3D Artists: Your Work Deserves to Be Seen
How being open about your process gives you an edge most pros don’t have
This week’s newsletter is all about something simple but important:
You should be sharing more of your work.
In a couple of weeks, I’ll discuss where I think social media is headed and how that relates to future opportunities for 3D artists. For now, I want to focus on something you can start doing today…something that’s completely in your control and could have a considerable impact on your career, your growth, and your creative fulfillment:
Put your work out there.
Talk about your process.
Share what you're building.
If you can share your work, you have an unfair advantage
Many professional 3D artists are unable to share their work. They're under NDAs. They're working behind the scenes at big brands with strict corporate policies. The assets they create are locked down and invisible to the outside world. If you in that position, don’t break your NDA. It’s not worth it.
But if you're not in that situation…if you’re a freelancer, a student, in-between gigs, or working on personal projects…you have something most people don’t:
Freedom.
You can share your breakdowns.
You can talk about your workflow.
You can show the behind-the-scenes of how your scene came together.
That stuff is gold in our world. We don’t click on “Top 5 3D Tools” clickbait articles. Beautiful renders, engaging turntables, and thoughtful before-and-after images engage our world.
But what if it feels weird?
I’ve heard all the reasons not to post:
“I don’t want to give away my secrets.”
“I don’t like social media.”
“I’m not a content creator.”
“I don’t want to come off as cringey.”
“What if no one cares?”
Totally fair. I felt all the things the same way for a long time. But let me tell you what actually happens when you start posting your work and sharing what you know:
You stop overthinking it. No one’s paying as much attention to your posts as you think. The “spotlight effect” is real. Check it out if you don’t know what I mean.
You start attracting the right people. The more you share what’s genuinely interesting to you, the more the algorithm gives you back. I love my LinkedIn feed now. It’s filled with amazing artists, job posts, inspiring work because that’s what I repost and engage with.
You grow. You meet people. You start conversations. You get messages from people in the industry. You open doors that didn’t exist before.
And if you're worried about people "stealing" your ideas, don't be. In 3D, it's not about the idea. It's about the execution. Sharing your process doesn’t diminish your value. It highlights your ability to do the work.
Just look at artists like Patrick 4D, Jonathan Winbush or E.J. Hassenfratz:
They openly share how he create their incredible creations. Their process is out there for the world to see. But very few people can match the quality and consistency of what they do. That’s what sets them apart.
This is how people find you
Most 3D artist jobs don’t go to strangers who apply cold on a careers page. They usually go to someone the team already knows, whether it’s someone they’ve worked with before or someone they’ve seen posting consistently online.
And executives absolutely scroll LinkedIn. They do remember who made that cool breakdown they saw last month and tell you to bring in that person for an interview. And recruiters will be much more likely to engage with you if you’re out, active, and visible.
You Don’t Need to Be a Thought Leader
People assume you need thousands of followers or ridiculous YouTube thumbnails like this one to benefit from sharing.
You don’t. You just need to be yourself.
I’ve been writing these newsletters, posting silly GIFs, and passing along job links for a few years now. This isn’t a secret agenda to do anything but connect with my community of creatives and try and give back to an industry that has given me so much.
But now, I get DMs and emails from artists all over the world. I’ve made new friends. I’ve found inspiration.
I’ve grown in ways I never expected…just by being more open and consistent about who I am and what I care about.
So, here’s your homework:
Share something this week.
Post a WIP render. Write about your favorite tool. Share a breakdown or a lighting pass or a node tree or a sketch or a moment of progress. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be you.
Because your work is valuable. Your perspective matters. And the more you share, the more you’ll find your people and your path.
The 3D Artist Community
The 3DAC is coming to Siggraph!
Next week, we will be hosting an AMA with P. Jasmine Katatikarn, Jonathan Winbush, Philip Luhn, Sean McDuffee, & Andre Schneider on working in 3D outside the world of Animation, VFX, & Gaming (hosted by me :).
Whether you're curious about switching industries or just exploring new possibilities, this is your chance to ask questions, get advice, and connect with artists who’ve been there. Learn how the world of 3D is expanding beyond film and games and where you might fit in.
3D Jobs Outside of Entertainment - A Panel by The 3D Artist Community
Wednesday, 13 August 2025
9:00am - 10:30am PDT
East Building, Room 15
3D Merch is here and we have a new hoodie!
3D News of the Week
What is digital-twin technology? - McKinsey
Sneak peek: Houdini 21 - CG Channel
Behind Creating Concept Art for The Alters Using Blender - 80.lv
Genie 3: Creating dynamic worlds that you can navigate in real-time - YouTube
Ethical AI Starts in Unreal Engine - Render & Reason
3D Tutorial
3D Job Spreadsheet
Link to Google Doc With A TON of Jobs in Animation (not operated by me)
Hello! Michael Tanzillo here. I am the Head of Technical Artists with the Substance 3D team at Adobe. Previously, I was a Senior Artist on animated films at Blue Sky Studios/Disney with credits including three Ice Age movies, two Rios, Peanuts, Ferdinand, Spies in Disguise, and Epic.
In addition to his work as an artist, I am the Co-Author of the book Lighting for Animation: The Visual Art of Storytelling and the Co-Founder of The Academy of Animated Art, an online school that has helped hundreds of artists around the world begin careers in Animation, Visual Effects, and Digital Imaging. I also created The 3D Artist Community on Skool and this newsletter.
www.michaeltanzillo.com
Free 3D Tutorials on the Michael Tanzillo YouTube Channel
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