tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84106676728740448622024-02-07T21:45:16.952-08:00ZOMGitsBC's Game Dev BlogatronPixels, Polys and Epic StoriesHollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02778522731456824150noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8410667672874044862.post-5754775597001999432012-12-05T11:13:00.002-08:002012-12-05T11:13:36.442-08:00The Forgotten Protagonist - Kate Walker<br />
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<i>*Fair notice - While this post contains no direct spoilers, it does allude to the plot of Syberia*</i><br />
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I know that talk for strong female characters in games in a well worn topic by now. It gets to the point where you feel like you\re flogging a dead horse since we can kick and scream all we like, but the past shall remain the same and we will continue to see shallow female characters in games.</div>
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However I feel that there some really great games are forgotten. Games that already said, yeah we can have intelligent female characters in our games, they can even be the main protagonist, no bother. So I feel I should go ahead and mention them, since when I seem to talk about them with my friends, consisting of almost entirely other game developers, they've never even heard of them!</div>
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So first, Syberia. A point and click adventure game from 2002. Developed by Microïds for PS2, Xbox and of course the humble PC, home of the point and click. We follow the tribulations and transformation of our protagonist, Kate Walker. She is an American lawyer sent to a dying ghost town in the French countryside to seal a deal of the purchase of a toy factory there, from owner Anna Voralberg, who's funeral Ms. Walker stumbles upon when she arrives in the village. Valailène and it's residents are in complete contrast to our modern "yuppie" lead. Kate is efficient and business focused, causing her to often be distant and dismissive of the slower paced villagers. While trying to stop her deal from going down the pan, she is often harassed by her boss: Edward Marson, fiance; Dan Foster and co-worker and close friend; Olivia via her cell phone. Her boss threatening her with "close the deal or don't bother coming back". Dan complaining about her putting her work before him while complaining that she is going to miss the Goldberg's dinner to improve his career and making general demands for change in her behaviour. Then there's Olivia, kind of annoying and someone who turns out to perhaps not have Kate's interests at heart. Needless to say this is a lady with a lot on her plate. It would be a lot for any person, regardless of gender. As a result we get to see Kate as a fully developed character.<br />
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As her adventure continues, Kate must go look for the heir of the Voralberg factory; Anna's brother Hans, in order to sign the factory over to it's new owners. A journey from which we see vast changes in our protagonist. Kate is trying to live that very typical dream of most modern women, the "woman who has it all" type if you will. High flyer with a great job, supportive friends and a loving partner. However, as Kate travels further into the depths of Europe, heading towards to more desolate and distant lands of Eastern Europe, the more she realises that perhaps these things aren't as important as she thought. She stops letting her boss walk all over. She sees Dan's selfish ways and him not being the man she thought. She even takes news of Olivia's poor judgement and it hardly leaves a scratch.<br />
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I feel that Kate's physical attributes should be mentioned here also. Mostly due to the fact she is very understated. A fixed white coat, fixed brown trousers and flat winter boots. A beautiful face and brown hair pulled back in a pony tail. Practical while still looking feminine and sophisticated. As a character artist, I personally like going for outlandish outfits in my own work. It takes a lot of restraint and respect for the character, their story and the game as a whole to make a character that is so "of this world". She is an aesthetically pleasing character, but she is never the victim of the male gaze. The camera doesn't leer nor is she animated in a provocative manner. Two things that can render a thoughtfully and well crafted female protagonist into a character that panders to the assumed "white, heterosexual male" audience of videogames.<br />
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At the beginning of Syberia, I wasn't Kate's biggest fan. I'm sure anyone has played Syberia will tell you the same. But the more we get to know her, the more we learn about the people in her life, we realise how that woman who seems to have it all together? She's just like the rest of us. We actively see her grow and change. See the changes in our she interacts with her environment and the rest of the characters. Something that we rarely see, regardless of the gender of our protagonists.<br />
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It's not a perfect game by any stretch, after all what game is, but it was certainly an experience that has stuck with me for a long time. So if you are a fan of games with unique and interesting stories, especially if you are an adventure game fan. I would very much recommend you give this forgotten gem a whirl.</div>
Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02778522731456824150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8410667672874044862.post-54390764846101397922012-12-05T10:27:00.002-08:002012-12-05T10:27:29.484-08:00Big NewsHey all,<br />
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I've got some big news....</div>
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I'M GOING INDIE!!!!!!!</div>
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*cough*</div>
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Yeah so this was a big decision for me. I've really enjoyed my time at Traveller's Tales over the past year and a half. But with losing my dad at the beginning of this year. I've found that being so far away from my family really tough going. I also terrible for always wanting to be learning new things and experimenting with those new skills. However due to the way that AAA game development works, there just isn't the time for these types experimentation.</div>
