3D Art of Joshua Maurer (Somnium)

Physis

2009-05-08T00:16:00.000-07:00

I started this concept for last years dominance war. Well I never got passed very rough blocking (didn't even have a head shape) then dropped out of the contest. Well I want to finish the model and get back into doing some art so I am going to try and finish this guy once and for all. I am not going to set myself a deadline as I am realizing that I have no idea how to model anymore... Please any crit or anything of that nature is more then welcome.

Demo Reel 2008

2009-01-08T17:56:00.000-08:00

This is my Demo reel as it's going to be for this year. I would like to have put some details about the models like character names and poly counts but this school demo reel thing isn't haunting me anymore I am going to start a new one from scratch starting with my Dominance War Entry from last year that got abandoned so expect updates on that soon. But anyways please Critique and Comments are always helpful.

This is a link to the HD Version on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1UL34cmvdo&fmt=18

Model Update?!?!?

2008-06-26T03:21:00.000-07:00

So I am almost done with the texturing it's alot of photo manip so far and poly painting. (I need to learn how to digital paint) so yeah it's coming along all I have to do is the shoes and strings. Kind of a hurry to finish it, it's looking pretty lame but what ever can't wait to be done school so I can do figure studies...w00t

BABY!

2008-06-25T00:04:00.000-07:00

So yeah my daughter was born June 12th! Beautiful Zoë.. Anyways now I am working on finish my reel found I passed DIVC so all I need is to finish this samurai model. Can't wait to be done and work on my own demo reel Cato exluded. So yeah I am just about to unwrap the props to go with the model (Katana, sandels, Hair and hat) so that will be done tonight I would also like to have them textured tonight so that I can start making pedistals tomorrow. Then render later this week. Hazaa Lets hope I don't fail the demo reel ( they want 4 models but I think 3 is better with how crappy the 4th is) ANYWHO off I go. BTW new Coldplay Album Rocks pick it up!

Let down

2008-04-26T01:26:00.000-07:00

Just a sorry to anyone I have been letting down with this modeling career I am trying to achieve ... I been slacking rediculously and having a wedding and child on the way doesn't help. I need to start busting my balls and getting my models done to make a demo reel. I sure as hell don't want to have wasted 30k for Tuition. Anyways. Hopefully this post will be bumped down by some model progression real soon. Thanks.

Dominance War III

2008-03-15T02:11:00.000-07:00

Well time to learn! I am entering the Dominance war. No plans on winning but another model to add to my reel with more inspiration to work on it. The Character Design is killing me NO JOKE I can't wait to start modeling Physis!

I am representing 3d Total with my Nature themed character with his Organic Bow.
To follow any progress please go here.( I don't want to repost a billion times on different blogs and forums)
http://forums.3dtotal.com/showthread.php?t=56977

Onnu-Musha (Female Samurai) Wip 4

2008-02-12T03:58:00.000-08:00

Holy cow behind schedule...Wedding planning nightmare thank god the big event is finally this weekend, doctors up the wazzooo for my baby. Now... Some Progress.

Sculpting the clothes has been an all day affair lots of CTRL+Z thats for sure this is my first attempt at clothing. Well I made a loin cloth once... But anywho it's harder then I thought it would be finding tutorials isn't possible so lots of reference (lost my old notes) Please anyone who reads this give me some pointers on wrinkles it's killing me slowly... HOLY CRAP sleep then I try finish this model tomorrow...

Onnu-Musha (Female Samurai) Wip 3

2008-02-04T23:16:00.000-08:00

Alright well I haven't alot to SHOW on the model but I have had to figure out a couple Zbrush features to get to this stage, those being transpose tool and subtools My o may are they powerful and awesome tools. Anyways here is the roughing in of the clothing I haven't sculpted it at all yet because I have maya homework to do tonight. Also the pose is going to look awkward she is going to have a Katana thrown over there. Please any critique or reference referal for some wrinkles would be sweet... Thanks Yay Bronze Shader FTW !

Onnu-Musha (Female Samurai) Wip 2

2008-01-28T19:36:00.000-08:00

Finally opened the files since my break ended.....
I had some tweaks that were needed thanks to some crit offered by some instructors and mentors. So I fixed some proportions, and some minor details. I want to detail it more but I really need to get moving on this model so what I don't do now with this model I will be sure to take more time with on my next models. I have decided on clothing for this character aswell I will start that hopefully tonight or tomorrow (depending on how fast I work on my maya homework). Anyways here are the screens. Please Critique is always welcomed and VERY helpful. (click for larger image)

Onnu-Musha (Female Samurai) Wip 1

2007-12-12T16:17:00.000-08:00

I started modeling a bit ago and am now Just updating the blog. I am only concerned with the anatomy of the character this semester, clothing and hair will come next semester.

