A self portrait.

[landis]

Hello. Not sure of any of you out there follow my work or not but if you do, you have probably found that I have been participating in some rather strange studies such as my material study (see below).


http://www.landisfields.com/vase_002.jpg


This has ultimately been leading up to my envolvment in a digital self portrait. I plan to use my computer as much as my sketch book on this one, however, this effort will not be lacking in a traditional sense you can count on that. Below is an eye sketch I generatd to be used as a reference in order to get me started in this area....


http://www.landisfields.com/eye_study_sketch_001.jpg


...and here is the lates sketch I created last night to be used as a diagram while modeling a specific mass located on the cheek itslef....


http://www.landisfields.com/musclesheet_blog_001.jpg


...and here is the latest render from this effort....


http://www.landisfields.com/selfportrait_blog_001.jpg


...and here is a closer shot of the eye from an early test render....


http://www.landisfields.com/topology_blog_005.jpg


Well, that about wraps it up for now....more to come...

Cheers,
Landis

[landis]

Defined the cheek some in addition to working the eye area a little more (see below).

http://www.landisfields.com/selfportrait_blog_002.jpg

and its finally that time....sleeeeeeeep...sleeeeeep.

Goodnite all.

Cheers,
Landis

[FireJin3]

Based on what i see ,you have a wierd face. Just joking, looks awesome.

[landis]

More eye work, particularly where the "crows feat" live (see below).


http://www.landisfields.com/selfportrait_blog_003.jpg

[anonuser]

Its an amazing start, are you going to keep the "stone-skin"? I think it looks great. But i need to see more

[landis]

Well, this is just a look I have been toying with for display purposes. The model currently has no texture. U plan on hookin' this up REAL nice....I am sure you guys will all like it.

Now, here is some more eye and cheek work (see below).


http://www.landisfields.com/selfportrait_blog_004.jpg


Getting ready to bring the mouth into the mix so I can start hacking away at the rest of this half of the face.

[landis]

...ladies and gentlemen....introducing...the mouth (see below).


http://www.landisfields.com/selfportrait_blog_005.jpg


More to come on this soon.

[landis]

Just thought I might share something with all of you from my Blog (http://www.landisfields.com/news_blogger) entry today. Now, I am still planning on portraying my self portrait as a sculpture, however, I came up with a little something while toying with some of my skin shaders...well...anyways, this is what I came up with (see below).


http://www.landisfields.com/shaders_blog_002.jpg


First I would like to say that out of all of the artists that I am familiar with, Divinci is my favorite. Although I really do admire Michelangelo's work on the "Doni Tondo". There is a sense of life in the flesh tones of this piece. Initialy it looks as though he simply traced the contour of the figure with a feathered outline slightly darker than that of the nuetral tones, however, to me it looks as though he induced this feeling by applying warmer colors to the translucent areas of the skin (an early attempt at replicating subsurface scattering). Ultimately what is happening here is an illusion of blood flow (which I am very familiar with due to my work on the fetus project). Its kind of like a characature of the flesh. Michelangelo used this much like an animator uses breaking joints (even though the arms of a character do not bend backwards while walking, it still looks much more organinc to portray this "hinging" effect when animating). Flesh normally does not have this attribute but we accept it because of what we THINK flesh looks like. I call this the "Doni Tondo effect" which is why I find it only appropriate to title this shader simply that, "Doni Tondo". I will be playing with this theory a bit more in the future....till' then its modeling from here on out (or atleast until the next crazy thought pops into my mind).

[landis]

I have decided to start over again from scratch. I know that this may sound crazy to alot of you out there but I want to get this just right. Through this piece I want to show the community that great work doesnt just happen and that the digital artist should use charcoal just as much as they use thier keyboard! I have already scrapped 2 approaches to this effort which shows that with the completion of every great feat there are even more mistakes to be made. Even though there isnt really a right or wrong way to complete a task, depending on the complexity of a problem it becomes a matter of choosing the more efficient answer and in this case a strong emphasis on topology leads to such a solution. Now, I have decided to start from the mouth (see below).

http://www.landisfields.com/topology_blog_007.jpg

As you can see the model is very simple at this point which is EXACLTY what I want (see below).

