Interview with David Moratilla

Q. Hello David, could you tell us a bit about yourself and your background in CG and from where you have taken some training?

Hello!  I live in Alcalá de Henares, a city near Madrid, Spain.

When I was teen I loved technical and perspective drawings. I had great times drawing 3d views of planes and vehicles. With my first PC I started to create things using 3D Studio. I really loved that, and in 1999 I assisted to a course of Alias Power animator and Maya.

At the end of that course, I made a short animation with some partners (Sala de espera). It was a very ambitious project for beginners and the result wasn’t the expected, but the important is that I learned a lot on all aspects of a 3D production.

In 2003 I assisted to a course of Character animation, other of my passions. It gave me much knowledge that I lacked.

The rest comes from internet resources, formation dvd's and the daily practise at work and at home. 3D is my passion and always I can, I am doing things to keep learning.

Now I am enrolled in animation mentor, and started it in September 2011. I want to learn everything possible about character animation and think this is the best option for that.

Q. Currently where you are working and what’s your nature of job?

From 10 years ago, I work at Indra in the simulation division, and currently I am lead artist. Our job is creating the 3D graphics that are projected on the simulation domes. Mainly 3D modelling and texturing for real time render engines, something similar to games. I have also worked in all kind of freelances.

Q. Your portfolio contains lots of highly-realistic portraits, what’s the main secret behind creating such artworks?

I think the secret is the attention that I paid to small details. I made a study for all the different parts of the face until I had the desired result. I looked at the reality and to tons of reference photos. I tried to recreate that in 3D. I paid special attention to the eyes, it is the first thing that you look in a portrait and if they are believable, you have a great part of the job already done.. Fur also adds much of the realism to the images, it gives a organic feeling to it.

Of course, all that is possible because those portraits are personal work and time was not a problem.

Q. What do you think is the best work you’ve ever produced? Are you a perfectionist? Does it take you long to achieve that final perfect image you are happy with?

I think the best work is the latest one, Close up portraits. Each day we have more experience and knowledge and that is transmitted to the works. But also I am really proud of my past works; I had great time doing it and learned a lot.

Perfectionist? I would say yes :) I always try to create my works the better I can and put all my efforts in that. Don´t know if this is good or not, so many times I have spent so much time fixing things that nobody could notice, but I know that they are good and I feel happy with that. Sometimes, due to time limitations, my works are not as I would like, but always with a minimum of quality.

There is a Spanish proverb that I always try to keep in mind: “Lo bien hecho, bien parece”, something like “Well done things, well looking things”.