as you start testing scenes, i can give my input of how i would tackle lighting as if it were a stage production. i’m not an expert or anything, but that is one of my jobs i do. hmmm… i should think on if there’s a way i can outline this next play i’ll be working on over on my non-blender thread. >pondering<
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Thank you! This will be invaluable feedback.
Little update from the hair groom, some trouble to fix regarding high particle count + alembic into engine, my video card didn’t like yesterday’s tests, so redoing in Blender + finding a way 
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always not really sure how much I want to write in this sketchbook, meaning ranting about my incapablities, really - not even in a negative way, it’s just the frustrating part of the learning curve at the moment. but reminding myself that if it was easy, everyone would do it etc, helps.
I’m struggling with mats in UE because I don’t have any experience, so just learning, realizing that I may need to redo the fur once again (far too many guides). the stag has far too less hair at the moment and I’m struggling to find a balance of “pushing the hair count” and “performance” (meaning what my pc can handle).
on a positive note - I know that things get easier once some things click, and I’m excited to learn for the other creatures after that.
from far away it def looks better, close-up is a nightmare at the moment. can’t wait until materials make sense for my brain 
side-note: can’t wait to create something fantastical after that one.
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Yeah, I too go on with this principle sometimes too. Learning is a long process, and to get good, I need to keep at it. A lot of people can start the process of learning, yet only a few will reach their end goals; which paradoxically ends up being further and further the more you progress. Leap goals. I find my current artwork falling through the grid floor because I don’t get to know how good it is at the moment. You certainly can’t trust your eyes, I mean look at all these people appreciating what you’re doing! Are they lying? Why are they lying? (Okay, time to turn around, already gone into the negative side.)
Seeing the whole learning curve/process is very hard when you’re “just doing things.” But this all started as a hobby, how serious am I going to be about it?
So many questions. I’m fairly sure you don’t need to find answers for all of them, but for crying out loud do they bug you out. Seems that some serious thinking got into gravitational negativity.
I think a lot of people have the question of time. How much time do I get to get to where I want? And to reach the next goal? And maybe if I’m “artistically sensible,” the next one beyond that?
After spending a lot of you’re brain power thinking about how to save some of your time considering all the other needs of living life itself, it’s a daunting task (at least for my anti-math brain).
Hope you’re looking up still though, because trust me, you are great at what you do.
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Thank you so much for your insight and kind words. Yes, the constant battle of negative thinking vs productive criticism in one’s own head… often times it’s not easy to distinguish between the two.
I could fill novels with all the sentences I’m hearing in between work and learning on this path, mostly things like “not good enough” (thats at least helpful in some ways) and the sheer amount of different things I don’t know and lack skills in, all the technical stuff plus the “artistic” side, e.g. composition, color theory, lighting, storytelling etc.
You summed it up perfectly with the goals ending up further and further away + not being able to trust your own eyes. It’s frustrating, but on the other hand you’re bound to get better with this mindset, right?
Your “how serious am I going to be about it?” is a great question, too. For years I stalled because I stopped there, not having an answer, driving myself crazy. Now I focus on doing and hope that the answer will come with time and experience.
Again, thank you. Appreciate it a bunch. 
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Practice sculpt in Blender, trying out new workflows for a better sense of muscles and weight, early stages + little sketches
(expression of lion in the top is me these days
)
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Finished the hell doggie today, didn’t want to spend hours, but well, always the same 
I really want and need to focus on quicker sculpts to tackle specific areas I’m lacking, but once you start sculpting, you just want to take it a bit further, and then a bit more, and then… 10+ hours later you wonder why it’s gotten dark outside.
Link to post:
Side note: Now I want to sculpt more hell dogs 
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What a lovely dog =)
From blockout I somehow expected him to have droopy ears - like one of those sausage-like hounds but extremely tall =D
As a side note: You could add a Shadow Catcher to ground him in space a little (there are tuts about adding shadow catcher in EEVEE as well).
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Thank you
This was just a quick render out of Marmoset, but I’ll look up shadow catcher!
Droopy ears, now I may have to do another one
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lol… i’m trying to imagine a hell hound with droopy ears and sad eyes now. 
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Already working on it
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Do all the hell hounds… 
It does look good. I like all the little details in his head.
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Thank you for stopping by! 
I have the inkling hell hounds will be something occupying my mind for a bit longer. If this is what one calls inspiration, it feels more like … something manic.
Some fast sketches for the best droopy-ears-boy out of the infernal land. Will bark at your door for treats, but really is just searching, always, with his excellent nose. For what I’m still asking myself (but I fear it’s not something pleasant. Maybe someone who’ll follow him into the rather warm world?)
non-blender
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I think Bassets might make good hell hounds, and they have very droopy everything.
Except maybe they’re a little short – but surely hell has anklebiters?
Bloodhounds are also droopy:
Neapolitan Mastiffs are droopy and wrinkly:
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and have the sad eyes… and the mastiffs are big enough to make a proper cuddly lovable hellhound… rofl
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Just wait until you see a Basset/Corgi mix- I knew a droopy gentleman named Walter whose ears were so long they draped on the ground
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Thank you for the ref pictures! Yes, I already have some in my reference board, bassets are a very good idea.
In some odd way those “sad” eyes creep me out, too. I wish my skills would be there yet to be able to pull of all these layers of hanging skin/fur 
Yay for cuddly hellhounds and thank you guys for filling my sketchbook while I’m in retopo-hell (definitely something not suitable for my non-technical brain 
)
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Sorry, just saw this. You guys are giving me so much inspiration for different hell hounds it’s not funny anymore Little anklebiters if you’re not fast enough with following orders, err, giving treats. Noted.
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First update on the droopy hell hound with extra long ears to swirl up any dust of the deceased or cookie crumbs or dirt left by people who forgot to pay their duties. Today I learned that bloodhounds and other scent hounds with such long and low hanging ears use them for scooping up scent particles
Currently asking myself what all the different hell hound breeds would be used for in hell. Do they take long walks? Get trained? Is there a puppy school for demons and their young hounds?
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Huh. I would not have said that’s what the ears are for. Cool.
I like it so far. His eyes do look a little disconnected, like the edge of the eyelid too rounded or something. Is that intentional?
It does give him a “I just saw a piece of chicken and the human is not giving it to me!” look.
Only if their demon owners are responsible…
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