To create models of the cherub statues that Estelle designed, I was faced with the challenge of modelling a humanoid object. Even though they wouldn't require rigging, it's quite difficult to create a still character model from scratch. I figured that the best way to do this would be to find an existing rig for a child/baby character and use that like a rough guide to then build my own model around.
Once I found a rig, I had Peter Charman help me to position the rig into different poses for each of the four statues. I attempted to model their faces to begin with, but found I was struggling to get it right so I had his help to model their heads. Once that was done, I was able to model the bodies by myself with no problems. I had saved the rigs as obj. files, stuck in their positions and placed in one layer so that I could turn their visibility on and off whilst constructing my models on another layer.
Above is my attempt at modelling the face, but I felt it was too messy and I was struggling with the connection from the face to the rest of the head and the neck.
The process of extruding the edges of the mesh to create the torso and limbs. I tried to keep the poly count as low as possible without resulting in an unappealing model.
I decided to give one of the statues a broken arm to add to the unsettling nature of the scene.
For the cherubs' wings, I used a lattice to create a smooth curve in the shape of each wing. I find this tool quite useful for altering the shape of my low poly models.
The finished models in their different poses.
