After working on it for more than a year, I’ve finally finished a project I started at the beginning of quarantine. It definitely took me longer than it should have as I was still learning some technical skills along the way. I started this project as a way to practice SubD modeling and make complex hard surface shapes. In the past, I would get frustrated when I wanted to create a specific form for a design but didn't know how to model it. As a result, my projects became very limited and constrained by my technical knowledge. I really tried to push myself to use unique forms in all areas of the armor and avoid generic "boxy" shapes you see in some Sci-Fi design. Happy to say that I'm now confident I can model almost any shape and quickly too. I’ve gained so much knowledge from the process and am pleased with the results.
One of the mistakes I made that significantly slowed my progress was treating each body part as its own project. I put way too much detail and care into components no one would see. As you scroll down you will see some renders showing some of those close-ups. On the upside, all that extra detail gave me lots of practice modeling faster so it wasn’t all bad.
When I started this project I didn't have a set plan in regards to who this character was, where he was from, and what he did. I just thought a mech suit with a cape and a scythe would look cool. That definitely came back to bite me later when I thought I was finished and reached out for critiques. I received extremely valuable advice from a mentor from 343 about how to go about telling a story with a concept, creating an original idea, how to use references properly, and how every aspect/detail of the project should reflect that original concept. As a result, I reevaluated my character and decided to lean into the reaper aspect more than I had before.
The story I tried to tell through this character was one of a terminator-style robot that has been ravaged by many years of war. Eventually, the battles take their toll and the robot begins to resemble a collector of death or “grim reaper.” To tell its history, I adorned it with trophies collected from its victims and other items it has fashioned itself.
Completing this was challenging and I thought about quitting many times. Because this was a personal project, I had to balance time spent here with full-time internships, college, and occasional art tests. Between technical issues, other pressures on my time, and the allure of starting new projects, I was tempted to abandon the project several times. I’m pleased I stuck with it and hope people like the result as much as I do. Now, I’m on to the next project.
All assets modeled, textured, and lit by me.
