Nowadays, 3D is becoming an essential part of the process for our pre-production, worldbuilding and concept art, including both realistic and stylised approaches. Free and friendly, I believe Blender is a perfect entry point for artists to get into 3D, especially those that have only dabbled in drawing and painting.
There are many ways Blender can be advantageous and speed up the concept process. There's no way to replace the fundamental expertise though, and adding 3D tools to your artistic skill set can only enhance your knowledge of composition, light and storytelling. And of course that's the fun part, since you'll be able to focus mostly on the story or design of your piece.
Blender can be overwhelming at first, but the process of developing new skills will not only make you a better artist, but also expand your possibilities! In this tutorial, I'm going to show you how I combined Blender and Photoshop to help in the worldbuilding of my personal fantasy project Teyuna, inspired by the rural landscapes of Colombia, and pre-Columbian culture.
1 Sketch out the idea
For this project, I already have a story and world that I've been developing for some time. It's inspired by rural and colonial architecture from Colombian towns and villages, but with a hint of fantasy elements to keep it unique. I prefer to explore shapes, proportions and architectural details by drawing digitally since I can create a large variety of different types of doors, windows or balconies, and then use that collection of assets to mix and match, and see what happens. It's also generally a quick and fun ideation process to work through.
2 Draw the town layout
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
PAINT EPIC BATTLES IN TRADITIONAL INK
Warhammer illustrator THOMAS ELLIOTT shows you how to create an epic science fiction fight scene with this step-by-step guide
CONJURE MAGIC ILLUSTRATIONS
Daria Anako demonstrates her process for creating a whimsical piece of art with some spellbinding touches
First Impressions
We discover the early influences that inspired the artist
ZBrush for iPad
GAME CHANGER The desktop version of popular 3D sculpting software ZBrush has been redesigned for iPad - and it's brilliant
BenQ GW2786TC
GET AN EYEFUL Don't scrimp out on your health with a monitor that's kind on the eyes and good for creative tasks
Huion Kamvas Pro 19
TABLET WARS An attractive pen display does an excellent job of balancing price and performance as it sets out to challenge its rivals in the mobile marketplace
DRAGON OFORCEC
Legendary D&D artist Larry Elmore explains the keys to crafting timeless fantasy art.
DUNGEON MASTERS
ImagineFX marks the milestone 50th anniversary of the launch of Dungeons & Dragons with a look at its rich tradition of illustration
Erik Ly
Gamer's haven Why the artist enjoys a maximalist aesthetic more than the minimalist approach.
2D meets 3D: How the workflows are merging
Interdimensional As VFX and animation evolve and tools become more accessible, Tanya Combrinck asks whether the separation between the mediums is reducing