The Final Post | Much Learned

    The final post has come upon on us. And I have to say it's been a wild ride. I looked back at the work I had done, the work I want to do, and the work that remained unfinished. 

Prompt Responses:

What were your goals this semester?

    I had two goals this semester: create a piece I was proud of and find specifically what lights the fire in me.

Did you achieve your goals for the semester?

    I achieved both of my goals, surprisingly in a different class and from the inspiration of my course load this semester. I came out with a fantastic character model and a gorgeous prop model.

What worked and didn't?

    This semester I sought to plan more and that worked. However, I quickly recognized that I simply did not plan enough. I did do better with a set of self imposed guidelines so the project didn't get to broad. I learned a lot about how I work and my thought process regarding projects. 

What would you do differently in your project?

    I would extensively plan out each step of my project. In 495 the specific nature of the work made the workflow and pipeline nearly seamless. And throughout the semester I realized how beneficial it would be to implement that into my own workflow.

Musings: 

    First and foremost I started this semester on a mech. That was fine. I learned from the past and went in a much more structured route. Yet the more I looked at it I simply didn't like what I had. The head was the most satisfying part of the piece. 

    I found myself in a time of upheaval over the course of this semester. I had eventually fallen behind and had to focus solely on course work. But it was focusing on this coursework that I learned a lot about what I like to do. 

    I was in an advanced production class that challenged me to make low poly assets in a timely manner. I took a character modeling class that got me very interested in high poly character models. I sat beside myself. Do I sit and continue a project that had lost momentum. And I decided, yeah I will. 

    I sat down and thought what would I like to see. What is it that I would like to do in the last progress post. And it hit me. 

    Silverhawks. I wanted to do a bust from Silverhawks. I watched the opening that I had been so nostalgic about and I found the subject. Bluegrass the cowboy pilot of the team. I sat down and with nothing else left due and nothing looming over my mind I sculpted. I opened OBS hit record and just worked.

    Here's the video of sculpting out the face and I have to say I was really happy doing this. I spent so long doubting myself and my skills that I just needed to put it to the test. When all I need to focus on is one solitary project can I deliver. And I do think I absolutely have. 

    Where I got in the span of 4ish hours was pretty impressive to me. Yeah some of the proportions need work, but in the end I got rid of any doubt. I do recommend viewing the video at 2 or 4 times speed because it is genuinely 2 hours of sculpting. 

Update:

    I learned that this wasn't due until Wednesday so I spent more time on it and came out with a fairly nice poly painted high poly. 

    It isn't nearly done, sure. I really wanted to see what I could do in a very limited amount of time. I'm very happy with the result. A large portion of this class was honestly figuring out what it was I wanted to do and what I was good at. For a long time I doubted my ability and I felt like I couldn't do this. I needed a confidence booster and this was what I needed. I'm good at high poly sculpts. I'm good at low poly models. I spent this semester learning a lot about my process, what works for me and what doesn't, and what I'm passionate about. I believe I found my happy medium.