“Town Center.” (c) 2014 Michael J. Barnes.
I am currently working on a new “commissioned” illustration for a future book cover and I needed to create a background for the concept. Welcome to the “Town Center.” I wanted to create an old, somewhat dilapidated building in the middle of a dessert. I can’t go into any detail of the book, but the setting I am creating fits.
I initially created the building proper in Google Sketchup. I took that initial model into ZBrush for the detailing. The model was then rendered in Bryce and the final image composite produced in Photoshop.
This is currently a work-in-progress, and I will post the final image when completed.
“Elsa.” Character Concept. (c) 2014 Michael J. Barnes. (click to view hi-res image)
I recently completed a new character concept, and am posting her up today. Meet “Elsa.” I began working on Elsa about six-weeks ago, but put her off for other work (mostly because I wasn’t happy with how she was turning out, and I had decided to work on other concepts).
Ceremonial Armor
It had been recently pointed out to me that I need to add a bit more back story to the characters and creatures I am creating. So here goes… Elsa is a fierce warrior from a far off alien planet. Elsa can be seen here wearing her ceremonial armor, which she typically wears when escorting and guarding her warlord. That’s all I got about her back story for now.
Elsa was created in ZBrush, with the final image produced in Photoshop. I hope you like her.
“George.” Digital Creature Concept. (c) 2014 Michael J. Barnes. (click to view full-size image)
Yes, I have done yet another creature concept. This one I’ve named “George.” I have been doing these creature concept for several reasons. First, to build up my “Characters and Creatures Portfolio.” Second, to keep practicing using my ZBrush application — specifically practicing creating believable muscle masses, as well as different texturing techniques. And finally, because it is fun.
That’s right, I’m having fun. When I first started with this concept, I wasn’t exactly sure what kind of creature George was going to be. However, as I started building him up, I decided to make him into an amphibian-like monster. I initially thought he would be an alien scientist, but I just finished watching one of the “Hobbit” movies… so I concluded George would be a monster.
Full sized image of George’s head. Note the “gills” under his ear. (c) 2014 Michael J. Barnes.
On the technical side, for any fellow ZBrushers who may be reading this blog, this is the first time I’ve used ZBrush’s “body parts” insert brush to build up the torso, arms and legs. Typically, I use a preset base mesh when sculpting humanioid characters, but I found it to be much easier to use this insert brush. I will be definitely using this brush for future sculpts.
I have also created a video depicting my sculpting workflow. I do these videos (of which all of them can be viewed on my Videos page) for a couple of reasons. First, to help me with my self-promotion. Second, so I can review and hopefully continue to improve my sculpting techniques.
As before, George here was created in ZBrush, with the final image produced in Photoshop. I hope you like George as much as I do.
“Waldo.” Creature Concept Sculpt. (c) 2014 Michael J. Barnes. Click image to view larger version.
Continuing my series of fantasy creature concepts, I am ready to present “Waldo.”
Waldo began life as a very rudimentary sketch (which can be seen in My Sketchbook). When I say very “rudimentary sketch” I mean VERY RUDIMENTARY. I wanted to create a “horse-like” beast, because I will be using this model in a future illustration. Waldo was created in ZBrush, with the final composite produced in Photoshop.
In the above image, Waldo “hams it up” for the camera.
If you would like to see the creation process, I have recorded it and the video can be viewed here.
“Porky.” Creature Concept. (c) 2014 Michael J. Barnes. (Click to view enlargement)
My latest creature creation. This is “Porky.” I began this ZBrush sculpt on Halloween night because I was bored re-watching the same horror movie re-runs on TV. Also, I wanted to add to my Characters & Creatures Portfolio page. Porky is an herbivore, with multiple horns and tusks for protection from predators. Typically, I name my characters and creatures by pulling a name from my extensive database of names (i.e. the telephone white pages). However, when I started sculpting Porky, I realized the face was looking a bit porcine.
At any rate, Porky was created in ZBrush, with the final image produced in Photoshop. I hope you like him.
“Rover.” Creature Concept. (c) 2014 Michael J. Barnes.
I have completed my latest creature concept. “Rover” is now alive. I wanted to create a fierce-looking, completely alien creature (hence the four eyes and natural armor). While detailing Rover, I wanted to make him appear to have been in multiple battles so I added various scars and scratches. You can view the final detailing process in my latest video release of my sculpt.
Rover was created in ZBrush, with final composite produced in Adobe Photoshop. I hope you like him.