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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Make Projects You Truly Believe In
- Do start personal projects you deeply believe in because they sustain motivation through long production cycles.
- Duncan says personal projects led to the skills and opportunities that defined his career.
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.
Geometry Nodes Unlocks Procedural Forests
- Geometry Nodes gave Duncan the exact toolset he needed to build a forest procedurally in Blender.
- He used nodes for scattering trees, groundcover, water interaction, eyes, wings and branch dynamics.