Saad Moosajee is a very talented artist who specializes in 3D artwork, despite only being 15 years old he has accomplished what many designers only hope to do. He has also written the excellent PSDTUTS tutorial How to Integrate 3D Images into Dynamic Scenes. With inspirations coming from science fiction and various other sources Saad shows us that age does not define your skill.
1. Welcome to PSDTUTS! Please introduce yourself, give us a brief bio, tell us where you're from, and how you got started in the field.
Thanks for the warm welcome! My name Is Saad Moosajee and I am a young self taught artist who recently turned 15 and is currently residing in the United States. I was originally born in London, England and always carried a hidden, deep passion for the arts.
From the time I could walk around I would always be drawn to anything that looked artistic over something boring, I even found myself being compelled to buy certain music from certain artists because I preferred the album art. So I guess one could say that’s how I got started with art, however I ended up on the digital path like most people, through an online RPG game, which eventually led me to Deviantart and so on and so forth. I now do a lot of mixed media work, usually mixing three-dimensional objects with two-dimensional objects and painting/drawing.
2. The majority of your designs feature 3D artwork. What exactly draws you to this specific style of using 3D renders?
One of my longest and hugest inspirations is actually H.R. Giger, who is one of the masters of Science Fiction. In addition to him, I’ve always been highly interested in Rene Magritte. Unlike most people I actually started working with 3D before Photoshop, which was when I was 13. At first I attempted to use random 3D objects just for aesthetics, but as I have become more knowledgeable of more programs I use them as not just aesthetics but symbols as well.
This is partly inspired by the recurring symbol traits that artists like Magritte who carried with his bowling hats and windows and Giger with his promiscuous aliens. For me, I used a lot of parts of the human body, mainly hands. The hands to me are a symbol of the human race.
3. How long have you been creating 3D renders? What program do you use? And give a few tips to a designer who is looking to start creating 3D artwork.
I have been working in the 3D medium for just over 2 and quarter years. In 3D there are so many programs that you can use, in my opinion the three building block programs are Cinema 4D, 3Ds Max, and Maya. You want to learn one or all of these, and then move on to more specialized programs like Poser, Zbrush or Realflow. I use Cinema 4D, Poser and Zbrush. These programs unlike Photoshop can be used to create literally anything, so my one tip for any designers new to the medium of 3D is to constantly experiment because 3D has a world of limitless opportunities.
4. What would you say is your biggest flaw when designing? How do you try and correct it?
Personally, I would say my biggest flaw is that I am limited to only the digital medium. I spent most of my time originality learning Photoshop just because I wanted to be an artist despite the fact that I had such an unsteady hand and couldn’t even draw a straight line.
Looking around, almost all the best artists in my opinion are ones who have skill traditionally, because it gives you a lot of building blocks for technical aspects such as perspective and lighting while also teaching you lots of properties of creating a good composition. At the moment I have been painting on canvases a lot and sketching in a notepad, but don’t have anything worth showing, hopefully that will change!
5. When looking at your portfolio I see that you have collaborated with numerous other artists on your designs. How do the designers benefit from the experience besides having created some amazing art?
I have always been a fan of collaborations because when two artists with different styles aesthetically, but similar styles technically mix up their work it always seems to have a good outcome. To me one of the biggest benefits of this is the experience of working with another artist. I’ve found that a lot of my friends were made through collaborations, however if the art turns out to be a good one, then it is automatically very beneficial to both artists because most of the time the piece will each have certain trademark qualities of each artist that when fused create something wonderful.
6. Despite being only 15 years old, you're able to create amazing designs that even some older artists cannot replicate. Where do you plan to be in 5 years? Are you going to attend a design school or go the freelance route?
Hah, that is a question that I ask myself a lot. Really I am only 15 so I don’t want to worry to much about that stuff because who knows I might change my mind. If I had to say something though I would be more likely to take the path to a design school.
7. "Inferno" is an amazing design with stunning visuals. Please give us a small look into your mindset from the creation of the idea to the end of the design.
The inferno piece is actually my favorite all time work. It was created for an exhibition of Oxfam in the Sydney Museum Of Contemporary Art via the online art collective Evokeone. The brief was pretty open, mainly just something related to global warming. I started off with a quick sketch of how I wanted my concept to look on paper. The idea I was going for was something that would use symbolism that could be interpreted in a different way from each viewer. After my usual quick sketch I went to work on the environment and got myself a stock photo and began to paint over it with my tablet.
