In the recently ended 3D challenge "Christmas" organized by CGandWE, Michael's artwork "Elfish Christmas" stood out among the entries. As a long-term partner of CGandWe, Fox Renderfarm is the industry's leading cloud rendering service provider and render farm, and we are honored to chat with Michael, and discover how he made this beautiful artwork.
Fox Renderfarm: Hi Michael! Thank you so much for accepting our interview! Please introduce yourself to our readers.
Michael: With pleasure! Hello! My name is Michael Faivre Rampant. I am a French 3D artist with six years of experience as a generalist.
Fox Renderfarm: Congratulations on winning in the December "Christmas" CGandWe Challenge! How do you feel about it?
Michael: Thank you so much! I’m truly honored, especially since this is the first time I’ve ever won a first prize! And there are a lot of very talented artists out there as well. A big thanks to CGandWe for giving me the opportunity to participate!
Fox Renderfarm: Where did you draw inspiration from for your submission?
Michael: I generally draw my inspiration from Pinterest, exploring everything from composition to lighting. For this challenge, I focused specifically on capturing the magical essence of Christmas.
Inspiration | Image from Megatruh
Fox Renderfarm: What software did you use and was there anything different you did for this project?
Michael: I used Zbrush and Blender. I usually do a lot of box modeling for the assets. While I typically rely on simple modeling, this time, I incorporated geometry nodes — a new approach for me. To be honest, I’m still learning how to use them.
Fox Renderfarm: Before diving into the visual design, how much planning and pre-production work do you typically do?
Michael: I like to kick off a project with quick sketches to quantify the amount of work, including composition, character design, and other elements. I dedicate at least one or two days to sketching and gathering references, allowing me to focus entirely on establishing the overall direction.
© Michael
Fox Renderfarm: Could you please tell us about your pipeline for this work? And how long did it take you?
Michael: Once my sketches are complete and I’ve gathered enough references, I move on to blocking the composition. I begin by using basic shapes like cubes and spheres, which allow me to quickly define the volumes within the 3D space. Once I’m satisfied with the overall layout, I proceed to sculpt and model each part in detail.
© Michael
Fox Renderfarm: Can you describe the technical process you used to create the assets within the scene?
Michael: For the Christmas branches, I created a plane that I used as an instance along a curve. To achieve a more natural look, I randomized the orientation of the branches. I then duplicated the entire branch structure to fill the tree vertically.
© Michael
As for the presents, I used a scattering addon that I had previously used in other projects. This node-based addon allowed me to instance objects from a specific collection in the node tree.
And finally for the curtains, I incorporated cloth simulations to enhance realism. The trees in the background are pre-purchased models from earlier projects.
Fox Renderfarm: Are there any challenges that you encountered during the process of creation?
Michael: The most challenging part of the project was creating the Christmas tree and the presents. I spent a lot of time searching for tutorials, determined to complete the project while also improving my familiarity with geometry nodes. Eventually, I figured it out, and now I'm even more motivated to dive deeper into nodes because they’re incredibly helpful!
Fox Renderfarm: Are there any moments you enjoyed during the creation process?
Michael: Adding the lights and rendering is always the most rewarding part for me! It sets the mood of the scene and enhances the appeal of the 3D models, bringing them to life.
Elfish Christmas © Michael
Fox Renderfarm: Can you describe the most rewarding project you’ve worked on so far?
Michael: I had the privilege of working on a project called "Kiss of the Sea". Throughout its production, I gained invaluable experience and learned a great deal under the guidance of the team's art director Youness El Garrab. His insights, tips, and tricks significantly enhanced my skills. At the time, I was assigned the role of a 3D modeler, but thanks to his mentorship, I was able to broaden my skill set. The show turned out to be a great success, and I’m grateful to have been a part of it!
Fox Renderfarm: Any artists or works that have influenced your style and approach?
Michael: Tim Burton — I love the way he visually tells stories, and how he writes his characters on a deep level! As a League of Legends fan, Riot Games' appealing character designs influenced my art a lot (even if I stopped playing it, I’m still inspired by their crafts!). And Southern Shotty — I admire his work and his style is so unique and appealing. I have learned a lot thanks to his YouTube channel!
Fox Renderfarm: Have you tried Fox Renderfarm’s services before? If so, how do you feel about Fox Renderfarm’s cloud rendering services?
Michael: I still haven’t used Fox Renderfarm’s service yet, but I am planning to since I will have upcoming comissions that require a lot of rendering!
Fox Renderfarm: Do you have any ongoing projects or future plans at the moment?
Michael: Yes, I have some 3d motion design projects coming up pretty soon and I am currently working with a team on a video game project called "Tír na nÓg: The Rescue of King Dagda" as a 3D character artist. The project is under development but we have a Tiktok account posting our work in progress and everyone is welcome!
Michael's Social Media:
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-faivre-rampant-4906b0228/
- Artstation: michaelfaivre.artstation.com
- Instagram: @michfaivre
- Tiktok: @hawthorn.house
