Artwork > Anim8or Challenges
[ COMPLETE ] Challenge #27: War Machine
dwsel:
--- Quote from: davdud101 on September 10, 2011, 09:05:54 am ---Tell me why it just occured to me that I'm horrible at modelling?
--- End quote ---
Don't be so harsh about your skills! I believe it's not that you're BAD at modelling. I see other things that might count here.
1. I'm wondering how many hours (by average) it takes for you to build the scene (modelling, mapping, texturing, lighting, composition, not counting rendering time)? I remember that you posted your final entry for the previous challenge sth. like 1 or 2 days after the topic was given. I was kinda surprised by such speed - mine took me 6-7 days 4-5 hours/day - which was obviously overkill, I think I was inefficient in many places, and I believe I'd do it faster next time or I'd build more complex thing in the same timespan. But my point here is to have patience and tweak the thing until you like the result.
..I dropped this challenge :( because I decided that I'd rather post noting than to release half-product...
2. Another reason is that imagination might not play well with reality. I have very often the feeling that something looks much differently from what I have imagined, what I had in mind.
I've read once that when you want to remember dream you have to write it quickly down immediately after you wake up, because you'll forget your dream very soon. I think it's the same case - when you have an idea - you might need to write it down first - wherever, because during the work the idea starts to blur in the memory. I started sketchbook/notebook lately for that task. I post example (not very pretty) pages from it with concepts for previous and current comp.
3. Next thing is to gather reference. It's easy nowadays - I google for i.e. 'motel desert' , 'vintage 50's motel' or sth. like that. and http://www.rockhounds.com/rockgem/articles/laplap.shtml were meant to be my references for 'war machine'. Now I can fix errors of my imagination by comparing it to real-existing things.
4. Following 1 tutorial teaches nothing. I hate especially some Blender tutorials that say i.e. 'Hit 'A' shortcut and then something happens' without even knowing which function I called (sometimes no name is given just the short way to get to it), how it works (what if I want to use it in the future work for different task?), where I can find it (when I forgot the shortcut). So at the end I have an object and I don't know how it was created at all ;). Only combination of tutorials, some targeting other software gives one generic knowledge.
5. Modelling after photo or real life objects give another opportunity to learn. You have to jump through all problems encountered, solving them by yourself with no shortcuts. Measure the object to have good proportions, take photo of it and tweak, tweak, tweak.... until you get the exact representation. The same is for textures and lighting.
6. Showing WIPs and asking others for help, and actually following these advices.
I hope it's helpful somehow. Cheers! :)
ENSONIQ5:
Dwsel's given some really good advice there, particularly regarding the sketchbook/notebook. One problem we have as hobbyist modellers/animators is that we are one person working on all aspects of a project, from concept and design through to modelling, rigging and even sound recording. Professional studios split these tasks across a team of people, each skilled in a particular area. This means the conceptual artists can think big, imagining sweeping vistas and dynamic scenes, while the modellers can concentrate on getting every nut and bolt correct, every eyelash perfectly positioned. By trying to be all members of the team rolled into one, it is often difficult to keep a handle on the big picture while still getting the tiny details correct. We can tend to overlook problems or weaknesses in one area while concentrating on another. The sketchbook (or notebook, or voice recorder, whatever) is a great way to record those big ideas and prevent them from getting lost in the detail.
Gyperboloid:
::) An extension ... please ? ::) Maybe a week ? :-X
Arik_the_Red:
Well folks, I got all my work in order and thought I'd be able to upload, but this hospital network doesn't let me do file transfers :(
I'm in for a few more days, so I guess I'll just enjoy all the other works. I like everyone's entries. A lot of fun stuff, regardless of what each of you may think or not of your work.
I had this one in the bag, too... :S Oh well, maybe I can make it up the next time, and stay OUT of the hospital for it?
Raxx:
Well, how about an extension instead then? Anyone who doesn't approve of an extension, speak up!
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