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!

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.

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....

Hagatha has Colour

So here is Hagatha finally painted, she's not as detailed as I like..BUT I have to hold back as much as I can and keep her quite simple otherwise she'll look od in her surroundings. I do feel I might have over done the detail and lost that Looney Tune simplicity but she is my design and in my image, I don't want to copy.

Below is a close up of her face, warts and all I'm keeping her bald, witch's should be creepy.

UVW map

This is the UVW map, i spent all yesterday un wrapping. I had to do each fcae section seperate, there are some flaws in the way I did. Yet for this being the first one I didnt do too bad, and I'm now painting (after plenty of false starts) in Mudbox. Today is an extremely slow day, I'm struggling to get my head into it. I don't think I will be staying late tonight, will go home in a few hours, least I've started painting the base. Also want to share the amazing book I've been reading by Richard Williams, really appreciate the work Disney and Warner Bros did, so much so I've been watching all the old Disney films like Snow White Jungle Book etc. I have a whole new respect for the films, like Bagera in Jungle Book, the way he moves, and shifts his weight, its so believable (the key to a good animation). Awesome book, I think I need to limit my reading to one book at a time though, currently have 3 on the go. starting to forget sections of each.

Into Mudbox we Go

Here she is transferred into Mudbox, I've added a few warts, but for tonight I think I'm going to leave it there. Will carry on tomorrow, like spiking the nose and curling the toes more. I will also see if I can mould in hairs, perhaps. Well at least I get to start painting Hagatha tomorrow, all the unwrapping i finally complete, it took forever, she is very detailed!! Anyway I am done for this evening, time to go home and get some food and sleep. Night

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.

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

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.