Meet Marco Melendez | 3D Artist for Luxury Architecture

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

Hi Marco, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I’m a huge believer that Risk equals Reward…. the higher the risk the bigger the reward.

in my case that risk involved leaving Venezuela, my home, selling all my goods there, leaving my friends and loved ones behind to start a new business here in Florida as a 3D Artist

It was a huge bet, but I never doubted myself. I knew this is what I wanted and thus i followed this path.

Yes, over the course of my career taking risks have also led me to a lot of failures and loss. but looking back, all of those taught me valuable lessons about this business. so even after great risks and great losses, there have been also great learnings.

taking risks means getting out of that oh-so-dreaded “comfort zone”, and even thought is really scary, it also makes you feel alive.

I Wouldn’t be here if I wouldn’t have look into the void, closed my eyes ad leap into the unknown

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
3D Visualization for Luxury Architecture or just ArchViz, is the process of bringing to life the floorplans of a project into images that blurs the line between realism and art.

i receive the plans, the project specs, material references and inspiration photos from the client, and my job is to grab all those pieces of a shattered dream and put them together so the project can be seen as if it has been already been built.

with a striking level of Realism, and beauty… I treat every piece of render the same way as a photographer would to a photo. Camera angles, exposition, light, framing, colors and even the mood and personality for each individual project.

Getting to where I am today means staying on top of new technologies. new methodologies, hardware and software and pick the best of each one and flushing the old, the non relevant or what’s just not efficient anymore.

that means sometimes you need to take a step back before being able to move forward, getting out of my comfort zone with software I’ve used for decades in favor of new more advanced software that I’m still not familiar with.

has it been easy? it depends…. I love what I do, I love to learn, I love to see the results, and to look back at the process…. but it definitely has been a long journey. one that not everyone is willing to endure…

I’ve also learned that not everyone thinks about this art the same way I do… many takes advantage of good will and the hard work… but its all part of the process… in the end learning and be better ..and always staying true to my art is what matters most to me.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Coming to Miami means going to the beach… but as an introvert i try to avoid crowds…. there are some hidden gems in ana maria island and sarasota where you feel youre completely alone in paradise, with powder like sand and pristine water… and sunsets to die for.

La Birra Bar, and 1000 Degree pizza are always a must top places to eat when friends come to vist.

the amazing architecture in brickell with high risers like the One Thousand Museum designed by the late Saha Hadid, Brickell City Center and the breathtaking Muse Building in Sunny Isles

Wiltron Manors during the weekends is always a must go with fun nightlife, great places to eat and drink.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Mom, Dad and the Love of my life Mario.

they always Pushed me to be better, to stay current, to keep learning…

My Best Friend Ricardo Rios, we started our careers as graphic designers together and today, 23 years later we still learn from each other.

and believe it or not. the first Toy Story Film back in 1995…. that was the single piece of media that pushed me to pursue a life as a 3D Artist.

Website: www.shatteredreel.com

Instagram: @Marco_Orochi