Researching what I want for my Model

For this module, I want to create a model of an old teddy bear. I decided this because the general shape of a teddy bear is simple, however, the addition of rips and tears will give the bear some interest.

When starting to research for this idea I had a couple inspirations from the get-go. Pixar's Toy Story franchise, in particular the character Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear, and Teddy from Mr. Bean.

Both of these teddy bears have an old look to them, but because of this give a feeling of having been loved and cared for.

For my model, I want to create a teddy that has that feeling of having been loved and cared for, but was forgotten, maybe left in an attic or forgotten outside.

Keeping my initial inspirations in mind, I went to Google to find teddy bears that looked a bit more run down.

It was these four images that caught my eye.

The first image shows a bear that is clearly very old. It appears scruffy and its left arm looks like it's holding on by a thread. While this teddy does have that run-down look, the bear looks vintage, which somewhat implies that the bear is now being cared for and protected in its current state - not the look I'm going for.

The second, third, and fourth images have the ripped damaged look that I'm thinking of, however, the bears themselves look brand new, as if they've never been played with, which I don't want from my model either.

I believe that if I were to take the old appearance from the first image and the rips and fallen stuffing from the other three that would give me something closer to what I want.

To get a clearer idea on how a teddy bear might look as a 3D model, I went to Sketchfab (a website where you can publish and find 3D models).

'Brummbär' - a 3D model by 'tux' is a better example of something I don't want than I do.

Due to the design of the bear, I don't think it would lead itself well to being animated it the way that I envision my model being able to, e.g. walk cycles, showing emotion; this because type of bear that has been used - one that appears very stiff, an older type of bear.

For my model I'm going to stay away from this design and create something that looks more pliable.

As for the texture of the model, I do like the fur, it's gives the bear a very soft look. Whether this would be a good texture for my model I have yet to decide and will look deeper into it when I start doing concept art.

'Scruffy Teddy' - a 3D model by 'lloydj3d' reminds me a lot of Teddy from Mr. Bean, which is one of the reasons why it caught my eye.

Keeping in mind what I want from my model though, I feel that the model by 'lloydj3d' has an opposite problem to the model by 'tux' and actually lacks any sort of structure that would allow it to, for example, hold its head up.

In addition, while the bear doesn't look nearly as realistic as the model by 'tux' it's still too far from the stylised look I'm thinking of.

'27 Sculpt January: Fluffy (Teddy)' - a 3D model by 'mvick13497' is very close to what I picture for my own model. The model is more stylised and has enough structure to it where it looks like it can move without falling over like the model by 'lloydj3d' from before.

As I've mentioned previously though, I want my model to be old and in slight ruin, which this model doesn't have. In addition, the texture looks two plastic like, opposed to a soft cuddly toy.

Out of the three models the model by 'mvick13497' is, shape-wise, the closest to what I want for my model. However, I would add some rips and exposed stuffing when making my model to better show the derelict condition of the teddy bear. Furthermore, I would texture the bear to either a soft looking, but pilled fabric texture - to show the age of the bear through the wear and tear on the fabric - or a knitted texture - which shows not only the love and care that would have gone into knitting it, but also that it is probably an older soft toy as knitted toys are rarer today.

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Bibliography

Wickedpedia. (n.d.). Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear. [online] Available at: https://disneyvillains.fandom.com/wiki/Lots-o%27-Huggin%27_Bear [Accessed 26 Sep. 2019].

Advanced Graphics. (n.d.). Mr. Bean and Teddy - Cardboard Cutout. [online] Available at: https://advancedgraphics.com/mr-bean-and-teddy-cardboard-cutout/ [Accessed 26 Sep. 2019].

Steiff's old teddy bear. (n.d.). [image] Available at: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/187180928232066411/ [Accessed 29 Sep. 2019].

Van Der Zwan, W. (n.d.). Stock Photo - Ripped open Teddy Bear. [image] Available at: https://www.123rf.com/photo_81358519_ripped-open-teddy-bear.html [Accessed 29 Sep. 2019].

Jackson, C. (n.d.). A sad looking teddy bear with his stuffing pulled out and scattered over a wooden floor. [image] Available at: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/sad-looking-teddy-bear-his-stuffing-412580338 [Accessed 29 Sep. 2019].

Jackson, C. (n.d.). Abandoned and Damaged Teddy Bear. [image] Available at: https://www.dreamstime.com/abandoned-damaged-teddy-bear-sad-lonely-child-s-sitting-alone-cold-floor-ripped-torn-tummy-white-stuffing-laying-image136197266  [Accessed 29 Sep. 2019].

tux (2017). Brummbär. [image] Available at: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/brummbar-9e2128c1fc094bcd871566c68cd4978c [Accessed 29 Sep. 2019].

lloydj3d (2018). Scruffy Teddy. [image] Available at: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/scruffy-teddy-1cb1528cbfe44024b41dd9e21f01a586 [Accessed 29 Sep. 2019].

mvick13497 (2019). 27 Sculpt January: Fluffy (Teddy). [image] Available at: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/27-sculpt-january-fluffy-teddy-bf5653da052046db885fb0ae150398ef  [Accessed 29 Sep. 2019].