A few months ago, there was a rumor going around the office about a Brazilian artist, who bought his first car with the money he earned on our platform - Creators3D.com. One of the managers showed me the picture he received from him on Telegram.

“I think it’s incredible!” I said to my college. “If this guy is able to make $1,000 a month, he can definitely teach others how to do it right”. 

A few months later, we met on Skype - me and Jonatas Oliveria Duarte.

The Fall and Rise of Jonatas Olivera Duarte

Jonatas, can you tell me when everything started? 

I accidentally discovered 3D designing when I was 21 years old. I worked for a furniture design company. One day, my boss came to my desk and asked me if I would like to learn about 3D design, so I could help the company make a catalog with 3D renders of their products.
Since I found 3D, I never stopped.

So I guess you’ve had a long career in the local economy as a 3D artist?

I wish. For almost 10 years I struggled to make my bread from 3D designing. For many kilometers around my house in Rio de Janeiro, there are no jobs in 3D design. To find a job in 3D I was required to move to Brasilia the Capital, leave my family and my friends, and move my house to the other side of the country.

I have had a job with no relation to 3D, meanwhile I was doing some freelancing for my old boss. After I quit that, I was trying to sell my 3D models online, but it is a passive income and you can’t really predict the profit you can earn, and it required some research before you model.

Finally, a friend told me that it might be a good idea to look for a job online, Jonatas recalled. It wasn’t a bad idea. At the start I worked on a 3D artists freelancing platform - but demand was short, so it was hard for me to predict my income” he said. ״Until I found Creators3D.com

So what changed? 

I would have been in big trouble if I didn’t register that day. It’s hard to live in Brazil. Here, the minimum wage is $208 a month, and the unemployment rate is 19% (40 million people unemployed).  In Brazil, to find an appropriate job takes time.  Not to mention that wanting to make a living from your passion is an absurd privilege. I don’t know what I  would be doing if I hadn’t found the creators3d during this pandemic.

Can you share some numbers with us? 

Yeah, sure. My minimum income from Creators3d was $400 (USD) and it kept rising, so in a few months, I was doing $1,000 a month. This allowed me to stop worrying about routine expenses, and finally, I could upgrade my lifestyle. He stopped and pointed at the chair he sat on.  “This chair I bought with the money I made at Creators3D. 

Wow.  I’ve heard you bought a car, am I right? 

Yes, you are right. To be honest, it’s not the best car. It’s a very simple car which serves me well, but this is my first car.

How to become a $1,000 a month artist

I’m very curious about the strategy that helped you reach those payrolls. Can you tell me about it? 

The most common mistake which artists make is looking for the highest price or the easiest model. The best thing to do is to start looking for similar offers.

The key behind this strategy is simple: If you create five models from the same category in a row, the first model you created was an infrastructure for the rest, plus you are highly practiced after the first model to do the other ones. 

I can tell you with this technique, I made tens bros, so I reached $200 every day just because I took similar jobs.

My minimum income from Creators3d was $400 (USD) and it kept rising, so in a few months, I was doing $1,000 a month.  

Very interesting. Anything else you do before you take a job? 

Before I take a job I imagine the creative process in my head, I think about the techniques I’m going to use, so I can see the barriers and build a strategy.  If I don’t solve the problem in my mind, I skip the offer and look for another one.

The third tip, before I deliver a review - I’m stepping into feedback master’s feet and trying to feedback the model by myself.  Self-feedback is the best technique to reduce feedback. There will be feedback, but it makes me give attention to details.

I must tell you this was one of the most insightful conversations I’ve ever had with an artist user on our platform. You are a great inspiration to me personally, and I’m sure you will be an inspiration to many artists. 

It was a pleasure for me too :)