Portrait Project: Task 2, Easter Research

Materials, Techniques and Processes

Aphrodite ‘Venus de Milo’, By Alexandros of Antioch

Late 2^nd century BC

The statue is believed to be of the Greek Goddess of love and beauty Aphrodite/Venus. It is crafted from marble, slightly larger than life size at 203 cm (6 ft 8 in) high. Its arms and original plinth have been lost. The statue is made from marble, and it is said there is evidence that the right arm would have crossed the torso with the hand rested on the knee. And that there is a filled hole below one of the breast where a metal tendon would have supported a separately carved arm.

Alison Lapper, By Marc Quinn

2005

This statue occupies the fourth plinth at Trafalgar square, or did for a time at least.  This statue is also made of marble. The sculpture is of a British artist, Alison lapper, who was born with no arms are non-developed legs. She has used the ‘Venus de Milo’ as an inspiration in her life.

When it comes down to contrasting materials of these two pieces they do not really differ, they are both made from marble. Some differences in the techniques and process’ may be quite prominent however. The fact that the ‘Venus de Milo’ was intended to have arms and to stand in a position that would show of female beauty, the sculpture of Alison Lapper is as it was intended. The sculpture is complete as it should be and is missing no parts, unlike in the ‘Venus de Milo’ where metal rods were to hold up heavy separate pieces in the Lapper statue there are none.

It would seem to me that the artist of the ‘Venus de Milo’ was venerating a goddess of the era, showing of feminine grace and beauty, however with a relatively stern expression of a goddess, who by very definition would judge those she gazed upon.

Whereas the Alison lapper sculpture drew inspiration from the ‘Venus de Milo’ itself, and physically recording a real woman who was unfortunate enough to have a serious problem, But trying to show that this does no phase her. She is sat straight, with her neck up and her facial expression affirms her as an equal, not to be treated as less because of that which afflicts her and that beauty comes in many forms.

Animations, By myself.

These first few consist of various tests I first did with a ready made rig in 3DS Max, pretty much playing around while I got to grips with the software.

Walk cycle based on an elderly man with a bad back, I do not recal why but the hand on his back jumps a tad, Didn't think it was too bad at the time.

Walktest of the first models I created and rigged myself. This was un-expected as we were told it was to complicated to be doing at that stage, but with the whole class pressing the matter we were able to. It was not easy and it took a long while as we were still only just learning to use the program. But I was pleased with the outcome. These models were created for a Animation/Marketing project for a Game Viral, In which I happily recieved a distinction for my efforts.

From a different angle and without the rig on the inside of the models showing.

 

The story this was based on is one of my own creating, as you can imagine this was designed to be a Action Roleplay game. The story cut as simply as possible is Rhemic, the evil necromancer (The guy with the skull on his face) Has recently come to power again after being nearly defeated about 500 years before, and was stealing ouls to feed his power, and you play a hero of your own creating. One of the key points in games like this, I find is the customisation. The reason the hero brothers in the viral die, is because the player is the hero, not these two. I am quiteproud of it as its the first full 3D animation I made.

Cheesy stop motion. Much difficulty with the armatures not being able to move minute amounts so the motion often looks very jumpy.

This is a Ninja I created or my Extended Project in collge on my last course, It is not the bet but with the little amount of time I had to produce this and the environment below I was pleased.

For this extended project I recieved an A. It was based on a ninja versus a Samurai, I created the area, did the research, made the ninja and did the designs, but my partner did not come through with the samurai (His only real job aswell). So unfortunatly it never got made into the full intended animation.

First non-walk cycle 2D animation, The only bit I personally like is the zoom into the volcano and the sparks from the magma.

My last project on my Games Development National Diploma. I wanted to base it underwater because I wasnted to try to do more complex lighting in 3DS Max. I would have liked the light to move but could not sort such, I hope you like my underwater ruins. As for sound, No program on my machine, sorry.