Onnu-Musha (Female Samurai)

2007-12-12T16:08:00.000-08:00

This is some of the sketches I did for my new Character model. For the drawings I was hoping to go more for a traditional Samurai Garb but then decided I wanted to practice and showcase anatomy of a female (seeing as how I have never worked with the female body in 3D Space) So I am leaning more towards traditional shoulders with an open side. I am going to draw more clothing options over my christmas break so I have a better idea of what I want.

Brief Crappy, Grammatically incorrect Character Bio:

Female Samurai Type Warrior
Main Weapon to Be Traditional Japanese Longbow
Of course keep Daito on outfit

Father always told her stories of great samurai legends and as a female knew she would never be trained the same way as a man would. Always jealous of her older brothers training and education she started observing all the training in her free time when she wasn’t cooking and cleaning there home. The Families clan went to battle with a neighboring clan and she was left home to clean, maintain and defend her home (All women know martial arts for when the men went to battle). Weeks passed and the men of her home never came home. Eventually the rest of the clan came home and was missing many men among the missing was her family. They had been defeated in battle and forced into seppuku. Though taught to think much less of death she was devastated by the loss of her father and brother. Her dream of fighting along side of her father, though in reality never likely to happen, was now over. She leaves her village with a bitter taste in her mouth for how structured civilization. She is a wanderer now she trains alone dueling people when ever the chance is given, though skeptical of fighting a women the men never stand down. She is now considered a female ronin to the people she encounters.

General Horatio's Personal Transport

2007-12-06T00:05:00.001-08:00

Ok well here it is with the General posed atop. Some mentors have pointed out some flaws in my design and I agree completely but I can't go back and fix it now not with school still going forward so I will take the mentioned critique into account on my next modeling en devours. This is not a final render I need to brush up on rendering and lighting maybe watch a DVD or something then add glow to the blue areas. I will have final renders next semester when I am putting my demo reel together.

The character and his bike come in at around 12000 poly's with 1 texture map each, 1 normal, 1 spec, (1 glow in the process)

New Look

2007-11-13T10:47:00.001-08:00

Changed the color and some layout to make it look more appealing and less thrown together. I don't know how to get rid of the white lines behind the banner because I am a blogger newb. Anyways hope this is easier on the eyes(if the font color against the black ever becomes hard on the eyes please someone feel free to let me know in a comment)

Video Player

2007-11-13T10:08:00.001-08:00

New 3D Forums from the Centre for Arts and Technology

2007-11-07T12:29:00.000-08:00

My instructor, a fellow classmate and I decided to make a new forum for the 3d Industry to help students and other artists get constructive feedback from industry professionals and instructors. We also setup some tech support forums for 3d Specific software.

Cato3D Forum

General Horatio Personal Transport WIP3

2007-10-20T01:35:00.000-07:00

I am just going to start with the high poly because I want to try a different work flow. With general horatio I made the low poly first then made the high poly off that which kind of limited some detail I think if that makes sense. So yeah not much detail yet but you can see the basic shape I am going for.
Any help with crit is encouraged and welcomed. Thanks

General Horatio Personal Transport WIP2

2007-10-17T01:36:00.000-07:00

Still just blocking the shape in i think i got the base shape of the front end in there pretty solid.

General Horatio Personal Transport

2007-10-16T22:40:00.000-07:00

So yeah new semester, new model. For my program we have to make an vehicle for our final portfolio...So yeah this being my first ever Vehicle design I'm not to sure how it's goign to hold out in 3D Space. It is the like the title says My previous Characters personal ride. My instructors aren't to fond of the design but hell running out of time and I need to start modeling. SOO model I shall.

