Tyrannosaurus Rex book project.

Hello
Been a while since my last blog entry.
Lots of stuff happened in the mean time but wont be writing much about stuff.
I'm working on models and illustrations intended for a book project about a Tyrannosaurus Rex started by Mike Kelly. Up until this point I have created female Rex, almost have male finished. Still have juvenile to do. Im also close to finishing first and major co star on the herbivorous side of the pack. Triceratops. Really looking forward to the first finished illustrations. This book could be big, both literally, figuratively, or any other way really.

I'l be adding some updates as this project grows further.
Attached is a Tyrannosaurus head snapshot. This is her majesty.

HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG

POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD!!!! So! I have seen "The Desolation of Smaug" Yesterday.
Did I love it? Yes I did. Was it better than the Unexpected Journey? It is continuation of the story. I look at it as a whole, one story told in 3 parts. This part was bit more dynamic compared to the first. I would score this part 8,5 out of 10, just like the first part.

I had no problems whatsoever with all the deviations from the Tolkien writings. Among other, Tauriel is awesome addition to the movie, just like the pale orc from first part. Nice to see Legolas here as well.

 
As far as the Smaug goes, "Truly songs and tales fall utterly short of your enormity, O Smaug the Stupendous..."  This quote is spot on. Smaug is terrific. I had fears of "talking Smaug" but it worked out. Tho, I have to say It could have been made more realistic, and I'l explain my reasoning. I liked how when Bilbo puts on the ring he picks up spiders talking in Mirkwood. Sort of like, when you put on One Ring you can sense, see and hear things others cant. I loved that. In my opinion. They should have kept that thing working trough the entire movie. When Bilbo faces Smaug. He should have been the only one that can "understand and hear" Smaug, regardless of whether he has the ring on his finger or simply in his hand. Anyone who holds the ring has his senses altered..
This would make dialogue between the Thorin and the Smaug pretty much impossible, or one directional to say the least... But they could have made that work as well. Smaug doesnt have to say anything to Thorin, his actions speak more than words.

Point is, I liked it, but I think it could have been made even better and more real, or more in sync with the LOTR and the "already established universe where animals/monsters dont speak"  Imagine Balrog in the first LOTR, when confronted with Gandalf who says to him " YOU SHALL NOT PASS" imagine if Balrog replied with anything else but a roar and a thunderous fiery whip crack?

This was one of the issues I had with Unexpected Journey as well. I still can't get over the three Trolls in the forest. They could have talked, but not in some english accent, they should converse in some trollish, orkish something something language..
I mean, I get that that scene in particular was constructed in a manner for the younger generations to have fun, but this same scene could have been made with Trolls speaking trollish and still make it fun and make the trolls look kind of retarded and clumsy...
To sum it up.. Smaug was awesome. Visually, it is f#ing stunning and I loved it from the top of his snout to the tip of his tail..
Anyways, what I felt in some parts of the movie is, as if it has been rushed. Some scenes lack the beautiful cinematic photography compared to some others.
I was not a fan of using HD GO PRO footage in some moments during the barrel down the river scenes(which was fantastic btw, the choreography of dwarves and elfs fighting orcs in that part of movie were pure fun)
There are couple more of these rushed scenes and parts in the movie. But non of it was detracting from the general atmosphere.. The Gandalf/Sauron confrontation was intense and I simply loved it!! I really love these deviations from the original story. PJ and co are doing great job in adapting the story to the screen and are pretty damn successful in adding their own twists and turns to the plot. Hmm..
There is so much in my head, it is hard to pick this beast of a movie apart.
Yes, the entire Bilbo/Smaug talk was brilliant. Later on Dwarfs join in and start running around the halls( excactly in the point one coin falls from Smaugs belly in front of Bilbo). That was all great. Until that point they all start to lure the dragon to those furnaces and that big golden dwarf cast in the "King Chambers"(not sure if that was the name).
I felt there were bits that were rushed in those scenes as well.. Smaug getting caught under the cable cart lines and so on, sort of as if they ran out of ideas of how to make it work. What exactly dwarves need to do to get Smaug killed.
I'm comparing these sort of messy scenes where they fight Smaug to the point in movie where Bilbo and dwarves came to the spot of a supposed entrance into the Lonely Mountain.
The scene where Bilbo figures out it was the moon light they needed to discover key hole and not the sun light.
Exact scene I'm thinking is when Bilbo searches for the key, then kicks key with his feet, then Thorin stomps on the key lace and stops key from falling over the edge. Picks it up and moves in towards the stone.. That scene was f#king epic in a most Epic kinds of ways. That metallic sound of key flying towards the edge.. These shots were filmed impeccably, immaculate.
These are the shots that make up cinematic history.
That scene in particular reminded me to the scene from the "Fellowship of the Ring" when Frodo "lost" ring in snow after he slipped down the slope, only for Boromir to pick it up and say "It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing. Such a little thing" ...Chills down my spine!!!...
This is what I'm talking about. Pure cinematic art. There are lots of these small "gem of a scene" bits in "Desolation", but there are couple of scenes there that could have been left out or done better.....I need to go and work.

Bottom line is, Desolation is great, I enjoyed it, and I'l see it at least one more time before I own it on Blu Ray.
My conclusion: It is without mistake another accumulation of beautiful and breathtaking artistry of all forms put together by passionate and hard working group of people, all in one place, and should be thoroughly enjoyed for that.

Zbrush Hangout #2

Hello
Zbrush hangout #2 is over. You can see recorded session bellow. Video is available for viewing during the next 29 days.



Hook up with FB page for future livestream announcements and more images and stuff: https://www.facebook.com/damirgmartin.cg

Zbrush Hangout Livestream

From tonight's Zbrush hangout. Styracosaurus.

Check the recorded session bellow. In my future hangouts I'l try to plan stream events day or two before, organize notification system and sort of countdown before I start. Also, I'l try and make commentary on my sessions once I get used to the whole idea.

SURRIGONIA

Surrigonia is the title for the short fantasy novel I'm writing. Story follows a boy who sets of on a journey to save his father that got poisoned while the two of them were fishing. 

The title "Surrigonia" actually represents mythical rare plant with miraculous medicinal properties and is the only thing that can save this boy's father's life.

The main plot of the story was written around 2009. Over the following years I came up with separate stories and characters. Now, I'm blending these elements into one larger and a bit more complex novel. The turntable animation bellow is one of the creatures that shows up in Surrigonia. It is Crab Queen of the Needle Island. The model is still in wip stage and far from showing all the details and beauty of the concept I have in my mind. More frequent posts with concept designs and ideas revolving around Surrigonia can be seen on my Facebook page.