The VFX Process #62 Duncan Rudd: Why Every 3D Artist NEEDS a Personal Project
Apr 17, 2025
Duncan Rudd, a talented CG animator with over 25 years of experience, dives into his animated short Deep Rooted, created entirely in Blender. He discusses the vital role personal projects play in a 3D artist's career, highlighting their ability to showcase unique styles. Duncan also reflects on industry shifts that favor smaller studios and freelance talent. He shares insights on tackling creative challenges, mastering Blender’s texturing processes, and the emotional depth of visual storytelling, making this a must-listen for aspiring animators.
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Ideas Brew On The Commute
- The story for Deep Rooted hatched during long bike commutes through the woods and brewed for months.
- Duncan waited a couple of months to see if an idea stuck before committing to production.
Transfer Skills To Learn New Tools Fast
- Learn related systems (like nodes) across software—prior rigging and coding helped Duncan pick up Geometry Nodes faster.
- He recommends leveraging existing technical skills to adopt new tools quickly.
Real-Time Renders Improve Filmmaking Decisions
- Real-time rendering (Eevee) enabled iterative filmmaking decisions earlier in production.
- Seeing near-final images while working reduced guesswork and improved composition choices.