Matthew Dale: Digital Artist

Finished Stone Wall/ Barrel Update

2009-10-22T09:06:00.000-07:00

Last night I managed to finish the Stonewall, and I updated an older barrel texture to make it look slightly more old world for use in our level.

Texture Maps

2009-10-21T09:40:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of the diffuse maps of props Ive created recently. All painted in Photoshop, combination of photos and hand-painting.

Medieval Stone Wall

2009-10-21T09:33:00.000-07:00

Working on a stone wall for the more affluent area of the town. Need to redo the top of the support though, the texture is blurry and scaled incorrectly.

Some High poly Sculpts.

2009-10-20T09:42:00.001-07:00

Here are a few high-poly versions of recent assets Ive created.

Stone Wall

2009-10-19T22:04:00.000-07:00

Taking a little break from the buildings. Modular stone wall for tonight. Low poly made with Decimation-Master out of Zbrush off a 15mil poly sculpt. Needs to be far lower though, 1800tris is wayyy too high for what it is I think.

Tower

2009-10-18T21:11:00.000-07:00

Textured the tower. Her is a realtime render of it and the house in Maya viewport.

House Updates.

2009-10-16T23:04:00.000-07:00

Small update to the house. Added a spire/porch thing-a-mabob to the top.

More House Work

2009-10-15T22:48:00.000-07:00

Created more modular parts for the house tonight. Roof windows, catwalk, tower are all separate meshes, with separate UV space, so they can be mixed and matched in the engine, saving on resources. Still a few more modular parts to model. Hopefully will get them all texture tomorrow.

Update on Warcraft Inspired Low Poly Sword

2009-10-15T08:44:00.000-07:00

I decided to finish up an old project the other day. Really more of a handpainted texture exercise. I think it turned out alright, but I need to study Blizzards techniques a little more.

New Level

2009-10-14T23:23:00.000-07:00

We began our main level project in Game Design class this week. I have tried to sort of take head of the project, drawing out a layout for the level, a look/influences sheet, outlining each main area of the level and assembling a texture library to ensure different artists models have some sort of level of continuity. We are creating an English influenced Medieval Village, located in a valley area. I will post more details later, but for now, here is a house I have created, both for the level, and to demonstrate the look we are trying to achieve, as well as a modular window, that can be swapped around into different house models. I am going to try and create many of thee modular house/building pieces, allowing whoever assembles them in the level, the ability to mix and match, saving time and resources.

Recent Work

2009-09-30T08:18:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone. Its been awhile since I had a chance to post some newer work. I was pretty busy all summer interning at Sputnik Animation, and sort of taking a break from 3D after an intense semester at Gnomon. But now I'm back, final year at Springfield, and the 3D work is starting to crank up. I am in a Video Game Design class working as a environment/prop modeler and texture artist. I am also starting to work on a short animation exploring the interrelationships between surreal Dali pieces. Should be interesting. Anyway, here are some game assets I have created for the game design classes test level. Any crits are appreciated.

Handpainted Textures

2009-06-14T11:23:00.000-07:00

So recently I have been playing around with a hand-painted, Warcraft-esqe style of texturing. One is a sword I am doing for personal work, and the other my first entry in the game-artists.net texturing challenge.

Keg Cart

2009-06-07T14:25:00.000-07:00

I modeled/textured this cart in the past few days. Most as a texturing exercise.

Game Artist Speed Texturing Challenge #42

2009-06-03T11:24:00.000-07:00

Here is my entry for the Game Artist Speed Texturing Challenge #42: Stump and Stone. I had 120 minutes to create as many maps as we wanted for the supplied model. I had time to create a pretty decent diffuse and spec map, but my normal map left a lot to be desired.

Viewport Render:

Maps:

Demon WIP

2009-03-22T06:06:00.000-07:00

I got sort of sick of the cartoony demon. Sculpting cartoons isnt nearly as fun as realistic things. Here is another interpretation of a demon. This is the sort of stuff I can only think up at 6:00am (the current time) :)

Stylized Character Bust

2009-03-21T04:57:00.001-07:00

Here is a stylized character bust I created in class today as an exercise.

