Creature Concepts and Illustration Work

As part of 3rd year at CDW Studios and Flinders University, we were tasked with our own project topic. My aim for this topic was to create three underwater concept creature sculpts using Zbrush, a 3D modeling program, with the polishing of the concepts in Photoshop.

I have always loved the ocean, ever since I was a child. I have been snorkeling all over Australia and thus wanted to create a project that was connected somehow to the sea. James Cameron is a big inspiration to me, not only because of his movie “Avatar” (a childhood favourite of mine) but the fact that he was the first human to solo dive the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench! I admire that his love of the ocean is so vividly portrayed in his movies. I wanted to create some artworks that show my curiosity about the ocean and the creatures that lurk out of sight.

A goal I set for myself during the project was to gain efficiency and proficiency within ZBrush and to have fun along the way. I haven't used the program in over a year so this proved to be a struggle! Hope you can see my progress!

OCTKALLION

Rendering from the ZBrush sculpture to the final image. I think I lost some of its original form but I was still happy with the result.

References were critical in all stages of this project. I had many reference boards as you see here, to help with my creative decision-making.

This was the first creature I sculpted and I learned a lot about ZBrush along the way! Overall really happy with how he came out!

CALVARIAICHTHYS

I was much happier with my rendering on this one! So stoked with how it came out! Actual sharks have small pores around their snout that are called ‘ampullae of Lorenzini’ and can detect tiny electrical currents in the water. I tried to incorporate small holes in the skull to mimic this.

The shape of the model could use a bit of work but I was proud that I figured out how to do a ZBrush turnaround! I wanted to make the model longer as he looks squished, but I couldn't work out a way without warping my subtools.

Overall I followed a more structured process this time and it helped massively! While sketching and sculpting I found that listening to documentaries about deep sea creatures gave me plenty of inspiration and a little sprinkle of knowledge here and there.

CANCRI ANGUILLAE

I'm still currently working on this guy in Photoshop, but he's 90% of the way there! Sculpting him was much faster than the other two as I had learned from my mistakes in previous attempts :)

This creature was like my golden ah-hah moment, I enjoyed every step of the process!! He finished the collection off quite nicely. Overall I think I have three diverse creatures that could still fit into the same world! Mission accomplished 

Other Works  2021 - 2022

Picked a few of my best from the last few years! Hope it's worth the look!

2D BOOTCAMP 2022

Various drawing exercises with Simon Scales at CDW Studios, including; perspective drawing, shadow casting, and geo form rendering.

2D ANATOMY 2022

Weekly assignments were given by Bryan Lee, with a focus on rendering.

Unicorn bull on the last slider!

Traditional charcoal figure drawing back in the first year of University.

DIGITAL PAINTING 2022

Using Blender and Photoshop to create a realistic looking scene.

MATTE PAINTING 2022

Created a DMP over a semester with Josh Ellem from Rising Sun Pictures. I wanted to create a snow scene as I also love the snow and often go skiing.

PERSONAL PIECES 2022

Thanks for scrolling!! Hope it was worth it!

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/miranda_fidge/

Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/miranda_fidge