An exploration into 2D and 3D art

This week I refined character model by improving the edge flow and cleaning up the topology. Switching between low-poly mode by pressing "1" and smooth preview by pressing "3" helped me see how the forms would hold up during rendering. The face took the most time. The production bible describes Genevieve as cheerful and slightly mischievous so I tried my best to capture that through her eyes, but the finer detailing proved difficult. Throughout the week, I kept checking my model next to my group mate’s vehicle to ensure they matched stylistically. The clean, curved flow of the hull lines influenced how I shaped the character’s dress and hat. By the end of the week, the model felt cohesive and expressive. The next step was preparing for posing and adding final details before the turnaround render.

This week I focused on beginning the 3D block-out for Genevieve in Maya. Since I’m new to the software, my main goal was to understand how to use primitive shapes and the move/scale/rotate tools to capture the character’s proportions. Starting from a low-poly base made it easier to tweak the overall silhouette before worrying about details. One of the first challenges was interpreting the 2D concept into a 3D model. In the production bible, Genevieve’s hat is very wide and droopy, resembling a mushroom cap. When I tested this in 3D, it looked unbalanced from certain angles, so I reduced the brim width slightly while keeping the overall shape to preserve the character’s charm.  Through this process I started to appreciate the difficulty of translating stylised drawings into workable topology. Communicates the overall shape language of the concept. Even without textures or details, I can already see the contrast between the structured Art Deco forms and the organic mushroom inspirat...

This week I started by reviewing our group’s allocated production bible, the Crimson Leopard. The concept immediately stood out through its mix of 1920s flapper culture, Art Deco luxury design, and surreal mushroom-inspired forms. The character, Genevieve Joiryde, is described as a flamboyant, thrill-seeking partygoer who races a modified Louisiana riverboat at night. I thought this combination of vintage glamour and absurd fun really inspiring because it gives the project personality and stylisation. As a team we discussed how to maintain the playful, top-heavy “mushroom” silhouette while ensuring it still holds well in 3D. We agreed that the exaggerated hat and feather boa are key to her visual identity. When comparing this design language with existing references such as Mario Kart’s fantasy racers and Art Deco yachts like the Sycara IV, I noticed that both combine nostalgia and futurism through geometric curves and symmetry. This convinced me to push for smooth, flowing forms rat...