Finished Barrier

2009-03-19T19:49:00.000-07:00

I finished the barrier today. It was a good exercise. Textures painting in Photoshop. Render from the Maya viewport. Maya sucks at rendering normal maps.

Concrete Barrier Game Asset

2009-03-19T06:28:00.000-07:00

I decided to do a quick game model tonight. Modeled Low-Res in Maya, sculpted in Zbrush, normal map out of Zmapper. Turned out alright I think for less than an hour. I plan on painting a color/spec map as well, and normal mapping the rebar with the Nvidia Plugin/CrazyBump.

Elven Gauntlet

2009-03-15T05:40:00.000-07:00

A gauntlet done in the same style as the shield. I am going to start a full suit of armour in the near future.

Elven Shield Timelapse

2009-03-14T19:20:00.000-07:00

Someone on ZBC requested a tutorial on how I sculpted the details on the elven shield, so I created another one for a demo and just as an exercise. Its fun! Here is the video and the final result.

Elven Shield

2009-03-14T04:33:00.000-07:00

This is an elven shield concept sculpt that I created for my Zbrush Texturing class with Ryan Kingslien. This is one of the first serious hard surface pieces I have ever done. It took me about 5 hours. I plan on creating better edges, making a game mesh, texturing and normal mapping it as an in game asset. Maybe a demo reel piece depending on far I go with it. Thanks for viewing!

Muslim Male head study

2009-03-12T22:50:00.000-07:00

I did another head study from a sphere for Ryan's class. I like this one more than the female. It has more character.

Speed Sculpt for Class

2009-03-09T04:36:00.000-07:00

A head speed sculpt for Ryan Kingslien's Zbrush class.

Kramer Update

2009-02-26T04:03:00.001-08:00

More work on Kramer

Threedy.com Sculpting Challenge #14: Celebrity Caricature

2009-02-25T04:03:00.000-08:00

I chose to do "Cosmo Kramer" (Michael Richards) as my celeb. We have a total of 5 hours to manipulate the provided basemesh into a cartoon-like sculpt of the celebrity of our choice. Here is my sculpt, 3.5 hours in.

Demon WIP

2009-02-15T01:54:00.001-08:00

This is my vision of a demon. Still working on it.

Zombie Final

2009-02-14T03:29:00.000-08:00

Finished the zombie bust. Still images to come.

*Please view in High Quality*

Zombie Update

2009-02-09T02:02:00.000-08:00

More work on the Zombie. The next step are:

-add in more bone exposure (spine, clavicles)
-refine decay
-add in more facial details
-experiment with hair options
-poly paint
-displacement map and render in mental ray

I really want to take this to completion as a portfolio piece.

zombie bust WIP

2009-02-08T02:03:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone!

I started a Zombie bust today. I am placing bone structures underneath the skin, and then chipping away, using Ryan Kingsliens "Zombie Brush" mainly. I still need to add more detail to the face, and then address the other sections of the bust. I need to build zsphere clavicles and a spine as well, to expose those. But its a fun exercise!

Dancers

2009-02-03T03:43:00.000-08:00

Another gesture study, this time with two figures. The complexity of the poses took a while to sort out, and I need to work on a lot of the anatomy I'm sure. I will be showing this to Ryan in class Friday to see if I can get any tips.

Male Gesture Study

2009-02-02T15:43:00.000-08:00

Here is a turntable and images for a male gesture sculpt.

Female Gesture Study

2009-02-02T02:06:00.000-08:00

I did a quick 1.5 hour gesture/proportion study tonight. Here are the results. The arm anatomy is all messed up, and the legs could use some more definition, but I do like this, it has a very traditional feel to it I think. Ill probably continue it later tomorrow.

Turntable:

Recent works.

2009-01-31T05:48:00.001-08:00

Here are some of my recent pieces for my work at Gnomon, forum contests, and my own personal exercises.

Texture Map for a cargo container. Next-Gen Game Asset:

Specular Map for Cargo Container:

Color Map for Cargo Container:

Beginning of an anatomy study:

Final Submission for Threedy.com forum sculpting contest #13, "Worst Fears":

Head Study:

Environmental Sculpting

2009-01-26T04:13:00.000-08:00

Dabbling in some high poly environmental stuff. I think it turned out alright.

