Project Low-Poly

Recently I have been enjoying getting engrossed in making low-poly creations suitable for games :) My goal is to have a collection of simple but beautifully textured prop models, and, with some scripting help, an "animated" bird! I am enjoying the challenge of creating these models with as low polygon count as possible, while still making a pleasing form.

Below are two pieces I can share with you today, a simple model of "Claude" my real house-plant, and a standalone four-leaf clover for Saint Patrick's Day!

Claude the Aloe

Lucky Clovers :)

Take care of yourself, and see you here again tomorrow with a modeling update!

Adventures & Appreciation

It is amazing how much a change of pace can do for your levels of energy and inspiration! A hike near the mountains gave such perspective, on many things! It has definitely been a week of nature-inspiration....while also sitting in front of a computer screen experimenting for maybe too long. :P

This week I focused my energies in two areas I've missed; 3D modeling and texture painting! There is a special kind of satisfaction when you update a texture painting onto the model and....viola!- it fits well and makes the model look that much more convincing!

First, the fun found feather (whew, alliteration!) that started my digital art obsession:

Next, you may recognize this plant from last week's post....but I used my painting in my texture mapping for this potted plant project (oh goodness, there goes the alliteration again!):

I have many, many more project ideas flying around my head, so there will be much more fun projects to come! Thanks for reading, and as always, have a great week!

<3 And Happy Valentine's Day!

Video Game Work: Another Tree Model

I have been behind in posting my work for Iron Ninja Games! A wonderful indie game development team, they are at work on their pilot game, Beaver Smash! It will be released to iPhone, Android and iPad.

This is a set of two low poly trees, which will populate a number of the levels in the game. I took a concept to design, and have completed all of the modeling, UV unwrapping, texture painting, rigging and skinning too!

If you are interested in following the game's progress, you can do so here: ironninja.com and make sure to check out the Development Blog tab!

Thanks to Iron Ninja Games for the release of this image

Programs used:  Maya LT 2015 and Photoshop 

Freelance Work: Tree Game Models

A couple months ago I was invited to become part of a wonderful indie game development team, Iron Ninja Games! Since then I have been doing a variety of work for a game yet to be released to iPhone, Android and iPad.

This is a set of two low poly trees, which will populate the first level of the game. They are variations of trees I created for my short film, "Boris", and have been improved and modified to the director's vision. Keeping the style intact was most important to the game's look. I have completed all of the modeling, UV unwrapping, texture painting, rigging and skinning too!

If you are interested in following the game's progress, you can do so here: ironninja.com and make sure to check out the Development Blog tab!

Programs used:  Maya LT 2015 and Photoshop CS5

 

   

Warrior: Work in Progress 3D Model

This is a work in progress model! The screenshots of my model below show my progress so far. I have been working on this warrior 3D model in Maya for a little while, but it has been regretfully slow-going. I endeavor to pick up the pace on it so I can have a completed model soon, and move on to texturing and more detail sculpting!

Piggy! A Boar Character Model

This is a work in progress! It is a character I have modeled for a friend's animated short film "Dusters". The character concept and much of the design was done by Zack Aller. I did all the modeling including blend shapes! The model shown below is the working model I rigged and skinned for use in his film.

The boar is the first quadruped I have modeled so I got to encounter some interesting problems, like hot to best organize the flow of geometry for the legs. I found it especially difficult to find the best way to organize the hind area for the best movement of the legs. So those areas will really need more work I am sure! But I wanted to post my progress so far. Below is a video turn-around of the model, and some silly screenshots showing the blends I've got working at this point.

DreamWorks Animation DreamCrit Gallery Show!

This past Thursday I had the honor to be an exhibitor at the "DreamWorks Animation DreamCrit Gallery Show" at DreamWorks studio in Glendale!

It all started with the modeling DreamCrit in March. For those unfamiliar with this amazing cooperative between DreamWorks and the Cal State system, I have to elaborate! Cal State Fullerton University (my school!) is one of five schools in the Cal State system that have the opportunity to participate in DreamCrits throughout the school year. Each "Animation DreamCrit" has a specific focus (e.g. modeling, animation, concept design…) and two students from each school are nominated by their professors to actually have their work critiqued by DreamWorks professionals!

The modeling DreamCrit was such a great opportunity for me to learn how to better my models! It was so exciting to have my work so constructively critiqued by the professional artist! I came away from it with a mini-sketch book full of notes on how to improve, and such positive energy and excitement toward my work.

Later on, I was again honored by receiving an invitation to submit one of my updated and improved models for the gallery show! The show consisted of animation and modeling reels playing on a screen, wonderful designs and paintings hanging on the walls, and a whole bunch of happy animation and illustration students and professors. It was a fantastic opportunity and I am so glad I was able to be part of it!!! I cannot thank my professors enough.

Showing below is the reel I submitted to the "modeling DreamCrit" and under that is the turn around of my improved ranger model that is part of the gallery. I am still not done improving her, and I really want to apply the critique suggestions to Boris Bear soon as well!


My modeling reel:  Featuring Boris Bear, Ranger, and Donnan B. Goat

My improved ranger turn-around reel, shown at DreamWorks!

BORIS: My student short-film!

Here it is! Finally! After two super crazy semesters and one very busy summer worth of work, it's done! When making my short-film "Boris', the goal was not to produce polished/finished animation, but to become a one-woman studio and learn all the processes of animated film making. I am happy to say that I learned a lot! I enjoyed making all the models and have a new-found appreciation for animators and riggers along with the rest of the film making crew. But especially animators and riggers (seemed to be the most difficult jobs for me)! It was a tough challenge, but I am thankful for the experience and hope you have a bit of fun watching! Thanks!