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The final straw was being asked by one of my best friends, game designer Anna Harakopoulos if I wanted to accompany her on some travelling in 2013. And who was I to say no! So on the 1st of January I'm heading off to New Zealand, then onto Australia. I'm going to be back at the beginning of March so I'm not completely falling off the radar. But it'll be a great break and looking forward to a completely new experience very much outside of my comfort zone.<br />
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I slowly am getting various plans lined up for all the indie fun when I get back in March. But just in case you are making games and need a "Wielder of the sacred pen of Wacom" for 2D or 3D art based goodies for your project do get in touch. I'm planning on getting started on my dream of making an adventure game. I'm super excited and will keep you all updated as things progress.</div>
Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02778522731456824150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8410667672874044862.post-55268874310461359332012-11-06T05:00:00.000-08:002012-11-06T05:00:07.612-08:00XX Game Jam<span id="internal-source-marker_0.3756333119235933"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I feel some things really need to be said about XX Game Jam.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was part of the winning team “People Who Make Games or Something” and made an action platformer called Donkey Kog Country. I was the sole artist on this team and I had never done a game jam before. Which is an important point, I’m generally terrible for feeling intimidated by others, Game Jams have always been something I would love to take part in, but was too worried about getting agro for not knowing certain tech things or not doing a good enough job and letting my team down. All very ridiculous but these are things I feared. I still felt this way about XX Game Jam (you can ask someone who around me for the MONTHS running up to it) but luckily the female game dev community is pretty small, I already knew a few of the people going, so I felt more at ease about it. And the point of this jam was never the competition aspect, it was about learning and connecting with others to create something.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">For a long time I had convinced myself that I could never work in the games industry, despite it being my dream. Mostly for the fact, that as a member of the lady half of our species, I wouldn't be taken seriously or respected. This was a notion I carried through most of my teenage years and my mind only changed when I saw the developer diaries for The Sims 2. I remember how many women were featured and how they held roles such as Heads of Production, Animation Lead etc. That's when I realised that yeah, maybe I can follow my dream after all.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">And I did.</span></span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I currently work as a Character Artist at Traveller’s Tales. The company consists of males forming over 90% of the roles, even higher in development roles. And being a girl in game development can be freaking lonely. Don’t get me wrong, I love having so many friends with the same interests as me, but why do so few of them need to be my gender? I can count my close female friends on one hand, which is ridiculous by anyone’s standards. Is it bad me wanting to equal out my social circle to be more balanced and like how the normal world operates??? </span></span><div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This event was about celebrating women (and men) who paved way for our current way of living. I wanted to take part in an event that was created to encourage other women to join the games industry as developers. The split of people playing games in split down the middle. But we don’t have to look too far for women being belittled and discriminated (either positively or negatively) against in these spaces. I wish this wasn’t the case. But because of working within this very supportive group I have much more confidence to join in with Game Jam's where I shall be out numbered, as is the norm in our industry. Which was a point stressed by the creators of this event.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">In any case, we gathered some devs together, we had fun, we made games and we had a nice party at the end to celebrate. And there were men involved in running and funding this event. I look at it almost like Race for Life or Movember. It doesn’t mean that it’s an us and them situation over gender, but that we should support each other with issues that affect each other. So whether you agree with events like this or not, that’s your choice. But I like to think that everyone there came away feeling accepted, inspired and had a great time with lots of laughs. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I'm</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> sorry if that offends anyone, but I'm also not going to apologise for my having a good time making a ridiculous game, in a team with a ridiculous name and wearing a ridiculous woolly panda hat while I did it!</span></span></span></span><br /></div>
Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02778522731456824150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8410667672874044862.post-90922576582989269652012-08-22T13:00:00.000-07:002012-08-22T13:00:08.747-07:00Games, their developers and their customersA few things have really struck me over the past few months.<br />
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One: Making games is hard. Whether you are an indie working at home to AAA in a studio with thousands of people.<br />
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Two: Everyone who makes games are different. We all have flaws, weaknesses, strengths and motives. But we all love our craft. And we all have our own reason for wanting to make games<br />
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Three: You can work your ass off, pour your heart and soul into a game, but it doesn't mean everyone will get it.<br />
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This has all come mostly from watching Indie Game: The Movie, my past year working at a AAA studio and by extension; my lack of time for playing games. <br />
