Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nicholas Galarza. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Nicholas, appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

Most of my childhood, I can remember myself working on something related to art. My means of production were all over the place. I’m talking about simple pencils, artisan pencils, charcoal, watercolor and oil paints, just a lot of them. I got to work on large morals in my local town inclining in school and the public square in Millville, NJ. I had some really good work and I was proud of it all.

Parents definitely wanted to see me go to college, I was indifferent and also unsure what I was going to do even in late highschool. In early senior year I was able to determine I wanted to gain an education in animation or graphic design. As a child I watched quite a bit of animated films, even many obscure ones, and later in the teenage years I would pay attention to the digital 3d films like Toy Story and A Bugs Life and the traditional animations for things like Sleeping Beauty and Snow White. Then I slowly began to understand Visual Effects and the 3d assets that were used to build up certain films.

Joining Savannah College of Art and Design was a very good decision. Financially, sure not the ideal, but the collective groups of students all with the similar goal of becoming artists was something unique that made me quite comfortable. The program I was in let me take on the basic college courses needed for graduation my first year, which was good as I still was unsure of what to do. It was not till I took a 3D Modeling course that it really hooked me in. Even after watching all the films or animation and Visual Effects I could not wrap my head around what I was able to create on the computer there in class. It was an introductory course but I was set on making all that I could and would try to turn my hand drawn ideas into 3d models. It was glorious.

It was a very strange class. We honestly jumped right into adding simple primitive shapes to a scene and just working on model work. The software was a complication of, well, everything. It was one of the older Autodesk Maya versions 2009. And it was the first time I had ever worked on such a software. It was about day 3 of the class that it kind of clicked in my head. We were redesigning objects from original paintings. To explain, we selected paintings from the Dutch artist Jheronimus Bosch. Jheronimus had some very strange images, with a lot of strange creatures painted. The objective in class was to replicate one of these creatures in the 3D software. Though I can remember the creature I redesigned, I can’t remember the painting I had referenced. This model and assignment was the strange and ridiculous start to how I got into 3D artistry.

Nicholas, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a digital 3D artist and asset creator. My work involves using 3D Softwares to produce designs and composite imaging into displayable art pieces or products. In addition I create 3D characters, props, and environments for any content, which can be used in advertising, video games, film and television. I enjoy creating the complete models or completing my art piece and sharing online. Currently, I am working on a video game project with another on the back burner. While I am strongest in my work of sculpting and modeling 3d elements I have the knowledge of rendering and compositing to create a complete image which is the biggest draw for me so I am never limited to just creating 3d objects with no end game. And even if my 3D objects and characters are not a part of a larger art work, they are still compatible with other forms and operations.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

This is important for me to talk about as my goal I originally set out to do was completed. It was simpler for me to make small goals that would just roll into the next goal. From a young age all I really wanted to do was gain recognition from just working on with painting and drawings. At the college level, I wanted to just be able to work on my animation and design for the long term but perhaps be a part of a larger organization. After schooling I just learned that as long as I have a computer I can always digitally create. It was such a wonderful feeling. I still want my goal of working as a collective. I still continue to work and produce new things that I would love more and more to follow and enjoy.

I watch lots of films, visual effects, and play plenty of video games. Keeping up with all of the content that is available I really enjoy seeing the reactions of individuals. The concept of individuals reacting to art, animation, and content from a piece of media gets me feeling cheery. That’s the ultimate drive for me; to have my name on a piece of media that gets that reaction raw from someone. It’s always fun to show people what I am working on. Even if it’s incomplete or still getting updated, sometimes just the first initial reaction is wonderful for me to see.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I had known the wonderful programs originally available before the college years. They were old systems now, but the 3D softwares back then would have still been something fun to have worked with. It would have been interesting to have a program before 2009, like one of the old Blender programs or an older version of Zbrush. Now, we have tons of new, updated softwares, programs for everything digital. Sure, some of it is pricey, but the amount of options and tools the creators and engineers created in these softwares are crazy beneficial for digital 3D and visual effects. If only I knew the field of interest I wanted to get into back then.
Beyond that, I guess I wouldn’t say lack thereof, but the means of accidentally limiting your resources. Before school I did not know how much was available for me. I had no idea what I really wanted to do. Going through school there were plenty of companies that reached out to Savannah College of Art and Design, there were plenty of showcases and events that were made sure to mention internships. Art internships were everywhere. Applying to them was not enough, I was not selected for the programs. However, the resources I did not consider were the mistakes. There were plenty more companies and organizations that were taking on internships, groups that may not even directly delved with animation or art. The use of 3D work and design is everywhere. I was limiting things I could have done. My advice for others would be not to limit yourself with your artistic abilities. Always push forward even if you are comfortable where you are now.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.artstation.com/lizardtitan81
• Instagram: lizardtitan81.artstation.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nick.galarza.98/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasgalarza3dartist/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ngalarza54
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmyMv8J_vLjQf2MP82Gc_Vw