Michelle Santana, Silver in Blue, 3D Digital Image, 2024
The creation of this piece began as a challenge for myself. Using a live model of a décor tree in my home, it became quite the task trying to figure out how I could replicate it in Maya. The true obstacle was discovering new ways to shorten the amount of time to create each branch in order to complete the image by its due date.
Textures played a large part in allowing the audience to understand the material of the object. Silver in Blue would not be silver if not for its metal texturing.
Michelle Santana, Nuclear Winter, 3D Digital Image, 2024
I knew exactly what I wanted to create before I had any real idea of how this piece would turn out. The coziness of the cabin in juxtaposition with the cold, dead winter of the outdoors was intentionally created to emphasize both the comfort of warmth and the chilling stillness of a deadly winter.
This piece relies heavily on textures, lighting, and ambience that a space can create when combined in just the right ways.
Michelle Santana, The Fragile Power of It, 3D Digital Image, 2024
I wanted this piece to be different than my previous ones, so I took on the challenge of creating a humanoid figure. This was the very first time I had ever 3D modeled a humanoid figure, but I learned plenty about the importance of subdivisions and edge-looping while creating this piece.
It has no name, and no real identity to speak of. This piece commentates on the fragility of things and labels. Understanding what is truly valuable versus what is not worth our time. The Fragile Power of It shows us that things are not eternal; only the idea of them remains.