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Firstly, Indie Game: The Movie! For those who haven't seen it I recommend doing so as so as you can! It follows Team Meat on their final push and release of Super Meat Boy, Phil Fish and the development of Fez, then finally a retrospective look at the development and release of Braid from Jon Blow. All the devs come across very well in the documentary, mostly for the fact we see their very human selves. These people are far from perfect. Since they are just people like ourselves. But the one thing they all have in common is their incredible drive to communicate to the rest of the world through the medium of games. The desire to create worlds and experiences for people to enjoy and by doing so, they put not only their skills, but their entire being on show for everyone to see, experience and criticise. The internet is a scary place, where people can troll others, pick them to pieces for sport and doing so anonymously. Where people can hide behind screen names and avatars and tear down years of work and dedication with just a few choice words. As Fish says "an army of ass-holes" and it's totally true.<br />
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So why do it, when there are such big stakes to play with and lose? Well, as I'm sure any artist knows, it never feels like it's a choice. It's something you just have to do. That no matter what we may lose. That we need to give it our best shot or die trying. Since all we have in this world is to try and make a positive impact on other people's lives. This is the only way we can ever feel like we have achieved what we set out to do. Whether it be with pictures you paint. Models you sculpt. Code that you build. Worlds you create. Or a life affirming experience you craft.<br />
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My time in AAA has been an interesting time to say the least. In fact my life in general has been a mish-mash of some of the best and worst times of my entire life this past year. Stuff that I will never forget and will permanently shape me for the rest of my life. It's taught me that life is hard. But that following your dreams and passions is the most important thing. That no matter what life takes from us. That we can still control our dreams and make every effort to aim straight for them.<br />
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But working in a big(ish) studio means there's a lot of pressure and things that you can't change. So you have to learn to be flexible and work with how things are. With deadlines you need give all you can to get your work done. And the pressure can be quite exhilarating but also can be a strain on both your mind and body. So, with the little freetime I have. I like to make sure I'm using my time wisely. This will normally be trying to do art work outside of work. But also catching up on the media I love; GAMES! I'm mostly a PC gamer and am very keen on classic adventure games among other. I would love to play games that are 80+ hours long, but I do not have the time nor patience. Sad fact - gamers in full time employment often have a HUGE back catalogue of games to catch up on. It was with the disappearance of my freetime that I got more into indie games. Small passion projects created by a few individuals. Normally with no budget and no publishers. These experiences are unadulterated and are about you have a direct link into that developers head.<br />
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These experiences are often very cutting edge. But while gamers love to say they love the new and exciting. They can also be a breed that is commonly scared of change. This is why so much AAA is based on iterative sequels of well known (and well received) IP. Now, these are great, well polished games that are epic and very shiny. But being someone who comes from a background of pixel goodness with amusing writing. These games tend to miss a trick for me personally, mostly due to their lack of personality and quirks. It's hard to get personality and quirk right, but when you do, my god it's good! And so many developers who go indie share this as their ethos for making games. And aren't afraid to show it.<br />
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So, in short, please support indie devs as well as AAA. Know that if you need to feel connected to something on a more personal level, experience a crafted experience, even if it's not perfect. It will be how someone else wanted you to experience it. So vote with your nerd dollars/pounds/yen/euros, since we often forget, these are people, individuals. So if you like them, let them know by buying their games and support them in being able to make more in the future.<br />
<br />Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02778522731456824150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8410667672874044862.post-22844921566462384512011-07-24T02:58:00.000-07:002011-07-24T06:27:28.515-07:00I'm not dead, just workingSo it's been nearly two months since I posted anything. So just thought I would do a quick update.<div><br /></div><div>So we left off with me getting a job as a character artist at Traveller's Tales. Since then I search high and low for a place to live and was seriously running out of time. But luckily I found a one bed flat about a 4 minute walk from work. Which I have to say is so helpful, considering the trains here are very infrequent and is like a 60's bus on rails! Bit of a change from London where I have lived for 2 years in various parts.</div><div><br /></div><div>So I've started work and been there for a month now. And everything is in full swing for working on Lego Harry Potter 5-7. I'm mostly on costume change duty due to the sheer amount of character we have and the different outfits they wear. I'm also getting to design some minor characters from scratch too which is great considering I haven't been there long. We also have other stuff in the pipeline which we haven't started on yet which sounds (and looks) awesome.</div><div><br /></div><div>But the number one thing I've discovered about the games industry since I've properly started in it? It's the people! I love people in general and the guys are work with are awesome. Being a company of 200+ people it's not too large that you get lost but big enough is that you can meet lots of different types of people. The feeling of camaraderie and team working is immense.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm so excited for our games release and I can see the fruits of our labour being enjoyed by people around the world!