yyng's artblog

Closing Blog

2010-03-02T04:29:00.001-08:00

Just to let everyone know that I will be closing down my blog very soon. The reason because I needed a place to post up my artworks as well as explain my progress. But I realized that I hv soo much stuff to do & I honestly don't the time to update. Plus, most of my work now are under P&C (private & confidential) by my company & future clients. So really, I can't post up any progress work anymore. Maybe some artworks I can post up but no point also. Might as well just view my works in deviant. Here's my new deviant account. Click HERE to view it.

But I really want thank to all my supporters for viewing my blog. Wow! 3000 hits in less than year. I'm so dam happy to know this! WHooT! XDDD

Who knows maybe I'll come up with something interesting one day, like a project on my own. I might come back blogging with new design & new stuff. Until then, thank you again for your support people! See ya in at my deviant! *^.^*

3D/Animation Training : Week 6, 7 & 8

2010-01-23T06:45:00.000-08:00

For the last 3 weeks of the training, which is Week 6, 7 & 8, we have to do our final assignment which is character modeling. This assignment is the hardest of all yet very, very exciting. Funny isn't it, I hate modeling vehicle but I enjoyed modeling human. XP For the last illustration classes, we have to draw out our final character & weapon. I chose the Lady Reaper design since she already has a weapon. Before we start drawing the final work, we're taught to draw human pose so that your character doesn't look stiff. It wasn't easy I tell ya. Cuz you need to know your body proportion & muscle movement very well, otherwise it look distorted:

Some dummy poses. It's so hard to draw them. >.<

I always wanted to do a dark female character. That's why I chose the Lady Reaper. Her name is 'Synn Purify'. 'Synn' is a latin word for 'Sin'. And she's an Angel Reaper. Her duty is to hunt down angels who defy God orders or break the Heaven's rules. Take note that she only takes order from God himself & no one else. I wanted to represent her as a cold-hearted & emotionless person. The tattoos/markings on her are actually summon symbols. She can summon creatures from the underworld, but that's only if she needs backup. She also wields a giant scythe called 'Gressil'. It's actually a demon scythe where it converse with her through telepathy. Its eyes can detect any fallen angel who disguise themselves on Earth. Gressil feeds upon souls & apparently angel souls are it's favourite.

My final character design, Synn Purify, the Angel Reaper.

Her weapon, Gressil (scythe).

Before I could start modeling my character in 3Ds Max I needed to do a blue print first. I need to design front, side & 3/4 view of the character head & body:

When it finally came to the modeling part... wow... it was Super Stress! The head & body (including costume) took about 10 days to finish it. There are sooo many tutorials that I hv to refer cuz whatever the trainer taught wasn't enough. The hardest part to model was the face, it took me 3 tries until I got it right. The UVW mapping was damn hard to learn at first, but once you got it, it was easy. However, I think I still need to learn more about texturing. Nonetheless I love the result at the end. I used normal baseline lightracer rendering.

I did a T-pose so that it's easier to model her costume & to rig.

Alright, this was totally an accident. I never expect her to look like a female version of 'Cloud' from FF7 when I decided to hv her hair blonde & blue eyes. I wanted her to look like a typical angel herself (to represent god servant) but with black clothes. Sadly... it turns out sometimes very unexpected. WTF! So in the end I totally change her entire hair & eyes colour into more of a gothic vampire look.

From the looks of it, I'll blame the costume first. Cuz it look soo much like Cloud's from FF7AC. Shit!

This is her new look & I love it! Her expression was exactly how I wanted. XDDD

Thanks to my super high poly, which is more than 3 hundred thousand polys, I cannot do any animation for it, only turn table. The rigging part was a pure headache. I hv to redo some of the body parts cuz it was totally distorted like shit after I rigged it.

I followed the pose exactly from my final character design.

After looking at my finished work, I felt like I needed to do another one cuz Synn looks kinda lonely somehow. So I decided to create her younger twin sister, 'Synn Chastity'. She's different from her older twin in terms of emotion. She tends to sympathize with her target before she kills them. Just like her sister, she also wield the same giant scythe called 'Rosier'.

