Picking Himself Up and Seizing New Opportunities: Roberto Digiglio’s Journey in the Video Game and VFX Industry
At the young age of 27, Mr. Roberto Digiglio already has quite an experience under his belt. After being educated in Computer Science and Computer Graphics, and going through numerous talent-enriching courses specifically one to become a Technical Concept Artist for Videogames at the Event Horizon School in Italy, Roberto opted to set up his own video game studio–something that didn’t pan out too well.
And while being the Lead Artist and Art Director in his own studio didn’t take off, he wasn’t easily fazed. Instead, Roberto continued working as a Lighting and VFX Artist in Milestone and is now a dedicated Freelance Creature and Character Artist, for many important studios.
Such is Roberto’s experience which caught the ever-watchful eye of Xeno Creatives. It is through him that we see that many young artists might be able to pick up some wisdom and the strength to carry on fighting industry battles that tend to run them down.
It is an honor to have Mr. Roberto Digiglio as Xeno Creatives’ featured artist today. May this feature be an inspiration to all the struggling and hopeful Digital Artists out there.
Xeno Creatives (XC): Has producing 3D art always been a passion for you? How did your involvement in the industry start?
Roberto Digiglio (RD): 3D art, or more generally special effects, are my passion ever since I was a kid, specifically when I saw a documentary about the making of the first “Jurassic Park” movie as I was fascinated by it. I didn’t really know what those guys were doing, but I wanted to do what they did.
Growing up, I directed my studies towards Computer Science and Computer Graphics and after a lot of effort and some courses, I started my career by opening a video game studio. It didn’t go very well.
XC: Would you say that you already have a solid place in the 3D industry? What’s it like being a part of it?
RD: It’s difficult to say with certainty to have a solid place in this industry, however I have understood that once you are inside, you remain only if you continue to grow, it’s a sector that highly rewards consistency.
Being part of it is obviously very satisfying even though it can sometimes be frustrating. But in the end it’s the best job in the world.
XC: What or who influenced you the most going into the 3D creation culture? Was there ever an art piece (digital or otherwise) or artist who led you to decide that digital art production is something you want to do for life?
RD: More than an artist in particular, I would say that it was mainly the world of cinema and video games that influenced me, and the infinite possibilities both offer. To me, it’s kind of magic.
XC: Could you describe how your day looks like in production?
RD: I have always worked in companies, and obviously the daily routine in a studio is done in a certain way. Now, I work as a freelancer and even though it may seem that one is more free to manage one’s time, it’s not really so (indeed sometimes it’s even worse).
Depending on the amount of work I also work 12/14 hours a day.
On reflection, the day in the company is marked by more interesting events; there are many more meetings, numerous comparisons, and the breaks are definitely better.
XC: What are the common challenges that a 3D artist like you encounters day-in, day-out in a project.
RD: I think one of the biggest challenges is to keep the quality of work consistent every day, even when you are very tired. I love sculpting, but during periods of hard work and many deliveries, even the most beautiful work in the world can become nauseating. In these cases, to avoid the quality of work being affected, I take a forced break for a few hours; I usually walk to blow off steam.
XC: We’ve seen your works online and we must say, your collection is indeed impressive. Noteworthy in your portfolio is your attention to detail and each
of piece’s originality. Do you have any favorite pieces? If so, what would these be and why? Also, what would you consider your biggest or most exciting project to date?
RD: I actually don’t have a favorite piece of the stuff I have done. Every project, particularly the personal ones (which I mainly publish), are the result of study and improvement, but I’m never really satisfied with any of it; I always think about how to improve the next one.
But I know it’s normal, every artist should know the flaws of his work and should focus on those. I think this has always been what my art runs on.
XC: If you were to market yourself what would you highlight as your edge?
RD: I have held many roles during my young working life: I have been a Lighting Artist, a Concept Artist, and even an Art Director and Lead Artist. Now I mainly deal with creating characters and creatures, but the general vision that I developed over time helps me to have a very good approach in this industry. So I would say that my main advantage is being very responsive in understanding the client’s needs and being able to adapt accordingly.
XC: If you weren’t a 3D artist today, what would you be instead?
RD: I love Biology and Zoology. I think if I hadn’t done this job I would have been a Biologist. In fact, I try to combine things. When I design my creatures, making them scientifically plausible is my inherent goal.
Want to see more of Mr. Roberto Digiglio’s amazing work? Click here!
