Mr. Vijay Pratap Singh: Rejection is the Best Mentor
Mr. Vijay Pratap Singh knows the aphorism all too well:
What doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.
He is living proof. In the fast-paced, discriminating and at times dehumanizing 3D industry, more often that not, we hear things that test our character. We either break with criticism (constructive or otherwise) or rise above it.
Mr. Singh definitely rose above it.
Being subjected to a painstaking process that ultimately led to rejection by a well-known Indian company, he was molded into the competent and uncompromising artist that he is today.
And have you seen his works? They are jaw-dropping!
Let’s read Mr. Vijay Singh’s inspiring account.
Xeno Creatives (XC): Given your experience in the industry, what do you think is your edge as a 3D artist?
Vijay Pratap Singh (VPS): With my experience in this industry, I can say that Digital Sculpting and Modeling are my edge as a 3D artist. It`s my passion to create something from which I can learn and grow.
XC: Before concentrating on ZBrush as a primary tool of 3D creation, what were the other software that you used?
VPS: I started my career as a 3D modeling artist. I used to work with Autodesk, Maya and 3Ds Max for for 3D creation.
XC: What made you turn to ZBrush? What about it appealed to you?
VPS: In Zbrush you can create things with little to no limit. Whatever you want to create , you can do there, and the special charm of this software is you can make anything in sharp detail very easily This feature appealed to me very much. This made me move to ZBrush.
XC: What was your most exciting project to date?
VPS: Professionally , although it was a failed attempt, “Exzore the Rising” was my most exciting project. But as an artist , I learned so many new things while working on it. From the start, I wanted to be a part of any game developing studio. In India you can’t find any studio that makes their own PC or Xbox game. So here I came to know with many new experiences how game development works.
XC: So far, what were the challenges that you had encountered working in the 3D industry?
VPS: In 2012, I started work. I was 20 years old back then. The job was in a another city and far from my hometown. That was one of the biggest gaming studios in India. I was enlisted there as a trainee artist.
Character modeling is my passion and I wanted to do the same in that studio. But being a newbie didn`t make it easy. I still had to prove myself. So I did through many different kinds of works (props and the like), learning of many different software which were new to me and so on.
After working for one and half year as a Junior gaming artist , I switched to another studio to further my skills in character modeling.
It was a gamble. The studio hired me as a Trainee Artist again and without any offer letter, because they said that I am not that good in characters. They gave me training for 3 months. I endured it despite no offer letter and no salary. And that was a well-known studio for character modelling in India.
That was a completely different experience for me. There I started learning anatomy and proportions deeper. I was really learning there, but after 2 months, the director of the studio called me and told me that I am not performing well. What they did was they gave me another stuff to sculpt and instructed that if I couildn’t match their level, then I have to leave the studio.
They asked me to leave after a few days. But for me it was an awesome small learning journey where I couldn’t prove myself. But I didn’t surrender.
Then i did so much work on my anatomy and studies. I read many books, spent many hours practicing, late nights, some sleepless nights. And then my moment came. Now I have worked for many studios as a Character Artist.
XC: Among your many AWESOME concepts, what stands out for you? Do you have favorites?
VPS: The “Skeletor” sculpt is very close to my heart. That was the sculpt that gave me a new identity as well as lots of inspiration for doing better.
I like superheroes very much. I always try to experiment and create any superhero or villain in my style or scene presentation. Skeletor, Hulk Vs Wolverine , Thanos, Crabman, etc. These are some of my favorites.
XC: What other concepts do you want to create through ZBrush?
VPS: As I mentioned, I like superheroes very much, that`s whyI want to make so many 3D concepts or scenes of superheroes through Zbrush in my style of presentation.
XC: What advice can you give to aspiring artists?
VPS: I just wanted to say that schools or colleges can’t teach you everything. They can just teach you the basic. Then you have to work hard to make it great. Respect your work, your profession. Work hard.
And yeah respect other artists as well. You may be great but you cant make an entire game on your own. You have to work with other artists and learn from them. Stay humble and stay hungry.
Mr. Singh, your story is a true inspiration. We hope that future members of the industry would take after your zeal and resilience.
Want to see more of Mr. Vijay Pratap Singh’s works? Click here!
