More and More Artists Finding 3D Art and Modelling Less Daunting in 2025
From 2D to 3D: Maciek Łazowski’s Story
Maciek Łazowski, an illustrator, transferred his 2D digital art skills to 3D using Blender and has been in love with both approaches ever since. He began experimenting with 3D software a year ago and has found more clients and greater creative output.
Why and How Maciek Made the Leap
Maciek’s advice is to "Have some fun in Womp to see how your work translates into 3D and if that’s your jam. If it is, then after a while, give Blender a go." He recommends Patata School for character-related illustration in 3D and Polygon Runway for everything else. "Be prepared for some frustration and teeth grinding," he says. "Don’t let the setbacks get to you; be consistent and pat yourself on the back for even the smallest win. There’s some suffering to go through, but when you figure out how to solve a problem on your own – damn, that feels good!"
The Journey to 3D
Why 3D Art?
I was never really interested in realistic and semi-realistic-looking 3D, but I’ve started seeing more and more people create very stylised artworks. Some of them gave me that jolt of "oooh, I’d like to do that." But I thought to create 3D, you needed expensive software and very powerful computers. When I realised that’s not the case at all, I decided to give it a go.
Choosing the Right Software
I started to pay attention to artists mentioning the programs they used for the artworks I admired. I’ve seen that most people creating in the style I was going for used Cinema 4D. I’ve also heard that it was a bit easier to pick up. Then I learned it was a subscription-based service and how much it costs, and I decided to go with Blender, because it was free. I was pretty pleased with the mirror modifier, as it only requires me to make half the work. When I learned to use sculpting tools, I was pretty blown away with what can be done with them. And the rigify plugin – you mean I can adjust my character like it was an action figure? Honestly, lots of the tools feel like magic.
From 2D to 3D
My style is geometric, so it lends itself to 3D in that way, but it took me some time to switch to thinking in 3D, if that makes sense. I would work on a piece, viewing it at a certain angle, then turn it, and it looked like an abomination that just crawled out of the deepest circles of hell.
The Creative Process
Yes, I started to be less precious and more loose with initial sketches. In 2D illustrations, my finals matched my sketches pretty accurately, so it was worth taking some time in fleshing these sketches out. Here, since I’m playing more with camera, perspective, etc., there are always noticeable differences, so I just don’t bother and make a quick doodle that captures the idea. It’s allowed me more freedom and made the process more fun.
What I Enjoy Most
I think Womp is amazing. I’ve had tons of fun using it, and I recommend it to everyone that wants to try 3D as a perfect starting point. I don’t think its render engine can match Cycles yet, but I’ve seen amazing works made in Womp with some additional post-production. You can also feel the developers care about their program, as they keep improving it all the time.
Pitches to Clients
I was a bit nervous about doing it after learning for almost two years – what if the clients won’t care much for the way my stuff looks in 3D? Luckily, I’ve had lots of feedback along the way from friends and kind people online that this direction is worth pursuing, and the reaction from clients seems to confirm that. Phew.
Proudest Works
I think it’s the illustration I did for the BBC Science Focus about microbiome diet. It was for their digital issue cover, so that felt awesome, but also I was able to turn it into an animated loop for the article version. I was able to pull together a few techniques I was learning, and I’m quite happy with how it turned out.
Conclusion
Maciek’s story is an inspiration for many artists looking to make the leap to 3D. With the right tools and mindset, the possibilities are endless. Remember to be patient, persistent, and always keep learning.
FAQs
Q: What software did Maciek use to create 3D art?
A: Maciek used Blender, a free and open-source 3D creation software.
Q: What other software did Maciek mention?
A: Maciek mentioned Womp, Patata School, and Polygon Runway.
Q: What is Maciek’s advice for artists looking to start 3D art?
A: Maciek’s advice is to "Have some fun in Womp to see how your work translates into 3D and if that’s your jam. If it is, then after a while, give Blender a go."
