Personal work in Maya, Lamp and Space ship design

I decided to try out Maya in my spare time to become more confident with the software. Showing below are some 3D models that I produced.

    (Another lamp model design)

  (Not yet finished but a 3D model of a spaceship)

Week 13 summary

 

This is the last week of university before we break up for the Christmas term. We had a short lecture in the week introducing us to texturing, the lecture was showing us different types of textures on objects and how they can transform an object's appearance. I have always had a keen interest in texturing so I look forward to learning more about this. Life drawing was my last lesson before the Christmas term. The lesson focused on drawing people's faces, for the first half an hour we drew some of the classmates faces as the model did not show up first thing. When the model did arrive we had to do quick sketches of different facial expressions. It was enjoyable to draw something different than the whole body in a selection of poses. The facial expressions poses were good practice for me a I haven't really done many drawings like this in the past. 

Maya Workshop 3. Texturing

In this Maya Lecture this week we were given a ready made model of a barrel that we had to unwrap and texture using Photoshop, the texturing was painted digitally by hand. We also placed different effects on top of the painted layers to give it a cartoon style likeness, this type of style is most likely  seen in mobile app games. Below are images of my final rendered model.

(For my first attempt at hand painted texturing on a basic object I think I done fairly well, I look forward to learning more and developing more advance models in the future.)

Life drawing workshop 3

This is my first life drawing workshop since the Christmas term. The session consisted of drawing the models facial expressions which is a lot different to drawing the model in full. In the session we had to draw 16 sketches and each piece lasting no longer than a few minutes, at the end of the workshop we had to draw the model in full for half an hour using chalk and pencil which had to express lighting using the white chalk. I did enjoy this workshop as it did bring me out of my comfort zone with drawing facial gestures, but feel I could do a lot better next time the more I practice.

I prefer to draw with charcoal in these workshops, as I feel I can get the drawings done a lot more quicker, if  I was drawing with a different medium such as a pencil, for me it would take me a lot longer to complete.

Week 12 summary

This week not much has been set for big tasks as I believe we are still being introduced into new software and the best we can do at the moment is to practice 3D modelling in our own time. This week I have had a few lectures one being a Maya lecture, we had to learn UV mapping. I find UV mapping a little complicating and can easily get lost and need help during lectures. The UV mapping is something I will probably struggle at for a while but I believe the more I attempt it the better I will become. Overall I am still enjoying 3D modelling. Also this week I had a digital painting lecture using Photoshop, I learned how to create a new brush which is very helpful as I'm not very familiar with Photoshop so these lectures will be very insightful. 

Maya Workshop 2 UV Mapping

In the lecture this week I had to learn how to UV Map a basic shape. I found it quite a challenge and I think UV mapping will take me sometime to get used to. Below is the basic shape that I had to UV Map.

Week 11 summary

This week was the first week where the whole class have come back to university after having sometime off from a study week. It was good to get back into it again. We were introduced into a new project, the project is a 3D modelling project using Maya, I am excited to continue and produce work using this programme and to become more confident using it as I haven't done much 3d work before. We were given a task to complete a desk lamp using the tools we learnt during a lecture in the week using Maya. I have also had to go into the university to have a talk with a lecturer to go through my final grade for my BA1a project on concept art. The outcome was not bad, I am happy. It was good to get some feedback and to ask questions. 

My lamp model - Maya

We were told to create a desk lamp in our own time at home using the tools that we learnt in the previous lecture this week using Maya, here are some screen shots of my own final design for a desk lamp.

This is my desk lamp base, I have created a lamp that is themed. The theme is a torpedo bomb style lamp, I was playing around with the tools and thought the shape looked cool and it started to take on the appearance of a torpedo bomb base. I decided to theme my lamp around this design. This shape was created by extruding certain parts of the object.

This is the pole for my lamp that holds the bulb and lamp shade in place. I didn't want the pole to be a basic, smooth looking object so I added detail by placing a cylindrical shape at the bottom of the pole that is connected to the base of the lamp, then I copied the shape and made it travel to the top of the pole.

This is my shade for my desk lamp, I wanted to give it the similar cone like shape that of a torpedo bomb style head, this was done by using the extrude tool.

This is my themed desk lamp in full view.

Maya workshop (1)

I had my first 3D workshop this week using the 3D modelling programme called 'Maya', I have never used this programme before but have used another Autodesk 3D modelling programme called '3Ds max' in the past. In the lecture we were presented and taught how to 3D model a basic desk lamp. Here are two of my final screen shots of my desk lamp that I did in the lecture.


My desk lamp here shows the lamp base made but with a hollow hole inside the shade that needs to
be extrude correctly to fill the shade hole. Here the shade looks inverted, this needed to be corrected.

My desk lamp here shows the final model, with corrected shade and added light bulb. The light bulb was using the sphere object tool to create a bulb effect. My first completed model using Maya.

Introduction to BA1b

This week we were given our new tasks for BA1b. It will be good to get back into another project.

These include:

1.Asset Creation
2.Games industry roles and practises
3.Induction to game studies

Asset creation is our first project which we will learn how to 3D model using a 3D programme called 'Maya'. This will run into the new year.

Study focuses:

1. primitives/modelling
2. UV mapping/texturing
3. Adv. modelling/ materials
4. Baking
5. Application

I am looking forward to learning 3D modelling as I have not done much 3D before using Maya, only 3Ds Max.

Games industry roles and practises and induction to game studies will come at a later date.

