In the books I am using as reference the character is described as possessing ‘a single crooked wing’ (Holmberg, N. 2019). However, I don’t think this design would translate well to 3D. I worry that by giving just a single wing the character would seem unfinished. To avoid this I aim to give the character two wings, however show one to be broken and unusable. I think this will work well from a visual stand point and will allow for an interesting animation when we go on to animate the character next semester.  

‘she flew toward them on a single crooked wing’

Charlie N, Holmberg (2019: p.108)

I was quite taken with the feathered design shown in my head/face post references. However, as stated there I worry this would give my character a regal feeling I do not want to show. Instead, I intend to use bat wings for my character, as this will help the unnerving feel I want to pursue and will follow the cool colour pallet I want to use.

I found references to bat wings, which show the way bat wings are formed (REF. 1 + REF. 4). I found the formation of these wings interesting, specifically the veins stitching between the arm segments. I think by using these wings I can emulate the sickly look I want, I do not know how to make the wing seem almost sea through, however if I can add an opacity map to the poly group this should be doable.

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For the broken wing I first searched for broken bat wings (REF. 2 + REF. 3), and while I do think emulating this look might work well I also pondered giving the character a stump of a wing (Ref. 5). I don’t know whether giving the character a broken wing such as REF. 2 + REF. 3 will look better than giving the character a stump such as REF. 5. This will need to be experimented with when creating the 3D model. I do think that maybe giving the character a full but broken second wing might open up interesting animation methods for next semester as I can have the broken arm twitch in a unnerving manner. However, as stated, this will need experimenting with in Zbrush.

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With the back I followed the trend I used for the front torso sketch. By using the back of an anorexic person I could show how I intend to show the character as malnourished (REF.6). I will need to be careful with the colour of the wing arms as with real bat wings these are a very vibrant pinkish red. Which might be too warm a colour for the sickly character I want to show. Also, I haven’t added the brand, discussed in my torso blog post, here in the 2D sketch, but this is something I would like to add to the character in 3D.

‘she wore a loose tunic with a wide-open back, exposing the ancient Noscon script branded with gold leaf down the length of her spine’

Charlie N. Holmberg (2019. p:04)

Finally, I will need to be careful about how I clothe the character. In the books the characters who summon my character and others into their bodies are shown to wear ‘open-backed tunics’ (Holmberg, N. 2019). The actual character of ‘Isepia’ is shown to be naked however I want to avoid showing this. As a compromise I intend to give the character tattered sack clothing similar to what slaves would have work historically. Further discussion on this can be found in my initial response blog post. I will need to be careful with how I place this clothing however, as I want the audience to see the character as malnourished but don’t want to risk seeming to show the character in a sexual manner.

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:: Production ::

Just like with the other body parts, I began with the Maya block out I had made previously (Fig.1). With the broken wing, I didn’t have to do much other than run the clay build-up brush along the main structure, to give the impression of bare bone (Fig.2). In also intruded the edge of the wing, which when smoothed made the previously square wing taper to a point (Fig.3). I also added the same exposed bone texturing to the fingers of the wing, in order to give a damaged look once textured (Fig.4).

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Again, there wasn’t much modelling needed in ZBrush, other than fixing some topology and adding some texture. Most of the details of this model would be done in Substance Painter once I had exported and baked a low poly version of my character. I did wonder about using methods such as ncloth to produce a kind of fabric wing, however having tried this method in personal projects previously I knew that this method didn’t result in an object that would bake particularly well. I really wanted my bake to work, so couldn’t use too many advanced methods or complex shapes, as these wouldn’t work well when exported into substance or baked onto a low poly blockout.

With the individual body parts modelled, my next step was to merge the different subtools into one. Which would be needed for exporting the character and animating the character next semester. You can find the next steps of my process in my ‘Full Body’ post.

:: References ::

Abbass, B & Kierstead, J (2019). ‘ASK THE THERAPISTS: Help, my daughter might be anorexic’ [Online Article]. Available online: https://www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/lifestyles/ask-the-therapists-help-my-daughter-might-be-anorexic-292443/ [Accessed 23/10/2021]

Eilish, B (2019). ‘Billie Eilish – all the good girls go to hell’ [YouTube Video]. Available online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PZsSWwc9xA&ab_channel=BillieEilishVEVO [Accessed 12/10/2021]

Holmberg, C.N. (2019) ‘Smoke and Summons’ 47North; Unabridged edition.

Independent.ie Newsdesk (2016). ‘Hospital’s emergency section closes due to invasion of bats’ [Online Article]. Available online: https://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/hospitals-emergency-section-closes-due-to-invasion-of-bats-34474638.html [Accessed 22/10/2021]

Konow, N (2015). Online Image. Available online: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Bat-wing-membranes-support-and-deform-in-response-to-aerodynamic-load-a-A-phyllostomid_fig3_274402325 [Accessed 22/10/2021]

Moon, N (2017). ‘Broken Wings’ [Online Poem] Available online: https://vocal.media/poets/broken-wings [Accessed 22/10/2021]

Saaaaa (n.d.) ‘Top view of bat (Common Pipistrelle) with broken wing, white background’ [Online Image] Available online: https://www.123rf.com/photo_35385525_top-view-of-bat-common-pipistrelle-with-broken-wing-white-background.html [Accessed 22/10/2021]

The Wrath of The Lamb (2015). Hannibal, series 3 episode 13. Directed by Michael Rymer. Written by Bryan Fuller & Steve Lightfoot & Nick Antosca [TV Programme]. Amazon Prime Video. 27th August 2015

Wildlife Rehabilitation (2016) ‘How Bat Wings Can Heal Themselves’ [Online Article]. Available online: http://doomsdayark.com/bat-wings-can-heal [Accessed 22/10/2021]