I am never sitting idly. I’m either with a paper and a pencil, doodling; or using my camera to capture simple objects through the lens,” 3D artist Furkan Wahab told Pakistan Today in an interview. Drawing attracted Wahab since childhood. Nothing interested him as much as his papers and pencils. He always tried to find better pencils, lots of papers and a peaceful corner under a table, away from everyone’s eyes.
No wonder he is a cartoonist today; an animator by profession who loves spending spare time photographing and experimenting with different things. He started off as a freelancer for a renowned children’s monthly and then worked for several other magazines. He started his professional career as a 2D animator and then moved on to 3D animation.
He displayed his expertise in a variety of 3D projects, including character modelling and character rigging. Stressing the importance of research, he recounted how his team members and he studied the way a chicken walks and acts as well as its feathers. Wahab said that for 3D artists, it helps a lot if they are skilled in drawing and photography. In 2D illustrations, the artists have to paint each and every detail themselves, including direction of the light and depth of the object, but in 3D works, depth could be easily achieved by lighting up the object, he added.
“I enjoy creating cuddly cartoonish characters and funny animations. As clichéd as it may sound, I love all my creations and they are like my children, so I can’t like one of them more than the others,” he said. Regarding the future of the 3D industry, he said that 3D animated movies of fine quality might be produced more in Pakistan or 3D work might remain a hobby for many while they do something else for a living. Advising those seeking a career in the creative industry, he said, “Be focused, stay patient and keep your fingers crossed until the 3D industry finds its silver lining in the Pakistani clouds.”
Furkan Wahab doesn’t believe in sitting idle