Afterwards, I got to work on the main symbol, the hands. To make these I stripped them off a Poser model in Cinema 4D and then finished them by point to point modeling. After that I took them into my environment and painted on the two different planets on each hand. One planet is the earth revitalized; this is the view of the earth if we save it. The second planet (left hand) is the incineration, and what will happen if we continue our path. Finally, I topped it off with a few more small symbols, the Penguin (an endangered species that would hopefully live on) the Car (man made global warming) and the poor beggar (the result of poverty as a consequence of global warming).
8. Thanks again for providing PSDTUTS with this opportunity at interviewing you, any final thoughts? What would you tell other designers that hope to be as good as you one day?
Thanks very much also, my only real tip would be to practice as much as possible because even though its really cliché, its actually true.
Where to find Saad on the Web
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User Comments
( ADD YOURS )nivaConcepts February 3rd
Once again, great interview.
Thanks
( )nivaConcepts February 3rd
15 years old…….
( )JeremyOLED February 3rd
15 and self taught. Amazing… he really does not have to waste his time with a design or art school…
( )Sineload February 3rd
This guys work is amazing.
( )Alvaro February 3rd
very impressive!
( )Pooponyou February 3rd
Art school is always important actually. It breaks down egos, exposes you to a great diversity of emerging artists, and refines your skills, often driving you into an entirely new direction. Plus the mentoring available is really priceless.
( )Timothy February 3rd
Love the designs. Wait, only 15? Impressive.
( )LumoKid February 3rd
15 years?? oO
( )jdys_1991 February 3rd
Wow. You certainly are talented, Sa’ad.
I really love your work, especially “Inferno”.
It looks so amazing, something I havent seen before. Quite unique.
Really inspired me, bruh!
I need to try something similar to that!
Thanks again for the great Interview!
( )Daniel February 3rd
I’ve seen his work before, but I thought he made it all using only Photoshop.
But now I realise he also makes use of different software packages.
Anyways…nice work!!!
( )kamel February 3rd
link to the deviantart please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
( )goddamn it, why dont you guys just put the da link so that i dont have to ask!
Jaybo February 3rd
Nice work, especially for a 15 yr old! I hate when people act like digital artists aren’t really artists or that graphic design and photoshop isn’t art. It is! Just as paper is the canvas for traditional artists, photoshop and computers are the canvas for digital artisits. You are an artist. Just like traditional artists. It’s only a matter of time before that way of thinking becomes accepted. Maybe someday they will start putting Digital Pieces in Museums or special museums. Because there aren’t any more DaVincis or Michaelangelos, or Rembrandts, in today’s art. Traditional art is actually dying because no one paints like they used to. The Monal Lisa, the Sistine Chapel. You just don’y see it today. Digital art is as close as it comes in today’s world. I’m not comparing digital art to the Mona Lisa, though.
( )Constantin Potorac February 3rd
I just can’t wait to see what he will create in the next 5 years. When I was 15 years I remember I just heard about the tools I use now.
( )Keith February 3rd
I really don’t like his work, reminds me of a lot of the early 2000’s basic Photoshop with basic 3D modelling.
I understand he is only 15 but if your presenting him with an interview I have to be critical. I’m sure if he really loves art he will have a succesful future.
But saad, if you just do art because your into the technology; 3D and the likes, you won’t go far. But if your into drawing like many kids are you will. It’s all about being creative in life, away from a computer.
( )Nicholle February 3rd
First of all, great work!! It’s really awesome to see a 15 year old being as productive and ingenious as this! I wish you all the best and hope the future brings much success and reward for such great creativity. Much love.
( )Melvin Alvarez February 3rd
perhaps that kid has been 15 years old for 40 years O-o
( )Mr. Hyde February 3rd
I’ve heard of this guy before, his name is actually jesuscrist and his dad created the universe.
It’s not hard to be an awesome graphic designer when you can get back from death
( )David Turnbull February 3rd
Uh…now I just feel lousy and old. Amazing work though. Very inspirational.
( )mamjed February 4th
I don’t think age matters in this day and age. I actually think the younger you are, the better you probably are, or will be. There are sooo many good resources out there. Being a young artist my self, I think an inflated ego is a unfortunate side effect for being good at a young age (its inevitable). @JeremyOLED: art school is a must especially if your a young talent, i totally agree with Pooponyou (nice name)
( )insic February 4th
WOW! really nice work for a 15 years old.
