Rafal Somerfeld | BA (Hons) CGI and Visual Effects
Specialism – VFX Artist
Rafal is a talented 3D artist with a focus on stylized sculpting, character design, and creating assets suitable for 3D printability. He has earned an IMDb credit for his work on the Apocalypse Box, showcasing his skill in sculpting and visual effects. His work is heavily influenced by Disney and DreamWorks, drawing on their iconic animation styles to create memorable characters that evoke strong emotional responses from audiences. Rafal is passionate about making characters that resonate across generations, blending Disney's soft, rounded designs with DreamWorks' dynamic, action-based storytelling.
His Final Major Project revolves around creating a steampunk-inspired character and creature with an emphasis on fur grooming using XGen. This project will incorporate both hard surface modelling and retopology, ensuring the assets are suitable for animation and rigging. His project pipeline includes a blend of Disney- and Pixar-inspired aesthetics with a goal of creating vibrant, dynamic characters.
Throughout his work, Rafal has identified areas for technical improvement, including fur grooming, hard surface modelling, and the intricate process of retopology. These skills will be honed through a series of mini-projects, allowing him to address gaps in his knowledge and streamline his creative process.
Rafal’s career goal is to work as a 3D character artist for animation studios, focusing on both character modelling and creature design. He aims to gain industry experience in smaller studios to adapt to various production pipelines and build strong connections, eventually progressing to a lead character artist role in large-scale animated projects at companies like Illumination or Sony Picture Animation.
CONTACT ME
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rafal-sommerfed05061985/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rafal_sommerfeld/
Artstation - https://www.artstation.com/rafal_sommerfeld
Rookies - https://www.therookies.co/u/RafalSommerfeld
Below
Some examples of the various projects and live briefs that Robin has been working on throughout the year (including an exceptional Set Capture Reel). Contact him directly for further examples ..
BELOW
Further FMP shots -
Including a Keyed BG replacement with integrated Unreal modular level brought in for the rear lighting and final environment.