Owlmighty Character Model

ChiNguyen · May 2020

Here's a character concept by Raymond Sebastien.

https://www.artstation.com/artwork/k4ERoy

I started blocking his body proportions and decided to ignore the feathers for now since they'll be hidden inside Owlmighty's armor.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/7e/sm1oda20ltur.jpg

Body Blocking

DavidCruz · May 2020

Good luck with it, a strong base with some good forms will help with the end result, will keep an eye out for this thread.

ChiNguyen · May 2020

@DavidCruz Thanks! This is my first time doing something with that many armor and components. Next update I should have a few armor pieces blocked.

ChiNguyen · May 2020

Update

Here's today's progress shots. I'm still blocking out his armor and his booty cheeks are still exposed at the moment. ;D

I went in and readjusted his body proportions as I made the armor pieces. His neck got a little longer and his overall stature is a little wider.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/ju/lchdjimn51gq.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/ln/rhru4vyr6rrt.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/08/zt3l5od20s9c.png

TJ_Works · May 2020

I like the look of him so far! Comparing to the original concept sheet, his head looks slightly smaller with the armor on. Maybe scale it up slightly to see if it looks better?

I think scaling the shape outline of his torso and/or thighs from the front view might help too. As of now, his silhouette from his mid-torso to his thighs runs flat. Something like below is what I have in mind. Hope this helps.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/bs/9tz0v43171mc.jpg

ChiNguyen · May 2020

@TJ_Works Thanks! I'll get on those fixes right away.

ChiNguyen · May 2020

I gave him a little more girth and added in more armor pieces. I'm still working on the knee guard.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/rb/rv5qspizng4h.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/ek/mq0ades2wik6.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/bm/9an0rej5437g.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/g3/pxv3fvwp61ff.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/o1/5qhl9lm37nhq.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/ag/uag5a2nat1rz.png

ChiNguyen · May 2020

Here's another update. I started adding in details to some armor pieces. I'm still working on the shin guards. I'm having a little bit of trouble translating the kneecap guard to 3D.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/ol/tlv3s0r1typv.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/2m/k8sln37m9zei.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/lv/p8wc7m7z1t1e.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/oj/5tgkliwc6pwl.png

Corweee · May 2020

Really like the way this is turning out so far. For the kneecaps I would suggest modeling them flat and then using a bend deformer or something similar to get an even curve. I took the piece of concept and rotated and mirrored it to illustrate. Hopefully that helps a little.

ChiNguyen · May 2020

@Corweee thanks it does help a good bit.

ChiNguyen · Jun 2020

Update

I finally got to the shin and knee guards. I still have to go in and add the rest of the details. I still have to go in and polish the gauntlets. I also retopologized him in maya.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/7o/9xq6olujs5fq.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/dp/vz0pok5ug7by.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/3c/7x9fn0sff6s0.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/4d/aasm2zb9utas.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/61/o30pvr8o9lsh.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/me/yw5yie41euri.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/7z/qr9k02i75ja7.png

TJ_Works · Jun 2020

He's looking pretty sweet, and the low-poly topology is nice and clean. Can't wait to see the finished sculpt. ^^

ChiNguyen · Jun 2020

Here's another update. Here's the base colors and some detail work. I'll be painting in the lights, adding some discoloration for the armor. There's a few things I haven't been able to address yet like the gap between the pant's tail hole and his tail. His lower half hasn't been worked on yet.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/un/syk5bz4t7ozl.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/k2/b2ec2350v2jx.png

sebray · Jun 2020

look really cool so far !!

ChiNguyen · Jun 2020

Hey it's been a week or so but here's an update! More details were added and I sharpened his chin a good bit. I'm going to mess with emissions to get the yellow-orange part of the pipe and other parts to glow a bit. All feedback is appreciated. I'd like to start posing him soon.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/op/viadj0x4bldg.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/mx/i2x3m9124jbg.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/1b/9drrosap93rf.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/t9/p8zd7og09x75.png

DavidCruz · Jun 2020

Wow nice work all around, the one thing i would've done differently to help this "pop" more in 3D would've been exaggerating the bevels (& adding more) on the armor to a more "wow" style those being bold and very noticeable. Would play nice with a specular down the road if you added one.

The one thing that hurts this (for me) is 90 and 45 degree angles do not look so great in 3D space, so exaggerating the angles with the bevels(repeated i know) would make this read better than it currently does. (you learn more about that down the road and i think this thread helps a lot when making armor & this one, you probably had a look at them.)

Just helps to point them out, saves people having to redo things if they think they should.

Also would've made the feathers on his head separated (all of them) that would've made this look really neat in 3D. Yes it would've been a lot more difficult so i see why you didn't.

Otherwise nice work, is this diffuse only at the moment?
I like it, i am sure the posing will help this out a lot and finishing up the details, will you be adding any of the additional details to the backside? (upper wing designs)

Glad to see you committing to this and seeing it through, looking forward to more. Keep it up.

ChiNguyen · Jun 2020

wow! @DavidCruz @JustAfterDark thanks for the feed back! I'll get those critiques addressed asap.

@D@DavidCruz What did you mean by making the feathers on his head separate? Like different geos?

I had the AO baked in but at a lower opacity.

DavidCruz · Jun 2020

Yea like a 4 feather type setup, so you create 4 original feathers(or more for the custom black ones) then use different arrangements to make it look all asymmetrical.
I'll try to find resources that give you the general idea, will edit post with links just letting you know i am doing it now.

edit these links should give you a good point to work with:
https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=zbrush feathers&rs=typed&term_meta[]=zbrush|typed&term_meta[]=feathers|typed

You can do as you wish, even use this information on a future project if you want so you can finish this up, its your choice i am just pointing out what i would do to give you ideas, sry i didn't get around to you sooner before you uv & painted this but i can't be everywhere all the time.

As long as you do not mind going back, it's really up to you, if you have a map for the head only then this isn't too bad of a quick fix. If you feel overwhelmed at any-point i'd just keep it in mind for the future.

Either way, looking good.