With both sisters modeled, I call them the 'Synn Sisters'. I combined both of them onto one turn table. For lighting, I used 3 spotlights and one skylight. When comes to the animation, I found that my file size was seriously too big until it hangs whenever I played it. It's way over 3GB just for a 6 seconds animation! So I had no choice but to learn a bit of Adobe After Effect. Now my file has decrease to 300mb. Sigh... I know, I know, it's still kinda big. ><

Clay Model of my Synn Sisters in different views

My final assignment of the training course. It's finally done! YAY!

Now that the individual assignments are done, it's time for group assignment. We're given one month to create a short 2-3 minutes animation. It's gonna be a challenging one cuz we're now going to work with other people. So shit can happen anytime among team members. However, for me, the animation must be delivered no matter what obstacle I faced.

"When There's A Will, There's A Way."

3D/Animation Training : Week 5

2009-11-27T05:36:00.000-08:00

OMG! I finally got some time to update my work! Whoohoo! I haven't gotten a single rest ever since I started the training last year August. Damn, I'm sooo tired but yet I still wanna do more. Call me nuts if you want, but can I do!?

Anyways, as for Week 5 of the training........ it was the most BORING & LAZY week ever! Why? Because after modeling my Akira Bike, I found exterior to be easy & not challenging at all. It's just the same as doing the interior. I can tell than many of us wasn't keen on doing the exterior assignment. Thank goodness illustration was interesting. Week 5, we learn about human body proportion. At last! This is what I've been looking forward! So we're supposed to draw the body following the guidelines that the trainer given us. After drawing the body out, we have to insert the muscles. That was the hardest part. We have to draw front, side & back for both Male & Female. Hopefully my body proportion will improve after doing this. ^^

Male & Female Body Frame

Female muscle frame. I only did for female cuz my character design is a woman.

Also, we hv to come up with a character design cuz in Week 6, we have to start modeling our final assignment which is a character. Luckily I managed to find two artworks that I did while I was teaching my old highschool (Jan-May 2009). I was bored at one time cuz it was my last week in school as a teacher, so there weren't anything else for me to do in the staff room, so I decided to draw. As the result I created two female characters: A lady reaper & an amazon woman. Best of all, I never expected to use it for my character design. WHOOT! XDDD

Her character concept is based on a Grim Reaper

Her character concept is based on a Amazoness/Tribe Leader

For my 3rd assignment which is the exterior design, I decided to just follow the same concept as my 1st assignment, which is the japanese theme. So I modal a Japanese mansion instead.

The entire house modal.

With texture & lighting.

After I finished modal the entire house, I found it boring somehow. So I added some trees, stones & two ponds (front & back of the house). For rendering, at first I used normal baseline lightracer render but it took soo long to render! It even came out horrible! So luckily, we hv a short class about Mental Ray render. It's way more complicated that baseline but the result is really awesome & the render is soo much faster (provided you do the settings correctly). So for this assignment, I used mental ray for the first time. I didn't do much settings on the render, just focus on the lighting & texture adjustments.

With Mental Ray render. Nice isn't it. Just love the water reflection! XD

Top View

Front View

Back View

Left View

Right View

With background & camera angle

As I said again, the house assignment was really boring. Also, I found out that not many did this assignment. Most of them skip straight to the character design or do two vehicle instead. Oh well, no matter how much I don't want to do it, it's still an assignment that we're ask to do. So JUST DO IT!

"You Might Hate It Now, But You'll Find It Useful Later."

3D/Animation Training : Week 3 & 4

2009-10-17T04:36:00.000-07:00

I know, I know. It's been a very long time since I update. My Week 3 work has been extended to Week 4 cuz there's a lot of error in my work. As I already said, the vehicle was SUPER HARD. Plus, I hv to redo some of my drawings cuz it wasn't good enough. For Week 3 illustration class, we have to draw human expressions. Not just front view only but also 3/4 & side view. We were given 7 kind of expressions to draw & it must look at least realistic. (Sigh) if only I could draw it in Anime style. So much easier. XP

I know, all of their faces look dam weird right. Heehee!

