D'artiste: Character Modeling. Digital Artists Master Class

191 Pages·2004·15.92 MB·English

by  Linda Bergkvist

Published
by
B a l l i s t ic P u b l i s h i ng
Publishers of digital works for the digital world.
Aldgate Valley Rd
Mylor SA 5153
Australia
www.BallisticPublishing.com
Correspondence:
[email protected]
d'artiste Digital Artists Master Class: Character Modeling. Copyright © 2005 by Ballistic Media Pty Ltd. All rights reserved. No
part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without prior
written consent of the publisher. All artworks are copyright © 2005 by the credited artists, their representative or copyright
holders. Every effort has been made to ensure the credits and contact details listed are correct. However, if any errors have
occured the editors disclaim any liability and respectfully direct people to the web site www.BallisticPublishing.com for any
updated information or corrections.
First Edition published in Australia 2005 Cover credits
by Ballistic Publishing
Softcover/Slipcase Edition ISBN 1-921002-11-5
Limited Collector's Edition ISBN 1-921002-12-3
Editor
Daniel Wade
Assistant Editor
Paul Hellard
Art Director
Mark Snoswell
Figure study Track Day
Design & Image Processing Francisco A. Cortina Olli Sorjonen
Stuart Colafella, Lauren Stevens USA FINLAND
[Front cover: d'artiste [Back cover: d'artiste
d'artiste Matte Painting Master Artists Character Modeling Character Modeling
Softcover edition] Softcover edition]
Pascal Blanche, Francisco A. Cortina, Steven Stahlberg
Printing and binding
Everbest Printing (China)
www.everbest.com
Partners
The CGSociety (Computer Graphics Society)
www.cgsociety.org
Also available from Ballistic Publishing
d'artiste Digital Painting ISBN 0-9750965-5-9
d'artiste Matte Painting ISBN 1-921002-16-6
EXPOSE 3 Softcover ISBN 1-921002-14-X
Mermaid
Visit www.BallisticPublishing.com Pascal Blanche. CANADA
[Cover: d'artiste Character
for our complete range of titles.
Modeling Limited Edition
cover]
/ B A L L I S T I C/
Daniel Wade Paul Hellard
Managing Editor Assistant Editor
Welcome to the second book in our Digital Artist Master Class series.
The d'artiste imprint (pronounced dah-tee-st) means both 'of the artist' and
'digital artist'. Each d'artiste title features techniques and approaches of a
small group of Master Artists. However, the focus of d'artiste books is not
limited to just techniques and technical tricks. In addition, we also showcase
galleries of their own work and other artists' paintings that inspire them.
Along with artist interviews this gives the reader a comprehensive
and personal insight into the Master Artists—their approaches, their
techniques, their influences and their works.
d'artiste: Character Modeling showcases the work and technical prowess
of: Pascal Blanche, Francisco A. Cortina and Steven Stahlberg. Each Master
Artist presents their character modeling techniques which start with modeling
concepts, and also include texturing and lighting. Though the artists use
specific 3D software in their tutorials, the concepts are universal to most 3D
applications.
d'artiste: Character Modeling is broken into three sections based around
each Master Artist. Artists' sections include a personal gallery, the artist's
work and thoughts in their own words, a large tutorial section, and an invited
artist gallery featuring characters from some of the most talented digital
artists in the world.
Ballistic Publishing continues to expand the d'artiste series to
encompass all aspects of digital content creation. Look for d'artiste
Matte Painting which follows the art and techniques of three world-
leading matte painters in Alp Altiner, Dylan Cole and Chris Stoski.
Visit www.BallisticPublishing.com for new titles.
The Editors
Daniel Wade and Paul Hellard
DIGITAL ARTISTS MASTER CLASS
CHARACTER MODELING
Francisco A. Cortina Steven Stahlberg Pascal Blanche
The artist 6 The artist 66 The artist 128
Tutorials Tutorials Tutorials
Young Girl's Face 20 The human face 80 Mermaid 142
Crouched Figure 30 Skin Shading 90 Anatomical study 152
Hair 40 One Last Time 100 Refueling 160
Invited artist gallery 46 Invited artist gallery 110 Invited artist gallery 168
Francisco Cortina recently
finished work on the film
'Aeon Flux' at Digital Domain
in Venice, CA. His digital
career began soon after
earning his Bachelor of Fine
Arts degree at the Maryland
Institute of Art. He joined
the Japanese video game
giant Square USA, where
he worked on several game
titles such as 'Parasite Eve'
and 'Final Fantasy IX', the
animated feature film
'Final Fantasy: The Spirits
Within' and the animated
short 'Animatrix: Final Flight
of the Osiris'. After his
tenure at Square, Francisco
joined Dreamworks Feature
Animation as a Technical
Director, working in their
Modeling, CharacterTechnical
Directing and Lighting
departments.

CONTENTS
8 d'artiste Character Modeling
FRANCISCO A. CORTINA: THE ARTIST
Background
Watching morning cartoons such meant that we would be drawing based painting programs, but because
as Spiderman, Transformers and mostly still lifes of plants, drapes they were slow and had no color, I really
imported Japanese animation and all sorts of colorful fruit. It wasn't didn't like it. In high school I got to use
influenced me to draw figures, faces exactly drawing robots or mechs, the more powerful Apple II, which
and robots. I was so captivated but after that I knew that it was what had full color painting and a simple
by the idea of creating my own I wanted to pursue as my career. modeling program called Swivel
worlds and characters that I would I continued attending public schools 3D. Things sure have come a long
secretly draw robots and characters with art programs from middle way since then. It wasn't until a
during my classes in grade school. school (Norland North Center for few years later while studying at
Ever since I was a young boy, the Arts) through high school (New the Maryland Institute College of
I wanted to become an artist, either World School of the Arts in Miami, Art in Baltimore, Maryland, that
in painting or drawing. Florida). The great thing about I saw just how powerful and creative
attending these programs was that computers could be. After seeing
Education they focused on building a strong fine my roommate working on a program
Oneofthemostimportantexperiences arts foundation, including drawing, called 3D Studio R3, I couldn't
of my artistic life happened at nine painting, sculpting, printmaking and believe how creatively powerful that
years of age when my parents, urged photography. tool was. I knew I had to purchase
by my school teachers, signed me a computer immediately so that
up to be tested for acceptance into Digital beginnings I could start using those tools and
an arts-related elementary school I first encountered computers while create my own work. Not long after,
called Rainbow Park. It was there that in middle school. Our art teachers I began creating and animating
my passion for art grew immensely. introduced us to the boxy looking medieval characters, figures and
The school taught students to use thing called the Macintosh. We made faces as an extension of my
our environment as reference and fun of the funny name, too. It had drawings and paintings and the rest
to draw only what we see, which these strange vector- and bitmap- was history for me.
d'artiste Character Modeling 9