demogorgon
2022
category
3d graphics
project type
school project
role
3d artist
the brief
During the final year of my graphic design studies, we undertook a course called ”3D Graphics.” This course served as a introduction to 3D modeling and sculpting in Blender, which was a relatively new skill for me at the time. The project’s brief was to create a 3D object of our choice and seamlessly integrate it into a photograph.
For this particular project, I teamed up with my boyfriend Jonas, and together we decided to focus on character design and sculpting. Taking inspiration from one of our favorite series, ”Stranger Things,” we took on the challenging task of sculpting the iconic Demogorgon monster.
the process / composition
As we chose to recreate an existing character, we had loads of inspiration and references to guide our design. With a clear direction for our main object’s design, our focus shifted to directing the overall scene. This involved determining how to assemble the composition and any additional objects that would complement it.
For the composition, our inspiration once again drew from cinematic sources. We were particularly drawn to an iconic scene in ”Jurassic Park” where a dinosaur sneaks up behind a desk where a little boy is hiding. We believed that reimagining the perspective in this scene would significantly contribute to the tense and frightening atmosphere we wanted to capture. Initially, we had planned to photograph ourselves hiding behind a desk. However, as we progressed in the project, we decided that leaving the space empty would create an even more suspenseful feeling, implying that whoever was viewing the picture was the prey of the Demogorgon.
the process / sculpting
As we began the process of sculpting our 3D model, we divided different body parts between us to be able to work effective and simountanesly. It also showed to be a smart move to keep the files small for as long as possible as we later on, when putting together the parts into one file discovered the nightmare of workning with millions of polygons on old school computers.
After using boolean modifiers to sew the parts together into one cohesive body, we used blenderkit to download texturing brushes, to mimic flesh in the monster’s mouth. We also intended to use texture paint on the rest of the body to mimic the look of slimey skin, but this craved fine details with many more polygons, and we were limited to keep detailing down as the computer already were near exploding.
Following texturing, we gave the monster materials by painting the body according to the reference.
the process / lightning
Lighting played an essential role in creating the atmosphere. To capture the right backdrop, we went on a mission to find a suitable location for the photoshoot and settled on a garage, given its inherently eerie ambiance. In Blender, we utilized the actual garage lamps as references for placing our virtual lighting sources. Initially, we attempted to create an HDR image by positioning a mirrored ball within the garage, but ultimately decided not to use it to maintain the night setting we desired.
To further enhance the atmosphere, we performed some final editing in Photoshop. During this phase, we added drool hanging down from the Demogorgon’s mouth and simulated smoke. Additionally, we adjusted the colors to better align with the red theme of ”Stranger Things.” Naturally, we also had to make modifications to convey the nighttime setting, including altering the sky and overall darkening of the photograph.
