Joel Lueck

Marble Sculpture - Work in progress

2011-12-20T12:55:00.002-06:00

Sculpture Torso test. Rendered in Vray.

Vray Materials - Fast SSS2

2011-12-19T22:10:00.003-06:00

I started reading a book on classical drawing. This got me interested in modeling the human form. Here is my first try at modeling the human form. Not great but not too bad. The materials are ( from left to right ) Car Paint - red with silver flakes; Gold - using a high fresnel IOR of 100; Fast SSS2 with a wood texture as the subsurface texture and as the displacement map; just stone texture used as diffuse and displacement map; and a Fast SSS2 material for skin that I made myself - definitely needs something else. So this is mostly a modeling exercise.

Also, I used After Effects for image adjustments that I'm not sure I really like.

This is the image that was rendered.

Vray Materials - Car Paint - Vray Fast SSS 2

2011-12-15T16:45:00.000-06:00

Vray materials.

Glasses on a Beach - Vray glass material

2011-12-12T09:13:00.002-06:00

Another Version

Vray Glass

2011-12-09T18:23:00.002-06:00

Another version

Last One of this Image - Vray Glass

2011-12-06T08:55:00.001-06:00

I think I'm pretty happy with this one.

Glasses on the Shore - Vray Glass

2011-12-05T12:01:00.000-06:00

I think this will be my last try with this image.

One More shot. Vray Glass

2011-12-05T11:44:00.000-06:00

One more try.

Yet again. Vray Glass

2011-12-05T09:18:00.002-06:00

One more time - Vray

2011-12-03T10:33:00.000-06:00

Just another try.

Glasses on Beach - Version 2 - Vray glass - Vray Fog.

2011-11-30T08:34:00.001-06:00

Version 2. I'm still looking for something a little more interesting. maybe something completely different.

I have a long ways to go yet, but I like where this is headed.

Beardshear Hall in Ames, Iowa

2011-11-10T08:59:00.003-06:00

This is a drawing that I am working on. It is of Beardshear Hall in Ames, Iowa. I'm not use to working on buildings like this. There are lots of straight lines and it is very High contrast. I think my drawing should have been a little more high contrast, the columns for example should have been more white. There are alot of things that I think I would handled differently but it still turned out ok.

See more of my pen and ink drawings at http://www.joellueck.com/ArtEndeavors.html

Looking for inspiration. Vray Glass

2011-11-09T16:32:00.000-06:00

I made this in hopes of becoming inspired. I look at this image and I start to think about an hour glass and time.

Glasses with Vray and the Fog Bias Setting

2011-11-08T10:10:00.004-06:00

Just a test. I'm playing around with the fog bias setting in the Vray Refraction settings. Color corrections and lens blur were added in After Effects. The render settings are fairly low so there is alot of noise in the image.

Here are the settings for the glass material. I used an IOR value for crystal. It isn't great glass as you can see but it might work as as starting point. If you are loooking for a particular glass material, try changing the Fog multiplier and Fog bias setting for different looks.

Here is a post that helped me. http://www.pixelab.be/blog/2008/09/14/fog-bias-parameter-test-in-vray-material/

It is from an older version of Vray but it is still useful.

Halloween Image with Mat

2011-10-27T21:42:00.003-05:00

Image with Mat.

Thinking about Halloween - Vray - Vray Fur

2011-10-26T13:39:00.001-05:00

Not sure if I like this version. I will do a version with the dark figures.

Here are the dark figures. Not great and not interesting yet. I need to movie the figures around so that they will seem to come into our space.

Halloween Scene - House work - Vray

2011-10-25T11:38:00.003-05:00

I've done a little work to the house to make it look a little more worn. I'm not sure how much further I will take this until I see how it looks with the fog and lens blur.

Close up of the house shows areas that still need some work.

Base Image with levels adj and Lens blur.

Added Fog layer.

Darker Sky.

halloween Scene - Part 5 - Adding Figures

2011-10-24T23:10:00.000-05:00

This is just a test of grass and figures. I have not done much color correction to the image yet. The geometry of the figures is far from done. And there is something wierd on the front step of the house. Some kind of a light problem I think. Maybe a geometry problem. I'll need to look at it closer.

Halloween Scene - Part 4 - Vray and Vray Fur

2011-10-24T16:35:00.000-05:00

I'm going to try something maybe a little scarier. I darkened the lighting and the trees.

