WIP Character - Student Work

David Wakelin

Hi guys,

Thanks for reading my thread. This is the first post in which I've uploaded to Polycount for all the harsh criticism :P. I appreciate any feedback as it improves me as an artist!

I've currently just finished my second year at University, and return to my final year shortly; this piece is a character for my final project which I started early to ensure everything is to its highest standard

The Character is intended to be exploring an extremely run down and destroyed city that has been evacuated from potential disease. (Stereotypical Post Apocalyptic Setting)

Research Mood Board:






Final Character Concept: (By George Munteanu)






Final Base Mesh: (Created By Myself)









Researched anatomy a lot whilst creating this base mesh, and gained alot of insight from the "Hazard Course Character" Threads, especially rogue - despite it being female so thank you - About to start sculpting, so any necessary updates to the base mesh from crits would be appreciated!

David Wakelin

Crits appreciated.

Texelion

Hey David,

I checked George's portfolio, it's really impressive, but he is a professionnal right ? Not one of your classmate ?

I just say that because in my school it's totally prohibed to use concepts made by professionnals for our final project, we have to do everything by ourselves, because the school owns 50% of the rights, and we own 50%. If the school want to show your work in public, they can't do it if you used others works, you don't have the rights. There is a lot of legal stuff. But maybe it's not the same in you school.

Anyway, for your model, the neck is wrong ( he desn't have a neck in fact, just trapezes ^^ ), the arms are too short, the legs looks strange, the ears are too high and not big enough... hmmm all the head is wrong in fact, bad proportions.

I suggest you take a pic of a man looking like the character you want to do, a naked man, front/profile/back, and just put it in background when you modelize, at least you will have correct proportions. If you try to to a naked basemash based on the concept, it will be wrong because the clothes change your perception of the body.

You know, like this ^^ :

David Wakelin

Hi,

As much I understand the section about concept; the proportions match exactly to this reference found on the polycount wiki;

http://wiki.polycount.com/CategoryReferenceAnatomy

If you look at my concept (first image, where the character is naked, - where his hands end, and my hands end; is the same place) - the arms length are again ending the same place.

I will however, look at the neck and wrists as at the moment I feel these needs improving;

If you could show some reference that match mine to backup your points it would be GREATLY appreciated again any improvements would help me improve as an artist.

Cheers

nyx702

I think the torso is too long. I thought the arms were too short at first but from looking at it more I think it just looks that way because the upper body has been extended. The wrists should be pretty much inline with the junk region.

Consider relaxing his shoulders too so they are not so straight across and stiff. It looks unnatural.

Two Listen

Your proportions do not match those of either of your references. You're ignoring the fact that in both of those images the subject's arms are out at a much wider angle than yours. Your arms are too short and that's what stands out the most to me right now.

Here is the reference to back up these points (it's one you linked to):



As you can see, if you match up the arms appropriately, they are not the same.

I'll also say that since both of those main proportion references are drawings, you should cross reference them with photos. George's concept showing proportions looks even a little bit different from his other images below it, I wouldn't use it as a "perfect" proportion reference. As seen in that image of Brendan Fraser, usually the elbow goes down and can hit the lower most ribs (or even the top hip, depending) when at a resting position. Assuming you keep the position of your arms the same on your base mesh, I'd lower your elbow a bit, and then lengthen your forearm to give your wrists a resting position around or right above the lower hip. Take that opportunity to fix your wrists a bit and you've got my main crits out of the way.

David Wakelin

Nice,

Thank you,

I'll make a move on the arms now. I'll even define the elbow abit more. I didnt realise it didn't match up any more apologies if I came across stubborn!!

Cheers!!

David Wakelin

Still working on fixing the proportions of the arms;

If anyone else has anything to crit then please so! I'm still learning the basics unlike you pros!

- If anyone could mention my face proportions that would be great, I feel theyre fine, the reference I've put it up against matches it well; but others are saying otherwise!

Let me know

Cheers

David Wakelin

A Quick Update:

Made changes to overall model, fixed proportions of the arms and hands. Added more edges around the knees to enhance the kneecap. Removed a edge loop on the face to spread out the loops; and then enhanced the chin more.



Made some changes to the facial proportions. Fixing the nostril size, and evening out the topology. made the bridge come out further and rotated the ears in slightly.



Again,

Please crit it improves my skill and techniques as welll as my understanding of anatomy. If no more changes need to be made I'll start sculpting

David Wakelin

Would be great to please get some crits! I see so many people on this forum and so few answering!

After staring at my own mesh for 20 minutes, I feel the face is too round and will define the shape abit more.

Currently looking at different face structures in men; but again this is work that could be done in Zbrush!

Any Crits before I make any more changes!

Quick Update: Havent done much due to work!






Again any crits would be great!

The lips are rushed atm! I know their terrible i quickly blocked them in seconds! :P

Popolo

I think the reason why you haven't got that much critique is because what you're currently showing is more or less a base-mesh. The proportions are looking okey, the face seems to work for a base (maybe the eyes are a bit tilted towards the nose too much).

What you should do is throw that bad boy into zbrush and start to give us some delicious details So throw into zbrush and give us some muscles!

Really cool concept and good luck!

David Wakelin

Updated!

nufftalon

The reason one would do their base mesh in max or maya or whatever is to first nail the proportions. That also includes making sure your eyes nose and mouth are aligned with your concept. You can even throw it side by side in photoshop and use guides to make sure that it is matching up to the concept. Now if you are happy with what you have then zbrush time it is! Start using the move brush at lowest sub div level and try to define as much of the silhouette as possible. In the materials there is a flat shader you can use to just focus on the shape. I would say don't use any other brush for now and only use the move brush until you have moved everything as much as you can. I would say don't worry about nothing else, don't subdivide, don't use any other brush. Just try to nail the shape. Once you are done that post again, and I will tell you what the next step is. I am extremely jealous of such a cool concept. Do it justice and don't worry if it don't come out perfect. Artists only get better with practice and you must fail and make mistakes to learn from them its unavoidable. Keep it up.

David Wakelin

Hi,

I've been blocking out in zbrush; updated above! Cheers tho I believe my face isnt yet in proportion so I'm going to align it in photoshop with the concept now!!