Portfolio update, box update

Updated my portfolio today tried to tie it in more with my CV so there's a uniform look and replaced the text links to image links. Links to my CV and blog are now at the top of the page which makes more sense. Updated and returned the 'about' section, added a contact form as well as a freelancer.com button. Now I need to get some new cool 3D stuff done to add to the portfolio.

The host of the box contest updated their information with an image of the actual box and feedback so I've updated my entry to look more like it. Seem to be one of the first to update so I might have a better chance now.

Lots of Boxes

Been trying to get into freelancing recently. Made an account on freelancer.com a while ago and have been bidding on projects there. No success so far but hopefully I'll win a bid soon.

Today a bid required an example of a 3D products packaging to have a chance at winning the bid so I made a quick example.

I found this old Kellogs cereal box online and used that for my UV's and texturing

Later I found a contest making packaging for an product and rendering it so I also entered that.

 This was the provided image, I made two versions one with the bar code on the bottom of the box and another with it on the front.

Antler Scramasax

Managed to do a bit of modelling today, wanted to keep it simple so decided to model a weapon of some kind. Did a bit of research and gathered references.

This is it so far, the handle is pretty much completed just having some difficulty getting the textures to show up on the blade. EDIT: Fixed the issue, just need to texture it

If/when I complete this depends entirely on how well I am. If I get some more days of feeling better I'll have this done sooner :)

Started the chapel model

The mock ups I made didn't really give me much of a clear direction as I've been struggling to work out a way of having a functional roof over one room but more worn ruins elsewhere. The image in my previous post is actually ideal in terms of layout so I've started working on the model for the chapel.

I've had a pretty good day today so far, I've been able to hold my concentration much better without making too many mistakes and I'm not as tired as usual. I just need to make sure I pace myself and don't do too much to push myself over the edge.

 Main building. I'm going to remove the roof supports and instead have them attached to the roof as this makes more sense, also they seem much too big

Since taking this screenshot of the roof I've resized the larger supports to give them more weight. I will probably use booleans to make the roof look weathered and ruined. The room at the back will keep most of its roof while the front will lose around half. I'm currently wondering whether to use planes on the roof to give a layered tile effect or to just bump map it, its unlikely to be looked at in any close detail so it may be best to bump map it.

Update

Scaling down the Warlock town project into a eerie chapel ruins and crypt in a wood. I had an energy crash yesterday so only managed to get together a mood board for the chapel.

Currently trying to work out how this could work as with most ruins the first thing to go is the roof yet part of the ruins is going to need at least somewhat of a roof as there needs to be somewhere for the players character to sleep.

Something like this could work where parts of the roof have fallen in as it would still provide shelter while being a ruin. I still don't have a clear idea of how exactly the chapel will look so will make some basic mockups in Maya.

New Stuff, New Year

Recently got Substance Designer and Substance Painter on sale off Steam. I've been having difficulty getting the Quixel Suite to work so I'm looking forward to finally be able to try out some node based texturing and working my way through the tutorial videos :)

I also got a Beginners Guide to Zbrush book for Christmas, planning to work through it and finally get to grips with it.

I'm also still not well, ended up getting a cold on top of having this post viral thing which hasn't been fun. I'm hoping once this colds gone I'll be back to normal. Hopefully the new year will be better :)

Griffins!

Trying to work out which eagle to base the griffin on. The above is a combination of African Sea Eagle and African Lion.

 Used the Bateleur Eagle for this one. The image itself isn't as good but I think the Bateleur's head fits the griffin better and is different enough without being unrecognisable or strange looking. The type of feathers used will likely be easier to replicate as they have a more solid edge to them.
I'll think about colours once I'm modelling, not going to be using the combination of colours in the bateleur image for certain though!

I've done some rough sketches of the environments just need to scan them in. I'm 90% certain on how the griffins environment will look so I'll start making that first.

Warlock Town Take Two!

Couple of major updates to the warlock town project.
1. Is now a joint project with Alex ( http://alexcollins-art.co.uk)
2. The town is now going to be based on the warlock town from Heroes of Might and Magic II instead of replicating it. We are also going to model the creatures


Each of us is going to make three units and their environments, mine will be the griffin, hydra and dragon (might swap around who knows)

Griffin Ideas:
As I don't want to go down to much of a typical griffin route I've been looking at different types of eagles to base the griffin on and narrowed it down to three species.