</div>Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02778522731456824150noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8410667672874044862.post-65692134954681739952011-06-06T02:29:00.000-07:002011-06-06T02:41:29.158-07:00Happy-awesome day to me!!!Well firstly, this past month has been the most crazy/busy month I think I have ever had. Firstly I finished my elephant, which was actually ages ago, but when I first finished it and found time to sit down and blog it with pride, I found that blogger was down!!! So here it belatedly =)<div><br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/23660224?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/23660224">Steampunk Elephant Turntable</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user5031897">Holly Pickering</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p><p>But perhaps 1000x more exciting than that is the fact I started sending out my work and got an interview at TT games, the folks behind the awesome Lego games. At the interview I had that awful feeling of being out of my depth, what with it being not only my first interview for a jobs games but my first job interview EVER!!! >_< But I took it as a good sign that I ended up laughing with them by the end of the interview.</p><p>So my interview was on a Wednesday and they said they would let me know by the end of the week. So I was sat on my dad's laptop constantly refreshing my email. Then in the late afternoon I got the job offer!! I'm going to be the latest addition to their character department and absolutely can't wait to start. Which should be 2 weeks, depending how the house hunt goes ^___^</p><p>Currently doing some character concepts at the moment as a side project to keep me busy. So will hopefully be able to post something soon!</p></div>Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02778522731456824150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8410667672874044862.post-82439227571343222622011-05-03T08:04:00.000-07:002011-05-03T08:12:17.027-07:00Quick WIP updateI'm getting to final render stage with my elephant and building a themed turntable to place it on.<br /><br />I've had SSOOOO much fun with this project and I've learnt a lot too which is even better. I feel a lot more confident in my abilities and feel I'm ready to start sending my stuff to companies. Hopefully I will catch a break and get an interview even in these hard times. But only time will tell.<br /><br />In the mean time.... Here's some marmoset renders of the elephant. The material on the ears needs a bit of tweaking but all the the model and textures are there =)<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nlPP4uzpRq8/TcAamHN3JgI/AAAAAAAAAFs/snvJvEcu3KI/s1600/screenshot3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nlPP4uzpRq8/TcAamHN3JgI/AAAAAAAAAFs/snvJvEcu3KI/s320/screenshot3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602507178523436546" /></a><br /><p></p><br />I may rig it at a later date but that's going to take quite a while and I really just want to ride this wave and see if I can get into a company right now.<br /><div><br /></div><div>Let's change the world with games!</div>Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02778522731456824150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8410667672874044862.post-44980994695270699512011-03-28T05:07:00.001-07:002011-03-28T05:07:58.688-07:00Me and Yoshi!<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ballooncity24/5567154403/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5224/5567154403_9fe51acb5f.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ballooncity24/5567154403/">Me and Yoshi!</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ballooncity24/">ballooncity247</a>.</span></div><p>Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting Yoshinori Ono! He's a really lovely guy and got to trade some miis ^_^</p>Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02778522731456824150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8410667672874044862.post-46235925080191644572011-03-24T07:51:00.000-07:002011-03-24T07:51:24.410-07:00Quick UpdateJust incase anyone is interested in this.... Here's a 3DS ad for the UK that I'm in >_<<br /><br /><iframe width="480" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1VQUNYfsoow?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br />I heard there is another one about with me in as well but I'm yet to see that for myself.<br /><br />All in a days work for me apparently =PHollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02778522731456824150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8410667672874044862.post-63972624680402672942011-03-09T14:02:00.001-08:002011-03-09T14:25:38.192-08:00Elephant modelling near finishedJust a quick update really. I've been working on this project for the past couple of weeks on and off. Between moving back into London, battling a cold that just doesn't want to go away and all the general stuff life tends to throw at you. I was hoping to get to this point a lot earlier but I've built and rebuilt it quite a few times so far. I didn't have the clearest idea of the finicky details which actually would detirmin some things about the model that I hadn't really considered. So quite a few times I've had to go back to the drawing board and work these things out in 2D first before jumping back into the modelling process.<div><br /></div><div>Anyway enough talking, more showing</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MhOGAl2LZFQ/TXf6EPbAIpI/AAAAAAAAAFk/vizHjK2v4sY/s1600/beepbeep04.jpg"></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MhOGAl2LZFQ/TXf6EPbAIpI/AAAAAAAAAFk/vizHjK2v4sY/s1600/beepbeep04.jpg"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MhOGAl2LZFQ/TXf6EPbAIpI/AAAAAAAAAFk/vizHjK2v4sY/s400/beepbeep04.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582205213915226770" /></a></div>By no means perfect the inner-filler stuff still needs adding, but I like it! I've never been into robots and that stuff but I love steampunk so I've enjoyed the challenge. Next is UVing ..... great =P<div></div>Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02778522731456824150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8410667672874044862.post-67708270051040209922011-02-16T07:42:00.000-08:002011-02-16T07:54:33.875-08:00Mech timeOk, first things first, big woop to Union VFX for being featured <a href="http://www.thefoundry.co.uk/articles/2011/02/16/219/armless-fun-with-nuke/">here</a> about the use of Nuke in Danny Boyle's 127 hours. Nice one guys ^_^<div><br /></div><div>Secondddddlllyyyy, I <i>might </i>be featured in the nintendo 3DS tv ads here in the UK. I've seen the rough cut and it's actually a good ad, even if I look like a bit of an idiot but nevermind =P</div><div><br /></div><div>And finally, I'm working on a steampunk robot elephant at the moment. It's going to be the last piece added to my portfolio before I send it to a couple of people who want to see it. Though trying to figure out how some of the parts would work it slowing things a bit but I'll get there eventually. Also finally biting the bullet and learning about rigging since I'm thinking it's going to help make some decisions about how to model some of this stuff.