Matteo Pascale is a brilliant 3D artist. Devoted to the Blender community and the open source spirit, he offers all of his Blendkit (formerly BlenderKit) assets for free. In the interview, he speaks about his creative process and gives valuable advice for emerging artists.
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Hi Matteo, would you like to tell us something about yourself?
I’m a 3D artist working for a firm called Arctur in Nova Gorica, Slovenia. I’m originally from Koper, but now live in Nova Gorica. Besides 3D art, I love photography and videography.
What attracted you to Blender?
I remember being introduced to Blender in middle school by a professor, who assigned us a task to complete a scene using a web tutorial. After working on that project, I immediately fell in love with the software. 3D modeling is very satisfying and fun for me. There’s a unique joy in seeing an idea come to life and having the freedom to create anything I imagine.
How long have you been working in the field?
I’ve been using Blender on and off since 2016. However, since I uploaded my first model to Blendkit in 2022, I became much more active. Over the last two years, I also started to work as a 3D artist. It is an intermediate experience, as I feel there is still so much more to learn and explore.
You have uploaded to Blendkit many remarkable models, materials, and animated scenes. All of them are available for free. Why is sharing with the community so important for you?
I’ve benefited greatly from free resources, and I believe that collaboration and openness make the Blender community so vibrant. It’s incredibly rewarding to see my work being used creatively by others and helping them learn.
Calathea plant
Your work covers different themes, such as science, nature and technology. How do you choose what to model?
I choose what to model based on what interests me at the time. Sometimes, I like to create purely from my imagination. However, mostly I look at other artworks and recreate them in my own style.
I find inspiration on platforms like ArtStation, Pinterest, and YouTube, and even from movies. I follow a lot of artists, and each of them influences me in different ways.
While some of your models are highly photorealistic, others are rather abstract. What is the difference between these styles of working?
Photorealistic models require meticulous attention to detail and an understanding of how light and materials interact. Through studying real world references, you can capture the familiar look of everyday objects. It’s fascinating how ordinary objects have an infinite amount of detail, from surface imperfections to material properties and light interactions. These elements are crucial for modeling accurately and achieving a believable photorealistic look. For example, when creating a realistic piece of furniture, such as a wooden chair, I need to pay close attention to its proportions, the subtle grain patterns in the wood, and even tiny details like dust, scratches, or wear marks on the surface.
On the other hand, abstract modeling is more about conveying ideas or emotions through color, form, and texture. It allows me to experiment freely with forms and concepts, focusing on the visual impact and emotional feel of the piece. There’s no reference to follow, it's purely based on intuition.
Garage/Showroom
In your 3D scenes you tend to capture dramatic moments. For instance, in Mystical Crystals in the Dark Sky, we see a character about to step into a mysterious gate. What is the story behind it?
I created this particular scene completely out of imagination. Initially, I envisioned a door on a grassy island in the middle of the sea, but the idea didn’t feel right, and the scene turned out quite bad. So, I edited it, focusing on a more mysterious and otherworldly vibe.
Max Hay, a YouTuber, played a big role in helping me to bring about a dramatic and atmospheric result. I deeply recommend watching his content, if you’re interested in creating engaging environments.
Do you have any projects planned for the future?
Lately, I’ve been fascinated with photogrammetry, and I’d love to capture something big using a drone—though I haven’t had the time yet. I also have a project that’s been collecting dust: a Tiger I tank model. I textured it but wasn’t satisfied, so I started remodeling it due to bad topology. I can’t wait to finish it, texture it properly, and maybe even animate it. Additionally, I’d like to model military aircraft, as I find them to be beautiful technological marvels.
Do you have tips for starting 3D artists?
Be patient and practice consistently. Start with simple models and gradually take on more complex projects. Don’t be afraid to fail or make mistakes, that’s part of the learning process. Just look at my early models on Blendkit, they’re pretty bad! Watch lots of tutorials, and don’t be afraid to use other softwares like Substance Painter or Photoshop. Diversifying your tools will help you grow as an artist.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Thank you so much for this opportunity to share my work and story! It’s an honor to be featured, and I really appreciate the support from Blendkit and the amazing Blender community.
