Sculpting the Forest Spirit - ZBrush Creature Design: Creating Dynamic Concept Imagery for Film and Games - page 441

Chapter 8
Sculpting the Forest Spirit
In this chapter, we will be creating a character I call the Forest Spirit. This being is based on the ancient
mythological character Pan and appears as a hybrid between human and animal forms. This lesson is a good
exercise in anthropomorphism, the practice of ascribing human traits to non-human creatures. We will look at
how to use human photo reference and animal reference to blend elements between the two. We will look at
how to use shape language to create a softer character with a more empathetic look rather than one who com-
municates malicious intentions. We will also see how we can use the ZBrush brush set to create the sagging
forms of an older body rather than a more fit anatomical form.
Using Reference as Inspirational Material
In this chapter, we will make extensive use of reference materials. These consist of photos of two elderly men
as well as photos of a goat and a ram. These will not be used to create an exact likeness. Rather, I will use
elements from each photo to help add interest to my design. I will look at parts of the human head that would
work well combined with the ram's and then combine the elements in my sculpture. It's always important
to use reference whenever possible, as it helps you break your own habits and preconceived notions when
working. It also opens new and interesting avenues in the design and of course adds a level of realism to your
work.
Figure 8-1 shows some of the reference photos I used for this project. The photos all came from the ex-
ceptional photo reference site www.3D.sk . The site has been kind enough to allow me to supply you with
several photosets on the DVD or download files including those images we use as reference here. I highly re-
commend investing in a subscription to 3D.sk and the sister site www.photo-reference-for-comic-artists.com/
( Figure 8-2 ).
The Brief: Forest Spirit
The brief for this chapter is to design a character called “The Forest Spirit.” This wise old man is a cross
between a human and a goat or ram. He is a magical being but almost always appears in corporeal or solid
form. The Forest Spirit is ancient and kind, although he can be a fierce defender of his forest home. The
spirit should have elements of an old human man and a ram mixed together. Reference images of the god
Pan are provided for inspiration.
Figure 8-1: Here you can see the various photo reference images used for this character loaded into Spot-
light in ZBrush.