"...some clients have demanded full color character treatments on paper from which to choose."

Yes you'd certainly have to produce initial visualisations if you were doing commissioned work. This applies whether it's for 2D or 3D graphics -- the client wants an idea of what he's getting for his money.

"There is no one "correct" approach to it.."

That's totally true. I still think, though, that somebody starting to learn basic 3D modeling (which was what the original post was about) should try to think in 3D from the start. Once you're adept at that, drawing out ideas can be useful, or necessary even, but you'll still be thinking about the object you're drawing from all points of view. And animators have to think in 4D :)

Message edited on: 01/25/2006 07:20