As for my vehicle... it's a long story but I'll make it short. First of all, I tried to model a car, but I failed... 4 times. Then I decided for something simple, which is a motorbike. And I failed again 4 times. But... I finally succeeded on my 5th try! So yay! After I finish model my bike, another problem came in, which is the material part. I couldn't get the shininess & glossiness on my bike. I was already pulling my hair at that time. Thank goodness my classmate Kae showed me how to do it. However, after I gotten my material done, the next problem was the stupid bloody rendering!

Clay Model of my Akira Bike in different views

Samples of the material & render errors (Still got another 20 errors but I think you alredi got the idea)

After 2 weeks of madness, I finally finished it! WhooHoo!

We were also taught to do a short turn table animation so that we can view the entire model

This bike is so far the most challenging experience I've ever gained in this course. Despite all the trials and errors, I found myself gaining more familiarity with 3Ds MAX. So it's all ain't that bad. But ppl like me who are a bit slow to capture technical stuff hv to work doubly hard to learn it. It's a pity that I didn't get to do the car & I'm not sure whether I will do one in the future cuz I'm not a car fanatic. The next assignment is exterior... somehow... I just feel dam lazy to do this one. But what to do, still have to do it whether I like it or not.

"Hard Work Will Always Pay Off In The End."

3D/Animation Training : Week 2

2009-09-16T07:40:00.000-07:00

Second week is seriously very stressful. For the while week, I only slept like 2 hours perday, that's equally to only 14 hours of sleep in a week. I almost drop dead yesterday. Really beh tahan liao. (>.<) For Week 2 illustration class, we have to do simplified drawing this time. Which means, less detail (no toning/shading) but just outline using thin lines & thick lines. I found that simplified drawing is harder than detailed drawing. We have to redraw the same pics again. Although it's faster to finish but... making it look like the picture is soooo difficult! (T.T)

The same dude (Dunno whether this time can recognized or not)

Dude (Front View)

Dude (3/4 View)

Dude (Side View)

Chick (Front View)

Chick (3/4 View)

Chick (Side View)

Chick from a Magazine

Besides simplified drawing, we also need to construct both male & female head using the guidelines that my trainer taught us. This time we have draw the character in our own style (no reference). Yippee for me! XD

Female Version

Male Version

Dang! I still draw girl better than guy lar. (-_-;)

Autodesk 3D Max almost killed me in Week 2. Almost every hour I'm on the comp/laptop just trying to finish my assignment, which is the interior of a kitchen & living room. At first, we were asked to do 2 kitchen & 2 living room, which is totally INSANE! I finally told myself, "Screw it! I will only do one each, as long got quality!" This time I have to include the materials & lighting, as well as photoshots (FYI, you can take photo in 3D Max)

The entire interior of the kitchen, including the materials (no lighting yet)

Final results of the kitchen interior (with lighting)

My product shot for kitchen (This is not Photoshop, it's done in 3D Max)

My living room interior (Without lighting)

Final results of the living room interior (With lighting)

My product shot for living room

Thank goodness that I have lots of patience! The render was super-duper long! Some even took about more than 3 hours to render! (For those who know about rendering, you should what I'm talking about. XP) However, I'm quite happy with the results of my 'hardwork'. But I still feel that it can be better. Will try to improve it during the long period of the Raya Holidays. (10 days BABY! Muahahaha! XDDD)

"When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Keeps Going!"

3D/Animation Training : Week 1

2009-09-07T11:17:00.000-07:00

Wow... I mean WOW! First week & I'm already learning sooo much! The first day, we have to illustrate out a head. The most important point is the eyes. We have to draw 8 figure heads as our homework.... (=.=;)

I bet you can guess who is this dude, rite. XD

Dude (Front View)

Dude (3/4 View)

Dude (Side View)

Chick (Front View)

Chick (3/4 View)

Chick (Side View)

Chick from a Magazine

You know, I still prefer drawing girls then guys. I dunno why. XP

This week we learn to use Autodesk 3D Max program. All I can say is... IT'S SO TOUGH & COMPLICATED!!! ARGHH!!! I was struggling for 2 days to get to know about the program (since it's the first time I'm using it) & almost cracked my head with it! We already have to design a dining set in 4 days! I almost went balistic but luckily I manage to calm down & told myself to do it step-by-step. Slowly, I got the hang of the program & the toogling became less headache. Phew!