</div><div><br /></div><div>Any advice on making mech stuff would be greatly received ^_^</div>Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02778522731456824150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8410667672874044862.post-25422661280361659372011-01-18T03:22:00.000-08:002011-01-18T03:24:25.324-08:00Hero TreeThere it is ...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m2aP0nIT_gQ/TTV3_M0rtvI/AAAAAAAAAFE/OPC3TUc9-Ng/s1600/Marmoset_render.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m2aP0nIT_gQ/TTV3_M0rtvI/AAAAAAAAAFE/OPC3TUc9-Ng/s400/Marmoset_render.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563484842343773938" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The hero tree!<br /><br />Completed without much strain on brain or time so that's good ^_^Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02778522731456824150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8410667672874044862.post-83831766281572653182011-01-17T06:32:00.000-08:002011-01-17T06:48:44.901-08:00Quick update ^_^Hey everyone!<br /><br />Hope everyone is doing well today. I'm feeling very chipper today... Always so when things work to plan without too much head scratching (for a change)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m2aP0nIT_gQ/TTRTh4B23qI/AAAAAAAAAE8/3oE2UQgMC2k/s1600/WIP.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m2aP0nIT_gQ/TTRTh4B23qI/AAAAAAAAAE8/3oE2UQgMC2k/s400/WIP.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563163281150369442" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here's a quick WIP to prove I'm still working =P<br />The base of the tree is all textured and normal mapped ... looks pretty cool in when it's in engine!<br /><br />Which brings me on to my next point. I've been playing with Unity this weekend. Looking at rendering my stuff in that instead of Unreal. I know everyone loves UDK but I think Unity is my favourite. It's so easy to use and the pipelining is much more stream lined than the Unreal one. Anyone who hasn't checked it out, I really recommend it. It's the main 3D engine used for iOS games but is now suppoirting PS3 and XBOX production. Plus the normal version for publishing games to the web is free! Not only that, but you get a free 30 day trial of the pro version of the web version which includes some really nice Post-production effects and water (among other things of course)<br /><br /><a href="http://unity3d.com/">http://unity3d.com/</a><br /><br />Two more hours of placing planes then I can get on with reading and video watching for my "Becoming a Better Artist" course!<br /><br />Later folksHollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02778522731456824150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8410667672874044862.post-54586883794570593662011-01-12T00:14:00.000-08:002011-01-12T01:14:08.575-08:00I'm not dead!!!Well, I'm back from my travels in Asia (if you didn't know I had gone). Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Krabi, Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta in just over two weeks! And then three weeks at my boyfriend's family's home in Kota Kinabalu - Malaysia. The weather was rainy but lovely and warm. Now being back in England, I really miss it there. Maybe one day I'll go work in Singapore one day!<br /><br />In the mean time I've been busy work away. Decided that this year is my year to shiny after spending last year trying to find my feet and trying to grow as an artist - a term I am finally ok with using about myself ... well sort of =P<br /><br />Here's a WIP of my next portfolio piece. It's changed a bit since this screen shot and it's currently being retopo'd as we speak.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m2aP0nIT_gQ/TS1p3aU12aI/AAAAAAAAAEs/YK31Yp94pW0/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m2aP0nIT_gQ/TS1p3aU12aI/AAAAAAAAAEs/YK31Yp94pW0/s320/Untitled-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561217515552889250" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In other news ... I've been having some 2D fun on the side<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m2aP0nIT_gQ/TS1wdP7eDLI/AAAAAAAAAE0/7H8fWllHhFc/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 303px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m2aP0nIT_gQ/TS1wdP7eDLI/AAAAAAAAAE0/7H8fWllHhFc/s320/Untitled-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561224762666912946" /></a><br /><br />Not the full thing and it's not finished since it's a seated full figure but I like to think that the face is pretty much there =)<br /><br />Until next time!Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02778522731456824150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8410667672874044862.post-83155848716662986252010-10-14T12:15:00.000-07:002010-10-14T13:07:36.074-07:00Give me coffee, anatomy and RihannaHey guyssss ^_^<br /><br />Hope everyone is doing well out there in gamer world. I'm doing great if any of you were wondering.<br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />So whats been going on? I've been being an anatomy buff these past 3 weeks. I'm enroled on Scott Eaton's online anatomy course. I must say that I can't recommend it enough. I think the guy is an anatomy god and a great teacher. Though not for someone with a vague-meh-ish interest since it's quite intense and you will spend a lot of time watching and rewatching videos, then of course your assignments. But I'm seriously enjoying it, even more than I thought I would.<br /><br />Speaking of assignments, that is what I'm working on this evening and I thought I would treat myself to a nice coffee for while I work (I'm a herbal tea drinker 99% of the time ya see). So works and I'm gonna have a nice evening drawing é</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span><span>corché of backs ^_^<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m2aP0nIT_gQ/TLdh18gQwuI/AAAAAAAAAEU/eWNabrg3bT0/s1600/Untitled-.