2024 was an excellent year for the KitBash3D community. You’ve created amazing projects and supported each other in your work. Plus, we released our Secrets of the Luminara challenge, an opportunity to collectively craft the legend of the Luminara. We can't wait to share winners after the deadline on January 20th.
As we get set for the new year, we reached out to members of the KitBash3D community for insights into what goals they're setting for themselves. From their responses, we've compiled a list of the top 3D artist goals for 2025 and created a curated pathway to help you navigate and realize your New Year resolutions in a sustainable and impactful way. Let's get into it.
(Art by Shady Hamza with our Secrets of the Luminara Kit)
1. Kickstart a Purpose-Driven Project
Learning new software was the top priority for most artists we talked to. And it’s a great goal–but potentially fraught with landmines. There’s a lot to learn about any software, but you probably don’t need to know everything, and learning “everything” is overwhelming and often counter-productive. To master the aspects of the software you care about, consider creating a new project that will force you to learn as you go.
For instance, if you want to learn Unreal, consider creating a mini-game. This project not only introduces you to the engine's versatile toolkit but also challenges your creativity and technical prowess. Similarly, if you aim to learn animation in Maya, task yourself with animating a character walk cycle. This approach ensures that your learning is structured and goal-oriented, turning your artistic aspirations into tangible results.
If you’re ready to try something new but don’t know where to start, check out our Creating Cinematics in Unreal Engine tutorial and our Worldbuilding in Blender tutorials we created for our Secrets of the Luminara challenge in partnership with The Gnomon Workshop. Download Cargo to access the free Secrets of the Luminara Kit and follow along with the videos. This is a perfect project to get your feet wet and acquire the skills you’re after.
Whatever you do, don’t wait until you know what you’re doing to get started. The work will teach you how to do it. Jump in!
(Art by Erica Grenci with our Mission to Minerva Kit)
2. Create a Portfolio Highlight
Along with learning new software, improving existing skills was the second most popular goal for 2024. Several artists we spoke to tied their desire to improve their skills with a desire to have a “masterpiece” for their portfolio, demonstrating their strength and point of view as artists.
Whether you create something new, build on an existing project, or revamp an early-career project, try not to lose sight of what’s important to you. The industry is constantly changing, and new techniques or styles may become trendy. And it’s fun and exciting to try new things, but don’t succumb to the temptation to only make art that’s popular at any given moment. For working artists, making art to market may sometimes be necessary, but try not to let what’s “in” take over your portfolio. Keep abreast of how the industry is evolving, but stay true to your artistic vision so you don’t burn out.
(Art by KitBash3D Community Members)
3. Engage with the Community
Coming in at #3 on the list was a desire to be part of something big. A common theme among our artist community was the desire to network and become more integrated with other artists. For this goal, artists fell into two camps: 1) people who wanted to share their work on social media for visibility and a sense of community, and 2) people who wanted to make a name for themselves and stand out professionally, either by gaining notoriety as an independent artist or being promoted at work.
Either way, the process is the same. Put yourself out there and get comfortable with discomfort! Getting feedback from other artists can be both validating and challenging, but both are necessary for growth. Check out our Discord to connect with other artists, give and solicit feedback, and keep up with interesting trends. Join social challenges like our Secrets of the Luminara challenge. Submit your work to contests. Apply to big jobs. Mentor other artists. Step outside your comfort zone.
(Art by James Freeman with our Secrets of the Luminara Kit)
4. Time-Box Your Creative Endeavors
Looking over the responses to the survey, we noted a real need for time management. This manifested in two ways: 1) the desire to create more time for personal projects and 2) the desire to work faster. These two goals can be tackled together: by becoming more efficient, you can make more time in your day and get more personal creative work done.
Working in sprints can be incredibly helpful here. A sprint, or a short increment of time dedicated to one task, forces you to overcome the urge to dwell on the small, unimportant details of your work and focus on your primary objectives.
Set a timer and work in small increments. Ask yourself, “What can I achieve in an hour? How about 15 minutes?” Set specific goals for each session and dive in. Such exercises not only refine your skills but also enhance your ability to make quick, effective artistic decisions.
Reasonable time boxes will depend on your goal, of course. If you're determined to excel in realistic texturing, challenge yourself to texture a complex object in Substance Painter within a two-week window. For artists looking to boost their rendering prowess, try rendering a scene with different lighting setups in Blender, each within a minimal time frame.
(Art by Gian Franco Caserta with our Favelas Kit)
5. Immerse in Movies and Video Games
A surprisingly popular response was the intention to watch more movies and play more video games! It makes sense, though. Games and movies are more than just relaxation; they’re also a form of research and inspiration for artists working in the 3D space. For cinematic enthusiasts, analyze the visual storytelling – observe the use of lighting, color, and atmosphere. For those inclined towards game design, dissect the environmental and level designs, understanding how the settings contribute to the narrative. Such analysis not only sparks creativity but also provides invaluable insights into successful 3D artistry.
Plus, it's a delightful way to unwind and keep the creative juices flowing.
What are your artistic goals for 2025? Share your progress on ArtStation and Instagram, and tag us (@KitBash3D) so we can follow your journey. For more inspiration and to keep up with other artists in your community, subscribe to our YouTube channel, find us on Reddit and Discord, and join our newsletter.
