Master and Servant 3D Entry: Alan Daniels

[Alan Daniels]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/9/7219/7219_1112674934_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/9/7219/7219_1112674934_large.jpg)

I was racking my brain for an original idea, and then I realized the one thing I'm a servant to more than anything else, is TIME. That almost all of us are servants to time, in fact. Always tasks to be done, deadlines to meet... I decided on an image where someone has the nightmare of running from time. A landscape built of clocks and watches, with gravestones for missed deadlines, and the person being chased down the street by a looming grandfather clock.

I know I'm getting a late start on the challenge, but I'm the middle of switching jobs, and I promised I'd join this next challenge to experience the opportunity to learn and improve my skills. Also, please forgive my poor concept art; I'm not very good at drawing with no reference.

Also, I realize there's a lot of entries already, so anyone, if you see that my idea is similar to one already out there, PLEASE let me know, so I can go back to the drawing board. Thanks!

[tharrell]

Man, I work in an ad agency, and if there's a recurring nightmare that I've got, you've captured it! :buttrock:

No worries about the sketch skills -- lots of us here have similar issues. The way I look at it, I don't go for any more detail that I can fit on a post-it or cocktail napkin in 5 minutes. Any more than that is time wasted for me. I can crank out a lot of napkins in an hour at that rate...

Welcome to the challenge & best of luck.

[Alan Daniels]

Welcome to the challenge & best of luck.
Thanks!

Next thing I'm going to do is a couple more concept sketches, to nail down the composition, details, and the general mood I'm going for. I know the characters should be bigger, and I want something that's part nightmare, part cartoonish (I mean, hey, a clock with legs, you know?). I should have something more by tonight or tomorrow night.

[Alan Daniels]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/9/7219/7219_1112757471_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/9/7219/7219_1112757471_large.jpg)

After pondering my initial idea some more, I decided to base it more around the idea of what a Master/Servant relationship is really about. To me, being a servant means you are at the mercy of who or what you serve; You have no real choice in the matter. So I decided that, rather than having the human character running from one clock, he (or she?) will have been caught, and is entirely at their mercy. The clocks tear at the character, pulling him in different directions.

I still want the atmosphere for this to be nightmarish: Lots of cold blues and grays, at night, with pale yellow moonlight shining down, and fog in the distance. The only character with any real color should be the human. I plan on emphasizing this through clothing, skin tone, and some compositing later on.

The setting will be a "graveyard of missed deadlines", with epitaphs such as "too late", "not quite!", "overdue", "incomplete", etc. I'm going to try to put symbols of time everywhere, such as watches wrapped around trees. I'm also going to try to add elements of wrongness, such as the none of the clocks having the same time on them. They all have their own deadlines, you see. :)

There will be three large clocks: A grandfather clock, a subway station clock, and a big rolex watch. Possibly I'll add a couple of little stopwatches looking on.

So, that's my idea! The composition you see in the sketch is the one I'm planning on using in the final scene. I'd appreciate any feedback. Thanks! :thumbsup:

[tharrell]

Alan,

Refined idea is looking good.

If I might make a suggestion, compositionally, there doesn't seem to be a clear focal point (so much easier saying that about other people's stuff, isn't it? -- took me four rounds of sketches to find a composition for mine that I could live with).

I'd suggest to adjust for rule-of-thirds framing -- you've got a lot of elements in there, but need to lead the eye on a path through the image -- (for example -- not really meant as direction) a larger master clock leading into the submissive servant, in turn being pulled in multiple directions by the smaller clocks in the foreground.

For some darned reason, the mind finds compositions where the eye travels in s-shaped paths through the image more pleasing -- almost like a story is unfolding within the image.

Keep it up -- I'm anxiously awaiting seeing your hero clock modeled!

--Trey

[Alan Daniels]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/9/7219/7219_1113480487_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/9/7219/7219_1113480487_large.jpg)

Trey, I've been thinking a lot lately about the composition, and you're absolutely correct. Thanks for the suggestions! I figured that the human character needed to be much more the center of focus, and that it should come down to just him and the grandfather clock, with the clock being a much more menacing, towering figure. Perhaps the clock draggin the human into a grave, and the human struggling not to go. I'm going to try a couple more concept sketches and see what works.

At any rate, it's been slow going lately because I started a new job this week. Whew! I should have a lot more time over this weekend.

In the meantime, here's what I have for the human model so far. My facial modeling skills aren't where I'd like them to be, so I decided to start on the human character. That way I'd be tackling the hardest problem first, and when I got stuck, I could go work on other things like the clock and the rest of the environment.

You're also right about box modeling. I've been trying the point-by-point method, and it's rather tedious. Next time I'm going to try box modeling.

Anyway, more to come!

