Patrick Yeung: Originality and Inspiration
Looking at Mr. Patrick Yeung’s online portfolio it is easy to say that he has talent. And merged with his technical know-how of ZBrush, adjectives such as “amazing” and “genius” may easily be thrown. His attention to detail elicits awe; his concepts, indicative of both inspiration and originality.
Let’s get to know Mr. Patrick Yeung in this short feature and see why he is one artist that we should watch out for.
Xeno Creatives (XC): ZBrush technology brought a lot to the industry. What processes did you have to learn to be skilled in it?
Patrick Yeung (PY): ZBrush is an incredible tool for artist to explore designs in 3D in high detail. I began as a traditional artist who studied figure drawing and painting. These skills built a strong foundation for me to transition into the digital world. It is important to have a good understanding of form, value and anatomy if you are striving to be a character artist.
Efficiency in the program is also important, but can be learnt through doing different types of project and learning from different sources. There are a lot of tips and tricks online and ZBrush is not an easy program to learn for a beginner. It has a steep learning curve, but once you get to the point where you understand how the program deals with geometry, it will be second nature!
Xeno Creatives (XC): What are specific ZBrush features do you employ in the production of your art? Has it helped you in improving your art better?
PY: I really like how fast ZBrush is at dealing with high resolution projects. Having the responsive interaction with my project is a game changer in pumping out better looking artwork.
The curve function and group loop functions are also incredible helpful in creating cleaner shapes and details on meshes.
XC: How did you start being involved in the digital craft?
PY: Tomb Raider and The Mummy. My love for CG began with playing with the level editor that came with Tomb Raider Chronicles and watching the ILM behind the scenes of The Mummy.
It was my dream to be a part of an industry that puts imagination into reality. I started to read a lot of Maya reference books in middle school and eventually got accepted into Gnomon School of VFX in Hollywood and began my career.
XC: We got the chance to see your projects online and we must say, it was such a visual treat! We truly admire your originality and your regard for detail. Apart from your obvious talent, what do you think is your edge as a 3D artist? What do you think makes you stand out from the rest?
PY: Thank you so much! It means a great deal to hear that. I think that having a background in drawing and understanding of anatomy gave me an edge as a character artist. I think that there is an innate drive that pushes me to continually learn new skills and be more critical on my work. I try to show what I’ve learn and what I love most in my projects!
XC: Whom do you do you consider your influence(s)?
PY: I am a huge admirer of Raf Grassetti and Bruno Camara. Their body of work speaks volume of their skills and artistry.
As a 3D artist, concept artists have a huge influence over our work. It is a symbiotic relationship. Currently I am a fan of Hugo Richard, Dela Longfish, Ekaterina Burmak, Loish and Even Mehl Amundsen.
XC: So far, what were the challenges that you had encountered working in the 3D industry?
PY: There are many hurdles in working in the 3D industry. The biggest hurdle I had to face was creating a professional body of work that shows studios that I am a good choice for them to consider. Gnomon has a team of amazing teachers who are incredible artists. Everything I’ve learned in my program I use every day in my job and also in my life.
XC: What is your most exciting project to date?
PY: Avatar! I am honored to have this as my first project in the entertainment industry. It is surreal to work with legendary figures such as Dylan Cole, Fausto De Martini, Ben Proctor. Filmmaking is fast, chaotic, and nerve wracking. It is also a fantasy and a dream come true for me. I remember watching the first movie in college with my friends and was left speechless when it ended. James Cameron is, no doubt, a visionary and a wonderful storyteller.
XC: Do you have any advice to aspiring artists?
PY: Dreams do come true.
This industry, unlike any other, gives you a chance to forge your own path. All you have to do is find what you love most and go with it. Don’t stop learning and be humble. It might be daunting to see that there are so many talented and skilled artists out there, but that’s the beauty of this industry. Great works come from collaborations between artists, so open yourself to connecting with each other and learn from each other.
Want to see more of Mr. Patrick Yeung’s works? Click here and here!
