KSD Community Updates

• Time flies and we are already here in October of 2024!

• Discord is alive and growing, come join the fun and learn with other 3D artists: https://discord.gg/QYByQKZcSZ

• I shared a few tools for setting up growth effects on Patreon recently, I will upload those and all future newsletter freebies here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1qlWbLpYesVHzIFQ-du3yh_j1PzaZioIs?usp=sharing

• I’m currently finishing up the editing of my latest short film and then someone else is taking care of the audio so it still may be a while before it is released but it’s feeling closer and closer! I’m already working on the next idea… 😏😏

• I have been busy but plan to jump back into making some fun Youtube tutorials as soon as I can. If you have suggestions, as always, let me know

Here are a couple screengrabs from my upcoming short!

What’s New In 3D

• As you all may have heard, in the near future Megascans assets will no longer be free to use in the Unreal Environment. They are becoming part of a larger 3D asset marketplace called Fab. However, any assets in your account before the end of 2024 will be carried over. So you'll want to add any assets you plan to continue using under the Unreal Engine/Epic Games license to your account before then

  • This script allows you to add all items to your account so you don't have to do so manually

  • https://gist.github.com/jamiephan/0c04986c7f2e62d5c87c4e8c8ce115fc#file-run-js

• There is a super good deal on Blender Addon’s for 2024 (1200 dollars of addons for 30 bucks) here ONLY FOR THREE MORE DAYS: https://www.humblebundle.com/software/blender-market-best-2024-software?hmb_source=&hmb_medium=product_tile&hmb_campaign=mosaic_section_1_layout_index_1_layout_type_threes_tile_index_1_c_blendermarketbest2024_softwarebundle

• Don’t have much else on this section for now

Let’s talk about the grind 💪💪

The Grind

The journey of mastering any skill is one of constant evolution, a never-ending grind that can be both exhilarating and exhausting. It’s easy to get caught up in the idea of mastering something or reaching some goal, only to realize that you’re in a different place than where you started and your goal has moved as well. As you climb the mountain, the peak keeps getting higher. But you can still look back and see that, yes, you certainly are much higher up than where you started, maybe higher than you ever imagined you could be!

To sustain our creative motivation, joy must be found in the process of our work. If we’re only focused on the end goal, the daily grind can feel like, well, a grind, rather than an exploration of things that bring us happiness. This can leave us feeling frustrated and questioning our progress. And celebrate when you realize how much you’ve improved at something!

One effective way to navigate the overwhelming amount of information is to concentrate on one skill or area at a time. When you spread yourself too thin, it can be easy to feel lost in a sea of techniques and info, leading to burnout and disappointment. Focusing on one thing at a time allows you to improve faster and feel better about the time you’re investing.

It’s also important to be mindful of comparisons. While it’s natural to look at others for inspiration, constant comparison can lead you to feel like you’ll never catch up to your favorite artists. And the truth is, you won’t. Not because you’re not capable of creating amazing work, but because your path will lead you somewhere entirely different than theirs. There is no catching up, there is only continuing to explore and seeing where you end up! This is not to say you can’t compare your work to the work of others you admire. Sometimes you can learn a ton doing this. These infrequent comparisons provide context and can inspire you to elevate your own work without getting bogged down in the comparison trap.

The reality is that serious skill development takes years and thousands of hours of dedicated practice. It’s not a race, it’s a time trial and embracing this fact can help shift your perspective. Understand that every artist, every expert, started somewhere. They faced the same struggles, frustrations, and moments of self-doubt. This journey is shared, and you’re not alone in it.

Ultimately, your journey should be driven by joy and curiosity. Let your passion guide you, and remind yourself that every moment spent honing your craft is a step toward something greater. You have the capability to achieve your goals, no matter how distant they may seem. And you will achieve them, and then you will set new goals and the process repeats endlessly. Embrace the grind, savor the process, and trust that you are on the right path. Keep pushing forward, and enjoy the ride!

Again, thanks so much for being here and spreading the awareness about 3D art

Cheers,

Kyle