[tharrell]

Alan,

Great to see you've gotten started on the modeling. It just occurred to me that we just hit the one month remaining mark :argh:

Up until last summer or so, I'd always gone the nurbs or super-high-poly route for character stuff. Mostly super high poly that was sculpted -- of course, none of those ever actually got animated because the blendshapes and rigging were so painful.

Finally I decided to ditch all of my old crutches (modeling in C4D and exporting .objs to maya being the biggest -- I used to despise Maya's modeling workflow until I stopped fighting it) and start my character stuff from scratch -- it's paid off really well, I think. I boxmodel practically everything now, and I've gotten really fast at it as well as laying out UVs early and often :)

Great places I've seen to learn the boxmodeling bit are Kris/Antropus' android head from Machineflesh (http://cgnetworks.com/challenge/machineflesh/entry.php?challenger=2041), and also The Hobbit Guy's website (http://www.thehobbitguy.com/tutorials/polymodeling/). Cruising spiraloid (http://cube.phlatt.net/home/spiraloid/) from time to time to see what Bay Raitt and the digital sculpting community there are up to is also a must. I'm in awe of what Bay can do with 1/4 of the amount of polys that I'm using these days.

Congrats on the new job!

--T

[Alan Daniels]

Trey, Thanks! The new job is going quite well. Fortunately, the odd schedule was only for the first week of getting settled in; From here on out, I should have more time to devote to the challenge. :D

Also, thanks for the great box modelling links. I'm definitely going to read them. When I get a chance, I'm going to try and make two or three characters this way, and see how much better it works than point-by-point. I also wanted to experiment with Splinegod's "spline modeling" techniques at some point in the near future...

But for now, one month left! :eek: I'll have some more concept art and modeling progress in pretty soon, probably later on this evening.

[Alan Daniels]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/9/7219/7219_1113785825_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/9/7219/7219_1113785825_large.jpg)

Another refinement of the Concept Art. Fortunately it doesn't negate any modeling work I've done so far.

[tharrell]

Alan,

Digging on the new composition. Nice eye flow. Lots more room to just focus on the servant getting dragged, and it simplifies things a bit so hopefully you've got a little more time than your friend in the picture to polish the piece. I get the feeling that I'm not the only one baring my soul in this challenge :p

Keep it up!

--T

[Alan Daniels]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/9/7219/7219_1114141871_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/9/7219/7219_1114141871_large.jpg)

I'm in the middle of modeling the body of the Grandfather Clock. Naturally, next up will be the arms and the head. Rather slow going, but the Challenge has forced me to learn much more about Lightwave, and the resultant knowledge is helping me with the workflow, and increasing the pace at which i get work done. This started out as labor, but this is actually getting to be fun! I'm looking forward to getting this model done, so that I can work on the environment, and finally, the Servant. This will be the most challenging part because it will really test my organic modeling skills. All I want is to be done on time, which is ironic considering my subject material...

[Alan Daniels]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/9/7219/7219_1114300201_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/9/7219/7219_1114300201_large.jpg)

Continuing the work on modeling the Grandfather Clock. Hopefully should be done with him by tomorrow, or Monday at the latest. Well, the modeling at least: Texturing and rigging will come after that.

[smaddl]

keep going. very nice modeling of Grandfather Clock.

[Alan Daniels]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/9/7219/7219_1114490646_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/9/7219/7219_1114490646_large.jpg)

Okay, just about done with modeling him; last thing I need is the arms, but that part should be relatively easy, so I should have that in the next day or two. Rigging shouldn't be too difficult; the only part that will really be animated on him is the arms, plus maybe a bit of twist or bending to denote action.

[cjewell]

Modeling looks tight and I love the idea. We are all slaves to time!

It reminds me of that riddle from the Hobbit: " This thing all things devours:
Birds, beasts, trees, flowers;
Gnaws iron, bites steel;
Slays king, ruins town,
And beats high mountain down. "

- Keep it up!!

[roctavian]

Great idea Alan.
THE TIME, the greatest master of all things.
And a click with horns? good idea too, the time have no mercy.
Keep it up mate! :thumbsup:

[RandomTask]

Great concept and the modeling is looking good :thumbsup:

[xric7]

realy cool idea.:bounce: :thumbsup:
can't wait for more update.

[Alan Daniels]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/9/7219/7219_1114968441_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/9/7219/7219_1114968441_large.jpg)

Okay, here's the final look for the Evil Grandfather Clock. All that's left is rigging this bad boy, but I'm going to save that for last. It's been rather slow-going because my organic modeling skills aren't where I'd like them to be, but just adding correct hands and arms to this guy has taught me a lot, so this is good! Next up, I'm going to work on nothing but then environment for a while, and then finally I'll work on the Servant. Come on, May 18th, stay far away for just a while...

[Alan Daniels]

Trey, Smaddl, Chris, PROctavian, Wave666, xric7:
Thanks tons for the encouragement, guys! :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: It's what is keeping me going right now.