The result of my dining set. I'm trying my best to follow the Japanese theme/style.

Added a bit of the interior background. (Only 25% completed! T.T)

I felt I'm being left behind when I saw others doing sooo FAST & sooo GOOD! They already started to put the materials in & some already done the entire interior design of the kitchen! Shit Wei! I really cannot slack liao & I gotta work extra harder to keep up with others.

"No matter what, I Must Keep Going!"

3D/Animation Training : Intro

2009-09-07T09:22:00.000-07:00

This training course was introduced by CG Skill, an animation skill training division established by IM Foremost Sdn Bhd. It is a sponsored Train & Place programme under the Ministry of Human Resources Malaysia, meaning it’s fully sponsored by the government. You will undergo 2 months of intensive training & 1 month internship. The whole idea of this programme is basically to help people to get jobs. XP

I knew this course through my twin sister, Sze Yin (aka Reeis). When I read her email about the course, I was completely excited cuz this is the course that I wanted to do sooo much before I started college! But the reason why I took advertising in the end was because of convenient sake & my parents (cuz I love them so much). Anyhow, it's over. I was given another chance! Whoot! XD

This course is only limited to 30 seats thorough M’sia. So it made me really nervous cuz I dunno whether I was good enough to get in. I actually lost hope when I found out that I registered too late. (T.T) The interview session was over. I don’t blame my twin for sending the email late cuz she aso just knew about it.

A month later, I receive an email from CGskill that I was gotten in for the second batch. I was jumping up & down in my seat like a nutcase! Next step was the interview, which went through smoothly. (Another score point for me! YAY!) Lastly was waiting for approval from the government… I guess many of you should already know how long it takes for them to get things done. (>_<)

When I finally got the approval, I was ecstatic! So here I am going through the programme until 31st October. I know it’s going to be seriously tough but I all up for it! If I don’t complete the course… I have to pay back RM15,000 to the government. SO I MUST COMPLETE IT NO MATTER WHAT! I really hope I could intern in a game company in M’sia. I’m now looking for all the game companies in M’sia. So weird! I never knew we had gaming companies here! (O.O)

Wicked!

2009-07-30T06:06:00.000-07:00

Ever since I was a kid & until today, I still love watching musical shows. Mary Poppins, King and I & Sound of Music were my favourites when I was young & they still are. I've been to a few West End shows in M'sia like Saturday Night Fever, Stomp, Mama Mia & many more. However, the best West End show I ever seen was 'WICKED'! I saw it in London during my studies there.

The entire story is totally twisted/different from the original Wizard of Oz. OMG, I really have to say that the story was simply amazing & beautiful especially the friendship between the 2 witches, Elphaba & Glinda. I love the all the songs from Wicked. There are 2 songs that really inspired me: Defying Gravity & For Good.

So after I came back from London, I really wanted to CG an image of the 2 of them. Because of these two witches, it made me realized how important it is to have good friends whom you can trust & I learned to appreciate my friends more than ever.

Elphaba, Wicked Witch of the West (LEFT) Glinda, Good Witch of the North (RIGHT)

I also did a few CG comic strips of my favourite scenes during the act. Haha! It shows how much I really into this musical. ^^

The words above are taken directly from the song, "What Is This Feeling?"

LOL! Some random lame jokes I made up for my fav scenes...

This musical has inspired me soo much that I even proposed using 'Defying Gravity' as the title for my class (BPD8) Graduation Showcase 2008. You check out our exhibition blog here: www.defyinggravity2008.blogspot.com.

I would really recommend for everyone to watch this musical when you have the chance. You won't regret it!

"Nothing Is Ever Gonna Bring Me Down!"

Time 4 Redesign!

2009-07-27T19:41:00.000-07:00

LOL! After looking at my blog again & again for weeks, I feel that something is seriously missing. Ok, maybe it's just me but it seems pretty dull & there's no meaning behind it.