For my progresses I want to start posting more of the development stage to maybe help anyone who wants to model similar things to see kind of step by step of my work flow. It's by no means a professional project or work flow but I found similar things very helpful in my learning

Satyr WIP 4

2007-09-21T07:20:00.000-07:00

Didn't get any sleep last night so I experimented on his texture with some photo manipulating and manual painting I am liking it so far. I added some better looking fur to his legs, gave him eyes with material presets, also added some other details, in his chest, horns, scars. I need to think of a name for him. I intended for him to a messenger/musician working with/for Pan maybe once I make him some pan flutes a name will come to me. Crit and Comments are welcomed and encouraged. Thanks

Satyr WIP 3 and General Horatio status report

2007-09-21T03:23:00.000-07:00

So I redid my low poly (well started with previous just fixed alot and added a bit of geometry) because the normal maps were looking odd in the face. So yeah I think they look better now. I have blocked in his texture with some basic colors and textures of skin, fur, fabric there is always more work to do so he isn't done yet. For General Horatio his texture is getting near complete and I decided to start rigging him so I can try and give him a killer pose with my wicked animation ability :P Should have him done by next week... Or else I fail 3D Am 300 ! My Satyr is due tomorrow at 6pm I believe so wish me luck.

Satyr WIP2

2007-09-19T02:07:00.000-07:00

Ok I finished detailing my high poly as much as I have the time to do... He is just under 4million polys for the high poly. I took my low body base I started Zbrush with and refined his geometry a bit and got him to just under 4000 polys and then I did his Normal and Ambient Occlusion maps. I am in the middle of patching up his AO map, and am considering redoing his normal maps (time permitted) This is only the second time I have done this so not even close to getting a nice perfect normal map :P Anyways here is 4mill poly detail on 4000 poly model.

Satyr WIP1

2007-09-18T02:14:00.000-07:00

SO this is going to be a clutch finish if I can finish this character gotta have the character done by this friday. He needs to be a low poly character using Normal maps much like General Horatio but rather then 3 months I have 2 weeks... I am going to die and this project is going to be brought to you by NOS Energy Drinks. I have the the high poly almost done just need to add a few more details to the sculpt and then add details like pores, scares, wrinkles and what not. Gonna try and have that done tonight or tomorrow. Then I am going to refine my medium poly into the low poly (possibly build the low poly from scratch but I doubt it, I know thats the proper work flow but I don't know if time will allow that) And do the normal, Ambient Occlusion, and Albedo maps the same night I finish the low poly then try and pull off the texture in one night!!!! Here is what the high poly is looking like so far if anyone reads this Blog Critique is welcomed and Encouraged like always. The Character is my take on satyr how the head is structured was influenced by that thing on the cover of pans labyrinth I haven't seen the movie yet so I don't know his name I just like how his nose flow right into the shape of his head, It gives a nice feel to the characters look of both Sinister and a loyal Hero.

General Horatio Status

2007-09-06T22:55:00.001-07:00

I learned some new tricks today on doing normal maps, which is great because I was having trouble with them SO YAY! but seriously kinda sucks at the time because now I have to re unwrap and re block in colors (which may not take as long because an ultimapper trick I was told of today. I will keep this updated if anyone cares.

General Horatio WIP 5

2007-09-06T12:57:00.000-07:00

Technorati Profile

I blocked in the colors on the textures next step is to work on details and make his armor look more war torn!

General Horatio WIP4

2007-09-02T18:01:00.000-07:00

So yeah I took him in to Zbrush (his face) now I am going to make the normal maps on his 11k counterpart this is what the high poly looks like with just him (no big helmet or rank cloth)
My ultimapper isn't working so I will have my normal maps posted as soon as I get them working.

General Horatio WIP3

2007-08-16T10:35:00.000-07:00

Ok so I am almost done with the basic details I would like to add alot more finer detail but I have a milestone today where I am to be ready to unwrap... ROAR
I am unsure of where to go next because I have yet to be educated or figure out a proper work stream, like when to go into Zbrush and what needs to be done both softwares. Still need to do the base detail on the hands I just realized, so that will be next then probably unwrapping. I am sure nobody wants to see UV Progress.
Critique as always is welcomed and encouraged.

General Horatio WIP2

2007-08-14T17:34:00.000-07:00

I scrapped all the armor I had I was modeling the inside and the outside and I was told thats a big fat waste of time and I agree it's armored soldier not bare soldier.. So yeah re did the armor just extruding it. I did some minor details on the face (gonna do the rest in Zbrush I think. umm yeah Critique is of course encouraged.