Thinking of Halloween - Part 3 - Vray Fur

2011-10-20T22:37:00.002-05:00

In this version, the T-Rex is gone and Screaming Skulls are in! I think the screaming skulls are way cooler!
Click on the above image to see a larger image.

This image may have a little better color.

Not so Halloweeny - T-Rex and Vray

2011-10-18T10:45:00.002-05:00

Not very Halloweeny but I thought that I would try it anyway. I think I would need to do something about the texture on the T-Rex if I were going to take this any further. I did this as a break from trying to model some ghosts.

I didn't model the T-Rex or the building in the back.

Halloween Image - Part 2 - Vray and After Effects - Vray Fur

2011-10-14T15:58:00.001-05:00

The nice thing about these two ideas and images is that it makes me like the first one, from yesterday, even more. I'm not too thrilled with these two ideas. I think I'll keep trying out ideas.

Thinking about Halloween

2011-10-13T16:30:00.002-05:00

I'm kind of thinking about using this tree in some sort of a Halloween image. I'm not sure what yet. This image is just a sketch. It was setup in 3d Studio Max 2011, rendered with Vray and composited with After Effects. I made the tree with Onyx Tree.

Tree at 801 Grand in Des Moines, Iowa

2011-10-05T09:31:00.005-05:00

This is a pen and ink drawing that I am working on of a tree at 801 Grand in Des Moines, Iowa. I am getting close to being done.

It is a 21" x 15" pen and ink drawing on cold press watercolor paper.
To see all of my pen and ink drawings go to http://www.joellueck.com/ArtEndeavors.html

One more image version of Above the Water. Vray Fast SSS2

2011-08-18T12:57:00.001-05:00

I like the last one more. The last one is more calming. One problem with the last one is the shadow on the sea.

Latest Version of Above the Water.

2011-08-12T10:17:00.000-05:00

The above image is the latest version. I'm not sure that I'm real happy with it yet. Lower image shows the things I might change.

Inspiration continued...

2011-08-11T11:41:00.000-05:00

So, from the images below, I might be able to see that the concrete spheres might be concrete ballons with large rusty chains that carry trees! I will need to rework the balloon locations a little and maybe add some clouds. Also tilt the balloons a little so they show some motion and direction.

Looking for that Spark of Inspiration.

2011-08-10T09:34:00.001-05:00

I'm looking for a spark of inspiration. The water in the bottom image looks really bad, but thats ok. These are just doodles to help spark an idea.

Barn #26 - Pen and Ink Barn drawing - Corn Crib in Story County, Iowa

2011-08-01T00:06:00.000-05:00

This is a pen and ink drawing of a corn crib located in Story County north of Ames, Iowa.

To see all of my pen and ink drawings go to http://www.joellueck.com/ArtEndeavors.html

Barn #25 - Pen and ink drawing of a corn crib in Iowa

2011-06-19T23:02:00.002-05:00

This is a corn crib located not too far from where I live. This is done in pen and ink on watercolor paper. That is snow on the ground and roof of the crib.

See more of my barn drawings at http://www.joellueck.com/ArtEndeavors.html

Barn #24 - Maplenol Dairy Barn in West Des Moines, Iowa

2011-05-23T23:32:00.005-05:00

Once again this is a poor photo of my barn drawing Barn #24. It is known as Maplenol Dairy Barn and it sits on Valley High School grounds in West Des Moines.

To see all of my pen and ink barn drawings go to http://www.joellueck.com/ArtEndeavors.html

Colorado House - Vray

2011-04-16T23:24:00.001-05:00

This image still needs alot of work on textures and geometry. And looks to be some GI problems still as well.

House in Colorado - Vray and After Effects

2011-04-15T21:37:00.001-05:00

House rendered with Vray

2011-04-15T11:12:00.003-05:00

This is a house rendered in 3dStudio Max with Vray. The lawn is done with Vray displacement. Bushes are Vray Fur. The trees are from Onyx Tree. The image was color adjusted in photoshop and After Effects.

Interior View. Really noisy from low lighting with low settings.

This image was done with higher settings.

Diner Interior - Vray and After Effects

2011-04-15T08:42:00.000-05:00

Another image from the diner project.

One more example of filmic glow

2011-04-11T13:44:00.004-05:00

The image on top is with out the post effect and the bottom image has it.

