Practicing materials

Thought I'd have a little play around with materials, get some practice in. Its not quite realistic yet, its too clean and precise. I'm going to make the bread more uneven, and the slices different sizes, the jar needs to look sticky and less plastic. I've not really begun on the spoon, knife and chopping board just yet.

I like the lid, its just like the ones my family uses. My next model will be the jam in the jar, thought it would be better to create them seperate giving me more control again when in comes to material sode of things. I kind of like the bread, its just to "clean" bread isn't perfect shaped and thats what i've modelled.
Right I'm done for the evening been working on this all day practically, just messing around. Its nearly 12 here so off to bed, travelling nice and early in the morning. Hopefully I'll remember to take clearer pictures of the kitchen tomorrow.

The Base Model

Well the basic models are just about complete, the hardest thing to do was the spoon, such an odd shape. All the models may change when I start putting on materials. I may also seperate the knife blade and handle so it'll be easier to control the material. My mum bought some bread for me today so i've got pictures now of its texture and everything. Hopefully it will work.

I think I need to re check the measurements of the chopping board to as its gotten smaller, everything else seems to be the right size, 20x18x10cm bread, 30cmx1mm knif, jar 11x5x6.5cm jar, 6cm lid, 13cm teaspoon, and the board should be longer than the knife by 5cm, so it should be 35x24x1.5cm. Will double check everything later, too tired now been modelling that little spoon for over an hour.

Also took pictures of the kitchen side, its kinda rustic because its from the old cottage in france. I've taken close up images of each section. Only problem is we're leaving fance tomorrow so tonights my last chance to get all the photos I need. Little bit worried I'll forget something.

I do think my models will fit in this kind of evnvironment though, homemade bread and jam, old chipped chopping board, worn knife, yes!

Massive Black: Volume One

Santa also brought (apart from the phone) me the Massive Black Volume One book. It has some of their best work in there, from hand drawn concept art to 3d models and walk cycle animations. Its a great gift to see what level I have to aspire to, to becoming a great concept artist. My drawing skills need a lot more practice, but the skill is there, I've now begun teaching myself Mudbox readying myself for Zbrush, then finally uni will set me up in the actual 3d modelling and rigging side of things. Along with this book i got other books on drawing essentials and how to draw Manga ( Manga isn't my favourite genre but still has useful tools) My learning and reading material is growing very rapidly, I'm going to have to put up new shelves.
Anyway thought I would share with you one of my favourite images from the book along with its initial sketch. I used the camscanner app to upload it onto my new phone, then used the dropbox app to send it to my computer. Both extremely useful apps, I can not praise them enough.

This is the link to see it from my dropbox:
http://db.tt/KLDhxfm7

Perfect

Found this online whilst thinking about composition and the style of my piece. It has all the elements that I wanted to include in my still life, although this one is very crisp and clean and I want my to feel more realistic, then a set up. This is still a good reference, and something i will keep referring back too, especially the strawberry jam. I will change the chopping board though, add a few crumbs, a tile bakground and granit surface. Perfect, just texturing the loaf now, here is the basic model I have done in 3ds max:

Getting there bit by bit, just need to find the right texture for it, might have to wait and make a loaf myself once I get back to the uk and take pictures of it. Will keep searching.

Decided to just stick to modelling for the time being and collect my materials all at once, the search was fruitless online so going to compile my own. It will be done, hopefully i'll figure out the uwv unwrapping thing too.

i think i need to re-do the knife still 50/50 on its actual basic model, but so far so good

Just practicing

http://db.tt/jcbHwOCF

I'm just trying different apps to see which gives best results. I the dropbox app and wondered what it'd overall outcome and performance would be, just bare with.
The images and links were done during summer, I was looking at anatomy while still keeping it interesting for myself.

The xperia play

Well Christmas is over just waiting for the new year now. I got a xperia play for Christmas and so have set it up so I can blog on the go. I've also now got the camscanner set up so pictures I draw and things I see of interest I can upload straight away. Now I have no need to rely on the silly Kodak printer that always needs ink to scan! I did start my still life piece but electrics went and the file became corrupted, so starting again today, (will do as Roma told us and save a copy file along with creating auto backups). Will hopefully have something to upload by the end of today. This phone is definitely going to help in my endeavor to to get better as a multimedia practitioner. Will update soon

Mudbox Practice

I can't believe how quickly I'm getting the hang of this, it only took 2.5hrs to build and paint. Started with a sphere, and finished with this. The stalk was the awkward bit, but I think l've found a new way which will allow me to build upon a smaller surface area, the sculpt tool. So now because I feel that I've got the hang of this i think it's time to move forward onto the next level. Can't tell you how much I love this program and my graphics table.
So onto maybe a creature or even a christmas decoration in spirit of the season. We'll see...

