After I released my previous post of Gaur 2.o, I looked over the image and realized I wasn’t completely happy with it. After re-examining that image, I decided that I needed to smooth his skin just a bit — as a friend of mine wrote, he needed a whole lot of skin grafts. I wanted his skin to be porous and wrinkled, not flakey and scabby. I also noted that I wanted the skin where the cybernetic implants meet appear more veiny, drained of color almost to the point where it is actually dead skin.
With that in mind, I present to you Gaur 2.1.
Gaur 2.0 Skullcap Detail – (c) 2015 Michael J. Barnes. (click to view enlarged image)
Continuing with my Gaur 2.0 sculpt, I added a little more detail to the cybernetic skullcap implant with the hope that it would add a bit more visual interest. As before, I have recorded the process, and this can be viewed on my Videos page. As with all of my sculpts, I am creating this in ZBrush.
Gaur 2.0 Skullcap Detail. (c) 2015 Michael J. Barnes.
I decided to share a new work-in-progress. This is Gaur 2.0. This is my newest sculpt I am creating in ZBrush. The reason it is called Gaur 2.0, because I wanted to update a character I previously completed. I learned some new techniques, and how to apply them to my work.
Gaur 2.0 – Back of skullcap detail. (c) 2015 Michael J. Barnes.
As I progress through this creation, I will post new updates. Also, you can view time-lapse videos of my progress on my Videos Page. Let me know what you think.
“The Rotunda.” A fantasy cityscape. (c) 2015 Michael J. Barnes. (click on illustration to view larger image)
The Rotunda is a new concept work depicting a futuristic fantasy cityscape. I wanted to depict a bustling city of the future with it’s towering skyscrapers surrounding a much older appearing structure that serves as the city’s civic, or maybe even religious center.
This illustration, as well as many others is also uploaded into my Illustration Portfolio.
“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.