With special thanks to Amanda Leahy for the music, Zachary Aller for his creative input and troubleshooting, my family, and all my professors and classmates who gave great suggestions and support!




Also you can click below to see...

Character Models:  Boris Bear
                               Ranger
               
Environment Models:  Ranger House and Trees

Learning Mudbox: Mermaid

My first time using Mudbox! Yup this past semester I decided to use my special studies class to begin using Mudbox! I chose to learn by doing a project, in this case a character model of a mermaid. I began by researching and doing my own original mermaid design shown below. Then I started the model in Maya 2013 for the basic form and transferred it over to Mudbox 2013 where I did most of my sculpting. All of the painting was done inside the program as well using PTEX. I am still learning and getting the hang of the program, so I have much more practice ahead of me! I am looking forward to using the posing tools inside Mudbox too!

Boris Bear: Ranger Character

The second main character of my short film is the Ranger! I have below an original concept sketch, along with some renders of my model in Maya 2013. She is sporting a very simple paint job right now, so she is not totally textured. I am especially looking forward to painting the textures for her face. But here she is as she appears in my short film (which will be posted soon)! Her hat appears in the film as well.

Boris Bear: He exists!

Finally Boris Bear is here! All of those trees and that cabin are for this guy's film! I have included one of my character design paintings, along with Boris himself as he lives as a model in Maya 2013. At this point I am not 100% finished painting his textures, so these are just the base colors. Both the image and textures were painted in Photoshop CS5 and Corel Painter 12 on a Bamboo Tablet.

Boris Bear: Ranger House Set

This environment is for my short film about Boris Bear. In it you can see the trees I have been building, which now make up the forest around a ranger's simple house. This is the first pass at the environment, so it may undergo some changes later as the rest of the space is built. The scene takes place in daytime just after a rain storm has passed, so it is somewhat gloomy.

Final Tree Lineup:

Simple Ranger House:

Stylized Trees: Trio Tree Model

This tree is from my set of designs for my 3D short film starring Boris Bear. This is the sixth of seven trees in the set (see "Original Stylized Tree Designs" for the original set of sketches:  http://briannaleahyart.blogspot.com/2012/06/original-stylized-tree-designs.html ) This will be the final model of the set as one of the original seven was omitted for a more cohesive look.

This tree is painted in simple color for now.

Modeled, lit and rendered in Maya 2012, painted in Photoshop CS5 and Corel Painter 12

Stylized Trees: Sprout Tree Model

This tree is from my set of designs for my 3D short film starring Boris Bear. This is the fifth of seven trees in the set (see "Original Stylized Tree Designs" for the original set of sketches:  http://briannaleahyart.blogspot.com/2012/06/original-stylized-tree-designs.html )

This tree is painted in simple color for now.

Modeled, lit and rendered in Maya 2012, painted in Photoshop CS5 and Corel Painter 12

Stylized Trees: Lollipop Tree Model

This tree is from my set of designs for my 3D short film starring Boris Bear. This is the fourth of seven trees in the set (see "Original Stylized Tree Designs" for the original set of sketches:  http://briannaleahyart.blogspot.com/2012/06/original-stylized-tree-designs.html )

This tree is painted in simple color for now.

Modeled, lit and rendered in Maya 2012, painted in Photoshop CS5 and Corel Painter 12

Stylized Trees: Tear Tree Model

This tree is from my set of designs for my 3D short film starring Boris Bear. This is the third of seven trees in the set (see "Original Stylized Tree Designs" for the original set of sketches:  http://briannaleahyart.blogspot.com/2012/06/original-stylized-tree-designs.html )

This tree is not yet fully painted and textured, just simple color for now.

Modeled, lit and rendered in Maya 2012, painted in Photoshop CS5 and Corel Painter 12

Stylized Trees: Big Tree Model

This tree is from my set of designs for my 3D short film starring Boris Bear. This is the second of seven trees in the set (see "Original Stylized Tree Designs" for the original set of sketches:  http://briannaleahyart.blogspot.com/2012/06/original-stylized-tree-designs.html )

This tree is not yet fully painted and textured, I just blocked in the colors for now.

Modeled, lit and rendered in Maya 2012, painted in Photoshop CS5 and Corel Painter 12

Stylized Trees: Pine Model

This pine tree is from my set of designs for my 3D short film starring Boris Bear. This is one of seven trees in the set (see "Original Stylized Tree Designs" for the original set of sketches:  http://briannaleahyart.blogspot.com/2012/06/original-stylized-tree-designs.html )

Modeled, lit and rendered in Maya 2012, painted in Photoshop CS5 and Corel Painter 12

Original Stylized Tree Designs

I designed this set of trees specifically for my upcoming short film starring Boris Bear (character designs posted soon!) The trees will make up the forest where the film will take place, and each will be interpreted into a 3D model in Maya. I will be posting finished models as they come!

The trees were sketched in pencil, then scanned in and put into Photoshop CS5 for color

Gentleman Billy Goat: Rigging Update!

Yes Project Billy Goat is still alive and well!

In late January I began rigging him and have since been working hard on him, so I wanted to let you get a peek at what I have done so far!

His body is almost done, I'm currently in the process of getting it's bells and whistles rigged (ears, tail, beard, etc.), and tomorrow I will begin skinning him. That will leave me with blend shapes and attaching the face controls! You can see all of his controls in the picture below- yes they do make him look quite silly!

Currently all of his limbs can be moved, he can twist, he has full use of his hands and fingers/hooves, he can move his head, look anywhere he pleases, walk...all he needs now is an expressive face!