The Grumpy Elf Script

[Digits]

Super scripts guys! Now if only I could figure out how to texture them without it looking like dog poo I will do my best!

Jola

Your outlook and sensitivity to the world is both a wonderful asset and a curse. I sometimes wish I was that passionate and open to all the stimuli that goes on around me as you are but I realize that there are two sides of that sword. People love the Dark and Foreboding as much as the bright and beautiful because I think it helps them face thier fears, a nightlight for our dreams to desensitize ourselves from the bad of the world.
As for Southern’s art I think you are not looking at it in the correct way. If you look at all his images you would see that underlying all of the darkness of his subject matter is a bright whimsy and humor that is very human and warm. It is a brain tease that makes his art wonderful and interesting way beyond his technical expertise. I wish that you could see it.

Please reconsider leaving all your friends here, you brighten my day when I read your posts, comments and view your beautiful images.

[aurick]

Jola, I have to give a big DITTO to what Digits just said. It would be a terrible shame to see you go. Every artist has a unique style and vision (although it can and does change over time), even amateur hacks like myself. One of the great strengths of ZBrush is that it offers practically unlimited ways to do things, and certainly all the tools that you could need to create practically anything that you envision. Look at LeDiscot – he’s created Tarzan, Cheetor, yet also Unpleasant Encounter (love the detail, but still gives me the creeps LOL).

It’s easy to get drawn into creature creation because the modeling tools in ZBrush are so darned powerful. The work being done by Southern, etc., is just amazing. But there are other directions that the program can be taken, and quite a few of us here that are taking tentative steps down those paths. I think you’ll see more of it as time goes on, from more artists.

This is why it would be a great loss to ZBrush Central to lose you. Every voice counts. Every artist’s contributions are important, as the rest of us can become inspired by them or at the very least look at some part of an image and have an “I didn’t ever think to do THAT!” epiphany. Please rethink leaving us, and let your kind-hearted voice continue to be heard.

[s_o_u_t_h_e_r_n]

Would you stay if I paint flowers?

[Zoid]

Hi Southern,

Your images are great. This thread presents a strange confluence of coincidences for me. On Friday I was feeling horrible after having a bad week at work. I started working that night on a dark sinister character that reflected my foul mood, then two things got in the way. I needed eyes and was too tired to make any, and I also thought about Jola and how she doesn’t like harsh looking images. Then up pops this thread with ready made eyes to use and a place for me to post my meanie. Then there’s Jola’s announcement about leaving. wow.

To Jola, I can understand your aversion to dark and mean things, but on an artistic level we need to see everything to have a full range of expression. Dark to light, happy to sad. Look at the work of Caravaggio or Edvard Munch. As far as being unable to comment on everything, I can relate to that too. Sometimes I feel like I have nothing to say (sometimes too much, like right now) If you show up from time to time and post your wonderful images then you will still be making a very valuable and much needed contribution to this forum

To Southern, Your images,techniques,and mastery of this program are a true inspiration to me and everyone else. You have been the trailblazer from the very beginning. I make many dark images, but don’t post them for fear of disturbing people, but for me they are a great release and much better than punching a wall or starting a fight. In support of you and your dark side I am posting this image in it’s unfinished state. I will get your eyes an post a final version later. If you’re already on vacation, I hope you’re having a great time. ZBrushers unite!!

[s_o_u_t_h_e_r_n]

Zoid, I`m off in a few hours and these are my last words before a couple of hours of sleep.

Turn on any TV anywhere in the world and watch the news. You will see far more disturbing things on that box than you will on this one. There is nothing darker or more disturbing that a quick dose of reality and my work, like so many others posting here, is escapism in the purist form.

See you all in a few weeks…

Glen Martin Southern, UK, 23.15 Aug 5th 2001

[system]

Hi together,
I feel really ashamed when I read your kind words.
YOU TRY TO UNDERSTAND ME AND I DON’T TRY
TO UNDERSTAND YOU!
I apologize my friends. To night I will printout the cigarette man from Southern and hang it on the wall in my flat.
Perhaps there is a chance that this (for me disgusting) man stops me from smoking, OK!
And this man will remember me day by day that I’m a mimosa. Digits is right that is a curse.
Very silent I will come back.
I know now that I would have missed the nice guys from ZBrushcentral.
Southern your idea of painting flowers is
overwhelming. Shall I laugh or shall I cry…
From this wednesday onwards I have 3 weeks ZBrush-holidays. I hope mimosa can then
apaologize again with some Jola contributions.
I’m just thinking the right punishment for me would be that I rename JOLA to MIMOSA
If I could apologize by this I would do
it. Let me know, OK Ciao Jola

[aurick]

Ah, but did you know that the Mimosa Pudica (sensitive plant) has lovely flowers?

