Composition tests in Blender: Hansel and Gretel

[Christine Garner]

I'm doing a project on the theme of Hansel and Gretel because I want to try some narrative Illustration and apply the things I've been learning from SVS (I had a subscription last year).
I'm learning Blender (Open Source 3D software) as well so I thought it would be cool to use my Illustration projects as an incentive to learn the basics by creating reference and testing lighting and composition in it.
Here are some tests I worked on last night using some free models for the trees and people. I made the house using a software called Asset Forge. I'm going to try different compositions and camera angles to see what effect on the feeling it gives. Currently I'm trying to get better at drawing houses and scenery which is something I hate to admit that I've avoided for a long time, but I'm really getting into.

I would like to know if anyone else uses Blender or any 3D software to do tests like this.

First Render
With this I was trying to create a feeling that the characters are curious but trapped.

Black and White Values (edit in Photoshop)

Gradient Map overlay Test edit in Photoshop

[mattramsey]

@christine-garner I'm very interested in this process--I'd love to know more! I looked at asset forge a bit and I'm not sure I completely understand it.
Do you use Asset forge and blender in tandem? Or was this scene (trees and house) just asset forge?

How easy/difficult was it to make?

Did you create it "head on view" and then rotate?

I have a lot of difficulty with scenery/landscapes (particularly dwellings) and for a long time I've thought that I should learn some kind of 3D modeling program just to get some the basic shapes and perspectives down. Once I have the framework I'm fine, but I spend hours and hours trying to draw stuff that I sometimes end up completely scrapping.

As far as this piece: I am liking this early stage--I definitely get a sense of being closed in.

[TessaW]

That looks really cool! Sometimes I will make a very basic rough up in Sketchup if I'm having difficulty with perspective or in some cases lighting, but it is definitely not as detailed as this. I tried out blender a few years ago and I remember being confused by it, but you have inspired me to check it out again in the future.

I think your comp is successful with the trapped feeling you were going for, both in terms of object placement and value. Nice job!

[evilrobot]

Nice. I do the same thing with zbrush sometimes....when I get really frustrated trying to do something by hand...lol....

[Christine Garner]

@mattramsey Thanks

I've only been learning Blender for about a month on and off and only used Asset Forge once but I'll try to answer your questions:
@mattramsey said in Composition tests in Blender: Hansel and Gretel:

How easy/difficult was it to make?

It was not too difficult, but I learned the basics of the Blender interface by following a few tutorials on Udemy and a starter one on YouTube by the BlenderGuru before I did this. I'll put the links here:
BlenderGuru
https://youtu.be/VT5oZndzj68?list=PLjEaoINr3zgHs8uzT3yqe4iHGfkCmMJ0P
Udemy Course (I'm finding this a bit too dry and technical so far... try the BlenderGuru ones first- that one was more fun to do and got me started a lot faster)
Udemy: https://www.udemy.com/blendertutorial/

I'm sorry but I don't know what you mean by "Did you create it "head on view" and then rotate?" I positioned the camera view and then arranged models making sure the composition of elements looked good in the camera view as I did it. (You can have multiple windows in Blender for different views and things)
I made the house model using Asset Forge and then exported it an an obj. file and imported it into my scene in Blender. I could have used Blender to make a simple house out of primitives (cube, cone etc...) or downloaded a free model from https://www.blendswap.com/. For the trees I used https://datguyjack.itch.io/lowpolyforestpack. For free 3D models I've also seen https://kenney.nl/assets?q=3d. I just thought Asset Forge was cool so I tried it, but it's still a bit buggy.

@mattramsey said in Composition tests in Blender: Hansel and Gretel:

I have a lot of difficulty with scenery/landscapes (particularly dwellings) and for a long time I've thought that I should learn some kind of 3D modeling program just to get some the basic shapes and perspectives down. Once I have the framework I'm fine, but I spend hours and hours trying to draw stuff that I sometimes end up completely scrapping.

Me too I'm sure with practice it will improve.

@TessW Thanks Blender is a bit scary at first, but once you get the basics of the interface it is ok, and the beginner course on YouTube I followed really helped me. I think there is a way to import SketchUp models as well, but I haven't looked into it.

@evilrobot Thanks. zbrush is cool I love looking at things people do with it.