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 237px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m2aP0nIT_gQ/TLdh18gQwuI/AAAAAAAAAEU/eWNabrg3bT0/s320/Untitled-.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527994647022977762" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I've also been trying my hand at low poly character modeling this week... I'm not good at it, but I'm trying!! (Can you guess who I used as inspiration for the face?? ... No??! .... I don't blame you, but it's Angelina Jolie)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m2aP0nIT_gQ/TLdiRSp74rI/AAAAAAAAAEc/VMTi5CxpXF8/s1600/Untitled-1.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 287px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m2aP0nIT_gQ/TLdiRSp74rI/AAAAAAAAAEc/VMTi5CxpXF8/s320/Untitled-1.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527995116825600690" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Then what's with Rihanna you ask? Well, I'm generally not a big fan of R'n'B, but I do think Rihanna is a very talented lady and just oozes cool. Well I just watched her new video Only Girl. Really dancey and feel good, which is awesome. Plus she looks amazing with this marilyn monroe style hairdo, but in stunning red!! Now that is very awesome. It reminded me of a trailer I watch for a anime called Summer Wars. Looks amazing and I must watch it... when I have time >_<<br /><br />Well, until next time, I'm getting back to work<br /><br />^_^<br /></span></span></span>Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02778522731456824150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8410667672874044862.post-27955197882853723132010-09-30T10:22:00.000-07:002010-09-30T10:27:35.703-07:00Life DrawingThis weekend saw my first full weekend course of life drawing. This is a photo of my last drawing on the Sunday. It was three hours and I really enjoyed it! I'll be doing a more indepth blog post next week, since at the moment I am completely rushed off my feet. It seems everything is happening at once right now!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ballooncity24/5039012791/" title="Life drawing by ballooncity247, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4133/5039012791_2c3d27493c.jpg" alt="Life drawing" width="375" height="500" /></a></div>Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02778522731456824150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8410667672874044862.post-49678002614396591502010-09-03T07:14:00.000-07:002010-09-03T07:20:02.466-07:00bored.......so spam with sketches ^_^<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m2aP0nIT_gQ/TIED1PyTVAI/AAAAAAAAAEM/mkt09zgwMY0/s1600/wip.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m2aP0nIT_gQ/TIED1PyTVAI/AAAAAAAAAEM/mkt09zgwMY0/s320/wip.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512691632183661570" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m2aP0nIT_gQ/TIEDkKKHXnI/AAAAAAAAAEE/Tw6pm7XJiSc/s1600/profile+copy.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m2aP0nIT_gQ/TIEDkKKHXnI/AAAAAAAAAEE/Tw6pm7XJiSc/s320/profile+copy.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512691338615152242" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m2aP0nIT_gQ/TIEDeirDBtI/AAAAAAAAAD8/2y54FlPL2_U/s1600/sketch_001.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 258px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m2aP0nIT_gQ/TIEDeirDBtI/AAAAAAAAAD8/2y54FlPL2_U/s320/sketch_001.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512691242116515538" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m2aP0nIT_gQ/TIEDKMyeCII/AAAAAAAAAD0/DfZz9SKD7LU/s1600/sketch_002.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m2aP0nIT_gQ/TIEDKMyeCII/AAAAAAAAAD0/DfZz9SKD7LU/s320/sketch_002.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512690892644681858" /></a>Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02778522731456824150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8410667672874044862.post-44833563917870532992010-08-26T10:51:00.001-07:002010-08-26T11:00:48.938-07:00Water well = FINISHED!!!MWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!<br /><br />It's finished (well perhaps some small tweaks but I'm ready to show it to the world at least)<br /><br />The ever mysterious water well with all hand painted textures has arrived at the other end of the creation tunnel, mostly unscathed by it's ordeal.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ballooncity24/4928777225/" title="well render by ballooncity247, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4093/4928777225_65aae08ce3_z.jpg" width="513" height="640" alt="well render" /></a><br /><br />It took many hours or working and reworking but it's finally something I'm actually proud of ... and anyone who knows me will tell you I'm NEVER proud of my work, but I feel I worked hard and it shows for the first time. It's by no means perfect but it's still my creation ^_^Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02778522731456824150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8410667672874044862.post-7914036363609555472010-08-23T02:32:00.000-07:002010-08-23T08:02:51.670-07:00random findWhile looking for some inspiration for my Bestival outfit (tho I'm sure you've seen it already) I found this nice wireframe comparison =)<br /><br /><a href='http://uk.wii.ign.com/dor/objects/906156/tomb-raider-anniversary/images/lara-croft-tomb-raider-anniversary--20070514043032628.html'><img src='http://wiimedia.ign.com/wii/image/article/788/788338/lara-croft-tomb-raider-anniversary--20070514043032628.jpg' alt='Tomb Raider Anniversary Various'></a><a href='http://uk.wii.ign.com/dor/objects/906156/tomb-raider-anniversary/images/lara-croft-tomb-raider-anniversary--20070514043032628.html'>See More Tomb Raider Anniversary Various at IGN.com</a>Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02778522731456824150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8410667672874044862.post-1051682973757704152010-08-20T03:25:00.000-07:002010-08-20T03:37:38.612-07:00ooooo totally awesome!!!If your anything like me, at least in a 3D artist sense, you'll know the feeling of always being on the look out for something that would just ooze awesomeness if you built (or in this case wish you could build). And here is my highlight of the week!