Gandalf sculpt

Ged · Sep 2016

Im making a sculpt of Gandalf in zbrush for fun and to keep my skills sharp. I work in lowpoly most of the time at work as I create mobile games, so its fun to get away from that once in a while

This is based on the Gandalf seen in the Hobbit graphic novel by David Wenzel.

heres some of my reference:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k3JT7TrgTDc/TjMHQUGShvI/AAAAAAAAFKk/Vlo4etcXn98/s1600/HobbitGandolf.jpg
http://corecanvas.s3.amazonaws.com/theonering-0188db0e/gallery/original/thehobbit010604a.jpg

Hes far from finished but Ive blocked out and started sculpting most of the main shapes so far.
Render is from Iray substance designer.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/gc/w0332pptok5q.jpg

Ged · Sep 2016

done a bit more, this is fun

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/0a/iultxt0vhtzs.jpg

Tomtegubbe · Sep 2016

I love that style, now that's a good looking "cartoon". Mostly on this forum your see exaggerated cartoons or anime characters with big swords. Great work, I'll be following this thread.

lotet · Sep 2016

really cool style, I agree with tomtegubbe, it has a very mature subtlety to it. I think some parts are a bit wobbly and undefined though. like the feet for example.

supremedalek925 · Sep 2016

I really like the silhouette created by the hat, sleeves, and clothing around the ankles. It reminds me of a Don Bluth or similar animation style, but not too cartoony.

Ged · Oct 2016

Thanks a lot @Tometegubbe and @lotet and @supremedalek925

I agree lotet, I actually fully smoothed/polished the shoes and redid them based on reference rather than the cartoon as the cartoon was too indistinct to make out folds properly. I tend to start off a bit undefined anyway, heres the latest version of him, added pedestal and staff. The pedestal is very early on and blobby still. Ive been refining his outfit and the details a bit too.

lotet · Oct 2016

Much better, really digging the sleeve detail, and the staff looks great!

The feet look much better, but the shape is still a bit funky I think. The heel fells really big while the toe cap is really small.

Ged · Oct 2016

Cheers thanks! Yeah I see what you mean, I thought something still looked a bit off :P

also meant to say to @supremedalek925 Don bluth is a great inspiration, thanks a lot!

Tomtegubbe · Oct 2016

Those are some tight fitting shoes, I'd increase their size a bit to allow blood to flow through them.

Ged · Oct 2016

Haha yep I think he needs more space for his big old man toes

Ged · Oct 2016

Still working on wise old Gandalf, hes got nice big feet now and a big base to stand on. Im hoping to maybe get this 3D printed just to see how that comes out. Still got a bit more detailing to do and then its just the posing to do.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/d9/qkalfiw4hefi.jpg

lotet · Oct 2016

Looking good! are you not planning on making a lowpoly for him?

czepta · Oct 2016

Looks awesome. I haven't seen that Gandalf design before. It has a charming appeal compared to the more gritty film version.

Ged · Oct 2016

lotet said:

Looking good! are you not planning on making a lowpoly for him?

Thanks both of you. Yeah hes a nicer more approachable looking guy but still regal in the graphic novel. @Lotet No I do a lot of lowpoly work for mobile games at work, so this is just a bit of fun sculpting at home

lotet · Oct 2016

ok, I totally get where your coming from

its a shame though, would love to see him textured.

Ged · Oct 2016

finally finished this dude off today! woohooo! took ages to pose him in zbrush, dont know if Im doing something wrong but masking things manually over and over again is a pain in the butt.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/ir/navmjcw9ajhz.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/hq/kom9srogvah9.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/na/bszd3ayvn2xx.jpg

Ged · Nov 2016

I got him 3D printed at shapeways, hes 10cm tall (about 4 inches). It came out ok, not great, they seem to have snapped the ball off his staff at some point(it wasnt in the packaging). The quality is also just a bit blurry and blobby so Im not particularly impressed. This is with the flexible and strong white polished material. For around £40 I expected a better finish to it.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/dm/fhbzbnaw4x70.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/t4/8upeb01j1957.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/vl/y668kesvaazp.jpg

lotet · Nov 2016

hmm, thats a shame actually

Ged · Nov 2016

lotet said:

hmm, thats a shame actually

yeah it is, I guess its an experiement worth trying though, I learnt a few things along the way.

PyrZern · Nov 2016

Now it seems he's lost, and is using a twig to find a new direction...

Ged · Nov 2016

PyrZern said:

Now it seems he's lost, and is using a twig to find a new direction...

haha yeah its just a stick now :P

Ged · Nov 2016

Hey just an update to say Shapeways was rather nice and sent me a free 3d print of my sculpt with the staff included this time. So that was good of them.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/6e/je8imr62gqhr.jpg

lotet · Nov 2016

Thats nice at least. the detail looks a bit more clear too, is that just the lighting or did that one turn out better?

Ged · Nov 2016

Yeah it was good form for shapeways to send a complete model, I think the detail is the same.

Blade113 · Nov 2016

nice job

Gandalf sculpt

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