THE PUMPKIN MENACE
ARTIST
Jehezkiel Christian Ray SOFTWARE
Zbrush, Maya, Arnold, Substance Painter, Photoshop, Pureref
The Pumpkin Menace project took around five months to complete, and its launch for Halloween in 2022 was a key goal. One of the few perks of my creative process is learning the fundamentals and letting my imagination run free, much like when I was a kid drawing monsters, without worrying too much about whether the design will work or not. Combining the two will not only give the design something special, but also allow me to play around with the designs for fun. My main inspiration for the look came from the works of Kevin Cassidy (bit. LY/3EADSAZ) and Dan Peacock (bit. ly/3cvqxtu). Dark fantasy art has always been a favourite of mine.
One of the difficulties in designing a full-scale character is the lengthy process required to get there. It might seem somewhat intimidating, yet each procedure comes with its challenges and rewards. Because I get to design the character directly without having to worry about tech, I enjoyed sculpting the most.
One of the most crucial things is to develop independent problem-solving skills. In each step you will encounter challenges and roadblocks along the way, which could be exhausting. We must learn how to solve problems on our own, because we can’t constantly rely on and wait for assistance from others. I can’t stress how important it is to get enough sleep, both for our health and to keep the eyes fresh. I was able to provide comments and correct certain errors that I had previously missed thanks to a fresh set of eyes. In conclusion, work hard, get plenty of rest, and take your time to really enjoy the experience.