I've had this idea for a farming/crafting sim game set in a "Shire" type setting.
While doing the mesh modeling bootcamp course, I submitted this Hobbit House that I had been working on as my own long term growth project. I've been so happy with the results, as well as how much I've been learning trying to get this to a point where it not only looks good, but is made clean and efficiently so that it also runs well in a game engine.
In this one project I have learned a lot by simply getting to a point where I know what I want to do, and sort of know how to do it, but doing it well takes some real thorough planning and research.
I'm definitely getting faster as I learn more tricks to speed up my general workflow and have less points where I have to stop and learn another thing.
I had to stop and learn Substance Designer and Painter real quick, so that was a small but necessary set back.
I've also started creating my own reference images when I'm unable to find ones that I feel have the right vibe that I'm going for.
I want it to look nice, but not like AAA, ray trace your eyes out of your skull graphics or anything. I'm going for cozy. I'm thinking more of "1970s Hobbit Cartoon" aesthetic. Classy comfort, as is the halfling way. Plus my art style tends to lean this way naturally, so that's the way I'm going with it.
There are untold amounts of quality reference images out there but there are certain items I wasn't able to find references I was happy with, so it gave me the opportunity to work on the first stage of my pipeline, CSP to Blender.
Unreal will be the next piece of the puzzle before I can really start bringing things to life.
The ultimate goal is to at least have this whole house modeled, textured, and set up in Unreal with furnishings and foliage so I (or we, if anyone wants to collaborate with me) can walk around in it and go "Ahhhhh, it's good to be home."
I got the floor plans for the Hobbit House at https://www.standout-cabin-designs.com/hobbit-house-plans.html
Got the block-out done for the lantern!
Pretty happy with it so far.
The Lord of the Rings is the best movie ever made. Can't wait to see this finished 🤙🏼
I saved two different images of the lantern concept art I made. One in full color and one transparent with just the line art.
I then loaded both in Blender and moved them each 2 units away from the world origin.
Then I duplicated these and rotated 90 degrees. I then lined these up with my cube (still at world origin) and have this tidy little setup to start modeling this sweet lantern.
If anybody feels like modeling this lantern, I'd be happy to provide you with the .blend file. I feel like it's set up thoughtfully, but as I'm working on preparing myself for work in a production pipeline, I'm open to feedback as to how things can be improved.