Meet Shengnan Dong | 3D Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shengnan Dong and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shengnan, how do you define success?
I believe success is never about comparison with others. Everyone has their own life journey and pace towards things. If I compare my success with others, it will surely be unsuccessful because there are always many people doing things that I can never accomplish. Therefore, my success in the present must be compared with my past. Success, in my definition, is consistent self-improvement. Have I become more confident than a year ago? Has my work improved over these years? And am I enjoying my current life? If the answer is yes, I think I’m doing well in my current state.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am an artist based in New York, primarily focusing on creating 3D character design and stop-motion fabrication through illustrations, modeling, and sculpting techniques. I find the use of 3D printing to bring my digital designs to life particularly exciting to share.

My goal is to construct an exciting world filled with amusing and adorable characters for my audience to enjoy. Ever since I was a kid, I have loved experimenting with various media and learning new techniques to expand my artistic horizons. From drawing and painting to CG modeling and sculpting, I am now delving into the realms of 3D printing and miniature-making.

Obtaining all this knowledge is not easy, especially when designing and modeling characters; understanding human anatomy features and developing an artistic vision are extremely important. This comes from long-term learning, and I’m still in the process of learning. Three years ago, I knew nothing about designing and creating; I didn’t know what I wanted and couldn’t even create anything that looked good. I often compared myself to those more experienced than me and felt unconfident due to what I hadn’t yet learned. However, I went through a series of struggles and finally found my way of creating art. As I mentioned before, everyone has their own progress in learning and their own experiences toward success, and so do I. When faced with something different, the right thing to do is to constantly learn, face the problem, and overcome it, rather than becoming overwhelmed and complaining about its difficulty or the skills of others.

Personally, I’m a big fan of stylized art that is colorful and visually appealing. My goal is to create something fun and interesting that can bring joy to my audience. I want to build a vivid world full of intriguing characters and ideas. I believe the world of art is vast and should not be confined to specific mediums. That’s why I am always eager and motivated to learn new methods that can bring more possibilities to my art and challenge myself to experience something new

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my friend comes to visit me, I hope I can take him to experience what I have experienced in this city, rather than just rushing through the tourist attractions.

New York is a very fun city, whether for locals or tourists. If my friend has never been to New York before, I might take him to some of the more famous attractions, such as the Empire State Building, Grand Central, etc., but these are not the main focus of the itinerary.

I would prefer a very relaxed itinerary. I’d like to take them to my favorite spot, Bryant Park, where we can lie on the grass, bask in the sunlight, listen to the rustling of the wind, gaze at the blue sky, watch the leaves tremble slightly in the breeze, empty our minds, and meditate for a few hours. I feel that enjoying this tranquility in the midst of the hustle and bustle of New York is the greatest pleasure. Alternatively, we could visit the New York Public Library within Bryant Park and explore the exhibition halls, or sketch in the quiet Ross Hall.

Secondly, New York is a city with a unique artistic flair. Among the towering skyscrapers, each building has its distinctive style, and you can find artwork scattered everywhere. New York is very artistic in this sense. I would set aside a day to take my friend to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see traditional art, visit Mercer Lab to see cutting-edge art exhibitions, or Musume of Moving Image to learn about the history and evolution of the film industry.

In the main while, coming from a culture where food is a main part of when I hang out with friends, it’s not just about sightseeing; it’s also about exploring the unique local cuisines. So, our itinerary will mainly be divided into two parts: first, visiting some fun areas during the day, and second, enjoying the diverse culinary scene in New York. For example, in a local coffee shop to order fresh coffee and sweet banana bread to light our day in the morning. Also, we might dine at Soothr, my favorite Michelin 3-star Thai restaurant, or Mala Project, which offers innovative Sichuan cuisine with a modern twist, or perhaps visit the century-old steakhouse, Peter Luger.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’m super grateful for my parents. With their backing and belief in me, I feel like I’ve got a safety net, allowing me to go all out and chase my degree and art dream. Big shoutout to my MFA Computer Arts crew and classmates too! It’s an awesome community; they’re always there to show love and support to one another. Everyone in the department is driven from within. Their energy rubs off on me, keeping me motivated to give it my all.

Website: https://shengnandong.myportfolio.com/work

Instagram: @shaymarch__

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shengnandong/

Image Credits
My photo by Wenyi Zhang Project Nostril photo by Michael Dondero