Software: Autodesk Maya, Substance Painter, Unreal Engine
Time Spent: 33 hours and 51 minutes across 5 weeks
Completed when getting my BFA in the Emerging Media: Experimental Animation track, in my Look Model (DIG 4325C) class as my first introduction to a workflow for Unreal Engine; I am responsible for all aspects of this project. While not as emotionally heavy as a true Vanitas, we pay homage via our composition in creating our "self-portrait" of our home tabletop. In this case, rather than creating a one-to-one recreation of my desktop, I created literal and symbolic objects that are a part of my life.
The items from largest to smallest are a Formula 1 Qualifying trophy, my water bottle, a card pyramid, an extra large mouse pad, stacks of books, my cell phone, my dull practice butterfly knife, and a meet mat easter egg-themed around my professor. The symbolic items, the Formula 1 trophy, stack of books, and card pyramid, are all items that are important to who I am today. The Formula 1 trophy reflects my love for the sport as well as a reminder that to become great at something, it's going to take practice, patience, and time. The stack of books serves as another reminder that just like any other discipline studying is still required. Art is always changing and evolving, therefore being complacent will only be setting myself back. Learning new tools, new ideas, or new mediums to expand my ability to tell a story is symbolized through these books. Along the same idea, some of the first stories and art I ever showed was through magic. Growing up obsessed with magic and magic tricks, learning the art of misdirection and sleight of hand is what makes me the artist I am today.
