad daylight robbery in the Phillipines -That time I embarrassed myself in a business seminar -More book recommendations ;) Got a question for next week's podcast? Use #bgpod on Twitter.

A full hour of questions from the Twitterverse. Topics covered: -How to avoid abandoned projects -The rise in interest for Blender -How to promote yourself -Thoughts on Pie Menus -This years Blender Conference Got a question for next week? Use #bgpod on Twitter.

Jonathan Lax started Gecko Animation Studios 3 years ago, along with well known blender user; Ben Simonds. Together they've done work for the BBC, Channel 4, 2K games and more. In this podcast, Jonathan answers common freelancing questions: -How much to charge for your work? -What to do when you can't find work? -How to give an accurate time estimation? -Should you have a contract before starting work? Got a question for next week? Use #bgpod on Twitter.

Short podcast this week - My harddrive went down so I'm constrained to my crappy computer. Also discussed: -The Lean Startup - Must read book for anyone interested in starting a business. -Awful communities that turn away newbies -Blender 101 - an upcoming blender version for newbies Got a question or topic for next week? Send via twitter using #bgpod

In this podcast we discuss: -The pervading culture of wanting new features over improving old ones (starts at 21:03) -Why this is against our best interests -How this can negatively effect development -How it could turn potential new users away -How this further harms our reputation Also, discussed: -The horrible trend of movie trailers showing the entire movie -Why I could understand a business owner who commits suicide -Moving back to Australia - and how the grass is always greener Questions from twitter using #bgpod (starts at 1:08:22): -Is it possible to bake reflections? -Where to get Blender advice when struggling? -Better to change the language in Blender? -Does Australia have a national anthem? -Is there a Crazybump alternative or Mac users? -What music do you listen to when working? -Any experience sculpting or 3D printing? -Will you do another AMA? -What do you think of Windows 8? -Do you ever compete in competitions online? -Do you sketch before starting a project? -What does Blender do better than other software? -What's your daily routine? Got a question for next week's podcast? Ask me via #bgpod on Twitter Thoughts on this week's topic? Post at blenderguru.com

Ever wish you could go back in time and give yourself some life advice? I do. In particular I wish I could go back and give advice on getting a headstart as a 3D artist. In this podcast I'll explain why you should have a blog, experiment with all art forms, distance yourself from the blender community, read books like crazy and travel abroad. Show notes:

Show notes: http://www.blenderguru.com/podcasts/6-tips-for-creating-a-blender-website/ Listeners last week expressed an interest in starting their own blender website. So I've dedicated this episode to helping those of you who are thinking about, or already own a website. 6 years ago I was working in manual labor and wasn't happy. I loved Blender, but could only use it in the evenings. So I had the grand plan to start a tutorial site to help me get freelancing work. I started out making a lot of mistakes, but through following websites like SmartPassiveIncome I was able to build Blender Guru to what it is today. So in this podcast you get to learn from my mistakes and find out how to get your new website off to a good start. Summary: 1. Know what problem you're solving 2. Post Consistently 3. Understand Marketing 4. Capture Your Audience 5. Get a proper design 6. Be persistent

By popular demand, I'm bringing back the weekly podcast. So look forward to more rants and internal discussions that lead nowhere! :D In this podcast I discuss: -The new competition -Chance to participate in Colin's film -Some of the cool features to come in Blender 2.72 -Why I really don't want to pay tax in Korea -Why working from home actually sucks -How to start your own Blender website Send your questions for next week's podcast to #bgpod on twitter.

Hotel fiasco, cool stuff to do in Canada. The good and bad of Siggraph 2014 and why you should go next year. Plus how I got into an altercation with a guy on a bridge and lost my third Kindle at the airport. Yay!

I went to San Francisco for 3 weeks to work on Colin's film, and whilst there I had some good and bad experiences in the good ole US of A. In this podcast I discuss, how trusting Apple maps sent me 1 hour in the wrong direction, how Denny's exceeded my already low expectations, why tipping sucks and how Americans seem to be more cheerful than most countries.

Watch the video version here: http://youtu.be/DQDAM3EPhWw In this special podcast, I sat down (literally) with Colin Levy at his house in California and talked Pixar, his next short film and the struggles of screenwriting.

A chat with Andy Goralcyzk, who worked on Big Buck Bunny, Caminandes and Omega among others. He gives his tips for being creative, having hobbies outside of blender, staying productive and what to do when feeling burnt out. Solid advice for anyone interested in turning pro.

Brecht Van Lommel, the primary developer for Cycles, has left Blender to work for Solid Angle (Arnold Renderer). In this podcast, I discuss what this means for the future of Blender/Cycles.

A recap of the latest news, upcoming developments, the new blender guru site redesign and how much to charge clients. Plus my thoughts on the new movie 'Edge of Tomorrow'.

Kent Trammell is a tutor at CGCookie, but has also worked for two studios producing commercials and a movie. In this podcast he talks about his experiences working in production environment, and why he switched to tutorials.

Why meeting other artists is essential for your growth. Don't be a loner! Find a group or start one. And if you can afford it, conferences are really worth the money :)

A catchup podcast due to last week's absence: The Architecture Academy launch, upcoming Blender features, future of Blender Guru, Godzilla review + Q&A.

In this podcast we delve into the book by Alex Roman (which you can no longer buy) 'From Bits to Lens', exploring 7 core points on photorealism. As usual Q&A from Twitter at the end.

Discover 11 common mistakes found in architectural rendering. With architecture gaining in popular, more and more artists are trying it for the first time. But with so little help available online, it's hard to get a start. So in this podcast, I share some of the vital tips I've learned over the last year. My course, The Architecture Academy, will be reopening in 2 weeks on May 14th. So if you're interested, stay tuned for more tutorials and videos on BlenderGuru.com, leading up to it's release :)

I open with thoughts on the deadly ferry sinking in Korea last week, then talk Blender: Gooseberry has been extended 18 days. There's also new BG comp. Plus Q&A from Twitter.

Discussing some of the new features to come in Blender 2.71, Gooseberry predictions, the close of CGHub + Q&A. Question for next week? Use #bgpod on Twitter.

Francesco Siddi was the producer of Caminandes 2 and now works for the Blender Foundation running the Gooseberry Campaign. In this podcast he talks in detail on Gooseberry and answers some of the questions from the community. Also, I talk about the recent Sintel/Sony infringement debacle, the new Captain America movie, my stupid bicycle accident and April Fools prank from last week :)

[Jump to 11:22 to go straight to the interview] Project Gooseberry could be the next big thing for Blender. Meet the man in charge of directing: Mathieu Auvray. In this interview, he talks about how he got the job, the general plot of the movie, what happens if the donation drive fails and advice on becoming a director.

New 2.7 features, Gooseberry donation drive and The Architecture Academy release date (5/14). Plus a long Q&A session from Twitter. Actually answered every single question this week :) Image by Greg Zaal.

Why does the art culture condone stealing? Isn't that like plagarism? I used to think so. But no. In this podcast you'll discover why not only is stealing acceptable, it's necessary.

In this podcast I chat with Beorn Leonard who was character animator from Sintel, who then went on to work on Happy Feet 2 and most recently The Lego movie! Beorn gives lots of great advice for honing your skills, getting constructive feedback and why software wars are stupid.

Who I thought should have won best VFX at the Oscars, Frozen no-brainer plus Twitter Q&A.

Volumetrics baby! The 2.7 release candidate is out so you can now make believable fog. V-Ray for Blender, and questions from the community. Send your questions using #bgpod on Twitter. Photo from Flickr user Chris.