walllz Sketchbook

[walllz]

Longtime lurker here, first time poster... It's very encouraging yet also very frightening to look at all of the amazing artists posting on this forum every day. I can only hope to be as good as some of you one day!

Anyway, onto the art. This is a tree I'm working on for my final reel at school. Camera comes fairly close to the trunk, so detail must be as high as feasible. As the branches go upwards, detail can afford to sink since I'll be adding lots of lush leaves to the canopy.

If you can't tell (which sadly, you probably can't!), it's supposed to be an oak tree. One of my instructors suggested I add lots more detail to the trunk, so my plan is to do some zsphere root systems around the base, then sculpt them up. I'll post them once they're added.

ALL comments and criticisms are welcome. I've come here to improve my artistry - Thank you!

tree01.jpg
tree02.jpg
tree03.jpg

[walllz]

I've added the roots as a sub tool, and I think it has added to a better overall look. What do you guys think?

tree04.jpg

tree05.jpg

[walllz]

Big update on the tree...

I decided to remove the roots subtool because it wasn't going to fit into my scene.

So far all the textures have been done inside of zbrush using polypaint. Moss (in it's crappy, infant form) is a mask extraction > retopo > sculpt/paint.

I still need to tighten up the branches in the canopy. I'm also thinking of adding more resolution to the trunk, but I need to read up on geometry HD first...

PLEASE post comments and crits! Thanks everyone!

treePost01.jpg
treePost02.jpg
treePost03.jpg
treePost04.jpg

[fj8e5la]

Theese branches do not look very organic. There are too straight. Try to bring in some organic variety. You can also draw polygons out of the trunk, as it seems to offer a high resolution. Theese can be twisted and serve as roots. The rudimetary roots, you now added, seem to grow from a high position out of the tree and go down to the bottom. Usually, roots are not growing from that heigth. If you intend to place it on a hill of earth or a rock, try to give it a more separated from hill or rock appearance.

[Shadowcaster]

Some branches are too edgy also the tree veins are too thick, try adding an alpha to the bark for realism. You can do this easily by changing your stroke to spray and your alpha to something grainy.

Other than that it looks good, makes a nice scene prop with a bit more in the scene. One thing I would recommend is the tips of your branches, I'm not sure what look your going for example "burnt tree" or something that stands out. If it's the ladder try examining the tips of an actual tree, trees usually have finer tips etc..