Lev Kononov

Name: Lev Kononov
Area of living: Minsk, Belarus
Working as freelance 3D artist since 2009, in his spare time
Expertise: Interior
Project duration: 7 days – …
Software using: 3DsMax, Vray, Corona and Photoshop

– Every project starts from collecting materials and client’s wishes. How do you negotiate with clients? What do you ask for?

Most often, customers have rather abstract idea of what they really want. Therefore, at this stage the main goal – to help the customer understand what he wants. Together we identifying style, functionality filling of a room, main future colors…

– How do you work: in your own style or under clients guidance?

Work performed for the client, which means the result should please him. But I must make proposals sometimes, because a client came to me as to a specialist, what’s why healthy initiative will never do any harm.

– How is you working process look like? How many revisions allowed to make?

2-4 times – in most cases this is enough. This does not mean that I refuse to make adjustments more often. However, let’s not forget about a reasonable limit.

– Have you refused to do the project and if yes why?

There were such projects. Basically it is because of “robbery” attitude “complexity of the task / payment.” These orders come from people who have little idea about the design and visualization.

– With what kind of client you will never do business again?

There are customers who delay the process of working on a project to infinity. I try to avoid such people, because, most likely, the work will not be paid.

– How do you calculate/estimate project price?

It all depends on the complexity of the problem. From week to a month. For urgent problem, I try not to be taken due to lack of time.

– Do you charge for rendering?

Yes, more often it is included. Sometimes a customer needs a “semi-finished” product, in which case there is no need to render image completely. I render all my images on one computer. Never used any render-farms.

– Do you have technical education? Does it helps in 3D?

By education I am an architect. I think 3D can be attributed to technical profession, but it helps me more as artistic component of my education.

– Client is nice, project agenda is clear, now you need inspiration to get started. What are your sources of inspiration?

This is a visual art: the work of artists, visualizers, designers, furniture, architecture, nature. Here are the resources that I use most of the time: Behance, Pinterest, Artstation, Archiproducts, Archdaily

– Who is your favorite 3D artist or company?

There are a lot of good 3D artists / visualizers. In fact, I just check my timeline in Pinterest and save something that inspires me.

– There are 2 types of visualizers: one who heavily rely on post-work (they do not render scene completely, but only parts of it, and one who try to get complete scene after render process and apply basic post-work) From which side you are and why?

I try to do most of the work using 3D programs, not 2D. Architectural visualization should be photorealistic and this is easier to achieve rendering the entire scene. However, post-processing for me – it is one of the most critical stages of the project.

– How would you rate your level of expertise in 3D graphics on a scale 0 till 10. In what areas you would like to get more knowledge?

Difficult question. It is too hard to be objective when trying evaluating yourself. It is not false modesty, just always see what would like to achieve more. I think 8.

– What software do you use/like the most? Why?

3Ds Max, VRay, Photoshop, Marvelous Designer, ZBrush. Bundle Max + VRay somehow developed historically. In spare time mastering the Corona render, but not enough time for everything I want to learn.

– What were the main sources of training that you used if any? Which one you can recommend?

No, I did not attend courses. Everything taught by myself.

– Do you participate in contests?

I participated previously. These were competitions for artistic visualization (fantasy, Si-Fi) on render.ru. I still want to participate, but it can’t be done because of time lack.

– Do you have any personal ideas in 3D which you would like to realize (maybe someone has similar idea and later you can connect with each other in order to help accomplish an idea)?

I hope one day to go to one of such conferences and meet worldwide 3D artists to have a speak with them. I think it’s a really great experience!

– What is your greatest work that you have done? The most challenging project you have worked on?

I cannot identify anything specific. The most difficult project stage is creativity stage: design, search for color solutions, the selection of furniture, accessories, frame composition. Here I spend a good percentage of the time working on any project.

– What do you think about general 3D visualization level in your country

It is lower than, say, in the United States or Europe. It’s not that we have too few good specialists – they do exist, just practically there is no demand for really high-quality 3D product. Our customers do not appreciate the work of 3D artists. They do not distinguish quality from mediocrity. I’m not talking about everybody, but in the vast majority. This is especially true in architectural visualization. Because of this, I often have to choose between the lack of orders and very low payment for work performed.

– Market is overwhelmed with the low quality/price offers. There are many programs which allow creating simple 3D without any knowledge. Don’t you see a threat for your profession in near future?

No. In addition to technical skills, every 3D artist must have experience in design: know coloristic, composition and so on. Without these skills it is simply impossible to create a quality product and a 3D package, no matter how perfect it is, will not do it for the person. Besides, the more presets 3d package have, the less opportunities it provides. The emergence of such 3D packages – profanation, they do not represent any serious threat to the professional 3d artist.

– What are your long-term goals or career plans?

I would like to organize 3D courses. In the process, you accumulate experience that will be useful for beginners. I want to share it.

Advice from Lev how to achieve high quality level in 3D visualization:

There is no secret: the more experience – the better the result is…