Chimz Sketchbook

[Chimz]

Today I begun work on her front sections of hair using Fibermesh. I've also begun setting up my lighting environment and doing a few render tests.
I still need to work into her head dress further too. I've just made a jeweled brooch too, which is pinned to the head dress to add some extra interest.
I've also cleared some fur from the neckline as I want to add some stitch work detail there eventually.

[Chimz]

I did a re-render of this fella, because I wasn't all that happy with how the first attempt turned out. I think this works better without all the colours, also this angle looks nicer I reckon.
Also added a funky rim light in red. I tried purple and blue too but I think this was my favourite version. Although being as indecisive as I am I may change my mind again later!

[Chimz]

Hiya everyone! I finally got around to finishing my sculpt and getting it all rendered out today. I really hope you like her. It was great fun to sculpt.

[dangov]

Beautiful piece. The face almost looks like it was 2d painted. Where did you render it ?

[Chimz]

Hi dangov. Thank you! It's rendered using BPR in ZBrush. I created two different lighting set ups and rendered it out twice, saving both results. I then used different layer set ups in Photoshop to mix them together.

I also created my own custom quad channel material to get the skin effect I wanted, so I could easily add shadow/specular/ambience etc.

The painted effect on her face is achieved by using polypainting. I hand painted the eye make up and red tones, for example on her nose, and the blush of her cheeks by picking colours I liked in the palette. It was the effect I was after so I am very happy you like it.

[Chimz]

Here is the final sculpt without any polypainting before being rendered, just with the standard grey clay material on it.



Below are screenshots I took along the way to show my process from start to finish. I start experimenting with polypainting and lighting set ups quite early on as it helps me get more of a feel for a sculpt and how I want the final piece to look by the end. I began with a 3D sphere and used dynamesh to get the first 'base head' then took it from there.

[Chimz]

Okay! So I begun a brand new piece this lunchtime. Can you tell what it is yet?
Again I've started from a 3D sphere, and I'm using Dynamesh and the Remesher Tools at a low resolution to start creating my basic forms and shapes first.

[dangov]

Really great topology on the face. I wish I could sculpt like you (oh, well, it's something to shoot for). You know, one of the reasons why I was drawn to zbrush was that I saw some 2D characters done, that looked like they were manually painted but then it turned out they were done in 3D and then converted to this 2D sketch-type of look. How long have you been sculpting Chimz?

[Chimz]

Thanks! I wish I could sculpt as well as other people on here too, haha. Just got to keep practising I guess. Hmm, I've been sculpting for about three years or so now I think. I try and do about 30-40 mins five days a week during my lunch breaks at work. I sometimes have to use ZBrush for work, but it depends on the type of art style that is required. At the moment I'm working on a very 'graphic' style of game so it doesn't call for a lot of ZBrush work unfortunately.

I wish I could sculpt all day! That would be perfect. How long have you been using ZBrush? Are you self taught as well?

[dangov]

That's great, knowing that you get to use ZBrush at work sometimes. I live in Macedonia and here, hardly anyone uses or has heard of ZBrush. I stumbled upon ZBrush in late 2013, but I sporadically I was spending time learning the tools and never got to do much sculptings. In 2015 I've been dabbling more. Here's a WIP that I did about a week ago. It's supposed to be a skiing kangaroo / slash rocking chair ..

As you can see I have a lot more to learn because I rendered it in Keyshot and I'm still learning Keyshot as well.

[Isunoj]

Hello Chimz. I like the ideas of their models. Just think you should have a little more attention to landmarks bones, as FourtyNights said. Good luck.

[Chimz]

@dangov Good start! I could tell it was a kangeroo straight away so you're heading in the right direction. The render is pretty nice too. You just need to start working on your initial forms a little further. Did you use any references for this?
I like the concept of it being a rocking chair.

@Isunoj Thank you. Yes, I shall try and work on this a little more with each sculpt I do. I always appreciate the feedback.

I did a little more on this sculpt today. Just half an hour experimenting.

[dangov]

Thank you for the encouraging words. Yes I did use a reference but after I was done I modified the base form I bit in order to resemble a rocking chair. It's actually my first render in Keyshot. And you are right, I need to work on my shapes and forms.
I like your latest sculpt. Simple but smooth nice lines. Did you use zspheres?

[Chimz]

@Dangov Nope, no ZSpheres for this. Just began with a 3D sphere then used dynamesh to pull out the forms I wanted.
Thanks for the feedback again.

Here's an update from today.

[Chimz]

Posing the character now, before taking further.