@aurick (Matthew Yetter) posted a new topic, subject "Featured Member: Intervain (Magdalena Dadela)". It read:

   [attach=91408]Banner[/attach]
    
    **For this week's interview, we're pleased to bring you a brief visit with Magdalena Dadela, better known here at ZBC as Intervain. In addition to being an exceptionally talented figure artist, she's a really fun person to talk to.** **Hi Magdalena. It's a genuine pleasure to be interviewing you. As with all my interviews, I'd like to begin by learning more about you on a personal level. General background, family, things of that nature. Care to share?** I was born and raised in Poland. I had been obsessed with art for the first 15 years of my life but never saw it as a carreer prospect. So by the time I was in high school it became only a hobby and I headed for language studies instead, giving up drawing completely. Well it wasn't that straightforward but it's a long story ;) **And how about your professional background. Schooling and work?** I finished my university studies in English Literature - quite a long way away from 3D. It was during my second year of doctoral studies that I saw "Finding Nemo" and decided that I wasn't interested in persuing an academic career after all :) So I started to look into graphics - learned Photoshop first and got so excited about what it could do that I wanted to know more. 3D seemed like a natural next step. I was old enough to know that I couldn't spend another 4 years at school and needed a crash course instead. That's where VFS comes in. [attach=91401]Bronze-Torso.jpg[/attach] **I've really seen a lot of phenomenal demo reels coming from Vancouver Film School graduates, and many of them are now using ZBrush. What can you share about the school and its courses -- especially in relation to ZBrush?** Going to VFS has definitely been a turning point in my life. The school is one hell of a ride and once you start working on your reel you just have to live it 24/7 (literally). Otherwise you won't have much to show for yourself at the end of the course. Thankfully you're surrounded by a big group of students who are in the same position and sometimes even more driven than you. It's basically a 3D survival camp. The students have access to a great lab and all the important apps - ZBrush included. I've met some awesome artists there, many of whom are quite active in this forum in fact! **For some reason, it seems that mostly men go into the 3D industry. What inspired you to become a CG artist?** I think the main reason is that men are more interested in computers in general. What inspired me was movies like "Lord of the Rings" and "Finding Nemo" in particular, as well as commercials. I love the creative commercial work from houses like Framestore, Glassworks or the Mill, to mention but a few. [attach=91402]3D-Bust.jpg[/attach] **You currently work at Ubisoft in Montreal. Is that correct? How long have you been there, and what do you do?** Yes, I am working for Ubisoft Digital Arts studio. (Cinematics) I've been working here for almost a year and a half now, creating high-res character models (and some props if need be) and learning a lot in the process! **What projects have you worked on? And what's currently in the works? What has been your involvement with these?** I've worked on several "Assasin's Creed" connected projects, most of them under NDA's, doing characters, props and a bit of texturing. I've also worked on "Tom Clancy's End War" trailer and a few other projects, which I cannot speak about either though I'd love to share. [attach=91403]Victorian.jpg[/attach] **How do you use ZBrush in your work?** ZBrush is currently my main tool and I use it both after and during the modeling process. It makes things faster and allows for more freedom when making artistic decisions. I can quickly change a posture and decide what works best for a character. Besides, with the new topology tools it's great not to be restrained by the jrogers@example.net. One can always redo stuff later. I also love the fact that one can work on something and then change the UV's without worrying about stretching while sculpting! The ProjectAll feature has also saved me a couple of times. ;) One other thing that ZBrush's great for are face shapes. It's so much faster to sculpt one than to model it in a traditional 3D application. **Do you find that ZBrush allows you to try things that you might not have attempted before?** Retopology is a great feature and so is the TransPose tool -- especially for personal projects as it allows me to avoid the time-consuming rigging process. One can be way more daring with the poses as well and not worry about the crazy bends and twists. [attach=91404]Old-Woman.jpg[/attach] **I've noticed from some of your WIP's like the "Old Woman Knitting" that you really enjoy putting a lot of detail into your models. What are some of the techniques that you use for this?** Yes I love small details, that's why sometimes, with my personal work, I get caught up in them a bit too much and take way longer to finish a model than I should, putting in details one cannot even see. :) For the grandma I used a lot of custom alphas to make the knitting patterns and the crocheing seem more real. I also made pattern textures which I then turned into alphas and used as masks to create checkered patterns on the slippers and the skirt. **Is this similar to how you roughed up the "Blind Faith" sculpture, to create marks from the sculptor's tools?** The tool marks were made in a slightly different way, mainly with the Flatten and Rake tools. Also the new Smooth, which is slightly different than the Z2 version is a great help in achieving such effects. I know a lot of people complained about it but I really like the new Smooth much better than the previous one. :) **Speaking of "Blind Faith", is there any chance of sharing that bronze shader with the community?** I have shared the shader just after posting the character itself - it's available in 2 versions in the [ _MatCap Repository_ ](http://showpost.php?p=418160&postcount=105) thread. I've seen it applied to some great models, which made me rather happy :) I used three different versions of the shader (slightly different settings) to paint my own sculpt. :) **So how long have you been using ZBrush, and what inspired you to learn it?** I have been using it for around 18 months now. I have learned mostly on the job, but I have to admit I didn't know it too well (just using it for some cloth and simple wrinkles) until Pixologic gave me a shot at the Beta version last year. I got addicted within a week and I now just cannot do without it. :) [attach=91405]2D-Example.jpg[/attach] **Looking at the 2D work on your [ _website_ ](http://mdadela.com/), it's clear that you're heavily inspired by painting's old masters. How has that influenced your 3D work?** Oh very much. I love old paintings - I've always enjoyed staring at the costumes and faces on 17th, 18th and 19th century masters' paintings in particular. Artists like Van Dyck, David, Ingres, Tissot and Winterhalter stirred my imagination. I love the costumes in their portraits. On top of that I'm also a big fan of BBC's costume adaptations of literary classics which are a great source of inspiration. I have, in fact, recently started working on a 3D model of a Victorian dress... A bit crazy, I have to admit. **Have you dabbled at all in ZBrush's 2.5D painting tools? If so, what were your experiences with ZBrush as a drawing and painting medium?** Yes, I have tried polypainting and found it really relaxing and enjoyable. I especially found the color spray combined with Alpha 07 to be a brilliant tool for colouring skin as well as cloth - it gives a slightly uneven finish thus making it very natural. It's also great to be able to paint with materials; if only one could make a blurry mask to smooth the transitions between them that'd be grand! (Nudge ;)) [attach=91406]3D-Head.jpg[/attach] **Do you have a favorite ZBrush feature? Can you give some examples of how you use it in your work?** Definitely the Lazy Mouse :) I use it almost constantly nowadays, especially for cloth and wrinkles. Also some default alphas are a great help in sculpting hair and folds. I have become quite a fan of the Inflate brush over the last couple of months, too, I have to admit. Combined with Gravity it gives quite a natural feel to wrinkles and clothing. **Anything else that you'd like to share with the ZBC community?** I'd love to thank everyone contributing to the community, especially in the Troubleshooting forum which is very active, and one can usually count on a quick solution to one's problems!. It's also a great help to see people share their ideas, techniques and MatCaps so eagerly. Having so many awesome artists sharing their work on a daily basis always gives one a kick in the gut and motivates to learn more and work harder. Keep it up folks and keep inspiring! `
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    [attach=91425]priestess.jpg[/attach]
    
