Felix's Polybook

Hello, I decided to post what I'm working on,  with the hope I will be motivated to finish the projects :)

Before starting the Pothead character tutorial I wanted to try a small project on my own (which ended up longer than I intended). 

The robot is modelled after Brian Marshall's design (he has hundreds of these cute robots https://www.instagram.com/adoptabot/    https://www.flickr.com/photos/adopt-a-bot/with/3814149727/ )

My purpose was to practice a bit of hard-surface modelling and texturing in Substance Painter. This is the result:

I wanted to make a simple scene with the robot and this is the result:

However I am not very satisfied, I think the first picture looks better. I should have thought of a story and environment before starting the project, not at the end :)

Any tips or ideas  on how to improve this ?

  • Michael Mirn(michaelmirn) replied

    Well, story is the main thing for sure. And I'd start with the size of that bot. That hotel bell is the body of it so its relatively small, right? Like 30-40 cm at most. So I'd start from there.

    And I think that is the reason why that soccer ball bothers me -- it should be way bigger, up to its normal size cause right now it fights against the initial idea of that tiny little bot.

    So again -- maybe that bot is a goalkeeper? And he has to catch all these huge soccer balls to keep his team winning? And who throws these balls in? Is it life? Imagine that, picture that, thats a dramatic story of capability and responsibility!

  • nemernick replied

    Thanks Michael, that is a good point with the scale. I was thinking at first of it beeing a keychain ball, but I also like the idea of a bigger ball and a courageous little goal keeper :D

  • Keith (beefkeef) replied

    What a cool little robot!

    I think you did a great job with your texturing, can I even see some writing on that spoon measure? nice! 


    I also prefer the first shot, I think that's because it's so simple and my full attention is drawn to your robot with the detailed textures. Thinking about his spoon measuring hands, maybe there is another story that he is a chef/cook. Sometimes in a kitchen they have a bell for 'service' so that could tie in to his tory too ? 

  • nemernick replied

    Thanks Keef!

     I'll let the project stay on hold for a few days and come back to it with fresh eyes :)

  • Tim Hurst(Tim_00110011) replied

    These are great.

    First shot has lovely colour and a richer contrast - cyan, pink background and red, orange accents on character. Works well as a standalone. 

    Second environment shot has warmth but is not as interesting colour wise and I agree with points made above. Maybe play around with the camera angle a bit - above his eye line and looking slightly down possibly.