Right Click and go to view image to see the full screen captures

First Z Brush Assignment

2007-08-08T00:53:00.000-07:00

Basically we were given a week to find a character or person to reference that had imperfections in there skin like sagging, weight all those kinda things. So being the huge Star Wars nerd that I am I chose Yoda... quite possibly the most bad ass jedi ever. So yeah this is finished as far as the assignment is concerned but I am by no means finished sculpting this. There are some issues with proportions that were brought up in an in class critique so I will address those issues and I also need to practice around the eye area, o and detailing the ear as well. And of course sub divide more and get in there with more find details like wrinkles and then maybe do some stuff with alpha brushes. Critique is welcomed and encouraged thanks.

General Horatio

2007-08-02T02:46:00.000-07:00

Semester 6 Underway about to start on my first model of the semester. We have to come up with our own concepts for a character and I did just that I wanted to go with Star Wars stormtroopers originally but franny told us he wanted original which is cool cause thats fun! So I borrowed some style from good Ol' George Lucas with storm troopers basic armor and also from the imperial guards... Low and behold my character looks nothing like either of those soldiers but I have something a little more original thanks to that My Sketching isn't a strong point I am working on that so hopefully he will look way more badass then my Sketches and paintings. I will be posting the progress on this model on here and asking for critique for the process both here and on www.digimill.net student forums so if you have any questions about the character or model please leave comments here of on the student forums... Any questions regard how the armor works or why a piece is there I will try to make it as clear as possible when the questions arrive. And for now... 3 hours of sleep for my 9 hour day tomorrow... I bid you farewell.

Concept Art-

Body Drill Finished (12 hours)

2007-06-21T14:09:00.000-07:00

Holy crap sprint to the end thats 12 hours had to rush the head a bit but I am by no means done with this model gonna detail him on my semester break I hope with more definition in muscles and what not. ANYWAYS YAY First full Body model didn't get a chance to do much practice so this is yea first full anatomy!

Body Drill WIP 8 (8.5 hours)

2007-06-21T00:23:00.000-07:00

SO yeah will 3.5 hours to go i am going to try and finish tomorrow it's bit of a tight stretch with the hands and head remaining but I have to do some other homework for a class I have in 8 hours.

This update I worked on the muscle structure.

Body Drill WIP 7 (7.5 hours)

2007-06-20T23:10:00.001-07:00

Body Drill WIP 6 (6 hours 45 minutes)

2007-06-20T19:34:00.001-07:00

Posting some progress gotta go be a taxi driver

Body Drill WIP 6 (6 hours)

2007-06-20T18:44:00.000-07:00

Got back and been slugging for an hour. Got crap loads to go !

Body Drill WIP 5 (5 hours)

2007-06-20T14:39:00.001-07:00

a lil less then 5 hours but rounded up cause i went outside to do some yard work for a bit there and forgot to post. Now to the gym then finishing the drill when i get home in one sitting hopefully

Body Drill WIP 4 (4 hours)

2007-06-20T12:59:00.000-07:00

GOOD MORNING!

Body Drill WIP 3 (3 hours)

2007-06-20T01:24:00.000-07:00

Had some trouble with the flow of some points then started falling asleep finishing it tomorrow!

Body Drill WIP 2 (2.5 hours)

2007-06-20T00:41:00.001-07:00

Body Drill WIP 1 (1.5 hours)

2007-06-19T23:35:00.000-07:00

Bit of a late start but this is where I left on in class before the schools license went down.

Head Drill Fin

2007-06-13T00:43:00.000-07:00

So yeah this is done now. Didn't use the full 6 hours because I didn't start on an hour mark so not quite sure. The ear needs more practice (that parts fricken hard) and well over all I need more practice.

Head Drill WIP Hour 6ish

2007-06-12T23:46:00.000-07:00

I'll post a FIN Screen shot in a bit gotta go pick someone up.

Head Drill WIP Hour 5

2007-06-12T23:25:00.001-07:00

WIP This is around hour 4ish not sure cause don't remember when I started in class

2007-06-12T22:12:00.001-07:00

Face Drill WIP Hour 3

2007-06-12T14:54:00.001-07:00

Second Head (Practice for drill)

2007-06-03T21:22:00.000-07:00

OK well this was my first drill attempt at this it took me 3 hours to get the head done with no ear the power went out that day and I lost like 20 minutes of work. Just did the ear in about half hour of work so this is around a 3.5 hour job. I rotoscoped this one I am a little unhappy with the ear but I'm not going to tweak it I don't think maybe later but now I will just move onto starting another head. Also the flow of the geometry isn't as optimized as it cool be so I know I need to work on that. But yeah lemme know what else I can work on to take that into my next one! thx

First Human Head

2007-05-28T20:32:00.000-07:00

My first 3d Head watched a DVD to know what I was doing I didn't rotoscope though and used one reference image. Lots to work on but this is only number one of I am sure hundreds I will make in the future. Working on a new one right now with rotoscope and new DVD going to see what I learned from the DVD's. Critique is encouraged.

