I learned a lot during 7 years of running a blog, putting myself in a position of always having my finger on the pulse of the Architectural Visualization field. Sharing what you work on, covering new technology, exposing great places to learn at, making sure you find a job and recently, also looking at the business aspects of what we do, and what it takes to run a successful ArchVIZ business both as a solo artist and as a studio.

I’ve been exploring these aspects myself while forming The Craft and making the shift from being mostly a solo artist to running a studio of 5 along with my partner, Emanuel Kand.

Image by The Craft – Common Great Room in an NYC residential project.

Thinking about what it means to be an architectural visualization artist today I have more clarity about where I want to take the blog to, making sure it serves our community as best as possible. Introducing the Job Board Blog is part of that.

The ArchVIZ BIZ Introductory series by Norm Li marking the start of much more to come covering the aspects of our business never before discussed and shared this way.

I forgot where I first heard the phrase “Never stop learning”. I’m pretty sure it was at SOA at some point, maybe Gianpiero said it. I kind of made it my own so it’s hard to know now. I practice this motto myself having attended SOA’s Masterclass as well as Peter Guthrie’s Lighting Masterclass in July. In an ever changing industry, we all have to keep our edge and learn constantly. I hope I can make it easy for you.

My work during SOA’s Peter Guthrie Lighting Masterclass

I’m developing this aspect at home, running an ArchVIZ School for architects and interior designers in Israel. This project has been running for a year and a half, helping our students to better visualize their designs with tools like SketchUp, V-Ray, and Photoshop. I hope that what I do there will make its way to you here as well, helping to complete a full circle of support.

Blogging for so long made me more sensitive to things you might need and that others might be already doing and so on the tools of the trade side of things, being an avid SketchUp user, Skatter took front and center position in recent months. This Smart SketchUp Scattering Plugin is helping hundreds of SketchUp users to envision their creative ideas better and faster.

One of the major goals for 2016 is still pending, though, and that is Challenge #7. Each new challenge, raised the bar, with “The Vineyard” being something special indeed with the support of the great people at Epic Games. I have challenge ideas running through my head for months but haven’t reached that meeting point of a truly challenging theme and sponsors who can add their take on it.

Factory Fifteen’s Winning TEAM entry for “The Vineyard”

Perhaps I’m aiming too high, but I feel each challenge must break some envelopes and take you out of your comfort zone. Feel free to contact me about this as i’d love to learn what you think.

That is all for now.

Enjoy the great giveaways that are part of the Blog Birthday month. As always I’m celebrating in partnership with my great sponsors over the years with a series of Giveaways and Promotions. Check it all out in the #7 Blog-B-Day page (some are still pending and will go up soon).

Yours,

Ronen.