Featured Member - Sean Kennedy

[bmckain]

Hi Sean, thanks for taking time to do this interview. I’m pretty sure most members will know who you are but for the record and true to my drill would you mind introducing yourself and tell us something about you, your hobbies, favorite movie, where you work, that sort of thing.

No problem, Bob. Hello everyone. For those of you that don’t know me I am Sean Kennedy AKA “Treybor”. In my day job I’m a computer engineer/data analyst for Sony Electronics, but in my spare time I’m an artist. I’ve been doing various computer generated artwork since 1995 when I began using Windows 95-Microsoft Paint©. I got my first copy of Lightwave 5.5 in 1998 and have been using it ever since.

I have been an artist since I was six years old, and have always been fascinated by color, shape, form, and texture. I can, and have, drawn just about anything. I have done portraits, newspaper ads, T-shirt designs, club and company logos, RPG character sketches, and various other commissions. My favorite medium for hand drawn works is a mixed media of pencils, pastels, and inks.

Believe it or not, that's not all. I also have other interests. Among them are: Role-Playing Games (RPG's), Science Fiction & Fantasy (Books, Movies & TV), Camping, and Baking and Cooking.

2. When did you decide you wanted to be an artist and what inspired you to that end?


Oh Boy! Mister Peabody, set the way-back machine for 1969. When I was four years old I started drawing very rudimentary drawings of the starship enterprise (TOS). When I was six years old I surprised and astounded everyone when I won an art contest, by drawing a realistic looking Charlie Chaplin. When I was 8, a criminal ran past our back door trying to escape from the 7-11 he’d just robbed. I did a sketch for the police that helped catch the guy.

So I guess, I’ve had the talent basically all my life. For many years I went nowhere without my sketchbook. I still have drawings in my closet going back to 1976. I do a huge amount of CG work these days, but I still fall back on the drawing to calm and center me creatively. It’s very Zen.

My interest in art as a job was first sparked when I saw Star Wars, and got the book on the making of the film. I wanted so bad to be a production designer and go to work for ILM, that I took every class in art I could in high school and college.

3. At what point did you get involved with the 3D medium and what motivated you?


I have always had the ability to visualize special relations in 3D; the talent/curse of being able to superimpose those ideas visually over my own sight in order to see what I want to do before I do it. As an example, a friend of mine from college once asked how my imagination works. I explained it by asking him to visualize a basketball.

Think of it in all the details you can, from the feel of the nubby texture on your fingertips, to the smell of the rubber it’s made from. Imaging the weight and how it feels in your hands. Sense how far apart your hands are and how much force it takes to bounce it.

He was able to do this, but only just. Then I made the leap to visualizing the USS Enterprise from Star Trek; running my hands over the non-existent ship in front of him--naming each part and its position in space. He couldn’t wrap his head around it. So I’ve always been particularly keen on visualizing objects. CG was just the next logical step.

My interest in CG was sparked by Babylon5. I was astounded by what could be accomplished with computers. I got a copy of Lightwave and started learning it on weekends. What motivated me to improve was the feedback I received. I showed off some of my early CG work to George Mezzori over at Scifi3d, and he basically told me that it was NOT of the best quality. So I improved my skills and created the Nebulon Medical frigate, and Millennium Falcon Interior meshes that were very popular. Soon afterwards I created the imperial Star Destroyer Bridge that was featured in “Star Wars: Broken Allegiance” and “Darth Vader’s Psychic Hotline”.


Shortly afterwards, I found the Lightwave Group. Everyone on the site was so helpful; I just hung out, learned new skills, and showed off my work.

4. Did you go to school for a 3D/CG degree and whether yes or no, what do you recommend to those entertaining the idea of working in a studio?


No, I did not. 99% of what I have learned is self-taught. I would highly recommend getting a degree for two reasons:
A) You learn the skills more quickly
B) The skills you learn will give you a competitive edge when it comes to finding a job in the field.

5. I'm sure members will know what you have worked on in the industry so can you tell us what you've done?


Personally, I have always done hand drawings and sold them on commission. From a CG standpoint I have done tutorials and 3D models for release here at F3D. I have also done work for various “fan films”; these include “Star Wars: A Rising Threat”, “Star Wars: Broken Allegiance”, the ill-fated “Blade Runner Chronicles”, and the Firefly film “The Bellflower”.

Professionally, I did a small press comic strip in 1996-1997called “Angels and Ministers of Grace”- which none of you will likely ever see. I created the Sloth Sanctuary models for the Ice Age 2 promotional website, designed some city models for Complex Minds, created a book cover for an Otherspace novel, and created a book cover for an online novel called “Widowswatch”, and I am presently doing freelance Serenity and Firefly collectable work for Quantum Mechanix.