[parinya pattarajumnong]

Great model and i Like your concept
good luck

www.bbde-sign.com (http://www.bbde-sign.com)

[newellteapot]

Hi Alan, good job!
I'm a bit late on my schedule though because of hayfever :(.
Anyway, I'll do what I can to finish it.
I'm glad that in the process I'm getting to know many interesting people and learning other skills.
Looking forward to see your project finished, it's such a good idea and the clock looks really evil!
Monica

[Alan Daniels]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/9/7219/7219_1115182477_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/9/7219/7219_1115182477_large.jpg)

Just having a bit of fun playing around with Sasquatch, trying to get a good look for the grass in the graveyard. Later on I'll add at least one tree and a few leaves, etc. My goal is to have all of the environment done by this Sun, so that I'll have all next week for working on the Servant.

[tharrell]

Grass is looking nice, Alan.

I haven't used Sasquatch in a very long time. How does it do with insanely big renders? Maya Fur via Mental Ray and the demo of Shave I've tried are giving me fits.

--T

[Alan Daniels]

I haven't used Sasquatch in a very long time. How does it do with insanely big renders? Maya Fur via Mental Ray and the demo of Shave I've tried are giving me fits.

For just the hilltop, Sasquatch is pretty quick, about 30 seconds, tops. For the entire area, it's a lot slower, around 15 to 30 minutes. As a workaround, I've made a separate surface for the hilltop, and only turned on Sasquatch for there. Once I've played around enough and have the grass just the way I like it, I'll turn it on for the entire area, so that it looks right in the final render.

I've done some nice stuff for a night sky, too! More to come. :)

[newellteapot]

Hi Alan,
how's it going?
I'm trying to hurry up and i think I'm going to finish, but it's not easy to find the time after a day at work. Te environment looks good!
Wish you good luck!
Monica


Just having a bit of fun playing around with Sasquatch, trying to get a good look for the grass in the graveyard. Later on I'll add at least one tree and a few leaves, etc. My goal is to have all of the environment done by this Sun, so that I'll have all next week for working on the Servant.[/QUOTE]

[Miyagi]

Hi Alan!

What a good idea you have there! very powerfull to the challenge theme....It just brings to my mind time I was living in Japan, you know, everyone in there seems to live in this nightmare...just keep on:wip:.

best wishes to you:thumbsup:

MyMasterAndServant (http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?t=224272&highlight=Rogerio+Masao)

[newellteapot]

Hi Alan,
want to see your work finished, too! Are you working on the servant, now?
Grass looks good! So looking forward to see that clock running ;)
:thumbsup:


Alan Daniels has entered the Master and Servant 3D.

Challenge Page (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/masterandservant/view_entries.php?challenger=7219)

Latest Update: Texturing: Grass


Just having a bit of fun playing around with Sasquatch, trying to get a good look for the grass in the graveyard. Later on I'll add at least one tree and a few leaves, etc. My goal is to have all of the environment done by this Sun, so that I'll have all next week for working on the Servant.

[cjewell]

Grass is looking sweet! Keep it up.

- 6 days left...tick tock...tick tock....

[Alan Daniels]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/9/7219/7219_1116174425_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/9/7219/7219_1116174425_large.jpg)

Work on the scene continues. There's a couple more minor items I want to add, and a few more finishing touches, but the biggie is creating a human character. In less than three days. Yikes!

All this has taken me a lot longer than I've anticipated. Oh well! I definitely want to finish, but this is my first try, and I started a new job in the middle of all this, so if I don't make it, it's not the end of the world.

[cjewell]

Looks really good. I hope you get it finished! You have a good piece going here.

[Alan Daniels]

Looks really good. I hope you get it finished! You have a good piece going here.

Thanks for the kind words! Unforunately, my mad last-minute rush to create a human character didn't work out, due to my lack of organic modeling skills. :banghead:

Oh well! It was worth a shot, even if I didn't get done in time (now *there's* life imitating art, eh?). Just attempting this at all has taught me a ton, and has really improved my work habits. I now feel like I could tackle just about any modeling task, with the one exception of organic modeling, that is. I'm going to spend a few weeks doing nothing but studying wireframes and edge loops. It will help prepare me for the next challenge, which I *will* finish! You heard it here first :D

So, to CJewell, Trey Harell, Monica, Miyagi, Proctavian, and everybody else: Thanks for the encouragement! You guys rock. :buttrock:

[roctavian]

Hi Alan,
Even though is only in a early stage, I think you achieved the proper mood.
I like a lot Your concept idea. The time, our big enemy. A really good one.
I like all the work you`ve donne so far.
Even though you`re not happy yet with your human character, I think it worth to finish this image,
It has message, tension. It could be a very nice one!
Congrats Alan, and see you next time.
Happy rendering, mate! :thumbsup:

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