Rusty Ship’s Corridor – (c) 2013 Michael J. Barnes
Working up a new illustration and this is the background for the image. I created this in Google SketchUp, then imported into Bryce for textures and rendering.
I really like using Bryce for rendering up background environments for a few reasons. First, for a quick build up of textures, Bryce has several preset textures. With this image, I employed many of Bryces “exposed metals” textures to give this background a “rustic” appearance. Second, Bryce has a great easy-to-use lighting system that allows me to create a great lighting environment. Next, I can render to very large, high resolution images. Finally, I like Bryce because I can render a panoramic image that I can import into Zbrush to use for HRDI lighting of my sculpts.
I am currently working up a full-body sculpt of my “Gaur” character. When completed he will be inserted into this background. More info to follow.
Gaur. (c) 2013 Michael J. Barnes.
Just completed this character concept illustration. He began as a test sculpt after learning some more new techniques. I then wrote up a character brief and “Gaur” here is the final result. The brief described an alien character, possibly of human ancestry. After centuries of cross-breeding with the indigenous species of an alien planet, the human features evolved into a distinct race. Finally, this character’s people embraced cybernetic implants to help improve the species. Think cross between a human, Klingon and Borg.
Completed body sculpt of my Monster Creature Dude.
Recently completed sculpting and texturing the body my latest personal project. I learned some new techniques (and when I say “new” I mean new to me) to produce a more life-like model. I learned some techniques on sculpting believable anatomy. Also learned how to create a more life-like skin texture.
Back view of my Creature Monster Dude’s body.
As for the texturing, I picked up on a technique to “layer” the skin. Basically working to have the “epidermis” be a bit translucent, much like real skin.
Updated head rendering.
Although my Monster Creature Dude here is going to be the focal point of a new illustration, my intent with this sculpt was also to learn how to retopologize the mesh so this model could be used for animation and/or gaming. I realized that I couldn’t call myself a 3D modeler unless I knew how to do this.
Body sculpt with base topology shown.
Sculpt with topology frame displayed.
Head sculpt displaying base topology.
Monster Creature Dude Head Texture and Render Test.
Monster Creature Dude Head Texture and Render Test.
I completed sculpting and texturing the head of my new creature character last night. I learned a few more polypainting techniques recently and I employed them with this sculpt. This head was created and rendered in ZBrush and I composited the multi-pass renders in Photoshop. Let me know what you think.
I had an idea recently for a new illustration featuring a fantastical monster creature dude. I’m not going to go into too much detail about the final illustration, but I will share my concept of the monster-creature-dude. Here is the initial “blueprints” for the 3-D model of him naked. I am currently working on his attire, which will be mostly armor. I will post that blueprint when I complete it.
“The Little Princess & The Grump.” (c) 2013 Michael J. Barnes.
Digital Illustration.
This latest work was the image I was envisioning when I began the “Grumpy” project… A rampaging beast stopped in his tracks by a little girl holding up a teddy bear. I like to think I captured this image satisfactorily.