African Sea Eagle

Quite like the markings, face and colours of this one.

Bateleur Eagle

I like the shape of the feathers around the face on this eagle, has a slight mane like look. Very unlikely I'll use the colour scheme though.

European Sea Eagle

I'll probably use this eagle as a base.

I'll do some photobashing to see what works best. Going to be in Dorset for the next couple of days without a computer so I'm going to try and get some rough idea sketches done. For the griffins habitat I'm thinking a combination of the large rocks lions sleep on and nests.

Hiatus

Have had a post-viral infection for the past month which has made it difficult to get on with modelling or look for work. Been to the doctors and all I can really do is wait, I'm going to try taking vitamins and herbal supplements to try and speed things along as this is really frustrating. To top it off I've been having issues with my internet connection and its too slow to stream video so no tutorials for me :(

Re-Rendered 11 Days Office

Without the walls its a bit difficult to work out what's going on in my original renderings because of all the overlap, adjusted the heights of some objects too. Should be much clearer now!

Couple of missed WIP updates

Not been feeling well recently so I'm a bit behind on what I'd have liked to have done by now. Realised I missed a few updates so here are some works in progress...

 Started the modular pieces for the hedge maze in the warlock town, need to work out how I'm going to approach this as I could either have a smaller version inside the outer polys with both textured with a transparent map or I could simply model the hedges and include the detail in bump maps and possibly include planes with a leafy hedge texture and transparency over some areas to avoid making the hedges look artificial. I could meet these in the middle and do the latter but make the textures transparent and put boxes within the walls to create depth.

Started again with the stave church, this time I'm basing it on a particular one (Urnes Stave Church)


Currently watching a tutorial on Digital Tutors on environment modelling techniques in Mudbox. I'm hoping to use this for both ongoing projects to get more detail in.

Keyshot, 11 Days Renders etc

Been trying out Keyshot and thought I'd use it as an opportunity to render out what I've been working on as I haven't updated in a while. Anyway this work was for 11 Days To Save the World a student project demoed at EGX 2014 the office models were for use in the demo.
I've also been preparing for an interview as technician for my old course, needed to prepare a demonstration on Unity basics, also applied for a job in property VR, should hear how that went soon :)
I also miiiight be making some creatures for a game too, I don't know much at this stage but it sounds exciting!
But yeah, lots of stuff on the horizon. Feel like I'm slowly getting closer to a job in the industry.

Warlock Town: To Do List

 Finished pre EGX work on 11 Days, will be uploading screenshots/renders soon :)
Didn't enter the competition in the end as I wouldn't of had enough time to get it to a high standard while also working on 11 Days at the same time.

Anyway back to the warlock town...
List for what I need to still model and components for the warlock town

 

Castle (Modular spires, walls, drawbridge)
Mages Guild
Marketplace Tent incl. crates, items for sale - fruit & resources, wheelbarrow
Well
Centaur cave (Torches, will probably sculpt the rock, moss/grass. Unsure about waterfall for now, will get to that once it's all in engine)
Dungeon (Door, steps, pillars/porch)
Maze (Entrance, outer wall, inside modular hedge pieces)
Gargoyle crypt (Crypt and sculpted gargoyle)
Griffin nest
Dragon tower
Tavern and thieves guild. May add more buildings in a similar style around these buildings to give more sense of a town feel?
Swamp (trees and mist effect, might use animating planes for this?)
Statue (base stand, warlock statue)
Shipyard (modular planks and posts, barrels)
Distance: Sculpted modular rock formations
Etc: Trees, rocks, grass, extra decoration to add a bit of life

Update: Stave Church and Copier

 

Started some of the stave church, as most of the parts are repeating I'm trying to keep it modular.

Spent today making a copier for a student game project I'm working on

Lots to do!

Been away in Scotland for the past 2 weeks, so now its time to get back to my ever increasing to do list.

I'm very very tempted to enter this contest:
http://www.creative-assembly.com/graduate-art-contest

Would most likely make a Viking Stave Church as they have a unique interesting look to them.

Doubt I'll have enough time to enter but if I do I'll be coming back to this...