Pushing Beyond Limits: The Art of Mr. Sandip Ghatak
At the young age of 33 years old, it is amazing to note that Mr. Sandip Ghatak has been in the digital art industry for seven years: three and a half doing CG and four years in Hollywood VFX. Given the experience, it is easy to explain why his works are such marvels to behold.
Mr. Ghatak had graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts in Commercial/Applied Art from West Bengal, India. Right now, he is working at the MPC Bangalore, India as a senior modeler.
With his considerable experience, it is to no surprise that Mr. Ghatak has such an impressive view on what it would take to become a part of the digital art industry:
Remember in art, sky’s the limit. Train your mind that every day you have to sit and do something, be it like quick sketch in ZBrush, exploring a new tool, or watching a tutorial or may be research and development of anything like, presentation, lighting, shader etc. Try to follow real references as much as possible so that your artworks will go close to realism. Push yourself beyond limits.
Indeed Mr. Sandip Ghatak has wisdom. In this feature, let us learn and be inspired by his long industry experience as he charts his way into becoming an artist of worth and reputation.
Xeno Creatives (Xeno Creatives): ZBrush technology brought a lot to the industry. What processes did you have to learn to be skilled in it?
Sandip Ghatak (SG): When I have started my career as a CG artist, I have a limited small idea about ZBrush and I didn’t know what my next step will be. That time, I used to see lot of cool works in the website like cgTantra, cgHub etc. I also started to think that these were really cool. I also realized despite being a modeler I also have to learn to present my work like that.
From then on, I have decided to take ZBrush seriously. I started watching real references—famous artists’ work so that I can motivate myself. Preliminarily, I had to learn how the brush works and how can I get specific effects.
XC: What are specific ZBrush features do you employ in the production of your art? Has it helped you in improving your art better?
SG: Features like Dynamesh, Decimation, and Polypaint, along with different kinds of cool brushes help me a lot to enhance my work quality. Definitely those features help me a lot to express my thoughts through ZBrush.
XC: How did you start being involved in the digital craft?
SG: After finishing my Bachelor’s degree, I started to learn Photoshop, 3Ds Max, and Maya from one of my seniors, Ayanava Gupta, in 2009 who was, at that time just started working in an animation studio in Kolkata.
When he started teaching Max and Maya I just fell in love with 3D models. I started creating 3D objects and showed him. He then advised me that I can also make a career in 3D industry. Slowly, I started learning ZBrush and started to use the software on my own model. Then I got to know that there is a website called ZBrushCentral (http://www.zbrushcentral.com/).
ZBrushCentral just blew my mind. I decided to give 3D animation a try. That’s how I got involved in the digital craft.
XC: We got the chance to see your projects online. We gotta tell, you have got a good eye for detail and an awesome sense of anatomy. 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?
SG: Well this is a very tough question. I don’t think that I have an awesome sense in anatomy, I am still in learning process. I try to follow real references as much as possible. This I do so that if I can achieve at least 90% of that reference, it will help me a lot to progress. I always try to push myself beyond my limits.
I love sculpting in ZBrush tirelessly. I don’t know if its bad or good that I try to spend at least one hour in ZBrush sculpting everyday so that my hands will get used to it. I always tell myself that if I have not spent an hour in ZBrush, I did nothing on that day.
XC: Whom do you do you consider your influence(s)?
SG: This is a very tricky question I will have to say. When I was taking my Bachelor’s degree I had to go through Western Art History and Indian Art History. Then I saw Michelangelo’s, Donatello’s stone sculpture, and Ramkinkar Baij’s open air sculpture. I was stunned to see those. Michelangelo’s David , Pieta, Moses, and Laokoon is my all-time favourite. Baroque sculpture also influenced me a lot. All are masterpieces, how they did draperies, skin folds, emotions of joy, sorrow, the likeness on the face, posture—it always amazed me and I think they were gods.
Apart from them, I was influenced by Ayanava Gupta who was my senior and is now texturing and acting as the lookdev team lead in MPC Bangalore. He always encouraged me to push further. Two more friends, Rohit Singh and Jaykrushna Rawool, are people who inspired me a lot. Apart from them, my childhood friend Deep Chowdhury and my better half, Jayee Dutta always inspired me. On top of that each and every amazing artwork and real world references are my influences.
XC: So far, what were the challenges that you had encountered working in the 3D industry?
SG: I have started my career in the 3D industry as a blend shape or facial artist. I can say that being a facial artist is one of the most difficult jobs to do. This is because you are giving expressions to a character. How ta character talks, cries, or laughs depends on you.
You will also have to follow the rules, like how skin will slide on top of flesh or how two or multiple shapes will combine and become an extreme expression etc. For that I had to study a lot about real references, how people talk, laugh etc.
Another thing I will say is that the 3D industry is full of amazing talents. So I had to cope up with those amazing talents. Especially when I joined MPC, that was very tough time for me, because I came from CG industry and about to enter in VFX industry. It was so difficult for me to turn my 3D art from CG look to realistic look. In Hollywood VFX you have to make super realistic artwork and that transition was very tough for me. But thank God somehow I managed. :D.
XC: What is your most exciting project to date?
SG: I have already done a lot of projects. But some are very close to my heart. Working in Hollywood movies is a dream-come-true for me. One of my favorite projects is “Pirates of Caribbean 5 (Dead men tell no tales)” as it was very exciting and challenging. There was a lot of creative output that I had to provide on that project. Apart from that, “Superman vs Batman (Dawn of Justice)”, “Wonder Woman”, “Fast and Furious”, and “Sin City” are very close to my heart. There are some exciting projects also but I can’t name them as those are not released yet.
XC: Do you have any advice to aspiring artists?
SG: For them, I can say, don’t lose faith. Always be motivated and believe in yourself. Because if something does not happen on the particular time you want, try the next day with a fresh mind, it will sure happen. Don’t be satisfied with your art work very easily, remember there is an ocean of talented artists out there and all are creating amazing art.
Remember in art, sky’s the limit. Train your mind that every day you have to sit and do something, be it like quick sketch in ZBrush, exploring a new tool, or watching a tutorial or may be research and development of anything like, presentation, lighting, shader etc. Try to follow real references as much as possible so that your artworks will go close to realism. Push yourself beyond limits.
I heartily thank you Xeno Creatives in giving me this opportunity to express my thoughts and emotions. It reminds me of the old days as well. With a positive attitude, this will motivate me to explore and express my thoughts through my artwork.
Want to see more of Mr. Sandip Ghatak’s works? Follow the links below!
https://www.facebook.com/sandip.ghatak.1
https://www.artstation.com/dreamsandy
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandip-ghatak-85b5a318/
https://www.instagram.com/sandipbhadu/
