Hello! I finally dared to finish this personal project and I feel mentally ready to show it now 
more renders > https://www.artstation.com/artwork/8elgXO
Main inspiration has been “NATAAL” Magazine cover I randomly spotted in a Waterstone library back in 2018 when I was living in the UK.
Fell in love with the shot and the subject (Emmanuel Adjaye), took a couple of pictures and moved on from there! (but started this only sometime before the lockdown) and yes, when I walk around and see something stunning, I take pictures just for inspiration or to do some art out of it, eventually.
It is not a likeness per se, but the Magazine’s photo had a huge influence on this job. No scans were used for the modeling.
I used Arnold render in Maya for the final result, hair done with xGen interactive, and used some xyz maps for the fine skin displacement.
I know the are tons of things that could be improved and refined… I’ll take this as a learning lesson for the next one!
Thank you Camilla Guerrina for feeding me while I worked late hours on this (and for your precious feedbacks).
#3dmodel #3dart #3dportrait #zbrush #mari #substancepainter #digitalhuman #cgi #vfx #maya #arnold #rendering #xgen #art #marvelousdesigner #animation #character #digitalart #artstation #hyperrealism #face #sculpture #texturingxyz #lighting #cinematic #texture #render #photorealistic
Looks great!!, 
This is incredible. The details you manage to give to the skin are unbelievable!
Fantastic work 
WOWzers!
thank you! that’s also thanks to xyz displacement maps But did a lot of sculpting on top of that too
Spectacular Pietro!
Jaime
Thank you so much Jaime! I really didn’t expect this, and thanks for all the exposure you guys are providing, I am super honoured and grateful. Couldn’t ask for more!
Amazing work! 
Amazing , super powerful character!
A fabulous result
Great work : )
Wow, amazing work!
I love the aesthetic of this one! Very cool
amazed!
Awesome job !
Amazing Work hands down, the skin texture is gorgeous and the hair design is off the chain. A true Motivational piece, no doubt. Thank You very much.
One of my favorite renders and works; really really nice.
-Joseph
Thank you everybody, you made my day
It is beyond awesome to be inspiring to some other fellow artist!