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.coryfuhr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/dancer2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 383px; height: 600px;" src="http://www.coryfuhr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/dancer2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This beautiful piece of sculpture I came across quite by accident during the usual googling for good metal reference images. It is the work of a man called Cory Fuhr and I must say I'm completely in awe! I mean, learning anatomy and rendering it with accuracy is hard enough. But then to craft the human form out of cogs, rods and sheet metal definitely deserves some props.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.coryfuhr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/dancer2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 383px; height: 600px;" src="http://www.coryfuhr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/corydigitus1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is my personal favourite .... but I think it's because I'm fascinated by the human hand =P<br /><br />You should go check him out: <a href="http://www.coryfuhr.com/">http://www.coryfuhr.com/</a>Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02778522731456824150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8410667672874044862.post-59019929826776330472010-04-23T04:42:00.000-07:002010-04-23T06:09:04.484-07:00I have been working ... honest!Been having a hard time trying to fit in working on my portfolio around my social life. I know that my portfolio should be taking pride of place at the top of my priorities right now, and it is, but it's hard when I lose at least 3 days when I go up to London to see my friends and boyfriend every weekend.<br /><br />When I used to live in London that was all so easy but now I have to get a train and I can't just pop back and forth like I used to. Not that I got much work done when I did live there since I was always busy cleaning, cooking etc.<br /><br />However I have been making progress, sort of. I basically got stuck with my VW van, I keep getting strange smooth shading errors from where I have triangles on the wheel arches and no matter how i can't seem to get rid of them.<br /><br />So I decided to go back to an old project I was working on and go back to it at a later date with fresh eyes.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">So this old project? Well, it's a sword. Here's the original concept art, not by me but this guy: <a href="http://wen-m.deviantart.com/">http://wen-m.deviantart.com/</a><br /><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4485967555_a3846460d7_o.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 131px; height: 718px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4485967555_a3846460d7_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Anyway, modelling and such was fine, nothing too head-scratching about it. But then it got to doing the textures ... Lets just say I sat staring at the image for an hour or so just thinking "ok so how the hell do I make it look like that?!"<br /><br />Done some very basic stuff to rough out what I should put in diffuse and what in spec. But at the moment my task has been hand painting a height map to use to make my normal map. Now any sane and normal person would have gone into ZBrush, but no, I thought that hand painting all the details in photoshop would be more accurate (probably true actually) and easier (not really true at all).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/4545024757_a302e6e243.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 313px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/4545024757_a302e6e243.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />But I'm hoping that the hard work will pay off and I will have a sexy sword to put in my portfolio and *hopefully* get me on the way to junior environment artist!<br /><br />^_^Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02778522731456824150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8410667672874044862.post-25048887717568327842010-03-19T10:26:00.000-07:002010-03-19T11:55:24.732-07:00VW funWell, I've been busy. VERYYYY busy working on my lovely little VW van. One of those hippy, 1964, I-wish-I-owned-one-of-those, "shag wagon" type vans. And I gotta say, evening after doing the UVs FOUR TIMESSSS!!! I still like it.<br /><br />The original idea was too do it as a revamped one, like the one shown below<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.sunsetclassics.com/1958-vw-bus/images/1958-vw-bus-dandy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.sunsetclassics.com/1958-vw-bus/images/1958-vw-bus-dandy.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />but in blue and white<br /><br />but I've been experimenting with adding lots of rust and grime and it looks pretty cool. Hopefully the final outcome will look something like this<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sitehostnow.com/YACG/cache/464434765_a8632f0158.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://sitehostnow.com/YACG/cache/464434765_a8632f0158.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />but not ssoooooo rusty and falling apart LOLHollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02778522731456824150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8410667672874044862.post-51909701201281499892010-03-07T08:45:00.000-08:002010-03-07T10:48:12.751-08:00Fly back to your nest...... and you may find exactly what you needed.<br /><br />I have moved back home from London to my sleepy home town. Granted it's only bout 45 mins outside of London but it's countryside that I know so well. More importantly a house where I can concentrate on the task in hand because my computer is somewhere I can call my own space. It's amazing how having your workstation in a communal area of your house (especially when you are renting and have randomers coming and going) has such an impact on your work and general outlook on life.<br /><br />Point being, I am now back to my home nest with my mum and have finally been able to get some quality work together. Though I can't help feeling that I wasted a good couple of months where I didn't get much done. But I guess it's better late than never.