Tree Creature concept drawing

[pmcclory]

First, sorry for the text at the top of the image - just trying to protect the image, as I sell these drawings and prints of them.

This pencil drawing is of several characters I am creating in this style. I started with quicker concept sketches and have quite a few to turn into this more detailed concept style. When I have completed three more (in progress) I am going to start modelling them in Zbrush. It’s going to be fun!

[attach=32026]drawing-01-pmcclory.jpg[/attach]

The creature uses photosynthesis to energise itself, and the roots can tap into any water supply - be it a lake, river, or pond… I haven’t yet decided who or what lives inside the tree creature - still just playing with concepts…

I did a hi-res scan every hour whilst drawing this particular image - if anyone’s interested I’ll post these up here - let me know (8 hours in total).

Attachments

[Frenchy_Pilou]

That’s Pixolator made with ZB four years ago :rolleyes: (see all the thread)
Have happy Zbrushing!

Ps Of course cool drawing!

[pmcclory]

Ha thanks for the link - those techniques are going to be well useful

Also muchos appreciation for reply and from such a high-up Zbrusher / Artist!

New drawing later today (along with technique and preliminary sketches).

[pmcclory]

Hi again,
Here is the next in this series of finished concept drawings I will eventually get round to modelling in Zbrush. I have quite a few sketches though, so I’m going to concentrate on the pencil drawings first.

[attach=39055]tree-creature-two-pmcclory.jpg[/attach]

Comments appreciated

Attachments

[vlad74]

Love the concepts. Keep it up.

[pmcclory]

Thanks, I just thought I’d share some more of these tree character drawings etc I’ve been doing. I want to sculpt these in Zbrush, but am unsure as to what approach to take!

[attach=39056]treople_01_colour.jpg[/attach]
[attach=39057]treople_02.jpg[/attach]
[attach=39058]treople_03.gif[/attach]
[attach=39059]treople_04.gif[/attach]

I was thinking that I could block out the basic shapes and then use multi-marker placement to add trees and other detail - but I’m a bit fuzzy on all of this. Anyone got any ideas or suggestions?

If you are interested then have a gander at more of my tree creature concepts and drawings at www.treople.co.uk

Attachments

[vlad74]

They look AMAZING. Wonderful concepts. It is gonna be fun doing the in ZB

[pmcclory]

Thanks! Really appreciate your compliments

[SolidSnakexxx]

Wow…it’s gonna be beyond amazing when it’s done in ZB… The sketches and concept drawings look wonderful!

[vlad74]

I was thinking that I could block out the basic shapes and then use multi-marker placement to add trees and other detail - but I’m a bit fuzzy on all of this. Anyone got any ideas or suggestions?

OK. If I were you I would do the following steps.

I will start this in mind that it is just an illustration.I mean once I have placed all the parts they will stay like that, they will not be rotated in 3d, animated , etc
In this case I will not need to use multi-marker. I would model every part of them separately with no textures. Then I would place every part or group of parts in a different layer and convert all to pixols. After the placement I would strat painting the textures and adding extra fine details using 2.5 D tools that ZBrush offers. They are extremely powerful I think. Then I would start playing with shaders, lighting and render.

This would be my approach based on the idea of producing just an illustration.

I hope I was helpful.

[pmcclory]

Thanks SolidSnakexxx for your compliments!

Vlad74 : Thanks for the advice.

The thing is I plan on using motion captured and tweaked data on the finished 3D model. (Also I wanted to add secondary motion for the trees swaying and smoke coming from the chimneys using PFlow in MAX with deflectors on the geometry).

From what I have tried so far - on this test model - just using Zspheres…

… I think I may get better results (especially for animating?) by creating a well thought out lowpoly quad model in MAX, and then adding the detail as a displacement map created in Zbrush.

I’d prefer to be able to just use Zspheres, but is this the most practical way to create a detailed character that will be heavily animated?

Thanks anyone in advance

[vlad74]

The thing is I plan on using motion captured and tweaked data on the finished 3D model. (Also I wanted to add secondary motion for the trees swaying and smoke coming from the chimneys using PFlow in MAX with deflectors on the geometry).

OK. Thats a different story. I am sure it is gonna be great.

BYW the model is awesome.

… I think I may get better results (especially for animating?) by creating a well thought out lowpoly quad model in MAX, and then adding the detail as a displacement map created in Zbrush.

Thats the way. With ZSphere you wont get the best topology.