3D portraits, renders and fashion animations: Welcome to the world of Julia Salnikova
This is A HOT MINUTE WITH, a quick-fire interview series championing all the rising talent catapulting into fashion, art and music’s fickle stratosphere. From pinch-me moments to bad dates and even worse chat-up lines, think of it as an overindulgent conversation – like the ones you have in sticky club toilets at 4.A.M. Except these guests don’t regret the overshare…
Julia Salnikova is the digital artist, set designer and 3D expert who, without a camera, a team or a photo studio, creates imaginative fashion portraits, animations and renders.
Courtesy of @el.cool.j
NAME JULIA SALNIKOVA
AGE 25
LOCATION Moscow, Russia
STAR SIGN Taurus
Elisa Juesten: Hey Julia, tell me - how did you come into your job?
Julia Salnikova: I’ve always been creative since I was a kid and art was always the only career option I saw. After school I moved to London to study spatial and interior design at University of the Arts London, but I realised that I didn’t want to design everyday spaces, instead fashion set design seemed perfect to me. I loved the idea of creating unique narratives and working with designers. At the same time digital art was blowing up on Instagram and I was so inspired by all the renders that I decided to dabble into it myself. I just kept practicing and later my renders became more fashion oriented. I was still working as a set designer, so after I got better, I began to offer this digital alternative to photographers I would work with, and it all just blew up from there.
EJ: How did you get into creating digital portraits?
JS: It all started last year during lockdown when all photo studios had to shut down and I couldn’t get any new pictures to work with. So, I decided to replace real models with the digital ones and learned how to make avatars and 3D garments - since then I’ve been obsessed with it.
EJ: You’ve worked with real models and digital models that you created…which do you prefer and what do you see as the advantages/disadvantages?
JS: 3D gives you more control over the final outcome. Even though my characters appear humanoid, in my mind they’re out of this world so I like to add alien-like features. I never really have control over the look of real models on set, so it’s fun to have that freedom.
EJ: How do you make avatars and 3D garments?
JS: Each render I make starts with a loose theme or concept I want to explore. I create my character in the beginning, then set up a lighting, work on the background and the garments, build up the composition, and add colours and other details. Creating 3D garments is very similar to real life. To create clothes, you need a 2D pattern first.
EJ: How do you choose the hair and make-up for the avatar and the garments you’ve created? Do you start with the face or with the body?
JS: Usually, I start with the face and then I try to find a look that would match the overall mood I’m attempting to convey. Sometimes I know which look I want from the very beginning and sometimes I experiment with different options. The process is very intuitive, and the outcome can differ from my initial references.
EJ: Where do you get your inspiration from?
JS: Most of my visuals are just a mix of random thoughts that float around in my mind, you just pick the ones that feel right for a specific project. But I think overall my work is heavily influenced by fashion photography and cinematography.
EJ: What is most important for you when you create visuals?
JS: I make sure that the project I’m working on really excites me. I try to only take on projects I resonate with and give me some space for creative freedom.
EJ: Are you still working as a set designer too?
JS: I haven’t made anything in the physical realm for over a year now. It would be nice to see my ideas becoming reality again but right now I just want to focus on 3D.
EJ: What has been your biggest achievement so far?
JS: I’d say it’s just the fact that this is my full-time job. I wanted to be my own boss for as long as I could remember but I didn’t expect it to happen so organically. I’m still surprised when big brands or artists approach me and tell me they like my work, the fact that people want to have my input on their projects is still a bit crazy to me. I only started taking 3D seriously about 2 years ago so I’m very happy with where everything is heading at the moment.
EJ: Where do you see your work going next? Are you currently working on anything?
JS: Yes, I do have a couple of very exciting projects in the pipeline! Hopefully I’ll be able to share them very soon. Currently I’m just working on adding complexity to my personal work, the biggest challenge for me is to make the final image look exactly how it looks in my mind so I’m always working on perfecting my visuals. I also hope I’ll get to art direct projects a bit more and work with my favourite fashion brands.
EJ: Favourite portrait or animation?
JS: Every new personal work becomes my favourite, so at the moment I’m really happy with this render that shows an avatar on a hoverbike holding a camera.
EJ: Which programs do you use for your 3D work?
JS: I use daz3d to make avatars, clo3d for garments and Cinema 4D + Octane to put everything together and render. Then I jump into Photoshop and After Effects to edit the final image or animation.
EJ: The ideal life: what does it look like to you?
JS: Me living in my dream house, making cool renders all day long and traveling the world every month.
EJ: Describe your personal style in three words.
JS: Diverse, comfy and extra.
EJ: What was the worst and what was the best fashion trend you’ve taken part in?
JS: I had to learn the hard way that big dark eyebrows are not for everyone, but the best fashion trend was probably my dad shoes.
EJ: Favourite film?
JS: Despicable Me.
EJ: A shower thought you recently had?
JS: I need to add some new exercises to my gym routine.
EJ: Best advice you have ever received?
JS: Follow your gut and make sure you wash your face properly every day.
EJ: What do you order for the table?
JS: Anything that has blue cheese in it.
EJ: Never have you ever…
JS: Gone camping. Someone invite me, please.
EJ: Weirdest gift you have given or received?
JS: Once at a fashion event in London I was given a pillowcase with an illustration of Johnny Depp that said ‘Johnny Slept’. That was very random, but I like it, I still use it.
EJ: Blind date or double date?
JS: Blind date. I’ve never been on one, but it seems like even if it doesn’t go well, you’ll have a good story to tell.
EJ: What is your most used emoji?
JS: Probably 💁🏻♀️ and 🐥.
EJ: What did you want to be when you grew up?
JS: I remember I initially wanted to be a ballerina when I was little but that didn’t last very long so let’s say I always wanted to be an artist.
EJ: Worst idea you ever had?
JS: So, I asked my mum this question to give the most accurate answer and she said that every idea I have is a bad one 🙃
EJ: What does success mean to you?
JS: Feeling that you’re on the right path and being happy in the present moment.
EJ: A fact about you that surprises people?
JS: That I like to eat cold popcorn. You can just leave it in a freezer for days because it doesn’t freeze, and the salty/oily bits will taste amazing. Thank me later.