My final Evaluation: BA1a Concept Art

During this concept art project I think overall I have completed a good amount of work. I believe I have a fair few designs that lead to my final pieces within each task, them being task 1 (Insect) task 2 (Timepiece) and final task 3, (character). At the start of this project, that is insect project, I think this was the project that I enjoyed the most, it was different, I have not much in the past produced something like a hybrid insect before, it was exciting and new. Saying that I think the insect project was the task that I did not produce as many ideas for. I tend to jump straight in to one design if that is what I like. When I look back at this I would of branched out and done different type of designs for a insect instead of having one idea that I wanted to do. A beetle form is what my final design was. I will in the future do a lot more designs into different shapes and forms. Overall for the insect project I am happy with the final design and believe that some stronger drawings were produced in this project than the other two tasks.

When it came to the timepiece project I did struggle trying to form an idea I did a few silhouettes and nothing stood out for me, I did more research and continued with more silhouettes, this made me a little behind in the project. In the end I had a idea that I liked and thought I could make many ideas from, in which I did. I had many design ideas for my timepiece project when I felt I was happy with the idea of a staff weapon that can stop time. I wanted to do more than a staff so I decided to do a mage character with the staff, I enjoyed doing this, it gave me a deeper meaning to my idea. The timepiece project was the project that I think I produced the most work. I was surprise that I felt I wanted to keep going with the project, so I added another final piece with the project and that was a photo bashing piece, I had never done a piece of work like that before and thought it would go well with my staff design, I created a first person piece, it worked well for a first attempt.

A struggle that I did have throughout this concept project is the lack of knowledge that I had of Photoshop, I have only ever used it as a photo editing tool in college before, I will continue to try and learn Photoshop as I know it is used in the games industry and I would really like to improve using this programme. My time keeping and motivation during this project has been well kept. During the timepiece project I did have a little problem with inspiration but as soon as I had a idea I just keep on working with that idea.

The 3rd project that was the character task, I was disappointed in myself with the final piece. I wanted to try and make the character more realistic. I did do experimental work with painting in Photoshop and in painter. My style kept coming through in my work, I will continue to experiment with realistic painting techniques.

Overall I am pleased with the amount of ideas that I have produced. Some stronger than others. I have learnt a lot in this project from painting techniques, learning Photoshop and using silhouettes to create basic shapes for ideas, I had never done that before. This project has made me realise how much work is involved in concept art and how ideas and drawings becoming that character you play in a game, it is exciting.

Week 7 summary

This week I have been really busy with the character project. It took me a little time to come to a final design for my king character, but I am happy with the way the character looks in his design in his  detail of clothing choice, hairstyle and face. Earlier this week I created the model sheet, through this it made me make up my mind on a final design for my character, as I had many designs but nothing was set in stone. After I got the model sheet done I felt more comfortable with the next stages, the character sheet and final piece. Through the character sheet I had a better understanding of what I wanted my character to be like or act as if he was a real person.  I haven't really had many lectures this week (one being cancelled) it gave me time to sit down in my own personal space and just work for hours on my tasks, I feel I get more done in my own environment  sometimes, maybe that is because it is less distracting. I did go to a crit group meeting with other game art students this week it was with students that are in different years and doing other projects. It was good to see how some of the students from the other year groups have improved  in their work, it makes me want to become a better artist.

Final piece, Character project

This is my final piece for the character project. I like the final design of my king character and how he shows his snobby and proud personality through this piece, the pose is a good representation of this, I am happy I went for this pose. I have added a golden cane that the character is holding, I thought this would give it a little bit of a touch as it shows his wealth and power through his processions. The background is dark in colour with a curtain that is draped across, I did not want to go for to much detail for the background as I wanted the character to stand out the most. The dark colours represent his penurious nature. I am disappointed in this piece, I don't think it is as strong as I wanted it to be. I did try to make the style of the piece in a  realistic approach, that being similar to a real classic portrait painting. I guess because I already have a style that I am comfortable working with ,it has made it harder to branch out and try different forms, this is a habit I would like to break  so I can be more confident in trying new ways of creating art styles.  I suppose I worried a little that I would be too long on this piece and not finish in time. Overall I am glad that I gave it ago and will continue my efforts throughout this course to do better in learning new techniques.

King Pose, Image reference

While doing image research of king portraits and poses to get some inspiration I came across this image. I really like mannerism in this painting, I think this is the image that I will benefit from using as my characters pose.

Images
 www.geheugenvannederland.nl , (1856), William III (1817-1890), King of the Netherlands [ONLINE]. Available at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Portrait_of_King_Willem_III_of_the_Netherlands,_Nicolaas_Pieneman_%281856%29.jpg [Accessed 06 November 15].

Character sheet, King

This is my character sheet for my chosen character the king. I wanted to do the character in different poses that show his personality. I wanted to give my character a personality that is snobby, lazy, selfish, proud and rude. I think a few of these actions show this. The actions range from him walking, which he seems to be quite lazy, another is him sitting down, one being him with his legs crossed hand on chin, this action seems that he is a rude if not bored person. There is also a action where he is standing very proud of himself, this show that he is confident or even big headed.

This is a expression sheet, I wanted to do a expression sheet because I wanted my character to have charisma. Here you can get a sense of what the character is like in his nature. In all there are 6 different types of expressions here:

1. Bored/normal face

2.Annoyed

3. Scared (Of the dogs)

4. Angry

5.Snobby/talking

6.Smirking