    **Many thanks to Magdalena for taking time from her busy schedule to speak with us! I'm sure we'll get to see a lot more from her in the future. Be sure to also check out our past interviews, which can be found in the _[ZBrush Artist Interviews](http://forumdisplay.php?f=88)_ forum.** `
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    ### Attachments

So @Disco_Stu (Disco Stu) replied

    i was already wondering when this would come congrats!

So @funkdelic (funkdelic) replied

    about time hehe!  
    really nice interview, Magdalena is a very talented artist, and such a great inspiration,  
    congratulations!

So @sparty (sparty) replied

    Congratulations Magdalena, and thanks for this interview Pixologic. Its great getting to know Magdalena a little better. I always find her work to be classy and inspirational. Plus she has a rad name =)
    
    Thanks

To which @alexleia (alexleia) replied

    As i told many times i love your work and is a great honour when you let a reply in my threads  
    comgratulations for the intreview and your great work
    
    Alex Oliver

@KrakenCMT (KrakenCMT) replied

    Thanks for the interview Magdalena! I always wonder sometimes about how some of the great artists here developed their awesome talents! Great stuff!

@stumpf (stumpf) replied

    Thanks for the interview and your great work.  
    All the best!
    
    Ralf Stumpf

To which @alancamara (alancamara) replied

    Great work and interview, one of best artists here. Congratulations

To which @grassetti (grassetti) replied

    Thanks for sharing with us Mag.
    
    Your work is really a inspiration for me and a lot of artist!
    
