Interview – B.A. Art Services
| |
| Name: Ben Althoff |
| Agency: B.A. Art Services |
| Location: Arizona |
| Agency founded in the year: 2014 |
| Specialized in: 3D visualization |
| Website: http://baartservices.com |
Ben Althoff is a 3D visualizer who converted a school bus into a mobile home and office, to live “on the road”. Doesn’t this sound like he may be one of our coolest visualizers out there?! Check this interview to find out more:
If you would summarize the core of your agency, what would you say it stands for?
Ben: “B.A. Art Services is a 3D Visualization company from start to finish. I entered into the world of 3D, over 12 years ago, with a desire to recreate reality with my own hands… or mouse. The core of B.A. Art Services is to recreate reality for those who wish to see it as it relates to their own endeavors. My focus is Real Estate Development but I can visualize anything and everything. So more simply put, we stand for reality as we see it :)”
Who is the owner of B.A. Art Services and what is his or her background?
Ben: “Ben Althoff is the owner and Artist of B.A. Art Services. I am a high school dropout who put himself into college… and then also dropped out of college. The school systems never operated to my liking and I had to learn that lesson twice. As soon I noticed the pace at which my peers had been learning the craft of 3D Visualization, I knew I had to take 3D Studio Max home and do it on my own… and for much less money! So in 2006, after 6 months of YouTube and hard work, I had my first job at an Architecture and design firm. Yes, I lied about knowing Vray at the time but thankfully I had 2 weeks before starting the job to figure it out… and after 2 weeks, I knew Vray, sort of. Phew! After a long career of office jobs ranging from small architecture firms to Under Armour, I had my second child and decided I wanted to stop realizing other people’s dreams of independence and ownership and start my own company to be closer to my family. Soon after leaving the office I converted a school bus into a mobile home/office and live on the road, full time. With the help of several, remote, team members, we operate at full efficiency with a growing number of clients and services.”
Which of your designs are you most proud of and why?
Ben: “I am proud of them all. There is not one project that I don’t put full effort into. Every client gets the same treatment… unless they say differently lol. Some of my favorite projects to render are exterior Residential, dusk and Mixed Use development courtyards. That being said, I really love it all! Every project gets unwrapped like a present until we finally get to see these spaces as they WILL be.”
What’s the key for posing 3D people naturally in architectural visualization?
Ben: “In my method of visualizing, I let space tell me where to place the Human Alloy models. The client has their own ideas of who they want to see in a scene as well and I typically try to work with them and come to a good place, together. I do not want people to be the focus. The focus is always the design but it is very nice to have such a high-quality human, 3d model. If I am populating a large crowd with the “Basic Models”, I usually just add them all and scatter them in various groups depending on the season and dress.”
What most important lesson would you like to share with starting agencies (or starting artists)?
Ben: “Do not waste your time typing into google “best render settings for interior”! There are no best settings for any one image. Just learn what the tools do and use them as you understand it. If you want to use a hammer, you pick it up and play with it. One day you know how to use it, the next day you’re using it in ways only you would use it. I have my presets set up but every space is different and will always need something else.”
What are the agencies you look up to in the industry and why?
Ben: “I have major respect for many agencies and individuals in the industry. Right now, I am really enjoying the amazing models Human Alloy is creating! For real… I have struggled with adding humans to my renderings for several reasons and you all have solved that for me. So thank you! Respect to every artist in the industry!”
What do you think of Human Alloy’s models and what would you like to see from them in the future, or what would you like to give them as a piece of advice?
Ben: “I would love to see more cultural diversity all around but I am certain it’s just a matter of waiting. You all have created a lot of content so far and I am sure its growing every day. I am looking forward to the future and watching your business grow!”
