3dartist,piotrpopel Details
Piotr studied Production Arts for Theatre and Screen at Wimbledon College of Arts, University of the Arts London. With a background in traditional art, he developed a strong passion for visual storytelling, which naturally evolved into design and filmmaking — disciplines that he believes always begin with emotion and intuition. Now a freelance artist and designer, Piotr specializes in creating cinematic scenes that blend artistic expression with technical precision. He values consistent learning over innate talent, seeing each project as part of a continuous process of growth and exploration. Believing that 3D offers the greatest creative freedom, he uses it to craft immersive worlds and bring abstract ideas to life.
In this course, students will learn how to create complex cinematic scenes and discover practical optimization techniques. They will also explore how to visually tell a story through design, transforming creative ideas into emotionally engaging visual experiences.
PiotrPopel
[Current] - Freelance 3D Artist [Notable Projects] Projects: -Grimmverse Intro (2023) -Heart Of Stone (2023, Netflix Series) -Airbus Showcase (2025, Paris Air Show)
[Current] - Freelance 3D Artist [Notable Projects] Projects: -Grimmverse Intro (2023) -Heart Of Stone (2023, Netflix Series) -Airbus Showcase (2025, Paris Air Show)
What led you to choose this topic or theme?
There's a special feeling I get when I see beautiful shots in movies — a feeling of being filled with passion and motivation. It makes me want to create something. Knowing that someone might feel the same way by looking at my art brings me joy, and I hope participants in this course will experience that same inspiration. Choosing the Art Deco style came naturally, as it pushed me far beyond my comfort zone, and breaking such a barrier always helps us evolve. Additionally, there are tips and tricks I want to share that I haven’t seen explained anywhere on the internet.
What are some essential skills or "must-have" tools in this industry, and why?
The ability to learn and patience are essential. You cannot create anything without them, even if you have the greatest vision in the world. Nowadays, there are many tools that allow us to create, but each requires learning, and learning demands patience.
What are some common misconceptions about this industry, and how would you debunk them?
From my experience - the biggest myth is that it seems impossible to work on big projects. Working on small projects and large ones is usually not that different. You often learn more when working in a small team, where each person takes on a variety of 3D generalist tasks. After building a strong foundation, these people will start reaching out to you. Focus on creating high-quality work.
Do you have any advice for your students?
Listen and learn by making your own mistakes. Start a personal project that is above your current skill level — it will help you develop good adaptation skills. Take care of your mental and physical health. Remember — sleep is more important than adding an extra detail to a scene. Studies and common sense show that you can accomplish more in one hour while well-rested than in eight hours when completely exhausted.
Cinematic Scene Building in Cinema 4D
Learn how to plan, design, and construct a complete cinematic environment — from concept to final render
Art Deco Design Principles in 3D
Discover how to translate the elegance, geometry, and balance of Art Deco into stunning modern 3D compositions
Lighting, Mood, and Atmosphere
Master the art of lighting and color to create emotional depth and cinematic tone in your scenes
Character Creation for Cinematic Worlds
Explore how to design and integrate stylized 3D characters that support the tone and story of your scene
Optimization & Workflow Efficiency
Use professional techniques to manage complex scenes and speed up rendering without compromising quality
Reach Cinematic Quality
Polish your scene using simple post–production tricks
Release (Ch. 1 - Ch. 29) : 2026. 03.09. (UTC-8)
**Class release dates and content are subject to change without prior notice.
- Section 01
OT
01. Orientation- Instructor introduction - Class objectives and learning outcomes
- Section 02
Production Process Explanation
02. Art Direction + Quick 3D Storyboard- Working on the visual based on the script and details provided - Cinema 4D + Daz 3D workflow, as it's quick and free
03. Pre-Visualization- Creating pre-viz (mainly focusing on tempo and camera work)
- Section 03
Set Dressing
04. Overview- Presenting what one will learn from this section - Analyzing idea behind the interior - why it needs to look the way it looks
05. Building Up the Scene (1)- Creating using same methods as presented in CH08, CH09 and CH10 with additional information
06. Building Up the Scene (2)- Creating using same methods as presented in CH08, CH09 and CH10 with additional information
07. Asset Creation- Scans as organic elements to elevate scenes - 3D workflow: quick and efficient way of creating assets - Making our own texture library with pen, paper and a phone
08. Making a Hero Prop- Using a different method to create hero prop efficiently
09. Lighting & Mood- Efficient way of working with lighting inside Octane - Lighting a scene with built-in lighting in the club and off-screen lighting
10. Adding Details- Working on the most crucial details
11. Rendering and Final Touches- Setting up correct render passes and making changes to the scene
- Section 04
Character Creation I: Main
12. Overview- Presenting what one will learn from this section - What story can we tell with characters' looks?
13. Character Creator 5 Workflow (1)- Using the newest version of CC5 to create photorealistic character
14. Character Creator 5 Workflow (2)- Using the newest version of CC5 to create photorealistic character
15. From CC5 to C4D- Materials/Octane workflow, preparing for animating
16. Final Touches- After putting character into the scene - corrections will be done
- Section 05
Animating Characters + Cloth Simulation + Finishing
17. Final Scene Creation- Overview: Presenting what one will learn from this section - Animating in Iclone 8 - Adjusting clothing Marveloue Design - Simulating Cloth in C4D -Troubleshooting Simulation
- Section 06
Post Production/Polishing
18. Overview- Presenting what one will learn from this section
19. Analyzing Render Passes- AOV, Cryptomatte, etc.
20. Using 2D Assets in 3D Renders- With the use of 2D assets, we can avoid overloaded renders
21. Color Correction- After Effects workflow with Maxon's Red Giant plugins
22. Rendering in After Effects- Tips and tricks to render without any problems
- Section 07
Outro
23. Final Product- Cinematic scenes: presentation of a final product - Additional info about OST: why we have left placeholder
24. Career Tips + Wrap Up- Why should I pursue a 3D career? What to avoid? - Conclusion of the whole course - Thanks to everyone who made it to the end and to Coloso
This course will use Cinema 4D, with Octane as the main renderer.
After Effects, Character Creator 5, Photoshop, and Marvellous Designer are recommended, while free tools such as Quixel Mixer and DAZ 3D can also be effectively integrated into the workflow.
Please purchase and install these program(s) for an optimized chapter experience.
*These programs and/or materials will not be provided with the chapter.