Just after my training at PDL, I finally realized why. Simple, I've been always hiding myself. I refused to leak out whatever I do because of one thing, which is showing people my failure. So I'll wait & wait until I produced something good than only I post up. WHICH IS WRONG! It doesn't matter what kind of work I produced, good or bad. It's doing it that counts!

I know I've failed many times in my life. But at the same time, I know I suceed some things in life. So from today onwards I'm going to post up whatever I do. Doesn't matter if I don't post up any artworks, I can always blog my progress instead. That's what blog is all about. At least I know I've accomplished something today.

Art + Blog = Stories/Progress of my artworks.

"And That's How It Should Be!"

Michael Jackson Tribute

2009-06-27T05:31:00.000-07:00

You dunno how glad I was that I kept my illustration portrait of him. Indeed, it was a shocking & sad news. When I woke up on Friday morning, he has already passed away. Even though the news was everywhere, it took me 2 days to feel that he was gone for good.

This portrait was actually an assignment during my foundation (2005), combining both Illustration & History of Art subject. The topic of the assignment was to illustrate a painting in. During the Baroque period, most of the paintings are portraits of royalty (with dark backgrounds). However, my lecturers wanted the illustration to be a contemporary figure that has a royal title. My group decided to choose as our theme. Each of us must illustrate one contemporary figure based on the theme using only. I immediately decided on Michael Jackson, not because he was the 'King of Pop' but also my very first music idol.

Why I chose Michael Jackson?

He was the first music artist that I was introduced when I was around 6 years old. (I can still remember that I refused to believe he was a man - due to his long hair & feminine body! XP)
His song 'Black & White' was my first favorite song, followed later with 'Heal the World'.
It was him who got me into Pop musics & of course dancing! (I absolutely love his Moon Walk)
His music influenced many pop, hip-hop & R&B artists. (My favourite genre music)

This illustration is a tribute to you Michael! Thank you for bringing music into my life! I'm really happy that I chose you to be my first portrait painting on canvas. This painting will always remained with me as a remembrance of you, the Greatest Entertainer of All Time...

"Rest In Peace Michael Jackson"

F.B.I Boss

2009-06-23T05:17:00.001-07:00

I can still remember doing this illustration last minute before my Graduation Showcase 2008. At that time, I was quite panicked because I ran out of ideas & I'm running out of time. So I decided to just HENTAM only! Die, die also, I must finish! To my surprised it came out better than I expected. Heh, it became one of my booth display board, my portfolio cover & my name card.

Many people said that I illustrated my own portrait. The truth is I never even thought about it (since I hentam only). In my mind, all I wanted was this cool hip hop girl wearing my furballs own designer clothes. My name on the jeans was just to indicate that this is my work (in case someone dares to steal it). But since everyone declared the girl is me, I finally considered her as my own self portrait, the F.B.I Boss.

My very own name card design

Can you believe that I forgot my name card for our exhibition? Well, I did.I only realized it on the morning itself of the exhibition day. Without delaying a single second, I quickly hentam one design in 10 minutes before rushing off to print. I swear that I almost gone crazy that morning!

F.B.I Members Introduction

2009-06-15T12:46:00.000-07:00

The 5 furballs (above) are my beloved babies. They are created based on my personality & characteristics. I simply split my personality into each of them & that was how they are born. The more you get to know them, the more you get to know me.

Noob: He represents my dumb & careless side. Extremely bold & daring. Always wanting to learn.
Pip: He represents my artistic & creative side. A perfectionist. Everything must be done nicely.
Rey: He represents my outgoing & active side. Super Gung-ho. Die-die also must get the work done!
Kit: She represents my feminine & rational side. Emotional at times. Very honest with one's feelings.
Al: He represents my serious & intelligent side. Quite bossy. Easily angered when things doesn't get done!

F.B.I is a short form of 'Furballs.Inc.' It's actually a company created by me & it's meant to sell myself to the public. These cute furballs are the ones who run the company while I boss them around (Muahahaha!)

Why furballs if you ask? Because I Luv round & fluffy things, plus I'm a bloody sap for cute stuff. ^^