    Take care.  
    Best
    
    -Rafael

To which @pummumu (pummumu) replied

    awesome interview, Magda   
    I really love your works

To which @DarthWayne (DarthWayne) replied

    Excelllent interview Magda, all those models and not a orc or monster in sight.  I always find your subject matter a breath of fresh air.
    
    Wayne…

Then @JohnSaleem (John Saleem) said

    great interview

Then @Zicarious (Zicarious) said

    wooo intervain

So @Intervain (Intervain) replied

    Thank you very much to Pixologic for the interview and thanks guys for your kind words and support!
    
    Alex - I'm honoured! :o
    
    sparty - thank you so much sir! I am a big fun of your imagination [and especially the little cute guy  - you know of whom I speak  ]
    
    Ralf - really means a lot coming from you sir! 
    
    grassetti - and right back at ya I should say  Thanks Rafael!
    
    Herbert - thank you so much! You rock!
    
    DarthWayne - hehe just you wait and see LOL  Thank you very much!
    
    KrakenCMT - thank you very much! Love your work 
    
    nightwoodwolf, Zicarious, funkdelic, DiscoStu - thanks a lot guys!

To which @bicc39 (bicc39) replied

    Truly talented and gracious lady.  
    Pleasure to learn more!!!

So @womball (womball) replied

    Your famous now!  I didn't know you were always into art. Did you doodle on your textbooks?

So @piz (piz) replied

    Thanks for sharing your Art with us… and also thanks for your interview!

@system (system) replied

    hey intervain ! you`re a Great Artist ! your works are inspirative !  
    thanks for Interview !

Then @Eonsuu (Eonsuu) said

    Great interview, interesting to read and it´s a pleasure to see your art Magdalena both in 3d as well as 2d.

To which @system (system) replied

    gratuluje swietnego wywiadu , i bardzo dobrych prac… pamietam twoje starsze prace i teraz widac jakiego kopa dostalas kiedy wpadl Ci w raczki zbrush… podziwiam i wyrazam respect… bardzo duzo dobrego:)
    
    pozdrawiam

After which, @norbi1988 (norbi1988) added

    Gratuluje swietnego wywiadu i oczywiscie pracy w Ubisoft  . Bardzo dobre pracki. Mozna by zobaczyc Twoje prace z Assasin's Creed  ?
    
    Pozdrawiam i zycze wielu sukcesow,

Then @Ross_DD (Ross_DD) said

    (sorry for my english language)  
    i like Your Artworks very much. i like the artistic development of choiced subjects and their realizations. Sincerely best congratulations.

After which, @rasmusW (rasmusW) added

    hey magdalena!
    
    great interview. i always get inspired by your work and your passion about what you do.  
    enough fan-boy jibberish.
    
    cool work and looking forward to more stuff from you.
    
    -r

After which, @jramauri (jramauri) added

    Thanks for the interview, Magdalena. You're really great, and I found very interesting your history, because it happened something similar with me. I studied Math at the university, and almost stopped completely with the drawings… but the video games took me back to the artisitc world some years later   
    Keep it up, girl, you're one of the best

After which, @GuillaumeTiberghien (gtiber) added

    Congrats Magda. It's great to work with you. Sky is the limit!

To which @Intervain (Intervain) replied

    bicc39 - thank you 
    
    womball - LOL yess I always drew cubes for some unexplained reason [with different perspective  ]
    
    piz - thank you!
    
    skulll_monster - thanks a lot!
    
    Eonsuu - thanks 
    
    Marcin Filipek - dzieki 
    
    norbi1988 - dziekuje! Like I've said I would if I could 
    
    Ross_DD - thank you!
    
    abyss103 - haha! thanks a ton and yes indeed :lol:
    
    jramauri - thanks a lot! That's really cool - I think in the long run it gives one way more experience to draw from IMO, so the time wasn't entirely wasted 
    
    gtiber - thanks Gui!

After which, @brettSinclair (brettSinclair) added

    Great interview and always a pleasure to look at your art. All the best to your future. Cheers.

After which, @shraga (shraga) added

    congrats Magda 
    
    Beautiful interview and a great collection of work

Then @Agostinuke (Agostinuke) said

    Congratz and thank you Magdalena. Inspiring, nice and kind artist.

After which, @Intervain (Intervain) added

    Brett - thank you very much 
    
    shraga - thanks sir

@vedanta (vedanta) replied

    Magical Art…Great art transforms the viewer and I'm transformed each time I view your work.

