Hello 2023! A new year means twelve new ‘3D Artists of the Month’, with us here at the Rebus render farm featuring their submissions and exploring the story behind their work through exclusive interviews. Kicking off the year is archviz artist Sara Viana and her beautiful ‘House in Alentejo’, a countryside villa in the architectural style of the eponymous region in her home country Portugal. Inspired to learn and professionally pursue CGI as a means of creative and emotional expression, Sara is looking to share her designs with the world.
In our interview, Sara talks about career choices, establishing connections through 3D renders, and explains why she thinks of herself as a virtual photographer.
Amidst the desertic landscape of Southern Portugal, Sara Viana’s ‘House in Alentejo’ seems like an oasis of beauty.
Hi Sara, thanks for joining us! To start things off, please introduce yourself to our readers.
Hello everyone, my name is Sara Petiz Viana, I am 35-year-old archviz artist from Lisbon, Portugal.
Do you recall when and how you first consciously encountered CGI?
Yes, I came upon a video that featured 3D imagery during a random internet search and said to myself “I need to learn how to do this!”.
How did you then follow up on that impulse? Can you briefly summarize your professional history?
I have a degree in biology, but I have been artistically inclined my entire life and always sought out various creative outlets. Discovering archviz was love at first sight, and I decided to take a professional course to see whether I had what it takes almost immediately. I wanted to create and share the designs in my head! So, I completed Ander Alencar’s Rendermind course, and never looked back. Today, I constantly search for new ways and techniques to convey emotions through my work and improve as an artist!
Wood is a core component of Sara's design for the interior of the house, as one look at the kitchen area shows.
Returning to the present, please tell us about your current job situation!
I mostly work freelance, creating interior and exterior 3D renders for clients such as architects, real estate agencies and interior designers.
Describe your profile as a CG artist! Where does your fascination with architecture and archviz stem from?
I greatly enjoy creating a space or a specific mood in my mind, then bring it to life on my machine, turning something that is pure thought into reality. The biggest reason why I fell in love with archviz was the experiences I had myself when looking at such images, and the feelings they brought forth, as if establishing a temporary connection with the respective artist. I strive to do the same with my own work and share similar experiences with everybody.
Is there a part of CG-related work you particularly enjoy? For what reasons?
I really like creating the light and composition, that is what inspires me the most.
Is there a specific design philosophy or architectural school of thought you adhere to? What inspires you as a 3D artist?
I love minimalism and Mediterranean designs, I am always keeping my eyes open for references in these particular styles and find a lot of inspiration for my own work in doing so.
You refer to yourself as a “virtual photographer”. Can you elaborate on this and explain how it is reflected on your approach as a designer and 3D artist?
Well, as a 3D artist, one of my main goals is to show off every project in the best way possible by finding the optimal camera position, angle, lighting, and overall composition – just as a photographer does. As a designer, I want to direct the viewer of my work through the space I created, and evoke certain emotional responses, and the way to achieve this is, once again, through the lens of my virtual camera.
Another look at the kitchen area with its freestanding countertop and spacious dining table.
Let’s talk about your work in more detail, namely the ‘House in Alentejo’ you submitted to our campaign, a beautiful countryside villa in Southern Portugal. Can you first describe the circumstances that lead to the creation of this project? Was this a personal or a commercial project?
The ‘House in Alentejo’ is a personal project inspired by the Mediterranean style that originated in a region of my home country Portugal. The idea was to create a vacation house that looks and feels like a refuge, where you would gladly spend your summer.
What parts of the scene were especially important to you, both from a visual/design and technical point of view?
The lighting was very important. I wanted to bring forth the warm and cozy feeling of a Portuguese summer day.
How long did it take you to complete the project?
It took me about two weeks.
Can you talk a bit more about your use of colors, materials, lighting, and overall composition?
I mostly used natural materials, a lot of wood in particular. The color palette I wanted to keep neutral and subdued, with just a touch of color on the cushions.
The cushions in the living room are small splotches of a color in an otherwise subdued palette.
As with several of your works, this project had you design and visualize both the inside and the outside of the building. How do you approach exterior versus interior design? Do you have a specific starting point and workflow, or do you think of both as one?
I usually create the exterior first, then move on to the interior.
Exterior and interior spaces are functionally linked inseparably yet uniquely different in terms of design. Do you personally prefer one over the other?
I have no preference one way or the other, I like both equally.
What software did you use to create this piece? Any plug-ins you found particularly helpful?
I used 3ds Max, Corona Render, Forest Pack and, Photoshop.
What has the feedback been like so far? Are you satisfied with the results yourself?
This is one of my favorite projects, I am extremely happy how it turned out!
Have you used RebusFarm before? If so, please tell us about your overall experience. Is there anything you especially like about our service?
Yes, I have used RebusFarm before. What I like most is how practical and intuitive it is, it is a very user-friendly overall.
Sara, thank you so much for taking the time and all the best in the future!
About the artist
Sara Petiz Viana is a freelance archviz artist from Lisbon, Portugal, proficient in both exterior and interior renders. Equipped with her virtual camera, Sara is looking to establish emotional connections through her work.