I use After Effects but you can use other programs like photoshop as well. Start with your image. Duplicate it. Take the duplicated image and set its layer mode to Add (Add might be a little strong. If so, try Screen)and add a blur effect. I used a fast blur in After Effect. You may then need to adjust its transparency to lessen the effect. Next, duplicate the original image again. Place this layer on top of the add layer and set its mode to Overlay. Adjust the transparency of this layer to control the effect.

I've seen this effect used before by digital photographers and other effects people.

There is a good tutorial for this on Lynda.com under the After Effects CS4 section.

(Please disregard the poor condition of the model and texture mapping of the above images. This is an old test image I had. It is not an image I would call finished by any means.)

Diner Interior - New Look -

2011-04-11T09:58:00.001-05:00

Before

After

Before

After

I used After Effects to add a filmic glow. I ran across a tutorial on Lynda.com about how to add a filmic glow to your images. It was kind of interesting.

80's Rock Band Album Cover... maybe. Vray

2011-03-18T15:06:00.005-05:00

It looks like an 80's Rock Band Album Cover to me. It needs a big electric guitar flying in the background!

Titanic - Movie Test 2 - Vray - Animation

2011-03-16T15:42:00.002-05:00

This has a little better motion, I think. Maybe... maybe not.

Titanic - Movie Test - Vray - Animation

2011-03-10T10:38:00.005-06:00

This is just a test. I used a still so things like the shadows and life boats are not moving. The still that was used was rendered in 3D Studio Max with Vray.

Titanic - Vray - On the deck

2011-03-09T14:48:00.003-06:00

Image of the Titanic deck render in 3D Studio Max and Vray. Composited in After Effects.

To see an animation of this scene go to http://joels3d.blogspot.com/2011/03/titanic-movie-test.html

Titanic - Vray Fast SSS2 - Better Waves

2011-03-09T13:46:00.004-06:00

I like the wave scale in this image the most. To see an Animation from the deck go to http://joels3d.blogspot.com/2011/03/titanic-movie-test.html

Titanic In Fog - Vray Fast SSS2

2011-03-08T09:59:00.004-06:00

Titanic in Fog. The fog was done in After Effects and is not Vray Fog. I may try Vray Fog for this someday.

To see an animation from the deck of the ship go to http://joels3d.blogspot.com/2011/03/titanic-movie-test.html

Titanic - Vray Fast SSS2

2011-03-06T22:42:00.004-06:00

I think this is my final try for this image.

Titanic - Vray Fast SSS2

2011-03-05T14:39:00.001-06:00

I added a dispalcement map to the water surface.

Titanic - Vray Fast SSS2

2011-03-03T15:07:00.009-06:00

Here are some images that I did today of the Titanic model. The top image is the base image that I rendered straight from 3D Studio Max with Vray. The second image down I composited fractal noise clouds in and added a Lens Blur based on ZDepth information. 3rd image down, I added a levels adjustment, Saturation adjustment and grain. Fourth image down is a sepia filter and a contrast adjustment. (All post work done in After Effects). The water isn't so hot yet.

See more of my digital work at www.joellueck.com/DigitalWork.html

Titanic - Vray Fast SSS2 - With Underwater

2011-03-02T09:43:00.009-06:00

One more round of Vray and the Titanic model. The water is made from a water material using Vray Fast SSS2. The iceberg is also Vray Fast SSS2. I'm not sure that the iceberg really looks like an iceberg.

See more of my digital work at www.joellueck.com/DigitalWork.html

Barn #23 Pen and ink Drawing of a Barn near Manilla, Iowa

2011-01-25T23:10:00.004-06:00

This is a pen and ink drawing of a barn near Manilla, Iowa.

See all of my barn drawings at www.joellueck.com/ArtEndeavors.html

Barn Note Cards - Rendered with Vray

2011-01-20T19:18:00.004-06:00

This is a set of note cards that I am working on. The textures on the cards here are a little darker than what they will be printed out as. Also, I chose a paper with a texture and a little more cream to the color than what is pictured here in this render.
(This image is rendered with Vray. The actual cards are reproductions of pen and ink drawings that I have done.)

To see all of my barn drawings go to www.joellueck.com/ArtEndeavors.html

Lettuce Bowls - Vray Fast SSS2

2011-01-07T21:22:00.002-06:00

I'm not really sure what I'm thinking here.

