Maya tools project.

This assignment started out modelling a simple sledge hammer from a cylinder and a cube.

We then continued to model out a crowbar through extended use of the extrude tool, and a ladder combining techniques from the two previous tools.

Maya Fish

A screenshot of my first maya assignment, a simple fish modeled directly from a concept sketch provided by the tutorial we were instructed to follow.

I managed to follow the tutorial relatively easily, however i ran into an issue with merging the two halves back together, leaving some distortion along the joint and upper fin, this is something i must go back to and understand why.

Cata-dude

Our first photoshop lesson, establishing the painting technique of laying down base colors on one layer, then using a 60% grey on a second multiply layer to create a shading layer, then using the two to inspire the final, third painted layer.

Crustacean silhouettes

The results of a visual design lesson revolving around establishing strong character/creature concepts by blocking out just the silhouette first.

I really like the overall silhouettes, however when i attempted to paint the details in, i found such a drastic move away from my usual "line work first!" left me completely clueless as where to start, this is something i must practice more in the future!

For my second 2D project i had to design a science fiction firearm, the only restriction being that it must be a mechanical, projectile firing weapon, as opposed to an energy/beam type.

As usual, i began by doing some research, and creating mood boards. I decided i wanted to ground my designs based on functionality of firearms as they are today. I decided early on i would concentrate mainly on assault rifle models or light/heavy machine guns (Largely due to my preference towards noisy, shootier guns as a gamer myself).

During my research, i looked into the progression and development of firearms used within the British military today, and discovered the frequently used weapons of the past being replaced by the innovated "Bullpup" configuration (such as the SA80 and P90 etc.) where the magazine and loading mechanism is housed within the stock, in order to minimize upon wasted space and make the weapons lighter. This kind of innovative movement of technology certainly seemed relevant in moving towards science fiction.

My first two designs concentrated around the "bullpup" configuration, which i felt worked well and helped lean towards that science fiction look, i left the initial designs relatively vague, getting a general feel for the weapon before quickly moving onto the next.

However, i eventually settled on a heavier, more destructive design, abandoning the "bullpup"configuration as i decided there would probably be limited room for an extensive ammo feed tucked between the wielders cheek/ear/armpit, once sketched out to the same, brief, basic design as the previous, my decision was made and i proceeded to ink the line work.

I then loaded the design up into photoshop and gave it a basic color scheme, sticking to a base color layer, a shadows layer and a highlights layer.

I am relatively happy with this design, although my scarce and limited experience of photoshop has left the rendering far below what i would like to achieve.

2D tentacle creature

For my first assignment i had to create a creature, with the stipulation that it must have a minimum of four tentacle-like appendages.

First off i constructed a reference "mood board" of inspiration images, and then proceeded to sketch out several case studies.

I then proceeded to sketch out several creature designs, eventually settling for the one below.

Once loaded into photoshop, i used several layers to add base colours, shadows and highlights ontop of each other to reach the following stage (W.I.P).

The main thing i notice about this piece is composition, where the tentacle runs off the page, this is a problem i have noticed alot, where i misjudge the size of the page, drawing to large and running out of room.