http://www.landisfields.com/topology_blog_006.jpg

I have learned the hardway that this is what to shoot for. As long as I do a good job on the topology the wrinkles should'nt be a problem later using edge loops....speaking of which...I am already enjoying the fruits of all of my labor (see below).

http://www.landisfields.com/topology_blog_009.jpg

I already have over 50 screenshots of all of my progress. I have been documenting everything since day one so expect something very detailed on all of this when it is all said and done. Now, last but not least...I have been hacking out a rough nose and am working a little big so please dont judge the proportions in that area (see below).

http://www.landisfields.com/topology_blog_008.jpg

I have to say I am VERY happy with my topology. I am confident that you are all looking at the final mesh being developed here. I just KNEW that this project would be interesting. Thank you all for your patience...for me it is a learning experience, and for you...entertainment at the least. I assure you it will prove itself indispensible to everyone down the road including myself.

[landis]

More nose work (see below).

http://www.landisfields.com/topology_blog_010.jpg

I will eventually be deleting the half of the nose without the nostrile, duplicating the half with the nostrile, and welding it to the appropriate vertices.

[landis]

Refining the nose and cheeks some (minus wrinkles) before continuing on to the upper half of the face (see below).

http://www.landisfields.com/topology_blog_011.jpg


http://www.landisfields.com/topology_blog_012.jpg

[landis]

Starting to move up towards the eye area...(see below).


http://www.landisfields.com/topology_blog_013.jpg

[landis]

....and a quick render before I head off to bed...(see below).

http://www.landisfields.com/selfportrait_blog_006.jpg

Well, thats it for today....I am completely exhausted....hopefully tommorow I will have the eyes done...and the next day I hope to start on the hair...remember, it is a sculpture.

[Marty]

I love watching the progress of your models, it's a learning experiance and i am looking forward to the rest of this and the "somthing detailed" that you promised.

Good luck with the rest of this (not that you need it ;))

[landis]

Ok, just getting started for another long day of modeling. Worked the lips a bit and am building a foundation for the eyes in the upper cheek bone area (see below).

http://www.landisfields.com/topology_blog_015.jpg

Now, any areas that seem to be looking flat now is probably due to the fact that I have only been using the vertices of the major mass of the face that I have been modeling. I am using a mirror while modeling and I will say that it is very close to what I look like, however, keep the feedback coming...please.......it only makes us all better.

[landis]

Building a home for the eye (see below).

http://www.landisfields.com/topology_blog_016.jpg

http://www.landisfields.com/topology_blog_017.jpg

http://www.landisfields.com/topology_blog_018.jpg

http://www.landisfields.com/topology_blog_019.jpg

[Jason-Lavoie]

looks like a very comfortable home for the eye, he he!

[bullethead]

Wow this is amazing...I love the way you show your wip. Its almost like reading through a tutorial almost...you dont let one deatil that youve done come unnoticed...I cant crit anything cause I love everything im seeing right now. Its superb.

[landis]

Thanks guys! Well, I am pretty satisfied with todays progress....I am sitting pretty good as far as what I set out to accomplish (the eye) when I woke up this morning...(see below).

http://www.landisfields.com/topology_blog_022.jpg

http://www.landisfields.com/topology_blog_020.jpg

http://www.landisfields.com/topology_blog_021.jpg

And that about wraps it up...time for bed...have to go back to work tommorow...bah!

[landis]

Well, I apologize for not posting lately but I have been sick, however, heres whats cookin'...

I have been studying alot of links given to me by memebers of the 3d and Blender community regarding the self portrait. I plan to rework the topology of the upper cheek area. Now, I am not going to be scraping the entire model, just the part above the bridge of the nose. I MIGHT be able to re-org some of the poly's around that area inorder to restablish some of the egde loops I am currently lacking although I am not counting on it.

Also, I have recently purchased TheAIRMAN.org domain! I still plan to post an image or two here in the CG section of my online portfolio, however, I will be providing a link to a site completely dedicated to the AIRMAN project so no worries...he isnt going away anytime soon.

Now, I know I should'nt be on the computer while I'm sick but here are some shots after cleaning up the mesh a bit (see below).

http://www.landisfields.com/topology_blog_023.jpg

Well, that about wraps it up...I am exhausted. Take care all.

