Entering the 3D world is definitely one of the most fulfilling adventures you could ever take, as you can visualize anything you ever imagine and bring it to life with your own hands. For a 3D artist, that’s one of the best feelings in the world.

However, the road to becoming one can be bumpy if you have no idea where to start and how to reach your goals. But, if you have a strong will and you’re creative enough to produce stunning 3D visualizations, you can do anything you set your mind to. If you’ve decided to become a 3D artist, here are the most essential steps that you need to take.

Learn How to Use 3D Software

This is the first obvious step you need to take because you will be using 3D software for everything you do. There are a lot of different tools out there, so choosing one when you are just starting out can be overwhelming.

Do a bit of research and find out what tools other aspiring 3D artists are using. You can start with Photoshop to get a hang of the basics, but be sure to move on to other tools, such as Blender, AutoCAD, Maxwell, and V-Ray. Trying them will help you learn how to create 3D visualizations, and you’ll quickly figure out which software you’ll continue using.

Practice Your Skills Daily

When you want to become successful at something, you must know that it all comes down to practice. This can’t be stressed enough. It will take a lot of trial and error for you to become truly successful at 3D rendering, or anything else 3D-related, so you need to practice every single day.

That is how you will improve your skills and gain the experience necessary for making it out there and building a successful career. Sketch a lot and make your 3D software your best friend, getting to know every feature it has to offer like the palm of your hand until you’ve mastered them all. And then keep practicing.

Eliminate Procrastination

Procrastination is the number one motivation killer. If you let it get in your way, you’ll never reach your goals. Eliminate it completely from your life and don’t let anything distract you from your work.

Again, to become successful at what you do, you need to practice. So, don’t come up with an excuse to procrastinate just because you encountered an obstacle. Don’t say that it’s hard, that you’re busy, or that you’re just not good enough. Anything you start doing is difficult at first but, if you truly want to do it, find the time and find a way.

Research the Works of Other 3D Artists

Diving into the works of various accomplished 3D artists is one of the best ways to improve your own work. You can find inspiration in their visualizations and spark your creativity, so be sure to constantly stay in touch with what they are doing.

It’s more than easy to do so these days, as you can find literally anything you want online. There are plenty of 3D artists out there and they all have their portfolios up online. You can also read about their success stories and listen to interviews, as they certainly have a lot of tips and advice to share.

Create a Portfolio

When you truly master your skills, you need to create a portfolio of your artwork. Choose the best works you have created, works that really showcase your talent, creativity, and experience and put them in the portfolio that you will share with the world.

It goes without saying that you should create a professional website where you will share your portfolio, because how else would people find you and hire you? But, don’t stop there. Keep expanding your portfolio and adding new works, especially those from all the successful projects you’ve engaged in. Showcase your skills and you will open the doors to a lot of new possibilities.

Get Your Artwork Noticed

Sharing your portfolio on a website isn’t enough, because how would people know about you in the first place? You need to get your artwork noticed, and the best way to do it nowadays is to harness the power of social media.

Share everything you do on social media because people will share it as well and the word about your work will spread like wildfire. People will quickly learn about you and visit your website to check out more of your work. You can also post your work on forums and get honest, genuine feedback that can help you keep improving.

Start Networking

Networking is incredibly important for any line of business, especially when you’re still building a name for yourself. It can help you meet new aspiring 3D artists like yourself, so you can exchange experiences and knowledge and learn a lot from one another.

Moreover, you can meet a lot of influential people who may want to hire you, or recommend you to someone who may need a 3D artist to work with. Networking is all about making connections, so get involved in a 3D community and you can make strong connections that can help you realize your dreams.

Keep Finding Ways to Improve

It’s important to always keep enhancing your skills and push yourself to the limit because there will always be new things to learn and discover. Never give up and never stop growing. You can find inspiration all around you, so constantly feed your creativity and your drive for improvement.

The most successful 3D artists are never fully satisfied with their work because they always see room for improvement. So, don’t be disappointed if you notice some flaws in your work, because that’s the only way you can grow and come up with fresh and innovative ways to step up your game.

The ultimate key to becoming a successful 3D artist is to start small and dream big. You can’t become successful overnight, so start slowly from square one and work your way up. Follow all these steps, and remember that practice makes perfect and that you can truly do anything you set your mind to, especially in the exciting and innovative 3D world.