Gare's non-Xara Art

[Gare]

This online area began as a gallery, and now it's a thread.

So I thought it could use some spools.



This is an example where the shaders are much more important as a visual contributor than the shapes in the scene. The bobbins were extremely easy to create by lathing half the shape I drew in Xara, using Cinema 4D. Then the thread texture? It took nearly two days to paint the threads, and then a displacement map, and then to light the scene in a convincing way. But now that I have a good thread material, I can change it to any different color in the future.

[angelize]

That looks so nice and soft almost like chenille.

[Gare]

Thanks! I did it a few years ago, and at the time, I wanted texture (bumpiness) on the thread, but overdid it somewhat. Plus it's a little too thick to be on a thread bobbin. Perhaps mooring cable?

-g-

[angelize]

If you modeled it as a skein of yarn it would be perfect.

[Gare]

I stumbled upon this in a folder this morning, and thought it was "Gallery-Worthy".

I created it five years ago, according to the file date; I'd been pitching a book on Xara for almost ten years before my agent and I sealed a deal in 2009. This was one of the cover illustration ideas that didn't make it. Initially I was puzzled over why I did the Swiss Army Knife in red, and then remembered that it was a theme colour several versions ago on the splash screen.

Time flies and house flies,

Gary

[Gare]

Because it's been in the mid-40°s (F) all week, I thought I'd manifest a little tropical relief before the holiday season sets in!

[Rik]

I can see why the beach is empty Gary.
Hopefully you managed to escape the Tsunami as well.

Fabulous drawing though.

[GiddyupGilbert]

Gosharoonie Mr. Science..er Art I want to be like you when I grow up. However I don't think I'll live long enough. Dynomitah! How long do you spend on a piece, average?
Giddyup

[Gare]

How long do you spend on a piece, average?
Giddyup

There is no average amount of time I give to a piece, to be serious for a moment, Gilbert. It really depends on the idea, which then dictates how ambitious I need to be to visually explain the idea to the viewer.

Consider this: two highly successful Broadway musicals: A Chorus Line and The Wiz. A Chorus Line's set design was minimal—as dictated by the script. The acting and the dialog made it what it is, and it works. On the other extreme end, The Wiz depended on heavy production values, both costumes and set design. In both cases, it's the concept that drives the realization of the musicals, and the amount of time, effort, and materials needed to support the creative idea.

Usually, I leave the background out of a composition that I model, both to make the focus the foreground object, and because making additional elements to create an original background takes a lot of time. Also, for example here, I wanted to come very close to a photograph, and my subject—the guitar—needed to have roughly 210 objects (many are duplicates) out of the 235 that make up this make and model, according to Rickenbacker's CEO, who thinks this is pretty close to a catalog photo.



On the other hand, if all I need is a decent geometry to explain an idea, and forget small pieces and complex backgrounds, something like this took 1/2 hour from concept to render:



So the protracted answer to your question might be: it took about 25 hours to create the guitar, and 30 minutes to create the notes composition. If I only did two pieces of art in my life, the average would be 12.5 hours.

I'm kidding and it's really not a question that can be answered in a meaningful way, Gilbert.

I'm just happy you dig some of my work.

My Best,

Gary