Cheers,
Landis

[rubberduck]

Looks very good;) Looking forward to see some updates, so feel better, it's an order:o :D

[Daniel]

very cool, I like how you've shown every step. You've certainly got talents. I hope you haven't dropped that little guy you were working on have you? it'd be cool to see him animated.

[kribz]

lol...your studies are better than my actual work...i think u are really good at this...i love your airman...and this definatly holds the same high modelling standard...nice:)
/kribz

[landis]

Thanks everyone...feel a bit better tonite, however, I have stayed up WAY too late....just asking to get sick again!

Ok, well, I developed the mouth a bit tonite (see below).

http://www.landisfields.com/topology_blog_025.jpg

Now, there is little to no work done on the nose. I plan to work on that tommorrow nite. I HAVE however prepared for the nostriles to be extruded. I have a feeling the nose is going to turn out pretty nice. I have absolutely ZERO regrets for having started over again and again on this piece. Ok, once again very far past my bed time. My wife is away this week so there isnt anyone here to make sure I get a good nights rest. Well, goodnite all.

Landis

[landis]

Heres the latest...

http://www.landisfields.com/topology_blog_026.jpg

Eyes are pretty much just there as a reference at this point. Plan to hack away at these a bit tommorow....thats all the energy I have...very tired.....must sleep.

[landis]

Ok, quite a bit of progress since my last post, however, I am far from done (see below).

http://www.landisfields.com/topology_blog_027.jpg

I am looking to scale the eyes vertically a bit and work the wrinkles towards the bridge of the nose a bit more. Also, the bags under my eyes are not even close to where I want them yet so plan on more updates.

[loboloco]

Nice.

I really liked just the eye on your 3rd post where you gave it that nice texture and signed it.

It looked like a nice piece of surreal art worthy of Escher or Magrite.

You didn't even need to finish the face...although it looks really nice btw.

[geoMan]

this wip started really dramatically.....and its goin good landis! which software are u using?

[mvotre]

landis use BLENDER, the best soft of the all f***´n world.

[Profane]

Nice work...I like the way you shaded the eye areas in the first page of this thread...nothing more to say...just keep working...What you got so far is a nice and clean mesh...so I'm waiting to see it finished.Thumbs up for you

[Jenn]

I too am enjoying the progression of your self portrait! Your approach is refreshing. I'm looking forward to the updates.

[landis]

Working up towards the top of the forehead (see below).

http://www.landisfields.com/topology_blog_028.jpg

Getting ready to start carving out some hair.

[eleila]

Very nice.You really inspired me with your work.

[landis]

Molding the brows a bit more and working the feel for the forehead overall (see below).

http://www.landisfields.com/topology_blog_029.jpg

I plan to start the hair over the weekend. I have also had some ideas for a pose or two but no promises. For now just count on this piece being a bust as I had initially projected.

[landis]

Well, its been a while since my last post. I recently got a new toy and she has been keeping me pretty busy let me tell ya'. Anyways, heres the latest addition to my toolbox (see below).

http://www.landisfields.com/DSCF717.jpg

Its the Sony F-717 Cybershot...I am very happy with its performance so far which basically consists of me shooting anything and everything that comes into focus! I am a mad man I tell ya'! Last week I took it to work and grabbed some textures....pretty excited to use them! Also, there is some construction work going on behind my house that I have also raided for textures....think I'll hit that some more after work tommorow.

As far as my self portrait is concerned I cranked out a little work on the nose earlier today (see below).

http://www.landisfields.com/topology_blog_030.jpg

I am thinking that it might be a good idea to bring around the sides of the head an then extruding the hair from up instead of pulling back the scalp little by little as I go. More on this soon.

[landis]

Ok, heres a quick look at the face before I start carving out some hair (see below).

http://www.landisfields.com/topology_blog_031.jpg

The cheekbones still need some work underneathe each eye but other than that I am pretty happy with it so far. Getting there...slowly but surely.

[Mike-3DT]

Looking excellent so far Landis. One thing I would say is that I think your nose needs more definition in it. There is more of a definate join between the nostril wings & the main part on your avatar pic & the 3d version looks a little bulbous without it. (which your real nose isn't, just to be clear ;) )

[Profane]

are you always so sulky??? J/k!

[rubberduck]

It's looking very good;) But I think you 3d version looks to square compared to your avatar and the bottom lip needs some more tweaking too IMO;)

[landis]

Excellent feedback all! More to come very soon!