As discussed in the previous blogs I changed my idea for the sentry gun to a quirky, stylised pirate ship boat, with a tap for a cannon and shoots fish (Bizarre I know). I chose a new idea because I was unsatisfied with the first idea and felt that I was not pushing an original concept, instead I was just coping a genre style. I thoroughly enjoyed this project over my last ski fi sentry gun idea s it had more originality but most importantly the randomness of the idea allowed me to explore many different routes in my concepts instead of sticking to the cliché of directional gamut and slick design for the ski- fi sentry gun.
This week has gone so quickly and jheez! what a week it has been. The asset swap has passed, the film project is over and no the sentry gun project has come to an end. As discussed in the previous blogs I changed my idea for the sentry gun to a quirky, stylised pirate ship boat, with a tap for a cannon and shoots fish (Bizarre I know). I chose a new idea because I was unsatisfied with the first idea and felt that I was not pushing an original concept, instead I was just coping a genre style. I thoroughly enjoyed this project over my last ski fi sentry gun idea s it had more originality but most importantly the randomness of the idea allowed me to explore many different routes in my concepts instead of sticking to the cliché of directional gamut and slick design for the ski- fi sentry gun. I am glad that the project is over because it took a hell of a lot out of me. Now, I am more please that I was able to finish the project in a week, but I must admit if I had more time there would definitely be some things in the project that I would work on such as the concepting and the quality of the textures. I had learnt so much from this project, especially high poly baking and particle effects in the unreal engine. Yet, most importantly I was able to use and improve my z-brush sculpting skills, which is significant to me as I want to be a character artist for Creative assembly. Now although, the project had many highs it definitely had its share of lows as well…. A great many in fact. As said above, I started the project again and only had a week to work finish the project which meant that many of the processes- e.g. texturing was rushed, however the biggest issue I found was my stress levels increasing rapidly. Watching my peers with awesome finished projects certainly struck a nerve when I was only unwrapping. This caused me to be very motivated to work harder and faster and of course with the help of many motivational speeches by Arnold Schwarzenegger – I worked ridiculous hours of the day and night and ate and drank very little. Now this would be awesome had I been I been a robot, but alas I am a frail and fragile human being. To my fortune I was able to complete the project in time for deadline. I am happy with my final concept and that it was also was a funny quirky idea. Here are some of the renders of the final result: On another note Heather’s life drawing class was particularly interesting as this time round we would only be focusing on the head. To my fortune I had been practicing head and deuce drawing using the Andrew Loomis method and with luck I was able to utilize my teachings during the session. Now, although my head sketching could use a lot more work, it was fun to have a change of heart in the life drawing lessons, and I am glad that heather is open to change. Furthermore, the animation lecturer Jeff whose additional life drawing classes I had been attending, gave us a lecture on the human form and the best way to represent it when drawing. He mention fascinating methods of drawing such as seeing what is on the inside of a model but also first representing the human form in primitive shapes. He went on to speak about the importance of perspective and taught us the 2. 3.5.8 Method of measuring. However I think the best lesson that I got out of the lecture is that he mentioned how we should relax and never be satisfied with one piece. This was most significant to me as I had always gunned for perfection in my sketches when really they are only….sketches. (Thank you for this lessons Jeff) Now during the week working for long hours consistently has taken its toll on me- lack of sleep as made me cranky and less responsive. The lack of socialising has made me paranoid and I am pretty sure that I had dropped a number of trouser sizes because I wasn’t eating properly. Now, I know what your thinking- “Denzil you need to take it easy...” and I say no! I was able to push away the hunger and fatigue and social anxiety simply because I wanted to achieve the best possible outcome. Now excuse the cheesiness but it is true “When you want to achieve as bad as you want to breathe, you will be successful” (Eric Thompson)
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The 6th week on the course has been rather quiet if I’m honest. This could possibly be because that it is assessment and reading week and so classes have halted and many students have gone home. Even so, it’s very strange… On Wednesday, a parade of DMU’s leading professors and officials visited Bede Island to cut the ribbon and award the plaque for the new Leicester media school department, to which Game Art would be a member of. I was a joyous organization if I am honest and we were even graced with the presences of our lord the Vice Chancellor himself (I joke). On the day we were assigned certain roles to play to represent game art. I was given the opportunity to do life drawing, which I was glad I got chosen, however I must admit the nerves certainly affected my life drawing abilities. Additionally, I feel that I am making some progress in my gestural drawings: My sentry gun project has been coming along this past week as I am bringing my concepts to life by modelling the idea. I was able to create the final concept fir the cyberpunk gun, which had the quirky look that I was going for. Furthermore, I was able to unwrap the model and also test it in engine with the turret mesh that we were provided by the lecturers. Speaking of which I returned back home for the weekend for a job interview and some much needed TLC with the family. I must say returning home and seeing the parents has been very therapeutic- allowing me to naturally unwind the cluster funk that I call my brain (all part of getting the balance). The maritime museum was a big highlight of my trip and it was incredibly fascinating to discover how civilisations used to travel only 200 years ago. Furthermore I got the chance to see the ‘Cutty Sark’ a behemoth of ship, which proved to be a good source of reference for my project. Modelling was not too hard however, I did run over the tri count a number of times, and despite my obsessive planning, and thus I had to go through the tedious process of getting rid of as many tri’s as possible. Eventually I ended the model with 4,999 triangles of the 5,000 triangles assigned budget (Mad skillz!). After looking over the work that I had done and the amount the time it had taken I was not satisfied with what I had created and thus decided to scrap the initial idea and move onto another one. I returned to my initial mood board scrum of ideas and was able to pick up on a number of ideas which would eventually lead me to the idea of concepting a pirate ship sentry gun. I formed this idea up from the look of one silhouette but also from influence from visiting the maritime museum during my weekend trip back home. This week at uni, I have been able to maintain somewhat of a healthy balanced diet, it has been slightly harder as I have had to work a lot longer, however, I have not been working till 9 and feeling more refreshed has been the result ( even my Mum noticed I didn’t look so scrawny when I returned home). Furthermore, Chris (the awesome lecturer) has introduced me to a gym routing and dietary plan which I am following in an attempt to get the poster body that every boy wants. Ideally I would like to look like terry Cruz in the next 2 years- I just have to fight my ultimate enemy laziness.
Other than that Things are looking pretty good on my end, this week, the Judge Anderson personal project is coming along, I am currently modelling the body and making a final concept for her to use as reference, but aside from that I am pleased in how it has gone. I am eager to get back home and start working at it, but also glad I got the chance to relax at home before I return to stress Ville (aka Bede Island). |
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