Meet Paolo Enmanuel Gardelli, a 28-year-old CG artist from the vibrant city of Milan, Italy. With a recent win in the "Image Student" category at the esteemed CGarchitect 3D Awards, Paolo's talent and dedication to his craft have not gone unnoticed. Paolo's journey in the realm of architectural visualization began just a few short years ago during his master's program in architecture visualization.
In an exclusive interview with Fox Renderfarm, the industry's top cloud rendering service provider and leading render farm, Paolo opens up about his creative process and the inspiration behind his captivating piece, "Loneliness". Join us as we delve into the mind of Paolo Gardelli, a young talent making waves in the world of CG artistry.
Fox Renderfarm: Hi Paolo! Thank you so much for accepting our interview! Please introduce yourself to our readers.
Paolo: Thank you so much for the invitation! I'm Paolo Gardelli, I'm a 28-year-old Italian CG artist living in Milan.
Fox Renderfarm: Congratulations on being the winner of the CGarchitect 3D Awards' "Image Student" category! How do you feel about it?
Paolo: It's quite incredible for me because I started my journey in archviz not so long ago, around 3-4 years with a master based in Venice, a MADI architecture visualization master. On my first day, they showed us the image of the winner of the year and I was thinking like it's impossible to reach that level, at least not in a short time because I started at zero and everything was new for me. So if I think of my journey where I started and where I'm now, I'm quite proud of my achievements.
Fox Renderfarm: Can you describe your inspiration and the narrative you intended to convey with "Loneliness"?
Paolo: Inspiration struck me while I was talking with my supervisor during my internship, I was aiming for images with a strong presence of nature. After he showed me this photo, I basically tried to replicate it because I aimed to represent the feelings that the photo evoked in me. Knowing that nature reigns supreme and we are guests in that image, I sought to create a place where one can find complete tranquility.
Loneliness © Paolo Gardelli
Fox Renderfarm: How did you decide on the composition and framing of this image to best reflect the theme of loneliness?
Paolo: In this image, nature reigns overall. For me, the composition was quite simple as the small island with the house at its center is overshadowed by the presence of nature, which I consider the true protagonist of the scene. So I focused primarily on the surrounding nature, with the house itself being the last focal point. Placing the house at the center was my way of emphasizing the living space, while also highlighting nature as the central theme of the project.
Fox Renderfarm: Could you please tell us about your pipeline for this work? And how long did it take you?
Paolo: It took me a few weeks to produce the image because of work and other interruptions, so it was not a linear process. Initially, I concentrated on the isle, beginning with a low-poly composition of the entire image. Progressing from the isle, I shifted focus to the water and the bottom of the lake, then to the surrounding land that framed the composition. Lastly, I turned my attention to the house and the small details surrounding the image.
Process © Paolo Gardelli
Fox Renderfarm: How did you achieve the realistic water effect in the lake, particularly the reflections and the variations in depth color?
Paolo: It is crucial for me to accurately depict the essence of a real lake in my work. Therefore, I pay close attention to details such as the rocks and vegetation at the bottom of the lake. Additionally, I emphasize the reflection of the surrounding vegetation and the impact of sunlight on the overall image. It was essential to model the bottom of the lake correctly in order to utilize the Corona Distance effectively. This allowed me to achieve varying shades of blue in the lake, ranging from deeper to lighter tones.
Process © Paolo Gardelli
Fox Renderfarm: Could you elaborate on the lighting setup for this scene? How did you balance natural light to achieve the desired mood?
Paolo: I wanted a natural light that is able to transfer a calm state of mind. For me, the morning light is perfect so my goal was to have a light like that. With the sun positioned above, it facilitated the reflection of the vegetation on the lake and water surface. This illumination also allowed the proper reflection of all the trees, showcasing the translucency and diverse colors of the vegetation.
Fox Renderfarm: What were the biggest technical challenges you faced while working on this project, and how did you overcome them?
Paolo: Probably the biggest issue was managing all the many elements I had to put inside the vegetation. Managing various Forest Pack elements and ordering tasks such as creating the vegetation, water, and rocks required careful planning. Keeping an order and having the right schedule to work was not that easy and I've lost a lot of time because of managing all these elements. These different elements were not too difficult by themselves, but it was the accumulation of these elements that was quite difficult to manage.
Process © Paolo Gardelli
Fox Renderfarm: Are there any moments you enjoyed during the creation process? And what was the most memorable?
Paolo: Well you know for me every image has their own phases. Initially, there is a surge of enthusiasm as expectations are high, and you want the image to be the best in the world. In my case, I always start slow until I reach a breakthrough, and then the image starts to resonate with me. That point is when you begin to work in a different way and you start to enjoy what you're doing, at the same time you you can see what you want to improve. This stage, following a challenging beginning, signifies a significant transformation in the creative journey.
Fox Renderfarm: As a student artist, what resources or learning paths have you found most beneficial in developing your skills in 3D art?
Paolo: You can follow many resources, in my case, I learned a lot at my school. When you finish a course, there are always opportunities to learn from others. While the internet offers a wealth of information for image creation, I find it more important to listen to those around you, colleagues and friends can always give you advice. So for me, it's important to not work alone. Always try to work with other people who can give you advice because that's the way to get better. While making your own decisions is important, receiving diverse ideas is very inspiring to me.
Fox Renderfarm: Have you tried Fox Renderfarm’s services before? If so, how do you feel about Fox Renderfarm’s cloud rendering services?
Paolo: I've not tried yet but I am thinking of doing so. I can't wait to start using this service because when you don’t have an incredible workstation, this could be a life changer. In my case, I still have to assemble my computer for images like these that are very difficult to render, so I think it's very useful and important for everyone who wants to work in this sector.
Fox Renderfarm: What advice would you give to other students or aspiring artists who want to create impactful and award-winning 3D artwork?
Paolo: My advice is to look to those who you think are the best or simply are better than you because it's essential to draw inspiration and continuously strive for self-improvement. Don't be shy to seek assistance; it's perfectly fine not to be the best in the group. I am definitely not the best, I'm surrounded by colleagues and friends who are very good at what they do but I always ask for help. So for me, it's crucial to heed advice while making your own decisions, persist in your efforts, and eventually, your moment to shine will arrive.
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