@Wirebird (Wirebird) replied

    Thanks a lot, your thoughts and approach is very inspiring, as well as your awesome work. Truly amazing stuff!

After which, @ncollings (ncollings) added

    another great Interview ! Keep inspiring us Magda, Congratz

So @smeagol (smeagol) replied

    very cool works man !
    
    its always intresting to see your 3d art

@Quadart (Quadart) replied

    Great interview, it was an insightful read accompanied by beautiful works.  
    Congratulations .

So @Frenchy_Pilou (Frenchy Pilou) replied

    …and enigmatic academic sculpture style!

After which, @Shames (Shames) added

    Congratulation ! magdelena ! amazing work and great interview, Thank you so much for all you've done

After which, @Intervain (Intervain) added

    Thank you for your support everyone

So @NoirQ (NoirQ) replied

    i've said it before, but might as well say it again, I love the fact that you do models that aren't the norm. your old lady knitting is an awesome piece of art, you've captured the life in it completely. you're an inspiration, and it is always a pleasure to hear from someone as talented as you are.
    
    one quick question, in your victorian esque woman (awesome btw, the texture looks ace as well) how does her hat stay on her head? it looks like it should topple straight off   
    keep it up, is always good to see you posting a new piece.

@Intervain (Intervain) replied

    NoirQ - thanks  and LOL -well there's a ribbon which runs from the hat to the back of the hair and is tied at the back of the head  usually they pinned it down too with really long metal pins:D

After which, @Atwooki (Atwooki) added

    Hi **Magdalena**
    
    Looking more and more at your recent sculpts (and your CG Workshop paintings; in particular your sumptuous Ingres studies),  
    I see more and more subtlety and sensuousness creeping into your already clean and anatomically sound work.
    
    I must say I'm completley 'bowled-over by your **Blind Faith** and **Priestess** sculpts here - they're just magnificent 
    
    Oh… and many congrats on your **Featured Member** status also   
    you have a fan here for sure!
    
    chris

After which, @Antropus (Antropus) added

    I'm proud of you Mag   
    Keep rocking the CG world 
    
    -Kris

After which, @FabioPaiva (FabioPaiva) added

    Another inspiring interview for us mortals…  
    Great!

To which @aesis412 (aesis412) replied

    inspiring work magdalena, thanks for sharing.

Then @Intervain (Intervain) said

    Artwooki - thank you so much! You're too kind, I'm sure 
    
    Antropus -  thank you!! You're the one who's rockin' sir 
    
    FabioPaiva - cheers! I'm just as much a mortal as ya - haven't tried to make absolutely sure though 
    
    aesis412 - thank you

To which @Erklaerbar (Erklaerbar) replied

    thanks for the interview. I particularly like the last art deco head, sweet forms all over:)

After which, @Sir_Crono (Sir_Crono) added

    Hi Magdalena.
    
    I've just read the interview and I fell inspired, I'm now studying my mayor and It's not too close to 3D modeling, but like you when I finish wanna learn more about 3D modeling and make a living out of it.  
    Mostly in the videogame area.
    
    So finishing, congratulations.

@McDuck (McDuck) replied

    Fantastic modeling Magdalena. I enjoyed the interview and thanks for sharing. It's been said before but it was really inspiring.

@Pegasus (Pegasus) replied

    Realy great work, this is just fantastic.

So @3dmaya (3dmaya) replied

    Thanks for this interview , It's good

So @jojo75 (jojo75) replied

    Hello Magdalena,  
    I've alsways loved your work and I'm sure you are very talented.  
    (I also not belong to “calssic” 3d school since I'm a chemist)  
    I've always thought about VSF but (it's a bit expensive for me  )  
    I've seen they also have “classical” course instead of the 3d…  
    Which one did you attend (and eventually suggest) ?  
    Keep going the good work   
    jojo

To which @Jelmer (Jelmer) replied

    Ouff late reply, but I'll still be your groupie! Go Maggy!

@Intervain (Intervain) replied

    Erklaerbar - thank you 
    
    Sir_Crono - thanks very much!
    
    McDuck - thanks for the kind words 
    
    Pegasus - thank you
    
    3dmaya - thanks
    
    jojo75 - thank you very much! Well it depends on what you want to do in the future - I finished the 3d animation course 
    
    Jelmer - cheers sir! Made me laugh quite a bit :lol:

Then @David_Giraud (Lil'sister) said

    I just realized I didn't comment on your great interview! The african female bust is just great!!!

Then @anandpg (anandpg) said

    Great to see the interview, Magda!! Congratulations!! you rock!!


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