Threedy Sculpting Challenge #9: Magic Staff

2008-10-02T11:18:00.000-07:00

this is my staff so far. i am going for like a troll-witch doctor type staff (notice the somewhat shortened proportions) it will eventually have shrunken heads or skulls on it or something using the 3 allowable trinkets. so far i have the basic forms of a gnarled staff.

Female Anatomy Study Posed

2008-09-19T09:03:00.001-07:00

WIP posed female:

Female Anatomy Study

2008-09-15T21:46:00.000-07:00

I started my first female anatomy study today. I think the progress is decent so far.

I'm Back!

2008-09-08T19:03:00.000-07:00

So this was a super busy summer, full of work, photography and social issues, resulting in a lack of time for 3D. But now that I am back at school, 3D takes the front seat again! I am getting my skills up for my semester at Gnomon this coming spring. Here is a head study I created today. Enjoy!

More head studies.

2008-07-13T17:18:00.000-07:00

Update on the Goblin

2008-07-06T14:49:00.001-07:00

More Head Studies!

2008-07-05T23:02:00.000-07:00

Title says it all........

The Dark Knight

2008-07-05T20:24:00.000-07:00

Here is a bust of Batman that I sculpted today.

Head Study/Goblin

2008-07-05T00:08:00.001-07:00

More head studies

2008-07-02T19:01:00.001-07:00

Another face study

2008-06-25T23:35:00.000-07:00

Here is another face study I have been working on. Supposed to be sort of a smirking expression. Used photos of my own face as a reference.

Review of 'Zbrush Character Creation: Advanced Sculpting Techniques' by Scott Spencer

2008-06-24T22:42:00.001-07:00

In a world flooded with basic introductory books on major 3D packages (cough*Maya*cough), Scott Spencer's 'ZBrush Character Creation: Advanced Sculpting Techniques', while quite a mouthful is a breath of fresh air. This is not a book that focuses on a pure beginner. Understanding the concepts of a 3D environment and mild experience with ZBrush are huge advantages in getting the most out of this book. That is not to say this book is not accessible to those who are not proficient in ZBrush. It covers many of the basic concepts, but covers them in such depth, that it would be easily overwhelming to a beginner.
The book begins by explaining the relationship to traditional sculpting techniques, to those applied while digital sculpting in ZBrush. This is one of the great strengths of the book. It covers not only the technical aspects of ZBrush, but also the artistic, the true driving force and advantage of ZBrush. From this initial chapter, you will then be lectured on such topics as; Sculpting Techniques, Detailing, PolyPainting, ZSpheres, and Displacement mapping, among many, many other topics I will let you discover for yourself.
Another great strength of this book is the mini-tutorials from various other artists that are added into the already information-packed pages. Contributing artists include; Cesar Dacol, Ian Joyner, Jim McPherson, Zach Petroc, Alex Alvarez, Ryan Kingslien, and Fabian Loing. Having all of these different techniques and perspectives on the art of digital sculpting, adds a lot of knowledge and expertise to this book.
I cannot say enough towards the value of this book. It is hands down the best ZBrush resource available in print as of this time. I hope that Scott and company with continue to share their extensive knowledge of the arts and of technology with the digital art community.

Head Study Update

2008-06-24T22:00:00.000-07:00

I think I have finished with this. I refined some of the forms/masses, changed some of the facial proportions, and polypainted it. I think it looks alright.

3 Hour Head Study

2008-06-23T23:22:00.000-07:00

Here are images of a head study I have sculpted in little over 3 hours. I am not done with this piece, but the modeling phase is nearing completion. I have plans to texture this as well.

female bust update 6/22

2008-06-21T23:13:00.000-07:00

Here are some updates on the female bust. I reformed some of the face/neck, and added a quick shirt as a subtool. I used renders with a variety of different matcaps to show the model in different lightings and with different cavity shadows. I think it is looking more and more like a female as i progress through it.

updates/wips

2008-06-20T21:47:00.000-07:00

Hey all,
Here are a few things I have been working on recently.

Long Time, No Post....

