Member Spotlight - Kaan Zorlu: “3D is a marathon, not a sprint: passion and persistence matter most”

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I am Kaan Zorlu, a 3D generalist and stylized character artist based in Los Angeles, California. My work spans sculpting, modeling, texturing, XGen grooming, and rigging expressive characters for both high-poly and game-ready pipelines.

I primarily use Maya, ZBrush, Substance Painter, Photoshop, and Clo Designer. A graduate of Beykent University’s Department of Architecture (2020–2024), I combine an eye for form and expression with production-ready workflows, always refining lighting and rendering to bring characters to life.

How did your journey in 3D art begin?

I fell in love with 3D when I was ten, fascinated by animated films and obsessed with creating my own little worlds. I spent years teaching myself—often staying up late reading Maya’s documentation—before landing my first job at a small studio in Kahramanmaras, Turkey. From the start, I set two goals: to become a better teacher so others wouldn’t struggle the way I did, and to build characters with the strong art direction I admired in Disney films. Today, as a 3D generalist focusing on stylized characters, I’m proud to be steadily achieving both goals while continuing to learn every day.

What are the biggest challenges you face in your work?

The biggest challenge is meeting tight deadlines without compromising quality. To manage this, I break every project into small milestones (blockout → sculpt → retopo → groom → lookdev), locking silhouette and expression early to make feedback efficient. Clear and frequent communication with leads helps keep scope realistic and ensures I can deliver expressive, production-ready characters on time.

Which skills are essential for success in 3D and animation?

Creativity is fundamental, but it must be balanced with strong foundations: silhouette, anatomy, gesture, color, and lighting. Technical skills—sculpting, topology, UVs, texturing, grooming, rigging, lookdev—are just as crucial, along with production awareness: optimization, pipeline integration, and time management. Just as important are soft skills like communication, problem-solving, fast iteration, and continuous learning. In my own practice, the balance of artistic vision and technical discipline is what makes my characters stand out.

Could you highlight a project you’re especially proud of?

One project I’m proud of is Melody at Zag Studios. I worked directly with Jeremy Zag to bring a character from concept to 3D development. My role combined stylized sculpting, topology optimization, and adapting to different art styles. The challenge was preserving Jeremy’s bold artistic vision while experimenting with diverse expressions and looks. This collaboration strengthened both my artistic sensibilities and my pipeline-driven approach to character creation.

You can explore more of my work on my ArtStation profile or through my website.

What motivates you to share knowledge?

I remember how slow and frustrating it felt to learn 3D with so few resources. Teaching is my way of giving back—breaking down complex workflows into practical steps, mentoring juniors, and creating tutorials or presets that save others time. Creative communities play a key role here: they offer honest feedback, spark new ideas, and turn individual progress into shared growth. Collaboration and critique make every project better.

How do you see the 3D and animation industry evolving?

In Turkey, the 3D/CG industry is booming thanks to the rapidly expanding gaming market and the country’s success in exporting TV series, which has sharpened production skills and storytelling. Across Europe, streaming platforms and increased local commissioning have opened new opportunities for animation and VFX. Globally, demand is growing fast, fueled by mobile gaming, realtime workflows, and cinematic-quality content. For artists, this means versatility is key: combining artistic fundamentals with pipeline-aware techniques to adapt to games, TV, and realtime projects worldwide.

What tools do you rely on most?

My main hub is Autodesk Maya—for modeling, retopology, rigging, XGen grooming, and scene assembly. I pair it with ZBrush for sculpting, Substance Painter and Photoshop for texturing and lookdev, and Clo Designer when garment simulation is needed. This toolkit gives me both artistic freedom and technical precision, allowing me to iterate quickly and deliver characters that feel alive while fitting into production pipelines.

Any recent tools or features that have inspired your work?

I don’t chase every update; I prioritize artistic growth. But I do adopt tools that clearly speed up character work or enhance expression. Recently, I’ve been most inspired by Wonder Dynamics, especially its motion capture capabilities.

What role have professional communities played in your growth?

In the beginning, my learning came mainly from Maya’s help docs and Digital Tutors. Later, platforms like ArtStation, Autodesk AREA, and even Facebook groups became a huge support system. Sharing my work there gave me valuable feedback, encouragement, and motivation to keep improving. These communities have been crucial for both my skills and my confidence.

What does being part of a global creative network mean to you?

It means exposure to diverse voices and perspectives that sharpen my artistic eye and storytelling. Professionally, it creates real opportunities—remote collaborations, shared pipelines, visibility, and feedback that accelerate growth. Personally, it’s motivating and grounding: seeing how others tackle challenges reminds me I’m not alone and inspires me to give back through tutorials, mentorship, and presets.

What advice would you give to aspiring 3D artists?

Focus on fundamentals first—form, silhouette, anatomy, lighting—before chasing complex results. Don’t fear slow progress; consistency matters more than speed. Share your work early, accept feedback openly, and keep learning—whether through new workflows or simply observing the world around you. Above all, remember 3D is a marathon, not a sprint. Passion and persistence will take you further than talent alone.

Any final message for our community?

Let’s support each other. The industry is facing a challenging time, and the best way forward is by standing together—whether through honest feedback, recommending peers for opportunities, or simply encouraging one another. Our field thrives when we lift each other up.