The Art of Experimentation

Sometimes, the best thing you can do for your art is to slow down and try something new.

After years immersed in 3D — modeling, texturing, animating — I found myself caught in a creative routine. I was moving quickly from one project to the next, rarely giving myself the space to experiment or explore new techniques. It was easy to get comfortable, but I realized that real growth happens when you step back from the grind and give yourself permission to play.

Rediscovering Creativity

In my latest project, I made a conscious decision to pause, breathe, and focus on learning rather than just producing. Here’s what that looked like:

• Revisiting Classic Characters: I took familiar models and reimagined them with fresh, hand-painted textures, breathing new life into old favorites.

• Experimenting with New Tools: Diving into Blender and Substance Painter, I tried out techniques I’d never attempted before, from dynamic shading to organic brushwork.

• Embracing Imperfection: Inspired by the looseness of hand-drawn animation, I let go of the need for perfection and allowed my work to be a little messy, a little more human.

• Letting Go of Pressure: By focusing less on speed and more on the process, I found new joy in creating—and discovered skills I didn’t know I had.

Lessons Learned

Experimentation isn’t just about finding new techniques; it’s about rediscovering why you fell in love with art in the first place.

This project is a reflection of that journey—an exploration of style, technique, and the freedom that comes from letting go of expectations. By stepping outside my comfort zone, I created work that feels more personal, expressive, and alive.