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 – 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.