Turret

A basic copy of a model given to us to copy, using basic polys and tools such as extrude and bevel to create this turret.

We then began to create surface detail upon the surfaces of the turret.

Returning to the original model, we began learning how to convert a hi poly model to a low poly model by baking normal and occlusion maps.

(Normals map)

(Occlusion map)

We then added metal textures, plus details such as graffitti over the top to create a finished look.

Tank: 2 point perspective and 123/half way to black shading exercise.

As usual, i began with looking up some reference material, focusing this time on not just the intended subject matter, but also the requested perspective most commonly used for vehicle concepts.

 I then proceeded to sketch out a couple of designs, ahain, focusing more on the technical drawing aspect of two point perspective than the details of the tank itself.

Once i had decided on the basic design, i uploaded the image into photoshop, and proceeded to add in the basic values using the 123 half way to black method. 

following this, i decided to add a color layer, and begin to add detail by laying texture images on a multiply layer to keep the values.

Insectoid character design.

I started off looking at spiders, praying mantis and wasps, torn between which i wanted to base my design on, i decided to try blending features of all three into some kind of hybrid creature. From my love of fantasy fiction, i was also interested in combining aspects of the drider character design into my own.

First sketch design focused heavily on the spider/drider design, however i subconsciously included praying mantis style apendages. I really liked the insectoid, helmet-like head as a basic starting point. (Note to self: MUST START IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PAGE MORE OFTEN!!!)

Elaborating on the praying mantis appendages i used on the first, heavy spider/drider design, i ran with these and carried them over to my mantis design, i really like the body/figure of this one, along with the large bug-like eyes.

The final design i went with was a wasp/drider design, again there were elements of the head i really liked here that i wanted to carry across to the final design, aswell as the wings and thorax .

The final creature design incorporated all the aspects from each design i liked most, blending my favorite parts of each individual head into a hybrid design of all three that i really like, keeping that warrior/soldier/knight type feel of the spider design while using the big buggy eyes of the mantis. While i included a thorax protruding from the back of the character, much like the drider designs, i prefered the bipedal anatomy, so shed the multiple legs and stuck to just dual pairs of arms to make up the limb count, the more wasp-like wings i feel pull the overal hybrid design together nicely.

The final creature design knocked up in a (hopefully) modeler friendly face on and profile views character sheet, still having major problems with spacial awareness when it comes to setting out my sketches on paper, this is something i must work on. 

Probably the first time i have ever attempted to draw a character in total profile, MUCH harder than i expected!!

Halloween monster 2D project

I started out by doing some initial research on Halloween itself, discovering its roots lie with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. During the 31st of October, the Celts believed the dead could re-visit the living, and they wore costumes to disguise themselves amongst the spirits, in order to protect themselves from the evil spirits, while attempting to commune with the spirits of deceased relatives or loved ones.

The creatures most closely linked to Samhain are Ghosts, Vampires, Werewolves, Witches, Zombies (and undead as a wider general), Goblins, Black cats, Faeries and Demons.

I also did some research on common childhood fears and phobias, deciding Halloween as we know it today to be aimed largely at kids, the most common i found  being:

* Large looming objects
* The dark
* Masks
* Monsters and Ghosts
* Animals, such as dogs
* Noises at night
* Injury, illness and death

With these factors in mind i set about constructing a moodboard like usual.

I started off considering Zombies/Undead, Werewolves and demons, but as my moodboard finished up i realized i swayed to a pretty even split between werewolves and undead,

For the first idea i went Demonic Skeleton, but lost alot of time getting too heavilly absorbed into the shading.

The second design i went for divided my indecision of Werewolf or undead?? so i decided to mash the two together.

Still a work in progress, A common problem i seem to have, not sure if its just poor time management, lack of confidence or knowledge, or spending too long in the concept design phase, therefore leaving me not alot in the final piece, but it is an issue i need to adress!