<br /><br />My biggest journey I feel has now started. I am finally beginning to realise what my aim is and what that means, how to get there and the people I will meet along the way. I never thought of games art as a particularly fine art pursuit. I just thought of a lot of geeks who like to push polys around. But it's so much more than that. I have been playing with ZBrush more and more the past couple of weeks and I have grown to love it more and more as I delve into it. I have since picked up my set of pencils and a sketchbook for the first time in nearly three years. Discovering I can actually draw if I put my mind to it. Studying anatomy and seeing the human body as this amazing machine with different parts all working together. This beauty is taken for granted everyday and sometimes even hated by their owners because they don't fit a stereotype. But ultimately it is still a majestic piece of engineering that should be admired. So still life drawing and hopefully a sculpture course are in order for me in the future. Along with further study of anatomy to add to the basics I have learnt so far.<br /><br />I seem to have rediscovered the artist within me that has been quashed for so many years. I now feel very scathing toward the education system I was apart of. It seems I have learnt more useful and eye opening things within the past couple of months on my own. I did GCSE art and I hated it. The course itself wasn't bad, not good either though. I have never agreed with people marking other's art work, since art is such a personal pursuit, and that is clearer to me now than ever before. But the focus of my whole school life was getting good grades. That was what was seen as important, which by the end of it all seems useless and pathetic. Because ultimately people don't care how well you did in some exams way-back-when but what you are like as a person. In art we never learnt the importance of basic art skills, like how to use different grades of pencils, forms of light and shadow, gesture etc etc. But then we didn't touch the more important things of self expression and inspiration. In short, we did a page of sketches because it would tick a box. Do an artist study because it ticked another box.<br /><br />I know now, from looking back on my sketchbooks from that time since I've come home, that by ticking those boxes we were supposed to show our artistic "journey". But this was never the way that it was put forward to us as impressionable students. That is probably why I never felt inspired, encouraged or fulfilled by my work. Most likely leading to my low grade, but it wasn't just me, but my entire class who shared this feeling and result.<br /><br />Maybe I am asking too much of a school system that struggles enough as it is to meet targets and stick to guidelines. But in schools full of young people, where creative thought and feeling is rife, one would like to think they are encouraged to grow and have the reasons explained to them. Not just a case of "do this and it will tick that box".<br /><br />My closing thought would be that as an artist I had only been asked "why?" when I was at Escape. Now I find myself asking that question all the time. I feel this is what an artist truly is. Seeking and trying to represent the truth, beauty and ugliness of the world. Creating fantasy and escapism from that world. Always asking why. There is a passion that can't be explained. But all you know is that you do it because you can't not do it.Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02778522731456824150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8410667672874044862.post-64122742955807806522010-01-19T12:15:00.000-08:002010-01-19T13:36:21.301-08:00New Year means self motivationMy course finished on the 18th December, therefore I have been an unemployed artist for just over a month and I have only just sat down to do actual work. But i'm going with the fact that it was christmas and then new year so I was relaxing and recharging my artist batteries ^_^<br /><br />I have been messing around with design my website to house my portfolio since I haven't been feeling inspired 3D-wise so have just been stretching my 2D muscles. However after talking to recruitment guys at my college at the bar on Friday night I have had a surge of motivation.<br /><br />However, it's good to be motivated, but pretty tough when you don't know where to start! As a 3D artist you can make anything, just like an artist. So it's pretty tricky trying to come up with idea on your own, as I am used to people setting me tasks. But I think I have my to-do list down<br /><br />The first project on my adgenda is to build a treasure chest. I have been clearly influenced by playing to much Tale of Monkey Island the past couple of days =P I have got together my reference material, so we are all set for the modelling process to start tomorrow ... wish me luck!Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02778522731456824150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8410667672874044862.post-4850325070210159162009-10-25T12:51:00.000-07:002009-10-25T14:24:59.039-07:00Working and cleaning... with some fun thrown inThe past week literally flew by. It was texturing week, which was basically messing around in photoshop with a tablet for a week. Plus having some more fun with Maya and crazybump.<br /><br />We have been moved to a more game-centric view of 3D and it's been pretty cool. Including making and texturing a barrel and crate; one of the most common game assets there are. So much so that there is infact a website aimed just at them LOL<br /><br />We were going for a Half Life 2 look to the assets. But I thought I would go for a slightly different avenue. So I went with one of my favourite games; Portal. Where I created what I imagined might have been the Aperture Science prototype of the companion cube<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m2aP0nIT_gQ/SuTAZkJwmMI/AAAAAAAAAC8/Wg8hWuHxg6E/s1600-h/cube+render+01.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m2aP0nIT_gQ/SuTAZkJwmMI/AAAAAAAAAC8/Wg8hWuHxg6E/s320/cube+render+01.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396649798930569410" /></a><br /><br />Plus I've been working on my typewriter, should be finished on Tuesday, then the fun job of UVing starts O_o should be interesting since my meshes are kinda weird >_<<br /><br />Back at home I've been trying to keep the house in a relatively nice state, which is pretty difficult since the three guys I live with, lovely as they are, don't really like to tidy up. I make my fair share of mess, but I do clean up after myself even if it makes a day or two. But I'm talking weeks of mess that are still lying around. Plus we now have no glasses and hardly any plates cus they eat in their rooms and don't bring their stuff down again. There's gonna be a group meeting soon ... I can tell =PHollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02778522731456824150noreply@blogger.com0