Chocolate 2 - Vray Fast SSS2

2011-01-06T12:30:00.001-06:00

Another version of chocolate.

Chocolate - Vray Fast SSS2

2011-01-05T14:34:00.005-06:00

This is my attempt at a chocolate material. It looks kind of like milk chocolate? Yet, not so much. I'm going to keep working on it. Also, this image was color adjusted in Photoshop.

Vray Gold Test

2010-12-28T15:38:00.002-06:00

This is just a test. I was trying to make gold. Pretty close, but it takes a very long time to render.

Barn in Northwest Iowa - Pen and Ink Barn Drawing

2010-12-26T22:20:00.004-06:00

This is a barn in Northwest Iowa. A friend asked me if I could draw it for him to give to his parents for Christmas. Because the barn had burned down I couldn't take my own reference photos. He provided me with several and I was able to use 3 pictures to come up with this image.

To see more of my barn drawings go to www.joellueck.com/ArtEndeavors.html

Rebirth

2010-12-20T09:24:00.003-06:00

This is the last image for this. I kind of like this one. Makes me think of 'rebirth'.

Steel Forest - Cross-Eyed Stereoscopic Image 2

2010-12-19T22:24:00.002-06:00

Not a huge difference from the one below.

Steel Forest - Vray Fast SSS2 Snow

2010-12-19T21:08:00.002-06:00

Steel Forest - Cross-Eyed Stereoscopic

2010-12-19T20:33:00.008-06:00

Here is a cross-eyed stereoscopic image of my Steel Forest. You will have to cross your eyes to see it in 3d. Don't try too hard because it may give you a headache. If it does please stop trying. My focal length isn't great and may not be ideal for this scene. I will keep working on it. Click on the image to see it in full resolution.

Steel Forest - Vray Fast SSS2 Snow

2010-12-17T15:52:00.006-06:00

This is an idea I am playing around with. The snow is V-ray Fast SSS2.

One More Set of Bowls - Vray Fast SSS2

2010-11-22T16:50:00.003-06:00

More bowls with various vray materials.

To see more of my images rendered with Vray and Fast SSS go to http://www.joellueck.com/DigitalWork.html

Soup Bowls - Vray Fast SSS2

2010-11-22T13:21:00.004-06:00

Soup Bowls. Rendered in 3dStudio Max 2011 with Vray. I used After Effects for Color Adjustment,depth of field effect, and a slight glow.

To see more of my images rendered with Vray and Fast SSS go to http://www.joellueck.com/DigitalWork.html

Saint Rose of Lima Church in Denison, Iowa - Pen and Ink

2010-09-28T00:04:00.005-05:00

Saint Rose of Lima of Denison, Iowa

To see more of my pen and ink drawings, go to www.joellueck.com/ArtEndeavors.html

Wisconsin Barn - Pen and Ink Drawing

2010-08-25T00:14:00.004-05:00

This is a barn I drew for a friend. The barn is somewhere in Wisconsin.

See more of my barns at http://www.joellueck.com/ArtEndeavors.html

Shed - Pen and Ink drawing of a shed

2010-08-06T11:40:00.004-05:00

Pen and Ink Drawing of a shed. I don't think I like it very much. I just think I lost the feeling for it somewhere.

See more of my drawings at http://www.joellueck.com/ArtEndeavors.html

House Drawing - Pen and Ink

2010-08-01T22:24:00.003-05:00

Pen and ink drawing of a house... or a hedge...!

See more of my drawings at http://www.joellueck.com/ArtEndeavors.html

Red Thing - Vray Fast SSS2

2010-07-22T17:04:00.005-05:00

Red thing. Trying to come up with a material that looks like blood. This doesn't quite look like it yet.

Thing. Vray Fast SSS2

2010-07-21T15:02:00.001-05:00

Seemed kind of cool at the time... Vray Fast SSS2

2010-07-20T23:03:00.004-05:00

I thought that I would learn a little more about some modelling features in Max that I rarely use. It looked more interesting in wireframe. I used a Vray Fast SSS2 material on the things.

Jars - Vray Fast SSS2

2010-07-14T23:01:00.007-05:00

Jars. I kind of like this image. I like the idea of how the jar loses its identity as it goes into the distance. Unfortunatly, it seems too busy to me. Too many jars...? The glass material is a Vray Fast SSS2 material.

