main site down due to crazy shit

due to some crazystuff centering around my main dashdotslash.net domain, the main site isdown.Hopefully only for a few days or so....keep your fingers crossed as it'd be a shame to lose control of it due to what i shall only term as possible theivery. if i do you can trust i  will name and shame those involved...

on the personal front the1st december was ny wifeand myself's 10tn anniversary.so all my love to my better half.iflewback for the weekend,and fly back to my place in dublin later tonight.

My 1st new DVD in years is now out! Mudbox Master Vol 1 through CMI VFX

 Mudbox Masters Volume 1 

CMIVFX DVD LINK

Yes this really is the Mudbox View port..and it hows you how to create images like this

4 years back when my last 'real' DVD was released I had swore I'd never do more, I'd been screwed over by one firm released through another and even self published .  Although some DVD's came out after this, they were simply repackaging the stuff I had done for my old on demand stream and in no way new or made for a DVD.  I have had offers come in fairly regularly, but have turned some down due to them offering to pay buttons, others as I was simply too busy with freelance gigs at the time or in some cases family stuff.  It wasn't until I worked out that it had indeed been 4 years that the itch started to return. A lot has changed in four years both in my art, myself and my career. So finally the time seemed right to release again.

So today CMI VFX release 'Mudbox Masters Vol 1',which as any good 'Volume 1' does, goes over the beginners stuff.  But I wanted to make the main project something a bit special so in this one you'll learn how to sculpt the liquid sculpt  that many of you may have seen of mine.  How to achieve that image shown  live in the Mudbox viewport, which is something that you definitely won't see on any other video anywhere. As I said, something different and something a little bit special.

This won't be a one off and other DVD's are planned going right up to highly advanced stuff.  Let's face it while I'm working over here in Dublin at Screen Scene as 3D lead on something very cool that  can't talk about I do have rather a lot of spare time on a night time.  Now on the negative side, every time any DVD of mine has came out over the last 12 years or so the main site always ends up getting hacked inside of 10 days after a release, so I fully expect someone to do so again. LOL

Now to those who had a damn good whinge last time I was releasing videos about me 'being everywhere and there not being space for anyone else'... You've had four clear years where most non DVD training I have done has been for other apps such as 3Ds max or Vue,I've kept pretty clear of Mudbox for quite some time on the video side. So play times over and you've had 4 years to release stuff lol.   So I'm back and I fully intend on kicking some tutorial arse over the coming months.

So go and buy the DVD as I did put over 48 hours worth of my old DVDs up for free for you guys earlier in the year...or was it last year I can't remember lol. But the point is.. now it's time for the new stuff.  Put your hand in your pocket as its less than the cost of a night out...plus you get to bitch to all your friends about how you can't stand my accent.  Now that's surely worth the price of DVD alone ;)

As an update on the job at Screen scene in my 3D Dept, 2 people have been chosen, the FX / Fume role is yet to be filled.  But!.... more 3d peeps are required so get your CV's and reels into screen scene. Just say Wayne sent ya ;)

Need a job? Then keep reading..

Pretty isn't it? but has nothing to do with this blog post lol

OK we have a different sort of blog post his time.  I'd currently 3D lead here at Screen Scene Dublin and they need a few extra people before much longer and have asked me to put the word out.  No I am NOT going to tell you what the project is or even what type of thing it may be.  Also I'll let you do your own research on Screen Scene..remember Google is your friend here.  So look at the list of roles below and see if there is anything to fit you.   

You must have an EU passport, be available, be a hard worker, know your shit and not be a totally annoying dick. (I already fulfil that role lol). 

So if you have the skills and want to prove it  then here's your bloody chance!

Worth remembering is that some skills go beyond a simple list, such as the ability to do what your told, the ability to work on your own imitative and find unique solutions to unique problems.  3D wise familiarity with 3d max and VRay would be nice.

