Just as I began rigging tomtom, I got the monthly Digital Tutors newsletter. If you’re not familiar with Digital Tutors, I strongly suggest checking them out. There’s tons of great material to learn, and a really positive and productive community for numerous software packages.

Anyway, they hold monthly contests, varying in subject matter, and I’ve been watching them for over a year now. Artists from around the globe submit entries for possible prizes. This month’s contest (April 2012) really caught my eye. The goal is to create your own interpretation of a character from a children’s story.

I immediately thought of “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” (as it turns out, I wasn’t the only one with that inspiration). After checking with the DT staff to make sure it would be alright if I were to also model the Caterpillar, I excitedly began work on our fuzzy pal.

I’ll try to update this thread simultaneously to the thread on the Digital Tutors forums.

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Update: 05.14.12

Woohoo! It’s a blue ribbon!

I’m honored to stand among all of the competitors in this month’s contest and I’m positively floored to be one of the winners! I gained lots of experience and enjoyment in addition to the 3D print/sculpture that will be made by i.materialise. Feel free to check out the other amazing works in the Digital Tutors announcement thread!

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Update: 04.25.12

Done!

I’ve hit the point where I can say that I’m happy with the end result. I’ve really gotten close to what I had envisioned originally, and win or lose, I’m happy to have participated in this competition, and I certainly feel that I have pushed my skills even further. I hope you enjoy it!

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Update: 04.23.12

Ermm….getting…closer?

Well, I’ve gotten some great feedback from both the community on the Digital Tutors Forums as well as my trusted amigos, and I’ve made a few updates. For starters, I’ve addressed the eyes. Survey says that we needed normal-ish pupils instead of the ones that I’ve been pursuing (similar to the pupils of the reference caterpillar). Hopefully this helps sell the “I’m SO FULL” feeling! Also, I’ve added some texture to the caterpillar, and chucked in a bunch more pizza shrapnel. I also painted the pizza crust to be a bit more golden. I hope you enjoy!

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Update: 04.20.12

Getting pretty close now!

So…we’ve got one very FULL caterpillar. I’ve got the set much closer and I’ve fiddled with the caterpillar and the couch plenty at this point. Now comes the time to add the little things. I feel like the result is coming very close to what I had envisioned originally, despite the inability to create and use fur due to the format restrictions of the competition. I hope you like how it’s coming along!

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Update: 04.05.12

Revised Modeling and Basic Set

After finding out that instead of building the geometry for animating, that I would be best off building the mesh as a singular piece for the sake of 3D printing (in the unlikely event of me winning the contest), I went back and fixed a number of things. I essentially rebuilt the mesh to include the eyes, teeth, tongue, feet, arms and hands. In addition, I made the basics of the set, and I created a very simple skeleton and rig for some initial character posing.

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Update: 04.11.12

Polypainting on the Caterpillar & Sculpting on both Caterpillar and Couch

Note that the hands, face (including eyes and tongue as well as the expression), and antennae are still in rough posing.

This update shows some more sculpting on the Caterpillar and the couch. I also have done some painting on the Caterpillar. I do have more that I’d like to do in regards to sculpting on the couch before painting it. It’s current color is a placeholder. Also, I have not returned to the set (table, pizza boxes, etc…) yet, as those pieces can wait until these two elements are in better shape.

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Update: 04.05.12

Revised Modeling and Basic Set

After finding out that instead of building the geometry for animating, that I would be best off building the mesh as a singular piece for the sake of 3D printing (in the unlikely event of me winning the contest), I went back and fixed a number of things. I essentially rebuilt the mesh to include the eyes, teeth, tongue, feet, arms and hands. In addition, I made the basics of the set, and I created a very simple skeleton and rig for some initial character posing.

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Update: 04.01.12

Preliminary sculpting and polypainting

I’ve added a little bit of detail and color/texture. I have more to do inside of Zbrush for these pieces before bringing them back to Maya.

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Update: 03.31.12

The beginning stages

I made a rough cage in Maya, and then began sculpting in ZBrush.