4/28/14 Thorn base color, Skylander Redesign and Centiaq Prelims!

Hey everyone!

This week I was able to finished the basic color texture for Thorn!  I was able to bake a diffuse layer combining all of my textures and saving me a ton of time.  I am over joyed at the fact he looks like his 2D counterpart! With minimal color changes I'm able to now move into the detail phase and get some nice texturing work in!

As I stated last week I was going to post the prelims for the Centiaq genders.  So here they are, male and female!  The male, while still well built will have a bit rounder quality about them as most male opera singers happen to be large around the belly for better resonance.

And finally this week's Skylander!

This week was a redesign, and the lucky redesign is Wrecking Ball!  The way this process works is (as I am still new to a lot of their back stories) my friend reads off to me a back story excluding name, or physical description while only giving me his element and attack functions. And then in as little time as possible, form a concept.  This week I was able to brain storm a name, concept and add some basic colors in under an hour.

So this is RanSnack, a Magic element based frog food thief who uses his tongue for a majority of his attacks.  He stores his food in his magical handkerchief!  This came from the story of "Boiling a frog" based on his back story and just continued from there.  Like I said before hes a redesign of Wrecking Ball, a character I wasn't familiar with before.  After I was done concepting I referred to Wrecking Ball for color direction, and I'm quite pleased with the results.

Next week I'm planning on having a finished linework for the Centiaq along with an original Skylander design and most likely more pieces getting ready for color!

Until Next time!

-Jordan

4/21/14 Thorn UV complete, Elsa and Skylanders!

Hey everyone!

Thorn has officially been completely UV'd! And now onto the fun texturing!  Along with this I have a brand new Redesign for the character formally known as Elsa and finally something rather special; my first Skylanders design!

So first up Thorn!

Hes completely UV'd!  And I found I really prefer this number checker rather than the default checker that Maya comes equipped with.  While organic shapes tend to be difficult to UV I find it rather meditative!

Next up the character formally known as Elsa!

So as most of you have seen her before, this is nearly an entire redesign (Elsa is on the left).  There were a couple reasons behind the redesign: 1) Her name kept spawning "Frozen" conversations which was getting rather annoying. 2)  Her character just didn't grow and capture me like the others (Grant, Thorn, Pacifica). 3) she was just an all around awkward character to talk about, she just didn't fit in.

Her new name has yet to given as I am still deciding with my colleague, but in short her character is that of a Pirate captain who's been the victim of a mutiny and left by herself in an unknown land where she happens to run into Grant.  Shes striving to restore her honor and exact revenge on those who stole her ship.  Shes cunning, strong willed and most of all patient.

As for the design on the right, I'm currently looking into designing the Velodine to be a bit more (for lack of a better term) classic vampiry.

And finally for something completely different!

This week I had the opportunity to fall in love with a game I other wise thought was made up of generic fantasy toys... I was far from right.  I for the first time sat down and played Skylanders and it was love at first touch and being a huge collector of toys it just made sense.  I was charmed by the game and I immediately wanted in on this!  The fact that kids all over the world get to enjoy something so inspiring and so creatively shaping, I can't contain myself and I'm both jealous that I didn't have this as a kid and extraordinarily happy for this generation of kids.

So without further ado this is Skull Bash, my first Skylanders design

My colleague who's focusing on writing and game design actually wrote up his ability set already complete with the name of his stead!

Lines:

Summoning Portal Phrase: “Breach the apocalypse!”
Collecting Loot: “More treasure for the underworld.”
Randomly said: “Bonk and bash!”
Randomly said 2: “Ride on, Taxidermy!”
When defeating a hard enemy: “That’s using your head!”

Starting Abilities:
Charge!: Hold A. Charges forth on Taxidermy, hurting enemies that stand in the way.
Swipe Attack!: Pressing B, Skull Bash swings his mace on either side of him.

Upgrades:
Baton Toss: Throws the Mace, then teleports Skull Bash to it.
Tombstone Rumble: Taxidermy stomps his feet, shaking the earth and knocking enemies away.

Spec Upgrades:
Ragehorse: Engulfs Taxidermy in fire, dealing fire damage to those it strikes.
Fury Mace: Your mace deals more damage and swings faster!

Robert's email

haywrites@gmail.com 

I enjoyed this so much that I plan to attempt to do one new character each week.  These could be anything from a sketch to an image like this one above.

Next week is gonna be a blast!  Expect a base textured Thorn and a rough turn around for the Centiaq!

Until Next Time!

-Jordan

4/14/14 Thorn UV'ing

Hello everyone!

This week's post is gonna be a bit opposite from last week's!  Thorn update with no 2D being posted!  Shocking I know!

