Test Renders of Hagatha

So here is a scene render, finally got all the props and the broom character, I don't know wether or not to add a a cat rig to the broom, so I might do that tomorrow. Anyway I can finally start really animating the story out tomorrow. Although it will be the altered shortened version. Anyway below is her walk cycle just a little longer:

I love shes sooo bouncy

WHOOPAAH

I know its on a black background, but I'm playing around with fluid effects in Maya and this is what I came up with. I'm getting quite into this now. Can't believe I've been tring to put it off, what a fool I've been. Really enjoying this software, Maya is definitely creeping up to Max now, anyway I think I will defintiely be using this in My Pirate Camp, as I've also animated it to change as clouds do. Determination is the key. 

A Palm Tree

I know it looks like lego, but this is completely made in Maya. The trunk is just a cylinder with a bend deformer and extruded faces. I'm starting to get used to the Maya interface now, and work is progressing quicker. I think I'm going to try and make everything in Maya, practice makes perfect!

HAH MAYA

I'm winning!! So I began to modellling my pirate scene in 3ds Max, (cheating I know). Anyway Andy came over and soon put me back on the right track and told me how important it was to use Maya. Well the quick chat did the trick and from just being able to create a sphere and box, to now having learnt how to use the 'create polygon tool', 'extrude', 'interactive split tool', and 'Bend' tools succesfully in just under a few hours. HAH! oh and not forgetting the importance of deleting construction history. Anyway really pleased myself as there are no tutorials online about how to make a palm tree, I figured it out myself, best achievement of the day. Well anyway going to carry on with the trunk of the tree now.

Tweaking and Playing

So I've re done the UVW Map to Hagatha, along with re doing her model in Mudbox. It was very flat and bland and I couldn't figure out why, but after a few discussions I realised that I hadn't been using my original design as a reference but just doing it from memory. Anyway by doing this it looked flat and dull, so I've gone back into Mudbox and started from scratch. So here is the difference now from the original image:

Original above, Below the Tweaked.

She is getting some real shape now in her torso, the "shelf" is more obvious and so is her stomache and bulge. The tweaking has just begun, this may put me back a little bit but there is no point in doing things in half measures.

Pflow Test

I created this yesterday while learning about particle flow, with the effects of wind and drag too. This was created from a tutorial by Chandan Kumar. It was really helpful. I still need to play around a lot more, but I have realised that it is the wind that really determines the whole thing. Anyway this weekend I'll be drawing, keeping on top of and improving my skills. Will upload the sketches I do as soon as I can promise.

Morning Play

Just been playing around with a tutorial by Andrew Kramer, it taught me about subtle ligthing and shadows.Still in the playing stage of the producion logo. Mini projects keep me learning new things. Especially the shadows I can use within a scene. Anyway I might do another. Will keep you updated

A helpful bit of Visualization of Hagatha

Just did a quick video of Hagatha, just to help me visualise her better. There are some flaws, but I'm going to leave her alone this week, before I start over workign her and lose interest. Bad I know, but I have to move and progress otherwise it gets stale quick. Anyway I'm currently working on a mini project for myself using 3ds Max. Its going to be my production logo, Kvasir Productions. Anyway its going ok modelling wise I'm about to start animating.

here is the title....

The Tutorials are up and working

YAY!! I can progress again, so with Andy's tutorials I've not added eye sockets and a mouth. Not only this but I have smoothed Hagatha out, and she looks awesome, I was a little worried about smoothing her as naughtily i hadnt tested it throughout, but it works beautifully. For my 1st ever 3d character model, I love her. She looks like a witch, she has all the witch features, and I've barely had to tweak my original design, apart from giving her a neck and taking away the hair. Today is much better, I'm so glad to have the tutorials again, it does make the difference. Also just spoke to Andy, i'm now going to seperate the Hat from her head, so it almost becomes a seperate character, I have made life difficult for myself with her chin so much on her chest so I'm also going to lift head more, so this will probably be the last time you see her in a nice position, till i begin anaimtion.

The Witch and the Broom

So I've now added her hat to her head, and modelled the broomstick, I'm hoping that in both these models to increase the level of depth with Mudbox. Just need to figure out how to do it. Unfortunately I can not progress further with these two models at the minute because the basic tutorials on how to rig etc. have been deleted accidently on the University website, infact my entire years tutorials and briefs have all gone. Hopefully will be uplaoded soon, I really want to see my podgy witch move. The brrom I've decided wont walk in my animation but I may make a seperate one just for my own little personal challenge.

Quick Model update

She has legs and apron that ties at the back, now onto the complex bit I think, the head. Wish me luck

The Modelling begins

So here is a screen shot of Hagatha's Torso and arms, I thought it time that I plucked up the courage to begin the modelling process, I can just keep adding drawings as I go along, it is no longer essential. Well apart from the storyboard, key scenes and her facial movements, thats all I really have left to draw up. Will update again once she has legs.

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.

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...

HAH!!!!!!

I win, took me hours but I win!! I have made two seperate (seperate being the key word) movable arms. They can be aniamted individually so yes animating may take longer but the overal story will be successful. I can believe how long it took me, I was stumped after fully completing my 1st arm, naively I thought I could clone and rotate it, but noooooo!!! That probably is possible and there might be a shortcut I need to learn to get round re building the hand and each of its fingers. BUT HAH.... I did it, now I can make my chess board and pieces, I'm thinking of designing my own just because everyone else seems to be copying tutorials online and they'll all look the same.
I could cry with relief. Tonight I will also discuss and show my initial designs for the hand. Anyway here they are:

I have not added any kind of material or lighting just because I've only just literally finished the modelling.

Update:

With one omni light and and chess board, plus few materials.  I just needed to get a feel for it so I can ponder about it over the weeked. Finally my vision is coming to life