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An interview with Jahirul Amin

We speak to 3D trainer and rigging maestro Jahirul Amin about his inspirations, new Maya book, and best-practice advice for students…

We speak to 3D trainer and rigging maestro Jahirul Amin about his inspirations, new Maya book, and best-practice advice for students…

Hello Jahirul – thanks for speaking to 3dtotal! First off, could you tell us a bit about yourself, where you are, and what you do?
Hello. Nice to speak with you. Currently I am a 3D Trainer at Double Negative, London. When I'm not in the office or looking after my kids, I like to write about the CG process: I write tutorials, do the odd review and I recently published Beginner's Guide to Character Creation in Maya.

Created as part of an animation tutorial series for 3D Artist magazine

Created as part of an animation tutorial series for 3D Artist magazine

Did you always want to be an artist? How did you get into 3D?
I always wanted to draw stuff and make it move; I used to trace over the TV frame by frame and try to figure out how artists could take single images and turn them into movement. The Jungle Book was a huge influence; I rented it so often, I could have bought it three times over. As I watched and dissected the movement, I knew I wanted to make it my career.

Getting into 3D was not such a straightforward path. Having had kids early on in life, I needed a break to be able to get into CG from my restaurant day job. In 2009, I got that break and went to the NCCA in Bournemouth to study for an MA in Computer Animation.

A quick test of some shaders under different lighting scenarios

A quick test of some shaders under different lighting scenarios

Who or what are your biggest inspirations?

So where do I start? The people who I am inspired by on a daily basis are names such as: Scott Eaton, Alessandro Baldasseroni, Jason Schleifer, Josh Carey, Brad Clark, Carlo Sansonetti and the huge talents I currently work with at Double Negative.

Thinking more historically and concerning my ongoing development as an artist, I have been truly inspired by the works of such artist as: Renoir, Monet, Constable, da Vinci, Glen Keane, Eric Goldberg, Robert Beverly Hale and Rey Bustos.
More importantly, the biggest inspirations are my wife and my four daughters (not forgetting the cat).

What happens when a rhino meets a wall meets Bullet?

What happens when a rhino meets a wall meets Bullet?

Your book Beginner's Guide to Character Creation in Maya was released earlier this year. Could you tell us more about the book? What were your aims and motivations for making it, and what can people expect to find inside?
So the way I see it, the most successful CG that you see has a clear basis in reality. Therefore as a student of CG, I feel it really helps to begin study by analyzing and deconstructing those true fundamentals. In the book, every stage of the pipeline is preceded by real world examples, which feed into everything that is tackled using the computer. For example, the chapter on modeling and sculpting the character is preceded by a study of human anatomy. Through the book, I aimed to give budding artists an understanding of the theories behind the button pushing, to thereby strengthen their knowledge and make them far more flexible practitioners.

Rigging a cuttlefish, created for 3D Artist magazine

Rigging a cuttlefish, created for 3D Artist magazine

What's one key piece of advice you'd give to a 3D student?
Echoing what I said above, the biggest bit of advice I would give is look at the real world and let it inform your work. On top of this, I would always recommend looking at others' work and practices, but be sure to have the confidence to find your own way.

An environment created in Maya for 3D Artist magazine

An environment created in Maya for 3D Artist magazine

A train rig created for 3D Artist magazine

A train rig created for 3D Artist magazine

Are there any techniques, tools, or skills that you're hoping to work on in the future?
I'm always looking to get my hands dirty with new tools, techniques and workflows. As subjects close to my heart, however, I am continuing to improve my knowledge of anatomy and kinesiology, and to develop my life drawing skills.
In terms of tech, I am looking at getting more familiar with the very powerful Clarisse iFX for lighting and look development and Corel Painter for drawing and painting on the computer.

Created as part of a tutorial series for 3dtotal.com

Created as part of a tutorial series for 3dtotal.com

Do you have any advice for maintaining a good portfolio? Any tips?
To make things work, you have to love what you do, so make sure you find time to work on projects that mean something to you. That connection will undoubtedly come through in your work.

We live in a world of constant and plentiful criticism – good and bad – so be prepared to take the rough with the smooth.

Testing a skin shader under different lighting setups

Testing a skin shader under different lighting setups

Posing a rig to see if it is fit for purpose for Beginner's Guide to Character Creation in Maya

Posing a rig to see if it is fit for purpose for Beginner's Guide to Character Creation in Maya

Finally, and most importantly, what do you like to do in your free time?
Clichéd as it is, I am a family man and I love being with my wife and kids wherever that might be.

Testing the rig created for of Beginner's Guide to Character Creation in Maya

Testing the rig created for of Beginner's Guide to Character Creation in Maya

A scorpion rig created for UARTSY

A scorpion rig created for UARTSY

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