I took this week to just gesture sketch to loosen up again, jotting down new ideas on how to further Elsa and new directions for a few characters!  I've also begun work on Race turn arounds!  I'll be posting a male and female version for each race to the quality of my previous work in the Art section of this blog! So stay tuned!

Now for Thorn's progress!

 As you can see I've almost completed Thorn's body mesh UV, only torso and hand remaining.  I'm using a far better method of UV'ing than I have in the past so its taking a little bit more time to get it second nature.  But like all things, the pace is really starting to pick up and I'm over joyed by the results!

 I'm pretty proud of his facial mesh!  The large mesh on the right is the interior of mouth.

And of course I couldn't resist an image with all of his armor back on!

Next week this blog should see the prelims for the first race I'll be fabricating --The Centiaq!  And a roughly textured Thorn!

Until Next time!

- Jordan

4/7/14 Class Concepts

Hello everyone!

No 3D work this week!  A bit of 2D work though!

This week I focused on Class concepts for the RPG, and its really starting to shape the original ideas for Grant and the gang!

So first up is a Race that hasn't seen the light of day on this blog!  The Absolara! This race is based on the idea of fear and retribution.  They worship the sun out of fear and respect its power and in turn base their entire culture around it.  This race is solely female.  The Scythe created from solar power is their primary weapon as they are the reapers and harbingers of the Sun.

I had this idea that these creatures hide from the sun in their suits of armor that are solar powered, yet completely shrouded in darkness within the suit.  Their eyes glow from the constant exposure to solar power.  I feel it gives them the inhuman creature within visual.   Divine, cold, retribution.

 This class I have displayed here is the Sun Harvester.  This class absorbs light through their armor and then stored for other uses.  Here I have one of the abilities being shown,  Brilliant Flash.  A quick burn ability but fantastic for quick escapes or immobilizing the enemy.

Next up is the Carverkin Cannondolier.  Utilizing the Carverkin's great strength  They've attached a giant cannon to their arm.  While still very much the scrapper, the Carverkin is slowed down a bit but makes up for it in mid range combat, being able to fire many kinds of ammunition.

Next up is the Earth Shaper!  Essentially a Carverkin mixed with shamanism, the Earth Shaper must always be in contact with the elements through their great Pick Axe in order to utilize the elements.  They cover themselves in anything they can find in nature rather than crafted material.

And finally The Velodine Executioner.  Feared by all, the Executioner is an agile killer.  Wielding a glaive with both hands or possibly their tail, they can quickly cut down anyone who stands in their way.  Being light on their feet and gaining more balance through their tail,  no one is too powerful or large to be overcome by the Executioner.

Next week their will be a bit more 3D work finished as this week was mainly used for UV techniques!  More 2D work on class concepts to come as well!

Until Next time!

-Jordan

3/31/14 Thorn detail work and more Puppet designs

Hey Everybody!

So this week was a lot of technical work with UV'ing and modeling work. I'm learning new ways of tackling complex organic UV'ing and cleaning up topology!

So while there isn't too much this week, there will be quite a jump next week!

So first up, Thorn's detail work:

As you can see Thorn now has his tabard! I've added a bit of a cuff to his shoulder, this was to actually cut down on a bit of modeling work.  I was originally going to nCloth a shirt over him but realized that even in concept Thorn's clothing was more of the skin tight nature so it would end up looking wrong regardless.

This actually made me rethink his design and actually solve some problems conceptually about his garb, but as you can see I've come to a solution!

And finally some 2D work.

This week I've been thinking about the nature of the Puppetmaster's Automaton; origins, functionality etc.  And I've come to what I think are some awesome ideas.

What makes the Spinnerette so unique is their culture is based on design and functionality.  So to me it made sense if they had been doing this their entire life or at least exposed to it.  Whether it be in toys/pets or simply walking along a webbed path they've been part of it.

What I've shown is some varying degrees of tinkering.  The expert Puppetmaster who has not only been able to reactivate a Spider Kaiten, but also control it.  The scavenger Puppetmaster who had to build their Puppet from scrap and web.  And finally the beginner Master, perhaps just a child taking their first steps towards this craft.

More UV'ing and studying this week! More 2D work to come!

Until Next Time!

-Jordan

3/24/14 More Thorn work and a lot more concept!

Hey everyone!

So this week I've got Thorn's modeling almost finished, just need to add his clothing pieces!  And I have quite a bit of concept work that ties in a slightly newish direction!

So first up thorn!

Over all, a bit more work done.

"Finished" up the modeling work for his left arm, give it a bit more of a mechanical segmenting.
The small hook underneath is going to attached to a coil of chain that will be inside of his forearm area.

