Squid WIP

Been working on this maquette on and off for past couple weeks. Still a work in progress.

Molding and Casting

Phew....after a long struggle this week and last week to create the mold for my creture bust, its finally done!

Was definitely a huge learning experience, since this is the first time I've ever created a silicone mold. The hardest part for me was getting the outer plaster mothermold. I could not get a handle on the correct consistency of it, but finally got something that, although was very messy and ugly, worked well enough to get a couple castings out. The first was in Monster Resin, and the second in Plaster since I have a bunch of it.

Creature Sculpting Course

In the midst of taking an online sculpting course with the amazing Aris Kolokontes. 

Here's my work in progress so far.....

DBZ Sculptin' Challenge!

Been working on the DBZ sculpting challenge that many people are throwing down for over on facebook and zbrushcentral. Very awesome stuff coming out. Here's my latest wip. Still needs some work, but starting to get some cool stuff I think...

Substrata

Been tossing around ideas for Paul Richards' Substrata project recently, so I had a quick go at an idea in zbrush.

Super work in progress, but been having fun with the idea of an alien necromancer, who is able to summon the digital representations of the dead. I'm imaging the final with tons of digital glowie demons around our guy here and some techie armor / readouts.  Wanting to put a slight sci-fi twist on this one, as generally necromancers tend to get lumped into the super high fantasy, elves and magic world.

I also may use this zbrush version as a basis for a work in traditional clay, seeing as there is some time before the August 1st deadline.

Carlos Huante / Anatomy Tools Workshop!

So I've been so overwhelmed with many things happening in life that I haven't had the chance to post about my experience at the workshop I went to last week. It's already been a week since the class ended and my head is still spinning from how awesome it was.  Massive props to the whole anatomy tools staff for making the whole experience great. From being picked up from my hotel and shuttled to the workshop, to the very hands on nature of the whole workshop. Nuggets of awesome all over.

I was able to draw and sculpt for 5 days with a designer and sculptor that I've looked up too since I started school many years ago. We spent 2 days drawing and refining our character, and then three days sculpting.

Here are some shots I took from the workshop, process of the creature I worked on as well as others.

With Carlos, at the end of the workshop

The anatomy legend, Andrew Cawrse

Final Sculpt (although unfinished sculpt)

Deinotherium

Really fun sculpt I worked on this weekend. I love prehistoric giant elephant like creatures. Really happy with where this one is heading, the proportions are really hitting quite well, and my initial details are reading well. 

I think I like working on too many things, I should focus on finishing one!! 

More to come. 

Troll Wip 2

Worked some more on the Troll. Starting to get in some of the details. Still a couple places where the anatomy is buggin me, and needs work.

More to come, looking to finalize some details and then get some paint on him.

Hard Surface

Did this one last weekend, never posted it up. Just a random quick sketch, practicing some hard surface. Not a very strong design or concept, but was fun to mess around with. 

Troll

Here's a work in progress doodle, I started the other night, and worked a bit on today. Sorta stuck on the deltoid connection to his body...

Based on this concept by Jeff Simpson
http://cghub.com/images/view/253862/

Terrain

Haven't posted up in a bit, started some sculpts here and there, nothing that is blog worthy (even though I should put up more to track my progress). Here's some terrain doodle to break the silence.

 I was messing about in World Machine and some zbrush for quick textures, and then PS for compositing, which I am still not very good at. Need to take more time in my texture phase...and the could use a lot more visual interest, and depth.

Random Sketch

Just a sketch done in Sculptris, also having some fun messing about with blending layers in Photoshop. 

Ork WIP

Here's a wip of a sculpt I started last week, and then worked on some more last night where I started some polypaint.


Was excited to see a bunch of new subscribers after my last rhino timelapse, so I turned that energy into more sculpting!!

Started this guy after work last week, and then worked on him a bit more last night. Two separate sculpting sessions, so excuse the weird cut halfway through. C&C always welcome. Still needs some more work, but I'm happy where he is headed.

Concept is based of a painting by Rlyons
http://rlyonsart.blogspot.com/2012/03/head-study.html

Song: Random Rab - Clarification of Meaning

PS....I need to get back to work on my indian bandit sculpt

Rhino Final

Worked on the rhino dude some more tonight....polypaint and did some photoshops. Pretty happy with where he ended up. Going to post up a full timelapse vid later as well...if zbrush doesnt crash in the process right now.....

he ripped a mean one, and doesn't like the stench....

rhino

Another quick sculpt after work tonight. I was watching a show on feeding zoo animals on netflix, and got inspired by the black rhinos.

Youtubes

I'm going to start posting up some more videos of me sculpting pieces. Here is one I started at lunch the other day and didnt get very far, and then worked on some last night.

Video doesn't start at the beginning because for some reason zbrush decided not to save my undo history.

But here is me making slow decisions about where I wanted to take this guy.

Hopefully not too boring.

Bandit update #2

Sculpted out more of his face today. Haven't felt like tackling his accessories yet really. More to come! 

Turning more into a indian chief than bandit at the moment, and I need to re-work feathers / head dress. Not quite working the way I'd like.

 

Bandit Update #1

Worked on the bandit a bit more today.  Getting a better feel for the curve insert brushes and how to use them effectively, though there is plenty of frustration when I'm trying to place a curve on a mesh and it just draw it straight through it instead of snapping correctly and I am unsure of the best way to fix it. 

Went very native american with the accessories. 

Still needs:

• Pistol / Holster
• Hatchet
• Pouches
• Sculpt pass for torso, pants, and hands

Unchained.

Saw 'Django Unchained' this week, which was fantastic, and was super inspired to create my own western bandit character. I started with a pretty good idea of what I wanted overall, but also wanted to keep myself open to ideas as I went along. 

I wanted him to be shirtless, dark denim jeans with some native american influences, jewlery, tattoos, possibly war paint. That all might be a bit overkill but I want to try different things and see what works.

 Also definitely wearing a bandana and dark glasses. 

Here is the block in and base sculpt so far. Everything created in zbrush so far. I still need a better handle on the curve brushes, cause the necklace is super funky and definitely needs another go. 
The hands were also were just placed temp with the insert mesh brush. I'll need to re-dynamesh them with the torso soon. 

Still some things to block in like the pistol, his glasses, and haven't decided if I will give him a cowboy hat or long flowing hair. 

The accessories will make this piece sing, and will be good practice since I generally dislike working with a lot of subtools. 

More to come!