Working for 20 years as a Manufacturing Engineer for various Aerospace companies the only 3D programs I had any interaction with were CATIA, Solidworks, AutoCad and NCAD so it is no surprise Blender is a new world. I love it!
I also enjoy most outdoor activities, fishing, hiking, camping etc. Most music and College Football (UW Huskies!). Favorite vacation spot: Hawaii.
Still working on the face and realized the reference drawings are not exactly good. By that I mean, if you look at where the smile ends in the side view and where the sides of the eyes are the facial proportions are not correct. If I keep modeling as close to the reference image as I have been, creating the eyes will be next to impossible. Here is a view of what I have so far but as with the hands I am going to try another approach and see what that looks like. This is definitely a learning experience.
Yes, I will be keeping all of the interim models as possible starting points for new models. More of an inspiration of sorts which means I’ll be keeping all the different hands, faces and when I do the ears (yes I am going to try the ears) I will keep them as well. I probably will not add the ears to the model as they will be hidden by the ear protection being worn but I will have them as a reference later.
I love using matcap in solid view. I learned about this function while working through Johnathan Williamson’sĀ hard surface modeling videos at CGCookie.com. Mesh modeling the head is proving to be a challenge and I found using the matcap in while in solid view I can very easily spot strange deformations in the mesh and at the same time have another view port open in edit mode pushing and pulling verities while watching the deformations disappear. Such a helpful tool for me to use and I had know idea what it was for previous to those videos. Here is a shot of where I am at so far.
I thought the hand presented some challenges for me and now it is on to the face. I purchased ‘Character Creation’ Volume 1 from CGMasters.net and in doing so as well as watching the first part I have decided to do the head/face using mesh modeling rather than box modeling. At this point, as I said before, this is my first try at a character an now, at the same time a first with mesh modeling. Let the fun begin! š
This evening I think I will take some time and watch Part 2 of the ‘Creating an Uber Shader’ series from CGCookie by Matthew Heimlich
The hand is finally done and I will now attach to the rest of the body. This has taken quite some time and the time it is taking has a purpose. This is the first character/organic modeling I have ever done and I am taking my time for that reason. Second I am collecting all the resources I can to create this model, by that I mean modeling resources for techniques etc. so after this project is complete I have those at hand to keep on practicing.
Since the storm of this weekend including Monday and yesterday (Tuesday) bringing Thunder heads and some wicked Tornado’s here in OK, specifically Oklahoma City (my prayers out to them) and up here north of Tulsa it has been difficult getting on the computer to do much of anything. When able just briefly last night, this site was down for some reason. Well, I am at the point of just moving verts and tweaking the mesh on the hand and will attach to the character when I am satisfied with that, probably tonight then on to the face then clothing.
The hand is getting close. I am thinking I should be done by tomorrow afternoon. Of course the thumb is a little big right now but after a few adjustments all should be well.
I have started modeling different versions of some hands. One of course was the one I did with a little help from some written tutorials, books and other videos. I have one done with the technique described in the book “Digital Modeling”. At first I just used pictures in the book for reference and this time tried to follow the book. Thumb is not complete but you get the idea. Now I have started working on one using a tutorial I found created by Johnathan Williamson using version 2.49 (I think).
Here would be the first attempt with legs added. Starting to look like a little guy. I am still up for practicing on the hands as the don’t look right to me. If you add the fact that I am a bit picky it will make perfect sense if they never look quite right to me. š
Hands are defininetly something to practice on. For a part of the body that looks so simple it is not. Tried a little bit this morning at the office, read a little bit of Johnathans book “Character Development” and some of ‘Digital Modeling” by William Vaughan, and then looked at other resources on the net I then went home and gave it another go. The results were better but practice is a must on these digits.
Afternoon hands