Maybe being a mimosa is not such a bad thing, after all…

Great to see that you’re still here, Jola. No need to punish yourself – just keep your promise to show us that new artwork that you just promised. I can’t wait!

[system]

Thanks aurick,
the mimosa is superp (ZBrush done ?).
Also your last two posted pictures I like a lot just forgot to mention it in your post.

By my heart I promise new pictures can’t
wait for to morrow evening. Ciao Jola

[Digits]

Still working on an image Southern

No need to apologize Jola, although Mimosa is a pretty name as well we need Jola around here to show us the more beautiful feelings of life. And it is all right not to like something, Art is a very personal thing and what looks like an ugly white line on red paint at the Art gallery going for thousands of dollars looks to me like a white line on red paint. To others it is worth a lot of money! Nobody sees the true magic of an image except the creator, all the rest it is an interpretation.

[Zoid]

I just wanted to come back here and get something off my chest. I regret using the word “disturbing” in my post above, and giving the impression that Southern should censor or restrict the kinds of images that he shows for fear of disturbing anyone. I’m the one that is guilty of doing that and it was Jola’s post that made me see that. I don’t think that anyone should post an image based on what they think others wan’t to see, or can tolerate seeing(assuming a basic level of decency of course). Southern, I enjoy seeing all of your images and look forward to lots more. It’s all good clean fun

Having said that, I made a great discovery for myself while I was making a more finished version of my grumpy guy, using Southern’s great eyes. On page 255 of the new ZBrush documentation, I stumbled across this gem about making a “backlight”. If you click on the grey square in the lighting preview window without moving your mouse, the light that you’re modifying becomes a backlight. If this was in the original documentation, then I missed it. It’s a great effect for getting a nice edge of light especially in a dark image. Thanks again for the eyes Glen, in more ways than one

[Kathy]

Dang Zoid, I missed that too!
(and i’ve read and bookmarked that PDF to the point of bending the corners…well as much as you can bend any PDF )

Thanks again Zoid.

[Digits]

Its been a long while but I told you I was working on your elf Gave me an excuse to practice with my new color widget.

I sampled one of your ape textures to get greens and browns to create the skin texture
Can’t compare to yours of course but I think it is the best job I have done so far with a dang head

I took another approach with this one as I painted a base coat on the head in transform mode and then unwrapped the texture. I then worked on the texture itself with my widget and then re-applied it to the head. This way I have a completely textured head to use.

if you want to look at the texture here it is

grumpyelftex.zip

[system]

i dont whana say your image is bad but i have a suggestion i think that to get the most relistic hair effect you should use the smudg or smere brush(i dont remember the name) :rolleyes: cause thats what both me and southern use but then agen u mite just whant to use fiber brush well whatever tickels your pickel im out

[Digits]

Thanks Dom for the tip, I was going to try the smudge brush but found that my original document got corrupted bummer! The next one I will give it a try.

I also appreciate that you considered my feelings and didn’t tell me that it was bad heheh.

[s_o_u_t_h_e_r_n]

Hey cool…I think it`s better than mine and I like the hair as it is.

I like to see my scripts being used, I`ll do more.

[Digits]

I’ve watched your script 3 times now and each time I get something out of it. Perhaps, one of these times I will learn by osmosis If you are interested in making more perhaps I might suggest a body part or two to round out the lesson. I know I would appreciate it, for some reason I have brain block, a finger freeze and spastic gyrations when it comes to trying to model something.

[system]

Hey Jola, a small tear trickled for your acceptance and not leaving ZBrush. It came out when I read you said you are going to hand the elf on your wall***

Sometimes the dew droplets on a leaf can pierce my soul in a different way. Maybe the other end of the scale??

Sunny

[Muvlo]

Weeeeeee! Just gave the elf script a try Southern. Here’s what I came up with:

Thanks for sharing the script with us, it was interesting to see someone modeling in a very different way from how I do it.
Cool images everyone!

Edit: Whoops! I just noticed the eyeballs are showing through the skin.
Heehehehehe.

[Kruzr]

Hey Digits . . . I like the image just as it is. I don’t think using the “Smudge” tool would make any improvments at all on the hair!

Just my opinion . . . Mark.

[aurick]

Well, I couldn’t help it. Had to get in on the fun, myself. Thanks for the script, Southern! It was great to watch you work.