Drill Recap

2007-05-07T23:54:00.000-07:00

So yeah cleaned it up put rims on all four sides just so it doesn't look so bad !

Drill 1 WIP 6 (drill done)

2007-05-07T22:44:00.002-07:00

Final Piece So drill done just gonna clean up the model !

2007-05-07T22:44:00.001-07:00

Drill 1 WIP 5

2007-05-07T21:54:00.000-07:00

Drill 1 WIP 4

2007-05-07T21:32:00.000-07:00

Drilll WIP 3

2007-05-07T20:57:00.000-07:00

Drill 1 WIP 2

2007-05-07T20:14:00.001-07:00

Drill 1 WIP 2

Drill 1 WIP 1

2007-05-07T19:49:00.000-07:00

Just the Start Model I have to modify

2007-03-24T07:47:00.000-07:00

Intro Do Digital to Video Assignment Due to complications with rendering I only had two hours to edit it all together Turned out alright I think. Critique is encouraged as I have very little experience with this kinda thing.
Thank you

Rhino Composite

2007-03-20T12:08:00.000-07:00

was up till 3 slept in when i meant to wake up at 9 so I had to composite renders in half hour :P
It's Kinda crap rhino's are boring so it's kinda of a dull image in my opinion anyway enough belly aching CRITIQUE

Self Critique: The eye is to open and it takes to much attention away from the scene I think, The texture was rushed unfortunately and I need more practice working with organic material in photoshop goes, My bump map is a little weak I think as well but nothing practice can't help with.

2007-03-07T23:59:00.000-08:00

For my 3D Classes we had to model, texture, render a World War 2 Aircraft I did the Japanese A6M2 Zero. The modeling was what I found to be my strongest part of the project, I need to work on my texturing a lot more along with my render tree management. For the last of this project we rendered the planes out with ambient occlusion and shadows then composited them in Photoshop to sell our models. My composition I enjoy but the texturing seems to stick out like a sore thumb. My next model is definitely not going to be white! Critique is welcomed and encouraged! thanks alot

Robot Digital Painting

2007-02-28T23:36:00.000-08:00

assignment in my digital painting class had to draw and shade it with pencil and paper but then we have color it in photoshop. I wanted to add more to the design like huge ass metal wings and fix the arm pose but time is precious and I couldn't. Learned a bit with this and good practice.

Modeling Complete

2007-02-24T19:25:00.000-08:00

Was fun model to make everyone hates the guys voice in the tutorial but I don't mind it so I am sure it was easier for me to get threw this :P Anyway s Model is dont this week we unwrap and texture him. YAY ! seriously i'm excited

RHINO!!!!!

2007-02-17T23:31:00.000-08:00

This is our new assignment we are following a tutorial DVD gotta do this and Model, Texture and Light a Set from Over the Hedge in the next two weeks ! YAY kill me now! anyways I am really starting to enjoy the modeling side of 3D now that I am learning cool new tricks to make life easier! ANYWAYS the progress Still got another DVD of lessons to go !

A6M2 Update

2007-02-12T21:14:00.000-08:00

Well I made the texture looks like ass there is a bump map and a specular map. For the windows our teacher taught us incidence shaders to make curves in the glass look real. I am honestly not to happy with how my texture and shit came out but I don't have alot of time on my hands to fix the things I want to fix!

Assignment 1 Modelling a WW2 Airplane

2007-01-31T13:57:00.000-08:00

We had to pick an airplane from WW2 and Find a lot of reference pictures then model it. This is basically the final Model just need to do some cleanup and maybe remodel the landing gear we are going to Unwrap and Texture them all t his week. The plane is a Japanese A6M2 Zero which after my research and a bit of modeling I realized it is sort of a Boring plane to model but I am actually quite happy with it at this stage. Hopefully my texture will make this model.

New Blog

2007-01-14T14:20:00.000-08:00

Screw myspace imma try this out!!!