Peppers to Carrots

Keeping up the practice, i'm getting there bit by bit, I've found that modelling fruit and veg is a good way to practice just gettign used to the program. Today I made a carrot as you can see, not figured out yet how to sort the lighting out to not make it sooo shiny, but I like its shape and its stump of greenery. I think I could of added some more stringey bits at the bottom, but it didnt work out so well when I tried. I think I'm gonna make a snake or something next, build up from fruit and veg to legless creatures, then onto creatures with legs, leading to humanoids. I'm trying to think of what to make next but all I can see is a candle in front of me and that is my only inspiration at the min so that might be up next, unless I get the courage to skip my initial steps and create Ratchet from the Rachet and Clank games, maybe. I don't know I should really begin the still life project, I've finally decided to go with my grandma's kitchen idea, I think visually it'll be nicer if not harder.
Always like a Challenge

1st time using Mudbox

This is the first time I have ever used Mudbox And 'have to say I love it!! Fantastic program Mud box , allows me complete control over modeling and texturing, it's 3dsmax and Photoshop combined. Having knowledge from Photoshop and 3ds max is definitely a massive help, but such a simple pogram, i'm actually quite annoyed that I haven't used this software sooner. Like all programs and skills practice makes perfect, i'll soon be able to make more than just a mere pepper. I'm hoping this will help in my pursuit to becoming a concept artist. I feel it's important to be capable in as many programs as possible, and an expert in at least 2. Hoping Mudbox might be one of them, because I have seen some incredible sculptures made in this program. CGSculpt is perfect to see all the awesome scupltures artists have created using this software and Zbrush.

This is just an example by Max Aristov of such incredible work, i want to be able to create such indepth detail, and really creative ideas like this. Overall really impressed with this program and what it can achieve.

Fantasy Olympics - Burball

Tadaaa, it is finished, everything from the storyboard and sketches to the actual animation and music. It is currently just being uploaded to Vimeo, I have used four programs for this, LMMS, Photoshop, 3ds Max and the main one After Effects. The main task was to learn about After Effects and how to make 2d images look like they're in a 3d environment. I used the software mainly for they text as I feel that it is in this area it truly succeeds. I did make the 2d characters work in the 3d arena too, which I am very happy about, as I thought that was going to be the hardest challenge. Luckily once I got into it, I got the hang of it really quickly, I do like the idea of being able to animate with this software, and with me currently considering concept art and storyboarding as a career, this is a great software for storyboards.
Although I feel like the character animation section will eventual get better with practice, right now this is the best I feel I could produce, another year or so practice I will be able to make it look smother and as though it were part of the arena. That I feel is the only let down.
The idea for the sport was really good, so much so I'm considering to make it a free mini game online. I really thought out the characters best for the sport too, like their shape and qualities. At one point i nearly turned the advert into a documentary each with their won back stories, before realising the brief was just asking for an advert. I liked how it all came together, and the reason why I used 3ds max was because I couldnt get the right feel from After Effects and so i made a decision, I wanted to make a good advert and the mass majority of it is made up of After Effects animation the text and character sections anyway.
The ideas behind this advert are strong ones, even though the final outcome isnt as strong I got all my ideas across, in the advert i gave a good over view of what my sport was, the mood, and why it was being advertised. If i had more time I think i could have played around some more with the olympic logo, as over past day or so i came up with an idea to make it more intergalatic.
It may not be the strongest advert but the ideas definitly are, and ultimately that was my main goal. Its execution was just mainly about learning the program and what it was capable of, my main goal was to push my imagination and also start practicing character designs.
The task was to 'design a promotional advert for a fantasy olympic sport'. I think I achieved that.

Had to share

Saw this image in the book Essential CG lighting techniques with 3ds max, thought it was amazing, such depth and detail, It is by Jason Kane. One day my skills and knowlegde will match masterpieces like this, I love the subtle colouring, texturing and the hint of reflection from the glasses. The mood is perfectly fitted.

It's Decemeber

Well I'm on the last stretch of this advert I just have to tweak one little bit of it and add music, then it is finito. I've just uploaded the begininng of the piece, so you can get a feel of where I am heading with it. Alll the other bits of animation are done, I've just got to add a high impact sequence for the name, then I'll have it all done by thursday I think, depending on how long the music takes me to do. The after effects animation bits aren't great and it does need cleaning up, but that only comes with practice and me getting into it. I think though I'll use after effects mainly for title sequences, becuase i really really enjoy doing that, and this project has taught me so much more than when I used it for the Chess animation. All these skills now are just adding up.

I also can't believe it is decemeber, so the next few blogs will be a bit sparse but will be to do with the next project; The Still Life piece. Little bit nervous to begin it as I know it has to be precise as well as materials being spot on as well, plus lighting. It is a composition piece, and you can't hide things going wrong through moving pieces like in animation. Maybe a christmas miracle will happen.

Plus this christmas I will begin designing my two characters in the Silent comedy animation I'll be doing. I've already got the idea. characters and sequences playing out in my head. Just got to start drawing, downside to that is at my parents home they don't have a scanner. So it will be after new year when the sketches will loaded up unless I take pictures, but they never come out any good.