Hi, I’m a 15 year old 3d artist. I have been studying this field since I was 12 years old. Now I want to do some work to improve my skills (eg 3d rendering, game ready models, etc.) I will do work for free or very low prices. Who would like to collaborate with me?
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Hi here as a freelancer 3d generalist i gonna give you some tips for the beginning of your career (if you are really looking to have a real job out of this)
1- do volunteer jobs for gaining experience, but never accept underpaid jobs specially if they ask for a lot of requirements or qualifications, or is picky client… For example if somebody asks for a “Disney” style kind of character model and texture but offers only for example 100 $ and tells a deadline like 3 days to deliver it then you shouldn’t accept those, in some cases they also want you match someone else work and look identical to that character (even they could ask the artist that created it to sell them a copy, but they know somehow they are not going to accept such low payment, then they go to forums like this to take advantage of others work)
2- in case of low budget jobs there there is always some you can try doing them specially when is for personal projects (because for commercial ones you should ask for royalties or extra payment instead to win/win) you can take them to gain some income, however if you are living on your own and need to pay rent, bills, food then try getting a more accessible and local job, and in your free time work in your own projects (such as your portfolio) to develop your skills and have that so that you can show it to your clients.
3- also what’s the area of specialty on 3d you are looking to work on? This is important because there is plenty you can do in the 3d graphics world, but also there is the generalist as may known which is basically a “jack of all trades, master of none”. well I personally deal with the “basic” things of 3d such as hard surface modelling, texturing, uvs, materials (uncounting a solid knowledge of graphic design and computer usage, software, OS and it’s correlation with 3d) but additionally working in more complex areas such as character modelling/sculpting, realistic/cartoon character rigging, character and general animation and maybe some else…
Anyway you could be a either a generalist which can be overwhelming but you get certain greater advantage above other artists and specialist, Or you can be a specialist of certain areas such characters, hard surface (cars, weapons, product design, architectural visualization, props or any game assets, industrial design and manufacturing, physics and science studies, etc) animation, rigging, texturing/materials, etc
4- create first a solid but not necessarily a “killer” portfolio (a very strong good top tier kind work that would usually do a veteran or senior 3d artist, but a more junior could do if really puts the effort and skill) this will gain clients or interested from the good companies in the world with more guarantee to be selected if you are good fit. Of course they are not gonna find you immediately because you gotta offer yourself in their job positions if available to find a chance of getting an interview. Also bear in mind in mind that most of these good job positions are usually on site meaning that you need to relocate and do other paperwork to get into such country, but you could still get good remote work offers too…
As for portfolio works you don’t need something like hundreds of work posts to prove that, it can be enough to show at least 10 up to 30 of your best works, and if you can do a showreel (video presentation of your works specially for animation or rigging, or anything else)…
5- have a strong English at least and great communication and grammar skills and respect, tolerance, kindness, etc because you don’t wanna treat any clients, bosses, directors in a wrong way, and every person has different cultures you gotta adapt or accept or tolerate them for the most.
6- never overwork in yourself or for a job, set disciplines and goals, always have a nice sleep and enough hours to, have a fixed time for working hours, shores, sleep, etc. Eat well and have a balanced diet and drink a lot but enough water. Because you can get easily sick of stress and loss of energy, mental visual tiredness, lack of motivation, etc while working for many hours, so always get some small recess time and stretch out a little from time to time because being sit in chair for too long has its health physical issues in the long term as well…
I hope this helps 
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thanks for the many tips!
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If somebody asks you to create a specific object and send them the 3D files so they can evaluate your skill never do so without payment. They will tell you that the next project will be payed but after finishing the first they will tell you that they need another free sample.
They will string you along and steel your work until you notice that the payed jobs are never comming.
Source: I am a moron who fell this trick when I started freelancing 20 years ago.
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Watermark any pictures and videos, and only send the unwatermarked version on completion.
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If you would like to gain an experience and feedback, I’d recommend to join some community contest. You can find plenty of those here or on Youtube.
If you’d like to start make money, you could try sell your work in a marketplace for it. Try to do some research on what’s either popular and you can add some unique flavor to it or you can try to come up with something that’s rare. To fill in a gap in the marketplace.
Always remember that more than anything else, you need to be able to collect and understand the feedback your products receive. And negative feedback is more important than positive one, as it tells you what you need to improve upon. So don’t be defensive about it. Say “Yes, I will!” and correct it for the next time.
When you will be skilled and confident enough, you could approach potential clients directly, if you’ll see an opportunity how to improve their work or if you think they might be looking for someone just like you. But you will need a strong portfolio for that first.
Try to be realistic, given to you current experience, but also don’t let anyone use you without having nothing out of it for yourself (I’m not talking only money).
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Hello! Mher
We are always on the lookout for 3d artists in my community. You can fill this form to be a part and start getting access to jobs when they are shared: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1_MPqcHvdu8pCF7acTeJC0UHOcaTVHAAJdTiVnDwIUPE/edit
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I’m interested to hear more specifics about what you can do.
Are you strictly a modeler? Do you know how to rig models for animation,
or can you retopologize them for animation?
(Asking because you were mentioning game ready models
which is something the team I’m getting together can definitely utilize)
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These are truly great tips thank you for posting 
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I can make game ready models (modeling, uv unwrapping, baking, texturing). I can also make animation ready models. I can’t rig and do retopology
The user deleted his account tho 
Dear Mr. Mher
I hope this message finds you well. I am currently working on a children’s book illustration project and am seeking someone with expertise to help address a few challenges I’ve encountered.
In my most recent project, I successfully completed the rigging, but I faced an issue where the cloth didn’t follow the figure as expected, despite my efforts to resolve it over several hours. Additionally, while I managed to create the background, I feel there’s something missing to make the composition truly stand out.
My workflow involves composing the initial scene in Blender and then exporting it to Photoshop for final editing. I need someone who can help fix these specific weaknesses and has a keen eye for detail to ensure the final work is visually appealing and captivating for children.
Thank you for considering my request. I look forward to the possibility of collaborating with someone who can enhance the quality of my illustrations.
Best regards,
Hello: I can only do work with modeling, texturing, rendering. I would like to tell me a little more details if you don’t mind. But in private chat))
Thank you for responding to my email. I am seeking assistance with my children’s book illustrations and would like to discuss how we can have a private chat, possibly via email. my enail is - [email protected]
I am currently working on illustrating my stories. I have models that are rigged and ready for posing. I typically pose these models and then continue the illustration process in Photoshop. Occasionally, I use the rendered Blender images directly if they meet my requirements.
To create the final images, I need someone who can provide feedback on elements such as lighting, color, and overall composition. I am looking for someone who can collaborate with me throughout the project, offering guidance and support, especially when unexpected difficulties arise.
For example, I previously encountered an issue with clothing not fitting the body of the model properly, which consumed unnecessary time. Therefore, I need someone who can help me troubleshoot such issues as they occur. It’s not necessary to be an expert in Blender, but some familiarity with the software would be beneficial.
Thank you for considering my request. I look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
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Very excited to show this game-ready vintage tv. For this project, I used Blender, Substance Painter, and Marmoset Toolbag 4
Hey, add me on discord @vukje so we can talk about it.
Hello , I was wondering if you still do stuff for free?
Hello! Thanks for reaching out. I’m currently focusing on paid work, so I’m not taking on free projects at the moment. I hope you understand!
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guys I’m very excited to share my Fab profile where I sell 3D models. If you’d like, you can buy from here
https://www.fab.com/sellers/Mher3D