I created a website to showcase the full movie and tell the project's story. Visitors can also donate to Alaskan communities. The website was submitted to the Epic Megagrant fund. It is available at: https://jadeledoux35.wixsite.com/newtok-on-the-road

After finding a solution to inflate the models, 2 months of production were enough to deliver the movie. I extracted accurate lidar data from OpenTopography and modeled mountains with Gaea. I used Dash by Polygonflow to accelerate the scattering process of Megascans. 

I designed inflated and foldable models with Blender. The main challenge was to make them manageable within UE. First, I created two different shape keys in Blender; "fold" and "inflate." Then, I created a blueprint in UE5 to animate them in Sequencer.

Storyboarding was a crucial part of the process. I planned every scene of the movie using a graphic tablet. Then I set every camera in Unreal Engine 5 as soon as possible to save time for the production step. After conceiving the storyboard, I spent 2 months learning Blender from scratch and searching for a way to animate the inflatable models in UE.

My main intention was to portray the moment your sketches start to breathe life , as beautiful as nature and as wild as the mystical creatures that shape our fantasies. 

I have been playing with renders and materials, but I realized that there are a couple of things i'm not too happy with, so I'm going to change a few things and I also still wan to poser the character as well.

After a hundred episodes of One Piece playing in the background, the final render is finished.

After making a 3d model I additionally played a bit with light and, after choosing the composition, I made a rough colour sketch for the work.

Also here came an idea to make two artists in the illustration representing traditional artists and digital artists. As the theme of the challenge is ‘dreams with no limitations’ I wanted to imagine a place where any artist can freely draw and make their dreams real.

Next I made a simple model in blender using the free addon fSpy. I tried it for the first time and it turned out extremely handy - with it I blocked the axis of the already created sketch-reference on the camera and modelled everything according to my sketch.

After reading the theme of the challenge there were no questions for me about what I'm going to create. Japanese culture and its masterpieces of wooden architecture always inspired me and when I once travelled to the country I felt as if it is the cosiest and the most magical place in the world. 

So I started with sketching different ideas at first. I wanted to make not only a dream place, but also to add some idea of a dream process of creating art. A place where an artist's creation becomes alive.  In the end I stopped on the idea of a terrace and a creation of a unicorn (at first it was a dragon, but the unicorn suits better to the THU ^_^ challenge) - a place where you are kinda in the house, but at the same time nearly outside.

3D exploration

Noticing that the original framing did not adequately convey the sense of freedom and integration with the environment, I decided to make adjustments to give the character more space and to better utilize the surroundings. The new framing is designed to enhance the character's presence within the scene, allowing for a more expansive view of the environment. This adjustment aims to highlight the interplay between the character and their surroundings, creating a more balanced composition that accentuates the tranquility and openness of the sanctuary

In this stage, the emphasis is on enriching the environment to elevate the overall scene. Additional elements are introduced to add depth and complexity, such as diverse flora, detailed textures, and dynamic lighting effects

In the detailing and refinement stage, the artwork gains depth and intricacy. The character's features are further defined, emphasizing their calm and serene expression. The surrounding environment is enriched with additional elements like flora and fauna, each carefully crafted to enhance the sense of life and vibrancy

With this project my intention was to represent a chaotic world deeply exploited by industries and intensive agriculture in which, however, it is possible to still find a bit of peace in a small abandoned strip of land touched by the last rays of the setting sun. To create the preliminary sketches and the final shot I used photobash and painting on photoshop.

Idea sketches

Finally I chose pink because, during the camping trip, I felt universal love and envisioned a pink dragon, which I felt suited the theme and healing I wanted to share through my art.

Once satisfied with the sketch’s energy, I scanned it into ZBrush.

I quickly painted over a concept sketch, incorporating soft and gentle ethereal elements of the ocean to emphasize the desired energy. Later, I added fish to illustrate how they follow the harmonious rhythm.

As I shaped the clay, I felt a healing within, akin to the gentle touch of the wind, an intoxicating and soft energy.

To further develop this, I found music by Judson Hurd—"Dream," featuring piano and violin—which exudes the same energy I want to infuse into my art.

Due to all the crises we are going through, I went on a soul-searching camping trip with indigenous elders and others seeking peace and wisdom within, as a birthday gift in June 2024.

On the mountain, I was touched by the wind—warm, gentle, and lovely. This inspiration stayed with me when I returned home, prompting me to see how it would manifest in clay.

Rough Sketches and Exploration