Confessions of a Class Clown T-Rex

[AJ Jefferies]

I made this goofy little T-Rex toy illustration for the front cover of Children's author Arianne Costner's latest book 'Confessions of a Class Clown'










This was my initial sketch, which I ended up sticking to pretty closely!

Modelling was 50/% blocking in max and then 50% sculpting in Zbrush. Nothing too technically going on in the rendering, some SSS on the plastic shader and some little scuffs and scratches to help make it look played with.

I wish all of my clients would let me stick googly eyes on things!

[seandunderdale]

oh that is nice! I wish I did more varied work. You look like you have illustration skills too which Ive never developed.

[AJ Jefferies]

Thanks Sean! Truth be told I never used to send clients 2D sketches as my drawing skills were much weaker than my 3D and I worried it made me look incompetent. But I've been making a concerted effort to draw more in the last 3-4 years and I've got to a point where my sketches are close enough that I don't completely hate them!

[fixeighted]

Cool little dino. Now we just need it be animated

For me, drawing was always a core skill; actually the reason I got into 3D in the first place, as it seemed a natural transition.
It's great that you were not good, realised it, practised and became what is clearly very good, as that sketch is a perfect example
as it so closely matches the end result

[seandunderdale]

You got the "Forky" eyes spot on too. My little girl is super into googly eyes right now, and calls them "forky eyes" (toy story 4), and theyre stuck on everything at home. So Ive seen a lot up close, and you nailed them sir!