- Liem Nguyen - Pixel Reborn
- If you would like to find out more about Liem Nguyen and see some of his artwork, please visit www.pixelreborn.com
Could you please tell us a bit about yourself?
Hello. My name is Liem Nguyen and I am a 3D artist from Winnipeg, Canada. I've been working in the animation industry for almost 10 years now. In that time, I've had the fortune of collaberating with other talented artists from around the world on a variety of projects. Some of these include visual effects for feature films such as Superman Returns, The Core and Matrix Reloaded; video game cinematics and models for Ghost Reacon 2 and Need For Speed Underground; animated children's shows such as Henry's World and God Rocks, broadcast identities for the SuperBowl and the NBA Finals; and previsualization for multi-million dollar architectural projects around Canada.
What first got you started in 3D? What is it about this medium that interests you particularly?
Growing up in Winnipeg, -40 degree winters are not an uncommon thing. As corny as this may sound, I first started doing 3D to stay warm! Instead of playing outside in the snow during lunch break, I hid in the computer lab and discovered a wonderful little program called Infini-D. I was amazed at how this medium gave an artist the freedom to control every aspect of the universe within the computer. From texturing to lighting, modeling to animating, there seemed to be nothing I couldn't create. Long after the weather had warmed up and all the snow had melted, you could still find me in the computer lab at noon, playing in my own world.
Did you study art at college or are you all self taught?
Early in my career, I was faced with a difficult decision to make. I was offered the opportunity to work at a small visual effects studio in town or the chance to attend a college animation course. I decided to take the course. There is something about immersing oneself in a competitive but friendly environment of peers that helps you develop your skills by leaps and bounds. By the end of the four years, I felt much more capable and confidant as an artist. It doesn't hurt that the program I was enrolled in was the internationally renowned Classical Animation program at Sheridan College. But then again, the studio I turned down eventually became one of the country's largest visual effects companies - Frantic Films.
Who would you say your influences are?
As you can probably tell by my artwork, I am a big fan of cartoons. I never get tired of watching Walt Disney classics like The Jungle Book or anime masterpieces like Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira. I also have a lot of respect for the great masters such as Cambiaso, Durer and da Vinci whose drawings alone have taught me more than some entire art courses.
You seem to be a very good all round artist which not a lot of artists seem to be nowadays. You tend to find they focus just on one area. So what's your secret?
The secret is to be brave. Explore and conquer your weaknesses and fears. As a result, your artwork will blossom in new and diverse ways. Furthermore, when you learn different aspects of your profession and expand your skillset, you will become much more valuable in a production environment. By seeing the bigger picture, you can fulfill your specific role more efficiently.
What is it about the relationship between technology and art that fascinates you so much?
What fascinates me is how technology, which seems systematic and scientific, can be used to create art that is so stunning and unpredictable. It's amazing to see circuits, pixels and math formulas transcend from being just a tool to breathing life into a character full of emotion and soul. Whether it's paint on a canvass, pencil drawings flipping by at 30 sheets per second, or an HDRI render with sub-surface scattering, all of these tools can achieve the same result.
So out of all these areas which one do you prefer to work in?
If you had asked me that question last year, or the year before, or even the year before that, you would get three different answers. Like any other artist, I continually evolve and am always in search of new inspirations. For a time, all I did was traditional animation on paper until my fingers had blisters. Next, I was into stop-motion but had to discontinue that because of the strain on my back. So far, computer animation seems to be the least painful so I've stuck with it for a while.
What would you like to be doing in 10 years time?
In ten years time, I would like to have created a piece of art that communicates something meaningful and leaves a positive mark on others. Perhaps it will take more than ten years before I have something worth saying; perhaps even a lifetime. To me, that would be the ultimate achievement if I do.
Thank you Liem for your time and sharing your experiences with FungWee Design! I wish you the best in your career and look forward to seeing more great work from you in the near future.
It was my pleasure and an honor to be considered for your site's Featured Artist.