Process

 Thought I'd upload some of the stuff I've been working on. Below is my character process, from designs to modelling and rigging.

Its a bit like Tex Avery meet Shaun the Sheep, well that was the rendering style I was going for. I've learnt a lot in this process though, I mean about Maya. This is my first time using Maya for character animation, the last time I used Maya was last year and that was just for Dynamics. 

Above is a shot of  the model, then its rig and then textured. Texturing was a bit of a long process, but making sure it all fit means I can stretch the limbs, and have the wolf character in exaggerated poses.

This image I though summed up the whole idea and story, sleeping farmer, un-bothered sheep and sneaky wolf. My actual animation for the Client project had to be sped up and cut short in places, but more of that later.

Getting There

Sorry nearly at the point to add the finishing touches to my Animation, but this is a shot from the first scene with all three characters together

Initial Setup

Just sorting through my folders and came across this image. I think its from my initial scene set up, before animating. Its like Tex Avery meets Shaun the Sheep!

Le Update...

Add some screenshots I should have uploaded last week, but not had the chance.

Both of these shots are still in the T pose and early stages, but all rigged up using the beautiful software ANZOVIN. Amazing stuff and super simple to use, very straight forward. Will up date later with animation I am working on.

Farmer Model

Right I let stress and deadlines take over, and have let it for a few weeks now. So I am behind but it is my own fault, I was trying to rush things and basically just forgot my own process. The process that has worked so well for me these past few years. Anyway I am shaking it off and Ive started from kinda scratch, getting myself back on track. This is soooo much better than my last model and, I have taken the time to sketch it out properly, like this one below...

There is a clear direction for the farmer. Going to texture him and get on with the wolf.

Farmers Head update

With Head.
Think he needs to be a bit more stumpy, still quite long and boring at the minute. I've run our of time this evening so will be building my computer at home, and the I will finally be able to perhaps work at home, all being well!

Farmer Model So far

I am just kind of eye balling it at the minute, its going ok. I'll put the farmers head on in a bit. will keep updating

Sheep Test

Sheep test.
Now making the farmer character, should hoefully be finished modelling him today all being wekll and no more distractions.

Location, Location Complete

Welcome into the dark and eerie cottage of the witch, now you know what it looks like on the inside of the sweetie cake covered house from Hansel and Gretel.



In Just a few days we have This

So this just shows how my Location, Location project is coming along. I've taken the roof off so its possible to see the layout more cleary inside. I'm hopefully going to have finished the modelling by tonight, so tomorrow can be based on lighting. Hopefully Roma will be around to help a little. Then render the finished thing on wednesday and had it in, well maybe leave it to render over tuesday night so I can just hand it in sooner or sort out any problems that may occur. Really really wish I had more time, just to develop the models more and have a bit more of a play around, not quite sure why all the deadlines are sooo close together especially as we have a month left with only a small side project to do, but oh well, it is just the way it is. I havent done too bad considering I've only seriously begun modelling and building for a few days now.

La Update

Taa daaa, getting there bit by bit, not as far a head as I like though.

Quick test Renders

Just some quick renders I thought I'd share with, just showing my progress, I'm planning to change the wooden beams to a darker wood, and the table should be finished by tomorrow morning, along with the chairs and then onto the fireplace. The fire place is going to be the hardest thing, might have to rethink that one, make it more oven like rather then so natural.

A Coconut Falls

First ever Animation on Maya, using Mental Ray and the Batch Rendering setting:

OK enough is enough

Right I think I have learnt as much as I can, my head hurts from all the learning. Basically gave myself a crash course of Maya, and I've accomplished quite a bit in a week, ALL modelled in Maya, everything in Maya. Its taken longer only because Maya kept crashing, I mean I'm seeing at least one crash an hour, which is extremely annoying if you dont save in time. Anyway here is a still of the scene. I've noticed a lot of others have done it at night, so I took on the challenge of light which turned out really easy with Mental Ray. Anyway back to the still:

So the particle breakdown goes like this, the clouds are a 3d container which I created three of just to give it a more dimensional feel. The flag obvioulsy a nCloth, really simple very easy, I like how I got the tattered effects to flap in the wind too though really happy with that. The fire could be better but I've run out of time and it does flicker. The ocean is basically a steady ocean with slight foam, didn't want to much. Which leads me to my waves on the shore, very simple design but that is a particle system being emitted from a curve with a gravity and radial field applied. There is also an Ik chain in the Palm tree so I can get the wind to blow it too. The models are made mostly from a NURBS Circle and then lofted, the awkward one was the fishing line, had to figure out how to make rope, used a paint brush effect and coverted it to a poly. I can't even begin to describe how much I've learnt.

I started this Tuesday, and I've mostly just spent the time understanding the dynamics and learning it, that to me is soooo much more important, and its obvious too, the fire was the first thing to be created (followed a step by step tutorial) and its not great but the clouds sea and waves were to follow, and the waves maybe simple but I dont think anyone realises how hard it was, especially as I could only create it once I had the knowlegde of Maya, as there is NO TUTORIAL TO COPY. This is why I'm so happy with what I've created, I did it without copying a tutorial, I did it myself, figured it out for myself, no cheating.

Quick Update

Update 2 the basics:

I've just been playing round with materials, finding the best effect for my palm trees, thought I'd share. Anyway back to the more heavey stuff like trying to make nParticles into a shore line. Might be a bit a head of myself.

FINALLY

Well Hagatha is finally back in 3ds Max, taken weeks to figure out what was happening with the seams, anyway, after a lot of trial and plenty of error, this is officially the best outcome of all my hard work. There are elements of course I'd like to improve but for animation and progression purposes I am happy with this. It does do something weird when rendered though, but I think that is mainly to do with materials. I can sort that later. I no longer have the patience to faff around. I just want to move forward!

Facial Expressions

I've been watching these clips, trying to learn the range of facial expressions. I can't wait to kick Hagatha into action, well as soon as i get the modelling thing sorted. Really frustrating as she is not working the way I want her too, every time I model her and add a few more sub division layers to her in Mudbox, she goes weird when I export it. So annoying, but hopefully Andy can save whats left of my hair.



Anyway these little guys have definitely brightened up my day, some very funny quick sketcghes. Something I would really love to get into.

Showreel Menus

So here are the Title menus I have made for my Showreel DVD, I'm quite impressed with myself as I learnt Adobe Encore quite quickly, thank goodness!  Anyway I will be shortly sharing my actual showreel with u shortly, just though I would add my menus. I like how I've incorporated my work onto the pages in a non too evasive way, they're there subtly in the glass baubles. Again another thing I taught myself. I am getting there, I have almost begun to conquere 3ds max. After this I will also add the turntable video of Hagatha in Mudbox.

 Above is the main page, simple stylistic, straight to the point. And below is my extras page which has the full length film 'The Chess player' and also a slideshow of my sketches, as I feel that is very important to show if I'm slowly heading into the direction of concept artist.

I have also included a contact page, for further info. Being in Digital Multimedia I thought it was very important to use just digital forms of contact. Eventually I will change the Hotmail account into a web address, but for the time being it will do.

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.

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