Making the Buildings in 3D | Maya | What If

I've finally started making my buildings. I struggled with this for a few days trying to make these from shapes such as cylinders but I've since realised that as long as I get the correct angle, I can make them via block modelling. A lot of the shapes used to make these buildings are repeated but have been rescaled. This is helping with the pace of working and is creating some great results.

Concept Art Update | Photoshop | What If

The repaint of my concept art is almost complete. It's been taking a lot longer to complete than I first thought it would but I'm definitely happy with the progress I've made so far on it. I just need to add in the windows and doors with a few final touches and it will be done!

Alleyway Update | Lighting | Tutorial | Maya | Screenshots

The lighting is now done for the alleyway scene. These are the 12 renders I took of the scene throughout the process from start to finish.

Progress of Rework | Photoshop | What If

I've been carrying on with the rework of my final concept art. I'm happy with this layout and I'm now using the new techniques Jordan had shown me yesterday to help rework and paint into my piece.
Work so far:

• I've sorted the sky and the skyline to show the city extending back further.
• Grass, hill and path have been extended and merged together a little better with hightlights.
• Started the paint over of three of the buildings as the black outline around them breaks the illusions of depth.

Rework of Final Concept Art | Photoshop | What If

New Composition

Help from Jordan and learning new techniques

Following on from my recent OGR feedback, I have rearranged my composition to have the outcome above. I think this is starting to feel much more like a city. I have had a chat with Jordan about what to do next with my final piece and have written a lot of notes down with next ideas and techniques to try out. I shall scan these later on and put them on the blog as reference and carry on working into the piece. 

Alleyway Update | Tutorial | Maya | Screenshots

I'm part way through the lighting tutorial and I realised I hadn't posted an update on the Alley Way scene for a while! The UV layout is complete. This process took slightly longer than I anticipated as moving the file backwards and forwards from uni (Windows computer at uni, Mac at home) is messing slightly with the material that I had assigned. Now I have worked out how to change this back and fix it, it is a very quick change before continuing. Now onwards onto the lighting!

Test Shot Layout | Photoshop | What If

Original Attempt

Rework of tonal range and colour version when converted

Before experimenting with my building shapes in a scene, I wanted to do a test shot using an angle that I've never worked in before. Jordan pointed out that I had my tonal range back to front and shown em how to change the file to have a black and white proof setting to work in. This helped me re do the piece while keeping the colours close to what they would be in real life.

I need some more practise and experience with working in Black and White because I want to place lighter objects at the front and the darker in the back which is throwing the tone and mood of my pieces off completely.

Layering Thumbnails 3 | Photoshop | What If

This is the latest 5 buildings I have created using the green abstract pieces. The way they are layering together is making some pretty interesting shapes and the symmetry on them is also very textured. Next step - Maya!

Layering Thumbnails 2 | Photoshop | What If

Due to internet problems I'm finding it hard to post images at the moment for some strange reason but here is 6 more 'buildings' that I've created by layering some of the abstract forms I created in Photoshop. I'm really starting to like the way that these cream pieces are looking. The extra lines within each section was a worry to start with but they seem to be adding depth and texture to the buildings. These are the ones that I think look most like Iris's 'Radiation Invasion' collection, even more so than the previous green versions I uploaded.

Layering Thumbnails | Photoshop | What If

I have begun creating structures and forms from the abstract thumbnails I have created over the last few days. Iris's work is often repeated in shape and pattern so I have begun to copy elements together, layering, rotating and merging shapes. These are my first 8 trials. They went a lot better than I thought they would although using thumbnails with the outline already embedded within the piece is throwing up some interesting pieces. They are starting to look like some of Iris's dresses from her 'Radiation Invasion' collection.

Shape Experimentations 3 | Photoshop | What If

Shape Experimentations 2 | Photoshop | What If

These are some more shape experimentations, this time using silhouettes from previous work with Iris Van Herpen's pieces. I'm starting to get some really interesting shapes forming, especially when it has an outline that is manipulated too.

Shape Experimentations | Photoshop | What If

After having a chat with Jordan yesterday about my project, he suggested that I try taking some of the silhouettes from Iris Van Herpen's work and warping them using Photoshop to get some organic like structures. This is to help me with my project and how to take her work further and start creating some naturalistic object and buildings for my city.

Alleyway Update | Tutorial | Maya | Screenshots

Main alleyway complete

Side view of lamppost so far

Top view of lamppost so far

I realised that since we have been creating the alleyway I haven't posted any screenshots of the work! I've been working from the online tutorials and have so far completed the main walls to the alleyway and part of the lamppost. I have had several problems with this at home as the images that I imported into the scene do not appear when on the computer at home. The first video and the UV layering will be completed before class on Monday.

One, Two & Three Point Lighting | Tutorial | Screenshot | Maya

These are the screenshots from the one, two and three point lighting Maya tutorial. This tutorial was easy and straight forward. I already have knowledge on lighting from working in theatres and I think this helped me in the tutorial.

Colour Comps of Anastasia's Landscape | Expanding Ideas | Photoshop | Invisible Cities

When I realised that Anastasia would be very mountainous and hilly due to its mining aspect, I decided to do a few colour compositions of a basic background. This allowed me to try different colours, and blending options for each version.

Gemstone Information | Research | Invisible Cities

This collage shows information on the gem stones that can be mined in the city. It is for colour reference and gives a bit of a background into what some of them could be used in.

1, 2 & 3 Point Perspectives | Photoshop

These are 1, 2 and 3 point perspective exercises. Created in Photoshop to help us start drawing our cities in the correct way with vanishing points etc.

Wears and Finery | Influences | Reference | Invisible Cities

Phil linked me to a few wears made from the goods that the miners dig up, so I decided to research further into what jewellery and finery might be on sale in the heart of the city.

The imagery goes as follows:

• Onyx (including snowflake obsidian)
• Agate (mineral form, slices and jewellery)
• Chrysoprase (mineral form, jewellery and tumble stones)
• Chalcedony (druzy, jewellery and mineral)

Just from looking at these you can immediately tell that they could sell for a high price to the rich and travellers. 

Do the workers sell the minerals to tradesmen who produce the finery before sales men  buy them and increasing the price tenfold? Or do the workers give the minerals to their wives who refine it down before selling it on to tradesmen who produce the jewellery? These are questions that I will have to answer before drafting my city out. 

Gold Rush Towns | Influences | Reference | Invisible Cities

In the feedback, Phil told me to look into 'gold rush towns'. I have collected these 6 photos for help with composition, reference and for use in the thumbnails and photoshop work.

I think they are great, clear examples of the rush that the buildings were constructed with. They were needed for a reason and most of the buildings were built for just one service - to house or entertain the workers.

Although I have imagined Anastasia to be made out of the rock that has been mined, it could prove useful with a 'haphazard' feel to the workers portion of the city.