It clarifies a lot of stuff
It was one of the best things I did to accelerate my understanding of 3D forms, particularly when trying to wrap my head around complex forms like the head.
a rough little hell boy sculpt I did in Blender for funzies
Propell your understanding of Form and Space
By learning 3D sculpting, I gained a more intuitive and hands-on understanding of form and space. This improved my ability to represent 3D objects and environments in my 2D artwork
Versatility in Different Mediums
I've used many digital tools such as Photoshop & Procreate. But by delving into 3D land , I was able to create 3D models and assets that could be imported into these programs and used as reference or as a starting point for my 2D artwork.
Improved Problem-Solving Skills
3D sculpting required me to think spatially and solve problems in three dimensions. This improved my problem-solving skills and helped me think more creatively and critically.
Great artists and animators use 'Maquettes'
Disney animators often use maquettes, or small scale models, to help them keep their characters "on model" and consistent in their appearance and movement.
These maquettes are typically sculpted by skilled artists and are used as reference for the animators as they create their drawings and animations.
Some notable sculptors for Disney include:
Blaine Gibson, who sculpted maquettes for characters such as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy.
Marc Davis, who sculpted maquettes for characters such as Cruella De Vil and Maleficent.
Ruben Procopio: Ruben Procopio has worked as a sculptor on several Disney movies, including "Moana," "Zootopia," and "Ralph Breaks the Internet." He has also worked on other animated films such as "The Incredibles" and "Up."
Dan Cervin: Dan Cervin has worked as a sculptor on several Disney movies, including "Frozen," "Big Hero 6," and "Moana." He has also worked on other animated films such as "The Lion King" and "Beauty and the Beast."
Eric Semento: Eric Semento has worked as a sculptor on several Disney movies, including "Moana," "Zootopia," and "Ralph Breaks the Internet." He has also worked on other animated films such as "The Incredibles" and "Up."
Paul Felix: Paul Felix has worked as a sculptor on several Disney movies, including "Frozen," "Big Hero 6," and "Moana." He has also worked on other animated films such as "The Lion King" and "Beauty and the Beast."
Ennio Torresan: Ennio Torresan has worked as a sculptor on several Disney movies, including "Moana," "Zootopia," and "Ralph Breaks the Internet." He has also worked on other animated films such as "The Incredibles" and "Up."
Maquettes can be especially helpful in creating realistic and expressive character movements, as they allow animators to experiment with different poses and see how the character's features and proportions change in three dimensions. By using maquettes, Disney animators are able to create characters that are consistently "on model" and maintain their integrity across different films and media.
Links to examples of people using maquettes:
Aaron Blaise beautiful studio tour: Maquette @4:00 “every character designer got one to use as reference”
Favourite 3D channels
My notes on 3D work flows
I'm still a noob at this stuff, but I'm documenting my resources as I go.
3d Workflow Notes
Go go page
Sculpting
3D sculpting is the process of creating and shaping a 3D digital model by using specialized software and a digital sculpting tool, such as a stylus or a mouse. Sculpting is often used to create highly detailed, organic models, such as characters, animals, and plants. It is also sometimes used to create hard surface models, such as architecture or mechanical parts.
In 3D sculpting, the artist begins with a basic shape, known as a mesh, which can be manipulated and shaped using various sculpting tools. These tools mimic the behavior of traditional sculpting tools, such as clay or wood carving tools, and allow the artist to add, subtract, smooth, and refine the shape of the model. The artist can also add details and texture to the model using brushes and other tools.
3D sculpting is a very hands-on, intuitive process that allows the artist to quickly and easily shape and refine a model in a way that is similar to traditional sculpting. It is an important part of the 3D modeling workflow and is used in various industries, including film, game development, and product design.
Blender Sculpting
Topology
In 3D modeling, topology refers to the way that the vertices, edges, and faces of a 3D model are connected to one another. It is important to have good topology in a 3D model because it can affect how the model deforms when it is animated and how it looks when it is rendered. Good topology follows certain rules, such as having evenly distributed quads (four-sided faces) and avoiding triangles and n-gons (faces with more than four sides). It is also important to have a clean, logical flow of edges around the surface of the model, as this can make it easier to work with and modify the model later.
Blender
Retopo in blenderShaders
Clay, putty material
Clay material -> https://flippednormals.com/downloads/clay-doh-ultimate-clay-shader-blender/