3D Generalists (modelling, lighting, texturing, animation sculpting, shading...any combo or even any additional skills as well)

3D Lighters (vray would be especially helpful)

3D Animators (no I am not telling you what sort)

FX guys (Excellent fume, Krakatoa, particle flow knowledge etc would be a serious advantage)

Matchmovers (you must have top skills BTW... you can bet we will check)

The more skilled you are at our job and able to show this the better.  Although many levels of roles could be available.... I can't possibly comment ;)

If you want to know a bit more about working in Dublin as a 3d artist etc then I am on writing a special blog on this called 'The Man in Apartment 12' (that's me by the way) that may be a useful read.  You can read that here: http://themaninapartment12.blogspot.ie/  Now it's worth bearing in mind that I slowly dive people crazy and that my ability to invent whole new swear words while working, singing along with my music and dancing about can annoy after a while. 

But on an honest level I'd say this is a great place to work and the 3d dept at the moment I'm the lead of I would without doubt put against any guys or girls in the world on a pure skill level.  There are no ego's at Screen Scene so if you are a prima donna who cannot take criticism then this may not be the job for you.  Also a sense of humour helps as does the ability to get on with people.   I should also warn you that it is 4 or 5 flights up and there is no lift... you'll get real fit real fast working here.  Oh and did I mention the pubs? No? the I'll let you find out all by yourself if you are lucky enough.

Those whose work I know or who I personally think are more than capable and dependable will also get my  recommendation added as well. Nepotism? Yep but also good sense from a business level for Screen Scene.

To apply simply send an email to this address (or directly to screen scene if you prefer) wayne.ssvfx@gmail.com

Off to work at Screen Scene Dublin

As of tomorrow night (Tuesday) I'll be working in Dublin doing on site freelance at Screen Scene for the next 5 months on a film due out next year.   I wont say anything else as I'm assuming even the title is not something they want me to mention. :)   I'll be living in Dublin and coming back to see the wife and kids each weekend.  Now this means that while yes I will still be doing some freelance gigs, non will be on site and I'll be picking stuff that doesn't need me in contact or working during the day.  Luckily my nights will mostly be free so this means I can still have some time to do some stuff.

Although technically going as a lighter, my role is sort of the last guy in the chain before sending to the render farm and composting.  My jobs to make sure everything looks as good as it can before it leaves the 3d side. 

I haven't been to Dublin before (although I was due to pop over 2 years back for a mates stag thing, but a big contract came in and my rule is work comes first.)  I've heard good things both from people I know who live there and also have worked or do work for Screen Scene.  So no doubt I'll have a whale of a time.

I'm bring my cintiq over as well so you may actually see and increase in speed sculpts and doodles as its not like I can go out drinking every night (nor would I want to when working).  I cant say I am looking forward to dragging the dead weight which is the cintiq over there through airports again.   I'll be continuing my YouTube blog of course although there may be somewhat of a lull in my music side of things until i get on my feet (and probably pick up a guitar while over there).

One good thing is up till now my dell custom laptop has always been a pain due to the damn powerpack  / adapter it uses.  I am sure they wrapped it i lead as I have never seen a adapter that weighs as much.  Today I found a one in town that is far lighter.  The less I have to carry through airports, the happier I am.

Next stop Dublin.

Sculpting Sound

Every composition written & performed by me since 1991

http://www.phantomshot.com/

Some of you know that there are a lot of things that I've done in my life before I fell into 3D and digital sculpture. I've covered some of the before such as my background as an escapologist (yes really).  But I've been writing and composing for years and years and its always been my refuge from everything.  Times when my life has fallen apart I always found the music there as well as my art.   To me (at the risk of sounding like a pretentious old git) 'sculpting' sound is just as pure an art form as sculpting digitally or in clay.  

I've always found great beauty in the raw sound wave and twisting sound and musical compositions to my will lol.  So I've uploaded every song, composition I can find, all are wrote and performed by me and cover a whole shed loads of musical styles and types from classical, to dance music to metal and experimental stuff I can promise is so off the wall the wall had a nervous breakdown lol

So if you are interested in what else goes on in my head and contributes to my art then give them a listen, similarly if they are of use as a bit of background music for a turntable or something, go right ahead if it helps keep you away from the YouTube copyright crap. 

