This project has generally captured and developed two major things for me. Firstly, my skill and understanding regarding the creation and development of 3D artwork, this has grown and improved significantly. Secondly, on a personal level, I have realised how much influence/inspiration had overwhelmed me and could have sabotaged me in the past.
I started the project with a strong aesthetic influence from the film Avatar. The strong visuals really impacted on me and I wanted to produce something for myself with the same feel. I studied trees for a very long time and researched ways to create them in 3D. By doing this I learnt how to use the basics of three programs: 3Ds Max, 3D Coat and Maya. Prior to this pursuit I had never created anything that looked realistic in 3D, so this was something new for me. I had to learn to model, texture and apply materials to my models and render them correctly to make them look as real as possible.
After some time 'playing' with creating trees and other organic, natural models I then saw an amazing video from Alex Roman called the Third the Seventh. It is a 10 min video of full CG architecture. The video is famous in the 3D industry for it's stunning photo-realism. This video then influenced me to go on a venture of non-organic modeling, dealing with advanced texturing, lighting and rendering.
I started testing my new skills on other scenes like desserts and a model of a piano and other sculpture objects. At this point I knew I had to stick congruently with something rather than continually experimenting, so from the inspiration I felt from the figurative sculptures I started learning how to sculpt the human figure so later I can create some great dance compositions.
For about a month I spent a great deal of my time studying the human anatomy and learning how to use a new program called Zbrush. I would spend a lot of time learning muscle groups (see sketchbook), although it was hugely challenging because I had so much to learn and understand technically. I understood how to use the program and felt comfortable with the technicalities I was facing. I learnt whilst using Zbrush that I could create any object using it's tools. Zbrush is truly powerful in it's capabilities and far surpasses any other package. I was excited to see what I could create I stuck with the human figure concept.
After a while I discovered I could record my work in real time in Zbrush, so I started recording my workflow and adding them to my blog. Zbrush also made my workflow much easier with texturing because you could literally just paint your textures on rather than going through the technicalities of UV mapping. I created my models with Zbrush, rendered and post-produced and I can comment that I am pleased with them.
For me it's not the final images that I am most pleased with, it's the journey of development I went through to get to where I am now that I have found mostly satisfying. I have learned so many skills from the applications I have used.
The sub-projects may have been some what arbitrary but each small thing I did revealed to me something new that finally got me to where I am now. Before this project I only knew the basics of creating 3D for myself on one program but now I know the full process of workflow on most packages (except animation) and had experience with each one. Because of this experience I have now my own efficient pipeline that is cost and time effective.
The work I have done for this project was time expensive but that is because of the learning processes I went through using these new packages. Future projects will be easier and faster because I have already learned how to do it from this project. Because I have experience now creating a range of items ranging from trees to architecture to figurative compositions, I have a broad understanding and ability.
The other significant accomplishment I had made during this project is to control the influences I get from other people/work. Before EMP I was really influenced by Iron Man, then when EMP started I was influenced by Avatar then Alex Roman. I tended not to focus on one influence. I really don't know how I was so oblivious to how these influences were pulling me in different directions – I was never consistent. I also felt I was never being original and creating anything from my own expression. My final production was not influenced from anything in particular unlike before. With my final piece of work I was creating from a place of experimentation, improvisation and fun. I plan to keep this integrity and keep external influences from controlling me like they have previously. I have also learnt to plan my work more efficiently.
I am grateful I have had the time and space to independently develop for myself. Without it I would not be ready for the transition from academic education to professional real world work. Although I still have some more work to do before I am fully there this project has got me 90% of the way.
In the future I plan to rebuild my portfolio to show what I can create now from what I have learned from this project. To start with I will freelance and join an agency and build my reputation from that. I have been doing research on the business side of my work so I can learn how to get work.
Sebastian
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