Creating the templates for the 3D model

 In this post I will explain what I needed to do first to create a 3D model of my character. 3D modeling is pretty much placing vertices in a 3D plane, where there are three axises instead of two that would be in a 2D plane. The axises are called X, Y and Z and they represent all three dimensions that I am creating in. To create a good 3D basic model I need two drawings of the character in the same scale. I needed to create actual proportions. These drawings will be used so I can base my 3D model on them. The drawings need to be: one facing the front and one from the side. 

Firstly, I have created the drawing where the character is facing the front. I have based it off of the sketches I have done so far for this character design. 

I needed this drawing in the simplest form possible, which means no pose. I needed it presented with no pose so I can model each of the body parts separately. I think I did a really nice job with this drawing. It loos really appealing and very different. I am very happy with this design. 

Next thing I needed was to create actual proportions so I could make the second drawing. To do so, I have drawn lines to represent specific parts of the character's body. 

These lines show where for example are the arms and where is the dress and how big is the head. All of those lines were really important so I could have done a sideways drawing of this character. As always, I used Procreate to draw the character and the lines. I know some of the lines are not very straight which could possibly change the proportions a little bit, but the changes are not enormous, therefore even if there are slight changes, I will still be able to work with those drawings and in case of a problem I can fix the little changes in the 3D modeling software. 

Next, I have lowered the opacity of the lines so I could freely sketch over them while keeping the proportions and when I was satisfied with the sketch, I used the colors to outline it and to fill it in. It was not very difficult. 

This is the character from the side. I am not very happy with the head shape, because it looks unnatural and too round, but at this stage, I do not have to worry too much about it, because I can sculpt the parts that I do not like in the software. The drawings are just for the basic placement of the vertices in the 3D plane. In Blender I can always smoothen some parts or form them differently. 

The next step will be experimenting with the software and trying to form a basic outline of my character. I know it will be a challenge, because I have never created such complex shapes in 3D. I am excited to learn something new though.