ABOUT ME

I live in a camper van with a West Highland Terrier for company.
My passion is creating images but it is a work in progress.
I am always willing to share what knowledge I have and can be contacted through the comments on this post or e-mail ADRIAN
ALL IMAGES WILL ENLARGE WITH A LEFT CLICK

Tuesday 5 January 2016

THE BIRD. (05/01/16)

Before you read this go and make yourself comfortable. I don’t want to be responsible for any accidents.

I have sorted the stream reeds out or am well on the way so yesterday evening I decided to have another go at the Starling. I am not very good at modeling Starlings I need a birder to do one for me or better still send me a picture of one in plan view and one in side view. I can then sketch round it and things might improve. I hope you are ready for this. William Steig eat your heart out; I suspect he would were he still with us.04-01-2016 21-02-13

I know the beak is a bit long but Starlings have long beaks. I know, I know, it doesn’t look much like a bird but when there are a thousand or so murmarating I doubt anyone will be able to tell. I may re-do it with a shorter beak and more rounded wings, perhaps the tail is a bit big. Not much right with it but I do think it’s neck is a work of art.

04-01-2016 20-46-46

Here it is with it’s bones, the reason it’s beak is off to starboard is because I can’t deselect it as I never have any luck with weight painting and the mesh is as simple as I could make it.

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This is what makes it fly. The two orange things are called empties, empty spheres in this case. They are linked to the yellow cube which could be anything, it’s usually a cube as that is at the top of the ADD list. (It will render and show unless you remember to select it and turn the camera off…….a little point that is easily forgotten but a bird and a brick don’t look very realistic.) To flap the wings I move the cube up and down………..Perfect.

04-01-2016 20-43-11 Here it is all ready to go.

BIRDFLAP0001-0124

Here it is doing what birds do best. I think you will be more than impressed with this. It has taken ages to learn how to do it but now I know I can knock them out every hour. I will do another one as this needs making a bit fatter espiecially underneath.

That’s all for today.

20 comments:

  1. Great job! Steig would be so jealous.

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    1. Marie, I suspect that when he'd finished laughing he would have given me a slap.

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  2. Now there's a thing..a Stealth Starling!...and you're going to unleash thousands of them upon us?....I'll never look at a Starling in the same way again!

    Excellent work Adrian...[;o)


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    1. Trevor, it is a rum looking bird but better than it's predecessors. I will have another go at least it's wings work and as you see it can fly.

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  3. Brilliant Adrian. You are very clever. I am nearly home now from my trip to Malawi and Zambia, just waiting at Heathrow for my flight this afternoon but thanks for leaving me all the comments when I was away.

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    1. Margaret not clever just wet. I bet it's gorgeous in Ireland.

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  4. Wow - I'm impressed! You need to get a job creating cartoons. :0

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    1. Linda, working free in an animation studio would teach me a lot. I find it hard learning on my own with a dip into YouTube every now and again.

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  5. A stealth starling! Trevor's right! Looks like you're getting the hang of it. Disney will be calling soon.

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    1. Bill, I have spent ages making more birds today and can't say that they are much of an improvement. Hopefully it will all come together before the winter is over.

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    1. Frances, I will try and get some photos but it really is just too dark and wet.

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  7. The stealth starling is the perfect name for it. I am impressed. The long beak needs to be modified - it's just a bit scarey. The cheek of me being critical when in reality I'm in awe.

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    1. Pauline, I am never going to make an artist. I would struggle to make another the same. Mk II is on the way. I'll get that to flap through a scene but it may be a day or so yet.

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  8. Most impressive! I reckon you should switch your project from a natural theme to a sci-fi theme, Adrian. You're almost there already! Just create a few exotic planets/moons for the sky and - bingo!! Good luck!

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    1. Richard, not a bad sugestion, space ships must be easier than Starlings.

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