Artist: Alexander Verik
Website: https://verikart.artstation.com/
Location: Ukraine
🖼 "Hi! My name is Alexander Verik. I was born in Ukraine. Now I am working as a 3D artist on freelance"
❓Who or what influenced your art style the most at the beginning of your journey?
🗣 Since I grew up in dawn, games like Warcraft 3, Diablo, Heroes of Might and Magic. And other fantasy games and films. I really liked everything in this style. Orcs, elves, demons. Over time, I discovered the game Darksiders. I liked all of them very much for their style, it is pleasant to look at and very recognizable. And since I always wanted to create games, I tried to develop that style.
❓How did you start your professional career?
🗣 It was hard for me to study 3D programs, and for a long time, I tried to be a great 2D Artist. Completed various freelance tasks. But it turned out pretty average. After work in G5 Games as a 2D artist, I realized that it is much easier for me to depict something in 3D. And now, I am developing my 3D skills as much as possible.
❓What software and hardware do you use, and why?
🗣 I have a RYZEN 2700x processor and a GTX 1070 video card, not the newest configuration, but enough for my tasks. I mainly use Blender for all tasks, but for texturing Substance Painter and for sculpting Zbrush. Great programs!
❓How do you like to work: as a freelancer, or maybe full-time or part-time?
🗣 Hard to say. Since everywhere, there are pros and cons. I've worked on each of the options. And I will not say that somewhere I felt bad. Maybe part-time, as you can have more rest there :)
❓What was your most challenging project, and why?
🗣 I have not worked on known projects. But from my experience, the most difficult projects are those in which there is no vision of style, and the work turns into a lottery.
❓What was your most significant learning experience, and how does it help you now?
🗣 I'm self-taught. And mostly I learned thanks to forums and YouTube. I can only note that this is the “Marc Brunet - PBR Character For Games” course, which to this day remains very high quality, and helped me a lot.
❓What is your dream project or art direction that you're starving to try?
🗣 There are a lot of such projects! In a stylized style similar to that of Blizzard and Darksiders
❓Can you tell us about a personal or professional project you are proud of?
🗣 I can't single out one special one. Because in every personal project, I try to achieve some kind of personal goal. Which will help me to learn more about 3D. I can say that in “Castle in the Sky” (https://www.artstation.com/artwork/A9mXNV) I practiced many goals.
❓Do you have any passion projects you're working on or plan to start?
🗣 I have a lot of them, but I don't know when to find time for them! One of them is to try yourself on streaming or YouTube channel, as I like to communicate and share knowledge with others.
❓What are you passionate about and do you have any hobbies besides art?
🗣 I really like to draw and sculpt from plasticine :) Also, build different things from Lego. And of course, Anime and TV series.
❓If you had just one question about anything that you could ask and get an answer, what would it be?
🗣 How can everyone live in peace?