Peter Bignold: Interview with 3D artist

Hi everyone! We continue series of short interviews with the best artists from 3DModels competitions.

Peter Bignold, author of the “Making Up Lost Time”, will answer six questions and give us a look behind the scenes of his work.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself. What do you do and how did you become a 3D artist?

Hey there! I’m a recently graduated Computer Scientist from Canada that creates 3D art in my spare time. I started learning Blender around 6 years ago and have been improving my skills and techniques since then. 3D modeling and rendering is a great way for me to express my passion for cars and motorsport, with most of my art being centered around vehicles.

Where did you find the inspiration for your latest challenge entry? What’s the story behind its creation?

I love watching the Nurburgring 24 Hour Endurance race each year – witnessing the grit, perseverance, and skill on display is a huge inspiration to me. At the same time I’m fascinated with historic race cars from series like the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM). With these two inspirations, I wanted to create a piece featuring a DTM car lapping the Nurburgring Nordschleife. I ended up choosing the stunning BMW E30 M3 as my subject, planting it in the famous First Carousel of the Nordschleife.

What software and plug-ins did you use to create this image? Did you face any difficulties, and how did you overcome them?

Everything I created was done in Blender and GIMP. I used the Quixel MegaScans library for foliage and tree models, with everything else being made from scratch. I usually don’t create a full environment for my renders, so making one for this project pushed my skills to new limits. By being patient, layering on detail, and not being afraid to start over, I eventually reached a result I was satisfied with.

I also recorded the modeling process for the BMW in time-lapse, here’s a link to the YouTube video.

How often do you do personal projects and keep your portfolio up-to-date? Which one is your favorite?

I try to create a new render every couple months so I don’t get too rusty, and always keep my Artstation portfolio updated. My favourite piece from outside render challenge work is my Mclaren MP4-6 Formula 1 car. I love the style and cleanliness of the late 80’s to early 90’s era F1 cars with the MP4-6 standing out to me as the sharpest of the bunch.

Who or what has inspired or delighted you recently? Maybe it was a book, a movie, or an artist.

Even though it’s a few years old, “Rallying: The Killer Years” is an excellent documentary about the World Rally Championship’s Group B era. It was incredible to hear accounts of what driving Group B power monsters was like, and the victories and tragedies that went with it. A great watch for any motorsport fan!

Please tell us your five short tips for creating 3D art.

1. – Each project is an opportunity to learn something new.

2. – Find motivation by making things you’re passionate about.

3. – Try not to rank yourself against others.

4. – Good art takes time and patience.

5. – Don’t be afraid to start over.