But one small disclaimer..I write my music for me and as long as I like what i am writing that is all that matters as it is a way to relax, not for profit or any sort of gain.  Also the older bits of music may or may not have been recorded entirely sober in a lot of cases back in the early  / mid 90's lol.  Bare this in mind please.

WIP: bit more work

Nothing else done to it at the moment apart from adding the start of the dress.  I'm basically just using tongiht to kill time until my son goes back to school on wednesday if I'm honest.  So everything still subject to changes.

Thoughts on Opinions of all 3d Female Models

Work in Progress

As you can see above I'm currently working on a type of model that is a rare thing for me, a female sculpt.  (Don't worry she'll be wearing something soon enough) .  There's a reason I don't usually do them, female sculpts that is that I figured was perfect to cover in a blog.

Now a female 3d model suffers from something that just about no other 3de subject matter does.... the attraction of the viewer, what he (if a straight male) finds attractive, unattractive and pleasing not just to his eye but in some cases to his groin.  How many times for example have you seen crits on female sculpts that often descend into 'I like bigger breasts', or ' I don't like the pointy chin', etc etc?  I'm not referring to everyone here, but there are a lot who treat feamle 3d models like a virtual edition of playboy.

When was the last time anyone said 'I don't like this orc as he needs a bigger penis'? Or 'You know I really prefer my orcs to be more female looking and with larger pectorals and a firmer bum'?  But somehow treating a female 3d model as almost like a virtual beauty parade is somehow deemed acceptable.  Is it as it is still a male dominated profession? (judging by the views on my YouTube videos alone 95% are males). 
 

We don't see females in our industry complain  that a male sculptures knob is too small or he is not toned enough.   (Although that would maybe make a point far better than this article ever can.)

But for males it seems to be just natural.  THIS is the reason I hate doing a female model as it is less about the model itself and more about what the male looking at it finds attractive or aesthetically pleasing.

So why am I doing it? Simply as if I do not included one once in a while people assume I cannot do them.  It may seem strange that while my work often skirts the daemons from the 7th level of hell that I don't agree with objectifying women, or treating them purely as objects for visual gratification.  So  while this will 'say' something artistically once complete, it may not be what you would expect.  

So yes I do have a line that I do not cross, I expect some to disagree with that, but hey it'd be a boring world if we all agreed.  But I always stand by my principles whether others agree with me or not.   No point having principles if they are the same as everyone else.  So yes I would like to see less objectifying of women in 3d models and see them treated exactly the same as a male model or a one of a orc riding a space goat from mars.  Its all just polygons.... or we could just all moan about breast sizes and continue as is lol.

Beavering away

Yes time to drag the cathedral out again.

Started this about 5 years back, thus making it longest model to be recoverd out of mothballs

As I've been quietly working away on stuff for my next reel, I thought I'd show a few images of stuff that's both going to make it, and stuff that isn't.  Although I won't make a final decision on anything until I've got everything rendered out, both that I'll use and not use.

Although I am now after 3 weeks of rendering stuff out getting very sick of seeing my models go round and around lol.   Now usually this is the point that I start getting bored and do crazy stuff that people don't usually put in their demo reels, like the intro 'profile' stuff on the old Autodesk masters reel, or the hand sculpted environment stuff on the last one.  its anyone's guess if I will keep it sane and sober or start doing off the wall stuff lol.  

Wish I could lose weight...but not this much.

 Although judging by my latest work in progress I may well be starting  to edge towards the latter. (yes he will be in a ballet pose in the reel lol).  he actualy was at one point going to be my version of 'Mr Hyde' but thought 'hey ya know what? I'm always doing scary shit, so lets try something a bit less scary this time' lol.   Although a brute in a ballet tutu may still be its own special kind of scary on  several levels actually.

Go on laugh in his face, I dare ya lol

There is of course time for me to trash the whole damn lot and start over (it wouldn't be the first time I did that).  I'm trying to make sure  for once I do not rush anything so nothing shown here is 100% done with the exception of the cathedral.