2008-06-06T23:58:00.000-07:00

So I have been overwhelmed as of late. Finals at the end of school....Moving home for the summer....finding a job...reuniting with friends. However know I am all settled in and ready to get back to my Zbrush studies. Here are a few quick scults from 3DPolyPlanes I have done in the past few days, and an update on the female head. Her eyes are a little messed up, I am fairly certain that I will be reworking them soon. Thanks for view.

*I also received Scott Spencers new book, Zbrush Character Creation: Advanced Digital Sculpting, which upon completion, will be posting a review of. I can say so far its awesome!

Endorphin Animation System

2008-04-21T19:19:00.000-07:00

I found this on YouTube and thought it was fascinating. This is the animation/physics engine being used for upcoming games such as GTA IV, and Star War: The Force Unleashed (Fall 2008).

It a pretty interesting program, worth viewing in my opinion!

Female Head Study

2008-04-20T00:42:00.001-07:00

Two hours of work so far. still needs hair, but that is for morning!

Ryan Kingslien Gnomonology Tutorial Review

2008-04-19T21:44:00.000-07:00

Well I am proud to say that I may be one of the first people to complete the series of videos, "Sculpting a Female Bust", and all I can say is "Wow". Ryan lends his insight about sculpting and blocking in the forms and details of the female face, as well as how to create beautiful, natural looking hair from another subtool. We get a chance to watch a real master at work as Ryan demonstrates and extensively explains his work-flow and use of tools

Ryan truly has an extensive artistic and technical knowledge of 3D sculpting. The 4 videos were well worth my $12. I will be watching them again soon, and as I sculpt my next busts.

Congrats Ryan, and I hope to see a lot more Gnomon videos in the future! Truly priceless information!

Sculpting a Female Bust

Warrior Update

2008-04-19T09:43:00.000-07:00

Here is some new work on the warrior model. Enjoy.

Warrior Update

2008-04-17T17:34:00.000-07:00

Ive made some more progress on the warrior figure. I think its coming along pretty well.

SIGGRAPH 2008

2008-04-14T15:33:00.000-07:00

I thought I would post this is it is relevant to CG. I applied to be a SIGGRAPH student volunteer in the early days of January. I just recently got an email stating I had been accepted to the program ( I was one of 500 out of a few thousand). I then saw I had another email saying that they had overbooked the amount of volunteers they need, and since I was in the younger age group, I had been waitlisted :(
So if anyone cannot make the event, I (and a few others) will be selected to take their place. So hopefully someone will drop!

Warrior

2008-04-12T22:42:00.000-07:00

I decided to do something fun with the study I was doing. I have decided to turn him into a Medieval warrior of some sort. Here is the progress so far, as well as a rough idea of what it will look like in the end (hopefully).

Full Body Study

2008-04-12T13:06:00.000-07:00

This is a male body that I have been working on for a few hours now. Just done as an anatomy study really, but he will be posed in a more dramatic stance (hence the painful facial expression) when I get more of the basic anatomy laid out.

Finished 'Blinded Man'

2008-04-10T08:24:00.000-07:00

Okay I am calling this one 'done'. What project is ever really done?
I could spend the rest of my life tweaking this, so I figure Ill get more out of starting a new project at this point.

So anyway, here is where the 'Blinded Man' (As I have opted to call him) stands as a completed work.

Face Update

2008-04-07T21:17:00.000-07:00

I did some more work on the face, adding wrinkles and such. As I look at it now, I see alot that can be improved, but I think its coming along.

The Blind Man

2008-04-05T14:37:00.001-07:00

So I was messing around with PolyPaint in Zbrush and I decided to be more creative with the head. I painted on skin texture and then let my creativity take over and I ended up with this. It is supposed to be some sort of a medieval peasant who had his eyes removed as a means of punishment. Hope you like it!

My first head study

2008-04-04T18:16:00.000-07:00

This is the first head study I have ever done in digital medium. I think the results were pretty decent for an initial attempt.

1st Post

2008-04-04T18:11:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone. I am starting this blog as a sort of showcase for my 3D Artwork. I have been working in 3D for little less than a year now. I am focusing specifically on character design and development. I will be updating this blog from time to time, posting my most recent works. I thank all who take the time to view my work and appreciate any comments or critiques you may have in regards to my work.