14th and a right turn

Now this is really something.

I'm really impressed how I did with this piece. I started looking around autodesk mudbox online help and figured out that using a picture as a stencil is not that heavy stuff.

There is 3 different views in mudbox, 3d, uv and image browser view. From image browser, I checked my hard drive for a photo and set that as a stencil. Tried the paint tool for projecting the picture on the shape, but that didn't really work. Made it look like inverted. Then noticed the "projection tool", which worked. Suddenly.

Now this is really something else. I'm taking a new direction with this, but it also might start taking more time. I'll see and figure it out. This catfish with a small beard is anyway a good start.

I'll take a look for some tutorials and get inspired.

13

level 3, 25 mins

I made this longer than before. First sculpting was feeling nice and running, then I don't know what happened. I got pressurized? The feeling that I have to always better myself sneaked up on me. Or now I assume it did..

I felt that all is well, "yeh, I'm going to make this good.. no, the best!" And maybe it was here where I took the wrong turn. I stopped being relaxed and started to guide the progression to a fine, nice, watchable, adorable, praisable direction. So that somebody could come up to me and say: "nice, well done". Then I would feel really nice.

And is that for the good? Don't know..

I used the grab-tool to quickly sink in the ears and lower the eyes to a better position, but now I didn't mess around so the shape stayed together.

As I was thinking earlier, I feel this sketching has come to an end. I don't gain big leaps no more so I might move on to texturing. I could detail the models more and learn that, but I think the texturing might be more appropriate direction.

Now I'll have to start checking on some tutorials about texturing. I'll link all the tutorials, and the keywords how I found them here, for my guidance.

It feels like an important decision to change direction. I guess it needs some self-evaluative properties to notice when to change direction. Maybe also some planning and objectives might support that. I could keep on going to sketch these things up to 100 pieces and stop, but I feel no need.

I checked one nice tutorial about texturing with a photo. He painted the skin straight on the sculpture. It was actually looking really exciting. And I think it will feel like so as well..

12th

level 3, 15 mins

Pigboy. 

I estimated that this one took 15 mins, but it could've been 10. Its getting quicker all the time, and I feel I should add something to this workflow. Maybe level 4? More details and limit it still into 20 mins.

11th

level 3, 20 mins

I added some hairy action on the skull, it came effortlessly with wax out. Also took the symmetry off for the first time to gain some natural asymmetry.

Front ok, sideview has the jawbone too back. Maybe the jaw is also too low.

I'm really starting to get to a point where I feel the flow coming. The whole working system is getting more speed and I'm able to concentrate on the shape without getting distracted f.ex with trying to find a key. The speed stalls quite frequently, but I feel a learning curve that's telling me that I'm going on a good course.

10th

level 3, 15 mins

I had a beer and made this one. And I noticed I was more quick while not caring about smoothing. Also I  intentionally left working marks on the model. Just waxing it in with speed.

9th

level 3, 40 mins.

I think I'll have to learn how to make some eyeballs. These sleepy fellas are very profound and thought-lifting, but I think it is time to start thinking about facial expressions.

Moving the wax around with the settings I have now is starting to root itself to my system. Every time it feels more natural and fluent.

Also the system what I have, where I don't take it too far gives me a quicker ending to a single project. I set a small goal and achieve it in an hour or so. And through that, I notice it's not a big step to take in the evenings to make a head.

I'm also starting to relax with my writing. There's two reasons: I'm doing it often enough. Almost no traffic in the blog.
And the last one seems to be the most influental one.

Anyway, this head has now more nose and it's good for him. He has some interesting areas in the frontview. Maybe the frontview is hinting that the sideview should be wider, perhaps from the neck.. but otherwise it's pretty ok.

8th

level 3, 1 hour

It seem now easy to use the wax-tool to find the basic shape of the skull. Wax out, then wax in with low strength doesn't make sudden big changes that would scare the flow away.

Still, after said that and uploaded this, I see the sideview is not quite the same shape. And the noses seem all to be very stubby. For the next shape, I'll concentrate on the nose-area a bit better. 

Now when thinking about it, the nose hasn't been for me a thing to be played with to gain character. Meaning, it has been a part of the face I forgot. If I know what I mean?

edit 19.04. What a weird thing. The whole thing feels like a pack of wet gelatine. 
Just made the 9th and now see that things have to have edge! Smooth is not ok. 


edit 21.04 I look at this and I feel something coming up my throat. 


edit 25.04 It's really not gaining anything when days are passing. Very slimy. 

seventh

level 3, 45 mins.

I used wax tool find the shape and now it worked like never before. I was able to stay in the shape, and changed the size and strenght of the brush on the go. Good stuff. I shaped the back of the skull with quickly adding layers of wax, rotating, checking the whole shape, wax in until it was fine.

The wax-tool is pretty tricky piece of thing. With low strenght it doesn't add anything, it just smooths out everything into a plane, just moving stuff around. With that adjustment it's good for me to destroy noses when needed. I'ts quicker than smoothing out, or sculpting in. The sculpting in would anyway cause wormholes in the shape, so I don't seem to use it much.

This one has his lips too low, but it still feels logical for this character. And a flat face, there is something innit, aintit?