ZBrushCentral

Aberrants Daily Sketches

Rather than a thread of my completed work, this is a thread i want to dedicate to doing at least 1 sculpt a day, no matter how big or small, detailed or simple. This should be some motivation to do something daily with Zbrush to improve my skills.

Here is my first sketch. Took me about an hour. (Hoping my speed increases a lot with this as well)

Critiques and comments appreciated.

[Daily-Sculpt-01.jpg](javascript:zb_insimg(‘136923’,‘Daily-Sculpt-01.jpg’,1,0))

Very good start… :+1:small_orange_diamond:+1:

When doing a speed sculpt is really a bad idea to get a hi-res mesh and then begin sculpting… because, well… the sculpt will be slower (you have to pull more polygons, smoothing is slower…)

Use a low res mesh, and sculpt it as far as you can, then subdivide; you can get better results in less time.

Thank you for the tip. I was given the same advice before, but since I did not know what I was making, I made the mistake of subdividing too much so I could play with the mass like it was clay.

This made it easier for me to look at the mass and think of what I could turn it into. It also created a bit of a problem at the same time since I found myself looking at it, and then making a change, over and over. That is another reason I think it looks so blobby.

Today I will try not to make the same mistake, and once I have something (like a grinning skull in this case) I will drop down to the low levels and work my way up instead of getting lost playing with clay :stuck_out_tongue:

Thanks again for the advice, no matter how simple it is appreciated.

Quick Hard surface stuff. Plan on adding some materials and textures to it.
[Day_02.jpg](javascript:zb_insimg(‘137145’,‘Day_02.jpg’,1,0))

WIP_01.jpg

This is the beginning of a self portrait. I put it under my daily sketches since I will be working on it daily. I would ideally like to work on a new one everyday to work on speed but this should be done soon. Critiques appreciated

I have not been able to do as much sculpting as I would like, but here is some progress on my self portrait. It does not have any eyebrows or hair yet. I still need to work on the eyes as well.

[WIP_03a.jpg](javascript:zb_insimg(‘138088’,‘WIP_03c.jpg’,1,0))

Attachments

WIP_03b.jpg

WIP_03c.jpg

When you post these, try to put your reference photo of the same view next to it, so I have something to base my critique on. And try to have them line up as much as possible, not at different scales.

Also, get eyeballs in there now so that you can conform the eye lids around a proper sphere.

Looks like a good start though :slight_smile:

Yeah, great point about the ref pic. I actually planned on posting that with my newest version that i never got around to posting. I have the hair, eyebrows, and eyes in.

I found that its near impossible to form the lids without the eyeball to define their borders. Great tip, I found out the hard way :wink:

Ill post it up tonight and thanks for the crits.

Here is my self portrait, along with the reference images I used. I have not added in the final details like skin pores and fine wrinkles, I want to wait till I have the proportions and everything else right.

Crits would be appreciated, thanks in advance.

[SP_WIP_01.jpg](javascript:zb_insimg(‘139016’,‘Side.jpg’,1,0))

Attachments

SP_WIP_02.jpg

SP_WIP_03.jpg

Front.jpg

Side.jpg

Yeah I’m seeing some pretty obvious discrepancies, and I think a lot of it has to do with the high amount of perspective in your reference images. I’d recommend taking new reference pictures. A good trick is to zoom in as far as the camera will zoom, then physically move the camera back until your face is framed in the shot. This brings the field of view way down, which is what you want.

Also, take the time to go into Photoshop, and insure that none of your shots are tilted.

And insure that your various shots are lined up perfetly. This can be accomplished by pasting all views into one PS document, throwing down some guides over the front view (brow line, top of ears, bottom of nose, bottom of lip, etc), then making any size and placement adjustments necessary to the other shots so they line up with the front view’s guides. This becomes important when you use image planes to model from.

[[attach=139100]front.jpg[/attach]](javascript:zb_insimg(‘139100’,‘front.jpg’,1,0))

[[attach=139101]side.jpg[/attach]](javascript:zb_insimg(‘139101’,‘side.jpg’,1,0))

Attachments

front.jpg

side.jpg

Thanks Dustin, my lack of pre-planning is now showing through.

First off, I think I should get some screens with perspective turned on. The ones shown are without any perspective. That could help a tiny bit.

I also did not use your zoom trick when taking these shots, they are fairly close up.

Now im not sure what to do, should I go back and take new reference shots and re-layout everything and tweak to fit? or should I turn on perspective when I am working and continue to use the ref images… I will probably go with re-doing it all and fitting it.

Thanks again Dustin. You Da Man :laughing: :+1:

No man you want to take perspective completely out of the equation when you’re working from references if at all possible. I’d take new photos.

Do you know how to make reference planes in ZB? There are a few methods but I can tell you how I do it if you want.

db

The method for reference planes that I have been using is the one in the skull tutorial. If you have a method that you prefer over this I would be more than happy to learn about it.

And as for perspective, I was saying to turn it on for comparison, but not to work with it on. Either way I need new references and all. Thanks Dustin

Still looks like personality is coming through even if the proportions aren’t quite there. :+1:

Thanks Marsyas, appreciate it.

good works. i like it

So I quickly realized, with all the obligations and stupid crap going on, I have no desire to do much anymore. I would love to have daily sketches and improve, but I have no time for myself anymore. I am giving up. I don’t think this post will even be read by anyone, but if it is… I probably wont be posting anytime soon. Screw it. :td:

It’s just a bump in a very long road. Those setbacks happen to us all. You know for a fact I’ve had mine. If there’s a “cancer” in your life, it’s usually best to cut it out. Sort out what you need to and come back when you’re able :slight_smile:

Thanks Dustin for the encouragement, I appreciate it. It’s one of those low points on the roller coaster of life. I’m sure I will be back at it in time, I am just hoping its sooner than later. Thanks again for the encouragement, you should post some new work so I can get inspired too! :wink:

Here is a WIP still got some final tweaks and coloring to do. Any crits welcome.

[Mech-WIP.jpg](javascript:zb_insimg(‘149235’,‘Mech-WIP.jpg’,1,0))