Finished up Thorn's right arm guard.  The entire purpose of it is smashing, kind of like a set of giant brass knuckles.

I may go a bit more in-depth with his belt, but as of right now I'm pretty happy with it.

Gave him a Ramp shader on his eye to test out how his coloring will work, and I'm quite pleased.

And an over all general look!

And now for the 2D work!  

First up, Thorn's gauntlet sketch I was modeling from.

 This weekend I had the opportunity to work at a street fair for my University representing the animation department, so I was able to get a bit sketching work done!  These are scans from my sketchbook.

What these next set of images represent is a WIP for a possible Pen and Paper RPG set after the events of Grant and Elsa's story that I'm working on with a colleague of mine!

This should look a bit familiar!  This is actually the direction I'm taking for the way female's of Thorn's race (The Carverkin) will look like.  Huge and hulking like the male counterpart, just slightly smaller and bit softer around the edges.

This is a concept for a possible class called the Puppetmaster, a Spinnerette who controls a mechanical automaton. Note that the each character is not to scale.  These automantons can range from city guards to pieces found and melded together.  You might see these automatons roaming the webbed cathedrals of the Spinnerettes.

Next up, the Centiaq! (sent-e-ak)  A race of centipede like humanoids who have a natural gift for the Voice.  These creatures will range from opera singers to traveling bards.  Both genders are represented here. 

This should also look familiar, this is a Bulwark Mantiok, (Mant-e-awk)  one of Vex's race.  The idea is of a last stand kind of praying mantis.  One who doubles their size when in trouble and tends to always jump into action against anything larger than itself and in turn must look larger by flaring out its wings and armor.

 And finally the final image, a human Kaiten Buster.  Years after the events of Grant's story  humans have developed a way to harness the power of the Kaiten and construct mech's from their remains.

I hope you all enjoyed this!  More to come next week!  As for Thorn I'll be working on his UV'ing!

Until Next time!

- Jordan

3/17/14 Thorn Body Mesh Complete!

Hello everyone!

So last week I had begun working on Thorn's body mesh, well this week its complete along with some of his armor!

I'm extremely proud of how he is coming along so far!  Just two months ago I wouldn't have felt this was a viable route to take with these characters,  but after seeing just how fantastic Thorn is coming along I'm planning to do the rest of the gang!

Again if you'd like to see or know more about Thorn's development or character, please head to the Artwork tab of this blog and check out his pages!

And finally pictures!

The plan for this week is just to continue modeling and finally get more of the 2D work scanned and uploaded!

Until next time!

-Jordan

3/10/14 Thorn Soft Model

Hello everyone!

This week is light on the 2D work and heavy on the 3D.  Most of my 2D work this week was mapping out piece for Thorn and getting my hand used to his shapes before modeling.  Those sketches will be uploaded at a later date.  For now what I have for you guys is a set of images of the new Thorn model I began working on this week!

So before I begin with the images,  I'd like to explain that I'm using a brand new modeling method I've never used before;  Soft Surface modeling.  I'm still using the Sub Div technique but now with soft surfaces and I'm finding that I'll never go back for at least organic models.  I'm over the moon with the results!  I couldn't have asked for more!  The main reason I still prefer Sub Div modeling is essentially just because it makes me far more conscience of my poly conservation.  So combining these two techniques has been fantastic!

And here we go!

 
I do plan on rigging this model for posing purposes, so it wont be too complex but enough to get him to emot!

The plan for this week is to continue work on this model and perhaps get the ball rolling on a new character model!

Until Next time!

-Jordan

3/3/14 A new Proxy and some new Grant work!

Hello all!

More fun developments this week!

First up,  a proxy for the next 3D character.  This time the character is Thorn!  If you'd like to know more about him I have a few pages about him in my Artwork section of this blog on his design and concept development!  I'm absolutely loving how he's turning out even just in proxy!

Next of course is my 2D work for this week!  This time it's a little bit of everything!

First up is a set of images featuring a few races that exist in this world of Grant and Elsa.  Three Races are present with both male and female representations.

This next image is me spit balling possible shapes and sizes for other Kaiten besides the Drone.  I plan to do quite a few more pages of these silhouettes before I'm satisfied!  I'm personally really enjoying the scorpion design.

And finally to Grant! The main issue with his design from the start is that his character just wasn't working out for who he needs to be in his story.  So after his story re-engineering I've gone back and done a little bit of redesign to reflect these changes.  I feel that these images are starting to give life to the correct Grant.

The plans for this week is just more work done on these current works and more!

Until next time!

-Jordan