Interview with the winner of Easter 3D printing challenge

Self-taught 3D designer and the winner of the Easter 3D printing challenge Ricardas Marozas aka pumper talks to us about the pains and joys of 3D modelling and shares his insights into the 3D printing industry.

Q: Can you tell us something about yourself and your creative background?

A: I'm basically a living nerd stereotype: 28 years old, live with my parents, don't go out much and spend way too much time on my PC. As for creative background, well, I don't really have any as I am a self-taught 3D modeller. It was hard to find good information back when I started playing around with different 3D software, so I had to rely on provided user references and good old trial and error. These days, whenever I decide to learn some new skill and don't want to spend too much time figuring it out on my on (i.e., 3D print-ready models) I just google it, like most people do. Of course this limits my skill set, but I'm used to learn as I go; it's better to learn something new when you need it, than to learn something you won't use and forget it.

Tealight Five Egg Holder by pumper

Q: When and how did you become interested in 3D modelling?

A: If I remember correctly, it was back in the year 2000 when I did not have Internet connection yet and used to buy gaming magazines with CDs for game demos and news. One of the issues had a trailer for the first Mafia game and the moment I saw the trailer of the fully 3D-realistic city, I just felt the need to create something like it myself. A couple years later I got my hands on 3ds max 4 and tried to turn the dream into reality. Sadly, I soon realized that it is just not feasible for one man to make it happen, especially with my modelling skills at the time. In other words, the thought of the ability creating your own world led me to 3D modelling and even 14 years later the dream is still alive even though I've stopped pursuing it.

Single Egg Basket by pumper

Q: How long does it usually take you to create a 3D model?

A: As any other 3D artist I will say this: it depends on the model. In general (as I am working with selling my work on 3D stock sites in mind) I usually avoid making models that take less than a couple hours to finish. The other issue about determining my modelling speed is the fact that I am working at home on my own terms which includes a lot of distractions: browsing online, gaming, reading, working on other models at the same time, etc., - all of this makes it hard to track time spent doing actual work. Sometimes I can spend two-three months to finish a single model, i.e., Airstream Bambi trailer, the other times I can work non-stop for a couple of days and end up with 20-30 hour models like Microsoft Surface Tablet, Steam Controller or Linksys Router. Overall I would call myself a slow meticulous modeller.

Q: What are the biggest challenges you’re facing as a 3D artist?

A: Lack of inspiration must be the biggest challenge. This is the main reason I can spend months working on one model when I just don't feel the inspiration to create. At times I can open up 3ds max and just stare at the monitor for an hour just to close it and do something else. That's why I like CGTrader challenges – I can do what I would do regardless, but with an extra incentive.

Bunny Six Egg Holder by pumper

Q: What do you like most about 3D printing?

A: Other than the ability to materialize digital art, I just love the opportunities it provides in the medicine for organ printing from stem cells, bone reconstruction, affordable prosthetics and similar stuff.

Q: How do you see 3D printing changing people’s lives in a decade?

A: There's no doubt that 3D printers will get a lot faster and cheaper in the coming years, just like 2D printers did in the past 10-15 years, so it's safe to assume that this will lead to a revolution in creativity, technological advancements and science. Even today it is already used in a wide spectrum of different fields: from making pencil holders and toys to rapid prototyping, medicine and even paleontology. If 3D printing will not be held back by patent holders, copyrights and outdated tech corporations, we might even see not only printed organ transplants and prosthetics but whole printed limbs in a decade.

Q: How did you feel when you won the Easter 3D Printing Challenge?

A: It's a nice feeling when your work not only receives recognition, but is also awarded.

Egg holder by pumper

Q: Do you enjoy your new Pirx 3D printer?

A: Of course. I was really surprised by the precision and speed of the printer as it looks so simple from the outside.

Q: What are you going to print first?

A: At the moment I'm thinking about some usual stuff like lampshades, vases, figurines and similar objects. Other than that, I was thinking about a 3D-printed hat and some car parts. The print size limits of Pirx printer are a bit limiting so I'll have to figure out an effective way to combine different elements into a solid object (other than glue).

Pumper experimenting with Pirx 3D printer