This project was a wild ride. I cannot tell you how many people I showed it to along the way that responded, "I like what you're doing, but I'm not buying it." But I finally brought it online, and now we can move into the 3D. But let's talk a bit about how we got there, yeah?
Concepting the Lightning Trapper
This was one of roughly six ideas I did high orbit research on. When you can do anything you want, it can be hard to narrow down to what you want to actually do. I toyed with a few thumbnails for this and another idea, but this one really spoke more easily. The shapes came faster, the personality started to come together. One secondary stipulation I set was to avoid doing something altogether the same as my last big Zbrush project, so certain shapes and elements I favor were off the table. I got the idea for the baggy pants from a bit of Artstation scrubbing; I like to see ideas other artists have and how they execute them. Sometimes it helps me find specifics to play off of.
And then my troubles began.
Concepting the Lightning Trapper
This was one of roughly six ideas I did high orbit research on. When you can do anything you want, it can be hard to narrow down to what you want to actually do. I toyed with a few thumbnails for this and another idea, but this one really spoke more easily. The shapes came faster, the personality started to come together. One secondary stipulation I set was to avoid doing something altogether the same as my last big Zbrush project, so certain shapes and elements I favor were off the table. I got the idea for the baggy pants from a bit of Artstation scrubbing; I like to see ideas other artists have and how they execute them. Sometimes it helps me find specifics to play off of.
And then my troubles began.
In a push to break symmetry and distribute the weight in a more interesting way, I created a shape that nobody believed (see intro). At the same time, everybody liked the premise. I passed this by two professors (who I respect greatly and am in no way trying to degrade), both of whom advised me to ditch it and find another approach. It was such an interesting shape, and it was more of a problem with people believing it than reading it. I knew there was a way to make this work.
A big round of "believability" saw many of the components get built up and described in greater detail. Her shoulder length rubber gloves developed into a harness that connects to her rubber leggings (think a most-of-body rubber jumpsuit). her pack was positioned lower to match the rest of her weight, and rounded out into a more natural form. Her lightning rod veered away from a gun silhouette into more of a... lance? sort of thing, using lightning rods and fire hoses as the foundation.
A big round of "believability" saw many of the components get built up and described in greater detail. Her shoulder length rubber gloves developed into a harness that connects to her rubber leggings (think a most-of-body rubber jumpsuit). her pack was positioned lower to match the rest of her weight, and rounded out into a more natural form. Her lightning rod veered away from a gun silhouette into more of a... lance? sort of thing, using lightning rods and fire hoses as the foundation.
But the pants still didn't pass muster. I was told again to move away from the idea. But I was determined. It would work. The breakthrough came in two ways.
1) I added a form fitting harness to her opposite leg which holds her tools. This balanced the business on both legs, and explained why one leg would be covered in baggy pockets while the other is not.
2) In trying to explain the construction, I thought of it less as a pant leg, and more of an apron that she had sewn onto her pants for storage. I realized that, for this idea, the design was just not built right. So I made some adjustments to the paneling, retouched the attachment points, and bam.
Believable super storage pants.
In pushing the believable construction for her outfit (and why she would need so many pockets), I have loaded up a high count of parts and pieces that will need sculpting. On the bright side, this will be a glorious opportunity to refine my hard surface technique.
Thanks very much for reading. If you have any questions or comments, do please leave them.
1) I added a form fitting harness to her opposite leg which holds her tools. This balanced the business on both legs, and explained why one leg would be covered in baggy pockets while the other is not.
2) In trying to explain the construction, I thought of it less as a pant leg, and more of an apron that she had sewn onto her pants for storage. I realized that, for this idea, the design was just not built right. So I made some adjustments to the paneling, retouched the attachment points, and bam.
Believable super storage pants.
In pushing the believable construction for her outfit (and why she would need so many pockets), I have loaded up a high count of parts and pieces that will need sculpting. On the bright side, this will be a glorious opportunity to refine my hard surface technique.
Thanks very much for reading. If you have any questions or comments, do please leave them.