( )Nathan Huisman February 4th
This kid is nuts! If I had half the skills he does, I tell you! And I’m already 17, wow. I feel old…haha
( )Ariful Alam Khan February 4th
Nice work indeed
( )Omar the Radwan February 4th
nice work!
( )Tin February 4th
wow! really well done. I’m a 15 year old in design school, and i’m no where as good as you mate. stunning.
( )Andotron February 4th
I cant imagine how good this guy will be in ten years.
ps. I love Lamp!
( )Gui February 4th
Not that good, to be honest. But better than me when I was 15.
( )Steve Mullen February 4th
Very nice. I remember some of the stuff I was doing at 15, pretty funny to look back at now. Imagine what this kid will be doing at 25.
( )Saad Moosajee February 4th
thanks everyone for the comments, I appreciate it.
Keith: I am not into art just because its digital, as I said in the interview I find my one disadvantage is my lack of traditional skill, but regardless I still practice traditionally and study artists like dali and magritte ad the masters because there is much to be learned from them
( )Jacob Tishgart February 4th
@Keith: I would like to see your work before you trash a 15 year old about his. Also, read the interview much closer, he says he loves art and from a very early age he would draw on everything he could. He just does Photoshop because he liked the art from RPG’s.
( )monaye February 4th
Great work!! I can’t believe you were able to learn so many things in just 2 years. Keep up with great work, I’d like to see some bright, positive image too. HOPE.
( )JD February 4th
hey Keith… don’t hate… appreciate…
( )Chris February 4th
Damn, this kid truly are amazing.
I look at he’s creations and i feel all hope is lost. I will never be this good. But then the artistic side of me kicks in and i get so inspired.
Thanks for a great interview.
( )Matias February 5th
Im from Argentina, I hope be like you some day,
( )jack February 5th
15 years old?? omg respect to this little kid!
( )Setra February 6th
Keith:these days no company asks for a paper and a pencil
( )Ernest Ojeh February 6th
15 yrs old…??? boy, u’re blessed!!
( )Kenwood Huh February 6th
15 years old!!! CRAZY! definitely a kid with a lot of passion!
( )VertigoSFX February 6th
15 and doing things like this…I love to see younger people getting their hand at stuff like this at such an early age…it is a great thing. I’m 19 and I started web design at 16 and I couldn’t be happier with my decision…I’m not near as good as this guy but i’m working towards it. Nice stuff.
( )Jay February 6th
some people just born great!
the artwork just rock’n cool….
I’m just visited the site, cool n pro.
( )Thanks.
Aloke Pillai February 7th
A great inspiration being 16 myself!
( )Abdul rahman February 8th
The inferno is amazing
( )love the idea
Marti February 9th
Hey Just have to congratulate you. I guess you made your decitions really soon, i mean you never had any doubts. I look at your work and even though I’m not so into dark and obscure kind of art I really apreciate and have to recognize your sensibility and your knowledge within constructing such amazing and reallistic images.
( )I have a few questions if you care to answer,
Do you make most of your artwork with photos, or do you also draw stuff from scratch?
What did you do to show your work to the world and already have clients and works exposed around the world? (despice being really good).
Thank you and keep up the good work!
Zargam February 11th
no comments…..*gulp…..15 years old!!?
wicked!
( )tasarhane February 14th
impressive!
( )Yamaniac February 16th
amazing! keep up the good work…. and keith —->> you SUCK!
( )Themba February 23rd
Your Good son. My advice, stick to designing thats God’s gift 4 u.
( )James February 25th
Nice indeed.
( )NICKSN March 11th
I’m sorry to burst your bubble.. but i don’t find this interesting at all.
Put a kid that’s ten years old behind the computer.. let him mess around with photoshop for about 5 years (tutorials for example). he’ll be able to make the same things like this guy does, it’s no rocket science.. all has been done, over and over again.
( )johnnietheblack March 12th
i cant believe this guy is 32.
( )Saad Moosajee March 12th
nicksn,
( )thank you for your comment, but I am also skilled in traditional painting and drawing, most of my work contain painted/ drawn objects. You will see more of fthis on my websites update
infographistes March 31st
Very interresting interview! Thank you a lot!
( )Harry May 10th
WoooW
Thank you ^_^
( )Mohammad Fuaath June 20th
You are very good for your age mate goodluck
( )I’m 13 and i’m into graphic designing aswell (Photoshop CS4)