3D Character topology

I have been using mostly low or middle poly characters and as an animator I have not really paid too much attention how the models are constructed if they have worked with the needed deformations. Recently I have wanted to create heavily muscled creature in 3d and started to look for examples to create optimal edge flow for the muscle deformations. There are some basic rules when creating models, like trying to avoid n-polygons(due to texture distortion) and points where more than 4 edges connect (due to pinching), but there are still many ways to create model that follow these rules, but have different sort of edge flows. Sometimes the flow is created for optimal texture distortion sometimes for optimal muscle distortion (edges follow the muscles). I even tried to ask for an answer from XSI base forums http://www.xsibase.com/forum/index.php?board=10;action=display;threadid=44088 , without an answer. I was unsure what is the best way to go when creating my character, but I have finally found the answer from here:

http://wiki.polycount.com/ShoulderTopology

It seems that you should go for texture based edge flow for low poly characters and more natural deformation flow for high poly/advanced rig characters.

You can also find other topology examples from the site.

New showreel

Managed to finally finish my new personal showreel and you can see it at vimeo or on my website:
http://vimeo.com/17377109
5ille.com

Some drawings from my sketchbook

I don't often publish my sketches online, but I figured that my blog is a good place just for that. 

STAR WARS fan art

I was watching Star Wars today and here is the result..

I like Chewie the best

Featured artist: Yoshitaka Amano (1952-)

I have admired Amano’s work for many years now and was introduced to his work by Square soft’s early games, like so many others. Yoshitaka Amano is a Japanese illustrator most known for his work for the famous Final Fantasy game series and Vampire Hunter D saga, although he has worked on several other major projects. When Amano was only 15 years old he managed to get a job at Tatsunoko Productions, a Japanese production company. One of the first projects he was involved in was Speed Racer, a series famous nowadays all around the world. He worked for Tatsunoko Productions on animated films as a production/character designer for the next 15 years after which he decided to become a freelance artist and got involved in the first Vampire Hunter D novel. Later on he worked for Square soft, on the first Final Fantasy game as a concept artist and has since been involved in the game franchise. He has also done some theatre set designs, had multiple art books published, had exhibitions around the world as well as appeared on a film.

His works are influenced by old Japanese ukiyo-e wood prints and paintings as well as European art noveau works and not least by Gustav Klimt. He is also a big fan of western comics. His style is very unique to him and even though it’s contemporary it does not fit into the same slot with normal Japanese manga and anime. His works consist of large simple shapes mixed with great detail.

I own his Hiten and Maten art books witch I can recommend to anyone who is interested  in surreal and fantasy art. He has also done a novel with Neil Gaiman called ‘Sandman: The Dream Hunters’, which is pure gold.

Here are few links to some of his works:

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(I do not own any rights to these pictures)

Here are links for further reading:

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And here is my fan art of the day: D

First post!

Hello Everyone! (or at this point closer to no-one, but soon to be everyone =P)

I am working on a short film tittled Eddy, about a teddy bear, so I don't really have time to do much else, so probably no other artwork updates here until it is finished. You might get some pictures of the film though.

I will of course put new art work here when I manage to create some. Here is a picture that I drew about a week ago to start this blog. I will be featuring some artists that I like as well, so maybe I will manage to do one of those while working on the film.