Following on from last week's CAD experiments, I done a perspective sketch for an idea on how I want my asset to look. As ideally, I want the building to help frame my ASU2 project
Though after this sketch, I had an idea so I done some rough sketches to help show my idea. The location on where I want the flying buttresses stayed the same.
Really quick rough sketch so I don't forget the idea.
Rough perspective sketch:
This is really a rough sketch. But not only will this help frame the gargoyle asset, it would also help give good lighting to the scene.
Now I got something in mind, it's time to get this project going. The bit below the window is a stand-in for the gargoyle for the time being
Beginning of the week:
End of the week:
I haven't sorted the wire frame yet or done the high poly version for the model
I forgot to add this to last week's post. But I decided to do another task primarily to get use to booleans. I tasked myself to do this in two days - three days at most. Sketchfab Link
This week I tried to experiment with CAD. I couldn't get a license for CAD software, so I used an open source one call Free CAD. I couldn't get used to the controls well but fortunately for me I could change it to Maya controls. I later imported it into Maya and see if I can scale a block out to the CAD drawing. It eventually worked well, however, I did take me all week annoyingly.
Before I started to get somewhat use to the software, I wanted to do rough basic floor plans in my sketch book. Which can be seen below:
I forgot to post this on the 10th of February post. But from my texture practice I created my own substance graph and added my favorite bits from each practice and combined them to create a new texture. Results below:
There's a 'clean' version; a variation of the 'clean' version and a dirty version
My main inspiration for this current MA project is Notre Dame Cathedral.
I didn't want to just look at certain angles at Google images, I wanted to look a over every bit I could at Notre Dame.
Annoyingly I'm not in travel distance to the Notre Dame nor a parkour expert. So, I took a leaf out of Joey's booklet.....
I went into the map:
Images from Google Maps.
Unfortunately, these aren't the best of images - So with the magic of games I done the next best thing: I went to Assassin's Creed Unity:
Disclaimer:As much as I would love to harp on about why I love the Assassin's Creed franchise, I'm going to remain objective for MA - As this is for academic purposes not a review.
Though it first emerged in Northern France, I notice from documentaries I watched last week and looking at buildings around Norwich, there is a slight difference. Comparison seen below.
As stated in last week's post, I was going to look at weathering. Though I remember what types of weathering from my GSCE geography, I thought it be best to refresh my memory.
There is different types of weathering (such as chemical, physical and biological)
The main weathering effects that would effect the building would be freeze-thaw and acid
Freeze-thaw: is when water get into cracks of something, for example a rock. When it gets colder, the water will freeze and would expand the crack in the rock. This would happen again and the crack would get bigger - and this will repeat until the crack becomes a hole. Or in case of a gargoyle, a bit will fall off.
Acid rain: Rain water is naturally have some carbon dioxide as humans and animals breath it out. But rain water has become more acidic due to pollution. So this acidic rain will erode objects, such as stone.
Though these types of weathering would effect my enviroment the most, other weathering techniques would effect it too.
Note: I need to make sure I integrate this into the textures for my project.
Texture practice:
This week I also done some texture practice following tutorials. I really want to get better at using Designer and being able to make my own textures.
Note before we begin: Now that I have finally figured out what I want to do for my second set of projects for MA, all these post will be for both SNU and ASU2 as I am treating it as one/complimentary project.
I've also made a plan which I will work on one part of the project for one week, then the other part of the project the week after that. I will hopefully keep doing this throughout this project to aid in time management.
Anyway, I digress:
For this week and also next week, I shall be doing research for both SNU and ASU2 projects.
For SNU, I've decided to create an architectural piece in style of Gothic Architecture, I wanted to research the history of it.
For ASU2, I decided I wanted to create a gargoyle which I'll add to the SNU piece. Once again, I'm going to treat both units as complimentary units.
One documentary I've found have been really handy which explores the history of Gothic Architecture: BBC Architects of the Divine: The First Gothic Age
This documentary was really fascinating to watch as it doesn't just talk about the Gothic architecture but the reason behind it and the history of some of the buildings that use it.
For gargoyle research:
During my research into gargoyles I found a documentary on gargoyles: Gargoyles: Guardians of the Gates
As with the other documentary I watched, I found this one fascinating. One thing I didn't realize before my research is that gargoyles don't usually last beyond a century as they erode away and fall apart - This is something I should take in account when creating my gargoyle asset - Obviously it isn't going to be pristine - So the amount of wear and erosion will help dictate the age of the gargoyle. In a
Note: I will look into erosion next week as apart of my research.
In addition to this, each creature carved has a different meaning to them:
Basilisk: Myth says the are born from a satanic union of venomous toads and roosters. Due to outbreak of syphilis in the middle ages caused my basilisks. From what I gave from this documentary, this is used to show that this outbreak is cause by a basikisk
Aspect gargoyle aka a Dragon with one ear to the ground with the other clogged with it's tail: symbolizes the refusal of sinners to listen to the word of God
Griffon: Their nature is a representation of the duality of Christ - who was both flesh and God
Other animals were used as gargoyles as they were't just seen as animals. One example from the documentary a pig was sentenced to dead for eating a communion wafer.
One thing I have talked about in an older post (from year 1 of my BA degree), gargoyles, grotesques and Chimeras are three different things. The later two are decorative purpose and gargoyles have not only a decorative purpose but a functional one as well - To divert water away from the building.
Also, the word gargoyle comes from the French word gargouille - which means throat in English. However, this word and the idea of a gargoyle comes from the legend of Gargouille
The Legend of Gargouille - Summary version:
During the 7th Century the town of Rouen (a town in France) was terrorized by a water dragon called Gargouille. The dragon had bat like wings; a long neck; a reptilian jaw and not only does he breath fire but water aswell. Gargouille would sink ships; torch local villages and cause floods. The people of Rouen were terrified by Gargouille and would offer him sacrifices every year - human sacrifices.
One year, Saint Romanus agreed to rid this monster and set out to kill it. Using but only a cross to tame the monster, Saint Romanus manage to tame him. Saint Romanus brought back the dragon to Rouen and Gargouille was burned at the stake. However, not all of Gargouille burned - The only thing that remained was his neck and head. Saint Romanus nailed Gargouille's head upon the town's church where it became a water spout.
Whilst watching documentaries, I done some studies on lizards to get some ideas for gargoyle as I would like to have a dragon style gargoyle
Task One
This week I also tasked myself with a task to create a great sword in Maya and texture it (I limited myself to two days for this). I needed a break from researching. Though the leather on the great sword in textured render isn't my own (I couldn't recreate a good enough leather texture - See render of my own below.) I used a stand in leather texture in Substance Painter. Metal texture I created in Designer
Note: I think I will give myself tasks during my project to break it up a little and to keep my energy going
