Final Major Project Update – 09/04/20

Over the last few days, I went about sketching more dynamic poses of my docile creature, lightly experimenting with its design.

I also started a rough sketch of one of them being chased by the predator creature.

I decided to leave the refining for later so I could finish the anatomy drawings and move on with the next part of the project. I used rhinos of course as my main reference, and used the 3D model of the head I sculpted to draw it in different angles.

Final Major Project Update – 06/04/20

Since my last post I have continued work on designing the docile creature of my game.

Design reference board:

My aim for this creature design was for it to be the cattle equivalent of our world (kind of, a bit more capable). Big, herbivorous, and defence oriented. After creating some initial silhouettes and rough sketches using the references on my design board, I prioritised display and deterring features. Considering the previous design guidelines I had used for the other creature and native designs, I sketched crested heads and spiked bodies. I took a lot of inspiration from the stegosaurus, pangolin, and javan rhino.

After picking out a body shape I liked, I drew over it, using these inspirations, and started inching closer to the kinds of features I wanted to refine in the final design process. After changing the body shape to resemble a rhino more than a dinosaur I found I was close to what I wanted.

I decided it was time to start sketching loosely. My process and design was getting stiff and felt boring. I sketched new heads to experiment with different crest/horn ideas.

I used references of rhinos again to aid in the illustration of dynamic poses. I ended up sketching something I really liked again. I took to Zbrush to sculpt the new head. This made it able for me to consider every angle and the general 3D shape of the key part of the creature design. In the sketch I also added clear definition of where plating would be.

Currently I am drawing more dynamic poses using my sculpt as a reference for the head, and considering the plating on the back more carefully.

Final Major Project Update – 27/3/20

In the past week I have gone back to working on my creatures, starting with the scavenger creature. Here is the design reference board:

As previously posted I started with some sketches and silhouettes. I used the silhouettes to determine what kind of body shape I wanted to use, whether it would be something more raptor-like or more bird-like. My aim was to make the creature look agile and somewhat threatening. 

With the sketches I continued the idea of the anatomical similarities with the first creature I designed (the predator). I gave this creature a crest, four eyes, and spikes along its spinal cord/tail. There are also smaller similarities to tie it all together.  I made one of the eyes bigger and one smaller to emphasise the bird qualities. I was very happy with the head I created in my first sketches and only made small alterations along the way.

Next I took note of which bodies suited the creature most and continued to sketch with this in mind. I used oviraptors and velociraptors as reference. I sketched something I really liked, and went on to refine it. 

I changed the body shape, feathers, and spike placement. I found that the final iteration looked best. It gives a sense of agility and mischievousness. It was also eye catching and unique.

I tested some colors. I already knew I wanted red from my previous sketches, especially because I had incorporated the red and turquoise feathers into my natives’ designs. So I mostly experimented with pattern and color placement.

After choosing a color scheme, I made some gestural/action sketches to show how this creature would move.

And finally, I created anatomy sheets, showing muscle, skeleton, and head views.

I also began a photobash+painting of the scavengers’ head. It is a work in progress.

Final Major Project Update – Creatures – 3/3/20

Apologies for not updating recently first of all. Secondly, here’s what I have produced in the past few weeks for my creatures!

After determining the design of the Thymexodon (apex predator) and the mount creature, I developed anatomy reference pages for both. I used existing creatures as reference to make the anatomy as accurate as I could. I also produced some head views and feet views. I decided it would be beneficial to show the main body, muscle structure, and skeleton separately from each other and then show the skeleton’s placement within the body.

I went on to create a final render of the predator. I used photo-bashing and painting to produce a realistic render. I used the textures of a crab, scorpion, beetle, alligator, rock minerals, and a lion. I decided to work in black and white to determine texture before colour.

After finishing the render, I used overlay layers to add and experiment with colour schemes. I even overlaid images of fish or precious stones to try patterns out on the body. I experimented with a colourful and vibrant scheme as well as a few controlled palettes.

I found that the bright blue/purple colours were too ocean-like and not suited for the environment. I kicked those colours to the curb for the moment, but carried the idea forward of having markings on the back half of the body.

A couple of my tutors and my peer gave me feedback on my work at this point. I was told to make the forms of the predator render more organic by changing certain areas, such as the back piece, the fore legs, the back legs, and the back of the neck. I have yet to act on this feedback.

As for the other two creatures, I have started on the basics of their designs. I did some silhouettes and sketches. 

I decided to keep certain anatomical similarities within the creatures of the local environment so they all looked related. This is why the scavenger design has a head crest with the nostrils like the predator does. It also has four eyes, and I will probably add some long spiky tail feathers to reflect the predator’s rump spikes.

In the next post I will cover what I have produced for the native race in the past few weeks.

Final Major Project Update – 11/2/20

I have started working on the predator design, who has been named Thymexodon (a combination of different specie names). Initially, I began with silhouettes, and immediately felt this was too static a way to start the process. I moved to my sketchbook, and using references I just started loosely sketching ideas. Mostly heads at first, and then I started studying lion anatomy. I wanted the predator to have a hunter form. I also chose to use beetles and bugs as inspiration. The spiky forms are interesting and aggressive looking.

Once I found a general idea I was happy with, I moved back to photoshop to start narrowing down the best design. I created a few sheets of head designs, filtering the best ones into the next sheet until I found one that felt best. I chose this head because it looks aggressive and has a unique shape.

I started working on iterations of the body, changing the surface detail, silhouettes, and proportion. I made the shoulders and neck very bulky to match the ramming attack implications of the head structure. I kept the back half of the body lean and agile. I wanted the feet to not too closely resemble cat’s or dog’s paws, so I made them a bit longer and skinnier, and added details like dew claws and webbing. Here’s what I wrote explaining the general anatomy of the Thymexodon:

“The Thymexodon hunts primarily in the forested and wet areas of its habitat. It has webbed toes to aid in paddling through rivers etc. and a chitinous exterior to protect them and harden their attacks. The serrated head piece is made of bone and chitin and can be rammed into larger prey to stun them, hence the large built shoulders and neck. Thymexodon has a jaw with two pieces similar to the long maxillary canines of a Smilodon, which go up the skull above the eyes. The back has a leaner agility-focused anatomy. Thymexodon runs fast and hits hard. Extra dew claws on the front legs allow it to hook its claws into prey that tries to escape. They are also helpful for gripping onto trees when climbing to higher vantage points. The serration on the fore-legs is also useful in this action.”

I aim to render the Thymexodon next and create a material call out page.