Project Update: Sharwee .04

After a long break I went back to this personal project - Sharwee.
The reason why I abandoned it for  around two months was an overall disappointment and not being sure what I actually wanted from it.

Playing around in Mudbox was rather frustrating. I tried different things, various options...when I started poly painting I realised that I actually had no clue what I was doing. I drew the concept art of Sharwee, but the 3D Sharwee was more of a lost twin cousin. 

Sharwee got abandoned. Never finished, although often crossing my mind. I was constantly thinking about this project, trying to figure out the actual expectations I had towards it. It took me a lot of time to realise one, very simple solution - follow the concept art. Why trying to make him realistic if every drawing of him would always be stylized and simple. 

I also came across some really amazing examples of 3D work that inspired me to return to Sharwee and give him another try. This project is not finished yet, although in my opinion it's already looking way better. It's true to the character's initial design and it's not trying to be something else. 

Druid Concept Art

Sharwee Concept Art

After a long fight it's finally done! Sharwee's concept art is all brand new and fresh and I hope it will look nice with the model (once it's complete...).
 

Also I decided to post a little comparison for motivation (my own and perhaps others). It is good to see progress! Yesss :)

Sketchbook - 04.08.2015

Today's sketches done during a warm and relaxing afternoon. 

Modelling: Sharwee .03

After some feedback and help the basic model is complete. Now it's time to finish UV mapping him and then take him into Mudbox to add details. I am very excited to do that!

Modelling: Sharwee .02

Modelling: Sharwee's Head

Between hour drawing exercise, working on 2D portfolio and job hunting I decided to go back to year two character design project and undust my modelling skills. The sidekick character got a lot of good feedback back in year two so I decided to give it a try.

The plan is to give him a new proper concept art, a nice model that shall then be taken into mudbox. I am thinking about fully rigging him as well but that shall be decided when the time comes. For now modelling.

So far he is looking like a very unhappy thumb but it's all early stages! I shall keep this space updated with the progress.

Minor Project: The Father - Concept Art

Minor Project: The Erlking - Concept Art

Minor Project: The Daughters Concept Art

Minor Project: The Erlking - Expression Sheet

Minor Project: The Father - Expression Sheet

Minor Project: The Daughter - Expression Sheet

Expression sheet of one of the daughters. I decided to go for expressions that are closer to what the animation is going to need. 

Minor Project: The Father - Colour Test

Colour tests for the Father. The aim is a peasant, farm looking colours which don't make the character feel rich nor happy. Slightly dull and dirty with textures (yet to come) on top of that. 

Minor Project: The Erlking - Colour Tests

Colour test for the Erlking, based on the theme of autumn forest. 

Minor Project: The Daughter1 - Colour and Eyes Tests

After designing the characters the time has come for the colour tests. In most cases the final outcome is not going to be only a plain colour; there are most likely going to be textures and patterns applied on top of the base colours.

Different variations on the eyes, all references from animals. 

Minor Project: The Daughter 1 - Final Outfit and Flower Crown Designs

The Daughter inspired by poisonous flowers.

 Few designs for the flower crowns. My personal favourites are 5 and 10. I like the idea of the crown being rather big and detailed, instead of being only one simple chain of small flowers.

Minor Project: Designing the Father

The time has come to design the Father. Both me and PG agreed on giving him and the Son more peasanty look, and that was the guide I tried to follow. Also the fact that he's more of a secondary character and shouldn't be too rich in detail. 

 Few initial sketches; trying to get a grasp on mature male faces and actual tests of how the Father could look like. Number 12 is what has been agreed as final face. 

Few quick ideas for the Father's outfit. Number 3 and 4 have been taken into further consideration. Above, on the right side, a sheet presenting how these would look in combination with the design of the Father. Number 2 being a possible final design of the Father. 

Minor Project: The Erlking - Final Design

After today's tutorial the king was still at "needs few tweaks" stage. The changes that have been made are as follow: the crown has been adjusted and it's more symmetrical now, the beard is slightly longer, the shoulders and overal body mass got slightly bigger. The balance of the neck area has been restored and the king's feet gained shoes. 

Minor Project: The Daughter1 - Development and Final Design

One of the two daughters of the Erlking. The design is a combination of both mine and PG's ideas. The daughter is supposed to look friendly and nice in the beginning, to lure the son to the forest, however the expression sheet which is in progress will reveal her true, evil self.
(slightly longer legs and neck intended)