6. What was your most enjoyable project?


I think I have three: first was the Valley Forge build which I created on a dare. Second are the models and work I’m doing for QMx. Third would be all the work I’ve done on the Bellflower film. They allowed me to be creative and learn new skills.

7. What is your favorite of all your 3D work?


Oh my, that’s a tough one. I think the one I’m most proud of is my Millennium Falcon Interior. It was so detailed and complex, that it’s just now starting to show it’s age.

Second on my list would be the Alien Space Jockey. I just had so much fun with that.

8. You do a lot of tutorials, quite detailed I might add. What inspired you to do those and do you have anything planned for the rest of the year or upcoming year?


Hehehe. Well, whether or not you remember it or not, I did the Serenity tutorial, because you asked me to do it. You mentioned very off handedly in the thread where I was showing off my original Serenity build that you wished someone would do a tutorial on something like this. When the movie “Serenity” was released, I decided I would do a tutorial as I built it. It took me a year and a half to complete it, but we had about 70,000 views and about 1000 replies on the original site. Pretty darn cool being able to help so many struggling modelers.

For my next tutorial I took a poll and found out what people wanted to learn about. Popular vote was for a clothing and human body tutorial. I have started it but not completed it. Unfortunately, I have been overwhelmed with real life work. Hopefully, I can get back to it soon.

9. Many members have seen your work I wonder if you can share something members haven't seen you may be working on and expound on it and why you particularly like it?


That might be tough. I have posted about 90% of my favorite stuff on my website or here on the forum in the Member Showcase. I have work that is not posted, but I cannot show it off because I’m under NDA. Probably the one thing I can show you is a model for the Bellflower film.

In the movie they have a prop which was basically a beat-up barrel with electronics inside.

The real prop had to be recreated photo-realistically for some of the CG shots in the film. So I built it from reference photos which the director had taken. There are multiple moving parts, including the canvas straps, which are sub-patched and rigged using bones.

10.. You were one of the first to engage on F3D so many members know you. What advice would you give the serious hobbyist regarding 3D in general?

Never give up. Find what inspires you and go for it. Create all that you can, and learn all that you can. Keep in mind that a job in the CG industry will be fun only about 50% of the time. The rest of the time you will be doing work for others. But don’t give up. Eventually you will find you niche.

[SteveMoody]

Excellent interview. One day i'm actually going to finish working through the serenity tutorial

[Tenement 01]

Love the Millenium Falcon Interior and it still looks great today. (Though Han deserves to be hijacked if he keeps leaving blasters on the floor.)

[wave of light]

Great interview.

Treybor is one of those members who freely gives up his time and knowledge to assist others on this (and the previous) site.

His tutorials are some of the most detailed around and a great starting point for any cgi hobbyist or future professional.

Lol, "Baking and Cooking".. bet they were space cakes!

[Gordon Robb]

Cool interview. I can honestly say that I would not be doing the 3D that I am today if it were not for Sean's Serenity tutorial. An excellent learning tool.

[Rigel]

Originally Posted by SteveMoody

Excellent interview. One day i'm actually going to finish working through the serenity tutorial

You and me both Steve.

Great interview Sean!

[Kionel]

Fantastic interview, Sean. Heck, had it not been for the kindness and direction you (and Bob, and BillS, and a bunch of others) showed me when I dove into LWG3D in 2004 (!), I never would have attended DAVE School. For that, I thank you. (And, you know, everyone else.)

Once again, fantastic interview.

[John Marchant]

Great interview. Treybor is always one person i like to see around. He is generous and helpful with his time and some of his models are simply awesome.

Keep it up Sean

[Davide_sd]

great interveiw, your works are really nice!
keep it up!

[Tony Gardner]

Great interview Sean.

[Epiphany]

Excellent Interview Very insightful

And thanks Sean for all the tutorials and help you give out so freely Very nice of you

[deg3D]

Ah, a fine read, Sean. Thanks for sharin' your story, eh. All my best going forward with your art.

deg

[CAClark]

A good read mate

Cheers!

[NoBreakz]

awsome

[Mikala]

Thanks for sharing that with us Sean.
Continued good fortune in your art and 3d.

[Treybor]

Thank you everyone for such kind words and praise.

[Elowan]

Originally Posted by VK08

nostrovia sean

Da! Ya sa'glasin!

[Syntrifid]

Hey Sean! Great to see you in the Feature spot! - Well deserved!
I've picked up so many useful little 'tid-bits' from your posts and tuts here and there I can't begin to count.
Many thanks for your generosity!

[muadib25]

Many thanks for your tutorials, Sean! Your work is amazing!!!

[Treybor]

Thank you all.

[Sodonn]

Cool read and well deserved spotlight Sean. My favorite was definately the Space Jockey.