This image was created as a representative illustration of the internet; specifically web forums. The idea was showing a space where people come together to network, spreading the light of their ideas to not only the intended recipient, but also spreading the glow to other threads as well.

The geometry was primarily created via a Python script I wrote. The primary challenge was getting a good mix of lines and empty space; keeping contrast in an area that would easily fill with light.

All modelling and rendering was done in Maya and rendered with Mental Ray. Some compositing and tweaking work was done in both Autodesk Composite and Photoshop.

A fully-rendered image showing a thirty-metre fishing trawler in a storm at sea.

This image was created recently as a still image for placement in a PDF. It is intended to show the power of animation to create real-world hostile environments in which (some) people can realistically expect to find themselves, but in which few camera crews could or would operate.

The scene is entirely created in Maya using various Maya effects such as Ocean, Fluids, fog, and particles. Some compositing and colour-correction was done in Autodesk Composite afterwards.

The sea itself is entirely generated by Maya’s built-in ocean simulator. The ship model was purchased online and re-textured for this purpose. I’d hoped to use a larger fishing trawler; but accurate models of larger ships of a similar design to this one are apparently quite rare.

This is a frame from a short animation re-rendered at large size.

As part of the media-heavy website for Thaumaturgy Studios, travelling from the main menu to the verious sections of the website is accompanied by a very short transltion clip which sets out where in the theatre each section of the website is based.

Keeping with the theme of an old-style art deco theatre, contacting the studio is accomplished by seeing the manager. This is his office.

The animation can be viewed in context by going to http://www.thaumaturgy.co.nz/home/ and clicking on the ‘Contact Manager’ button on the right. The video should work in any browsers and on most smartphones.

The scene was modelled in Maya, with the exception of a few of the items on the desk which were purchased online.

Rendering was done with Mental Ray with separate passes for each light, and then the lighting balance and final colour-correction was done in Autodesk Composite.

An A3 poster created for inclusion in our company brochures, themed after the setting of our website.

The image was modelled in Maya, rendered in Mental Ray, final colour correction and compositing was done in Autodesk Composite, and then finally the text was added in Photoshop.

The curtains are static, but were draped mainly in maya Cloth, with a bit of tweaking in Mudbox afterwards. Texturing was all done with a Maya/Photoshop workflow.

Some of the characters in the audience, orchestra, and the performer on stage are life-size animated wooden mannequins; part of the theme of the world.

I created all parts of this image except for the text, and some models and textures which were purchased. This image primarily uses assets from a two-year website development project.

The stage and environs were designed some months earlier as a general set and backdrop, but worked well for the setting of this poster.

The Bojangles Bar after closing time.

This is a render of the bar area of the Cosmo Theatre, the setting for the Thaumaturgy Studios website. The character leaning against the bar is Benny, the bartender. One of the many animated mannequins of the universe.

All modelling was done in Maya and rendered in Mental Ray. Benny’s hair was created via Maya Paint Effects. The scene was rendered in colour and converted to black and white in post to give it the feeling of an old film (which matches the decor).

For lighting, I used entirely practical lights in-scene, placed in the theatre during its design phase. I then tweaked the brightness of the lights to convey the mood using the technique I wrote about in the second section of this blog post here: http://galaxycityradio.com/2011/11/23/pass-contribution-maps/

In short, I rendered out a separate render pass for each group of lights and then added them together in varying amounts in post to get the mood I wanted. Compositing was done in Autodesk Composite.

A personal project which started out as an experiment with Paint Effects my first time using Maya. It grew a bit over the next few years.

This project has been ‘complete’ on the shelf for a few years now, but I see a few things I’d like to improve, and intend to go back and redo parts of it eventually.

Originally rendered at 10800 x 6750 for a wall hanging. I used Photoshop to stitch together the render regions and do some final colour-correcting, but no painting. The moon is a texture, but everything else is 3D geometry; mostly created with stock Maya Paint Effects brushes.