Creature [WIP] critism/feedback welcome

theaquaticape

This is my first thread here! I'm excited to start being a part of this awesome community.

I'm a 3D artist in the Chicagoland area that's worked in the coin-op/slot industry for about six years now. I decided to make this piece as a way to expand my portfolio and learn some new techniques. It's a basic remake of the creature from the black lagoon. My goals for the project were to create a great normal, spec, low poly model, and eventually toss everything UDK. Everything is currently rendered in Mental Ray.

Right now I'm working on making better spec map. I don't make them that often so I feel like I'm struggling with it. As someone's who's made art professionally for a while now I love good feedback.

VanLogan

Awesome start.

One thing I notice is that the face looks very flat from the front. Normally when you look straight at someone you can see a small amount of the side of the head. Even in this image there is more mass to the sides of the eyes. I think you can push the gills from the font view more too so they break silhouette.

pablohurtado

This looks pretty cool so far. I do agree with VanLogan that you should be able to see the side of the head in the front view, also since its a head bust you should try to add some asymmetry to the model I think it would add a little more interest. It doesn't have to major asymmetry but the wrinkles shouldn't be exactly the same on both sides. But besides that I believe it looks pretty good I really like your diffuse map the transition of colors is really cool. How did you texture it?

theaquaticape

@VanLogan Thanks for the feedback. I actually had the gills pushed out much further at one point! Do'h! That said, I see what you mean, and I believe you're absolutely right. Those gills are coming out.

@pablohurtado Thanks for the tip. I never even thought about making it slightly less asymmetrical. I think I can make some adjustments and make it work though. As far as the diffuse goes, I brought the normal into CrazyBump, took the diffuse it spits out, and used that as an overlay to get some of the normal detail. From there I just looked at reference and painted in my colors and other details.