American River College alumn Jonathan Camacho, a 3D animation major who was in professor Matt Stoher’s 3D animation class, came to campus to demonstrate modeling software to art new media students.

Camacho is a 3D and 2D gaming artist from Sacramento with more than four years of experience working for games.

Camacho took the audience through the stages of developing a 3D ‘monster’ using the new 3D software ZBrush.

First Camacho made a ball and began drawing out limbs and a tail.

“I am going to do this quickly and in stages because of our time constraints,” Camacho said as he pumped out his concepts quickly using hot-keys (shortcuts) to expedite his creation.

As Camacho talked, the audience watched this geometric shaped animal transform as he pulled out claws and horns on the monster.

He textured the model with available brushes and what emerged was a complete 3D monster.

Alexandra Villarreal, a 3D animation student, knows Camacho from a graphics designs class before he graduated.

“He was one of the more prolific students in the class and he is now doing what most of us want to do in the future,” said Villarreal. “I liked the way he broke down the steps in this program. What I am interested is the steps he used to prepare to paint the finished product.”

Camacho also has had many years of working as a manager for a small business, cooperating with and leading small teams to meet goals and execute tasks.

Camacho explained that one can sculpt or paint with millions of polygons without having to worry about purchasing expensive graphics cards, leaving technical hurdles and steep learning curves behind with familiar brushes and tools.

Camacho told the students he uses many anatomy books to study animal or human muscles and textures.

“This was so informative. His finished product is so life like with the details and textures,” said Yi Ping Lou, a 2D animation student. “Now I know that I must use books and pictures for reference if I am to do similar work.”

ZBrush gives one all of the tools needed to quickly sketch out a 2D or 3D concept and then take that idea all the way to completion.

One can create realistic renders directly in ZBrush with lighting and atmospheric effects.

“He was one of my best students … (that) is why he is here working for me demonstrating his skills to us now,” Stoher said.