If anything for me personally, I think a key to making great work arch viz work has nothing to do with software at all. It's mostly about observation and learning to see in new ways, noticing that which you previously had not, and finding something that fascinates you in everything. As Thoreau said, "It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see."
So noticing minutiae in everyday life; like how light hits objects and reflects light, finding wear and tear on objects from extended use, seeing the grime and stains coming off of window mullions etc. Then taking those observations and interpreting that into your models, materials, and lights.
