Today we’d like to introduce you to Beau Wright.
Beau, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have a background in music. I played classical bass all through high school and later attended Berklee College of Music in Boston where I graduated with a degree in Electronic Production & Design. I had aspirations to become a sound designer and musician working in video games and forms of marketing.
After I graduated and started looking for jobs I found the field not to be what I expected and felt myself moving away from music. After I discovered Beeple’s 3D work that inspired me to learn 3D and Cinema 4D myself. I started an everyday project in October of 2014 where I would complete one 3D render in Cinema 4D every day and post it online. This was the foundation of how I learned 3D design and Cinema 4D. Making something every day even if I was too tired, or didn’t feel like it or whatever other bad excuse I had to not work. It forced me to overcome creative blocks and learn new techniques since I was constantly immersed in the program. Posting the work online every day also held me accountable and documented my progress. I gradually gained exposure from my daily renders on social media and have been doing freelance illustrations and animations for various projects. A few weeks ago I stopped the rigid everyday schedule and now allow myself more time to focus on bigger projects that I can’t complete in one day as well as client work. Either way, I am still practicing and honing my skills every day even if I don’t post it online.
Now I’m in the process of learning other programs like ZBrush to expand my skills in modeling and texturing. Computers and software are getting more powerful every day and I’m always on the lookout for new technologies in graphic design.
Has it been a smooth road?
Starting from absolute zero with no traditional college education was definitely a huge struggle. I started by just watching as many tutorials as I could find and sticking to my schedule of posting an illustration every day. The progress was slow and there was not really any work for me for the first half of my endeavor into 3D design. Also, the feeling of inadequacy compared to other professional artists brought me down sometimes but I tried to only focus on my own work and my own path and not compare myself too much.
Have you ever wanted to stop doing what you do and just start over?
Yes, there have been many of these moments. Since art is such a personal output of creativity it can be difficult not to take criticism and rejection personally. It is very easy to get caught up in comparing myself to other artists and put myself down because I am not as skilled. Sometimes I see what other artists have achieved and believed I will never reach their level of success. Everybody has their own unique journey, though, so I think it is important to stay focused on creating what I want and how I want to achieve my own success. Thankfully for me, the motivation to create has always been stronger than my doubts about myself so I always remind myself to keep pushing forward.
What advice do you wish to give to those thinking about pursuing a path similar to yours?
I don’t consider myself extroverted, and I take advantage of the internet and social media a lot to promote my work. so technically this could apply to any city. My advice is to keep a consistent schedule of creative output online and your audience will grow as people see your dedication. I think the hardest part of the artistic journey is getting started when your knowledge and skills are low, but once you have a regular schedule to practice creating every day it is easier to keep the creative momentum going than to stop.
Is there something you are particularly excited about or working towards?
Technology plays a major role in my digital creative work so I’m always excited for new technology that allows me to get my ideas out faster.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.aspenexcel.com
- Email: beau@aspenexcel.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aspenexcel/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AspenExcel
- Other: https://twitter.com/AspenExcel
Image Credit:
Aspen Excel