Barn Drawing #22

2010-06-23T00:21:00.005-05:00

This is Barn #22. I think the photo looks a little darker than the actual drawing.

To see more of my pen and ink barn drawings, go to http://www.joellueck.com/ArtEndeavors.html

Harbour with Rocks

2010-06-21T15:52:00.004-05:00

With rocks? I think these rocks make the ship look too small. I'll need to work on it some more.

Harbour Again

2010-06-21T11:57:00.003-05:00

This is a different take on the one below. I'm not use that I like the shoreline on the lower right side. I'm going to live with for a while and see if I start to like more or less.

Harbour

2010-06-19T00:27:00.002-05:00

A ship anchored at morning... maybe...

Lake Image

2010-06-18T16:09:00.001-05:00

This is just a lake image I am working with.

Earth in Egg

2010-06-15T15:22:00.005-05:00

Two more ideas.

Another Egg Image

2010-06-14T22:27:00.001-05:00

Just an idea I am trying with the egg shape.

Eggs - Vray Gold Test

2010-06-11T10:18:00.004-05:00

This is just a test of a gold material that I am working on.

One more egg image...maybe the last.

2010-06-08T15:51:00.002-05:00

Running shy on inspiration for the egg shape. This might be the last image for it.

Eggs...yawn...

2010-06-08T11:59:00.006-05:00

Nothing very interesting. I've just been messing around with some egg shapes.

Ship In a Bottle

2010-05-20T15:19:00.003-05:00

This is just another take on Ship in a Bottle from below.

Ship In A Bottle : Vray Fast SSS2

2010-05-20T14:42:00.003-05:00

I used 3dStudio Max to model this (not the ship) and Vray to render it out. I then used Photoshop to create the cutout look.

Barn Drawing #21

2010-05-18T09:21:00.004-05:00

This is Barn Drawing #22. This isn't a great photo, but then they never are.

To see more of my pen and ink drawings go to http://www.joellueck.com/ArtEndeavors.html

Planes over Water : Vray and Fast SSS2

2010-05-13T10:48:00.002-05:00

This is the last image I'm going to do from this file for a while. It was fun to work on. I think I got out of it as much as I would like to.

Planes over water Fast SSS2 Vray

2010-05-10T12:46:00.003-05:00

This is just another try at a composition.

Balloons,Sky, and Sea Vray Fast SSS2

2010-05-08T17:20:00.001-05:00

Just trying out some ideas still.

Still just an idea.

2010-05-07T13:47:00.001-05:00

I'm still trying out some ideas.

Vray Fast SSS2 Candles

2010-05-03T22:36:00.001-05:00

This is just a test of a wax material using Vray Fast SSS2.

I need to start framing

2010-04-27T11:33:00.004-05:00

I need to decide on frame and mat choices.

To see more barn drawings go to http://www.joellueck.com/ArtEndeavors.html

Just an idea...

2010-04-17T08:55:00.003-05:00

This is just an idea I'm playing around with. The planes and water are Vray Fast SSS2 materials and the clouds are Vray Fog.

Barn Drawing #20

2010-04-14T09:38:00.005-05:00

Click on the image above to see a larger image.

Barn Drawing #20
The photo of this drawing is really not very good. But I think you get the idea.

To see more barn drawings go to http://www.joellueck.com/ArtEndeavors.html

Vray Fast SSS2 Materials

2010-04-12T15:57:00.007-05:00

I used Vray's Fast SSS2 material with celluar for the Vray Displacement map as well as for Subsurface Scatter maps.

Titanic and Fast SSS2 Vray materials

2010-04-12T15:54:00.007-05:00

I used Vray's Fast SSS2 materials for the iceberg and the water. These are just tests and quick renders to see how the materials work.

Click on Fast SSS below in Labels to see more examples of Vray Fast SSS materials.

Titanic

2010-04-12T15:48:00.004-05:00

I find large objects seen out of context seem very interesting to me. I put a model of the Titanic onto a sand dune. I didn't really do anything more. I was just looking for something motivational.

Still Life: Better Depth Of Field Vray Fast SSS

2010-04-05T16:00:00.003-05:00

Better Depth of Field. The bottles and candles use Vray Fast SSS.

Still Life: With and without Depth of Field

2010-04-04T23:37:00.006-05:00

I am getting a little closer to what I think I want. I like the depth of Field in the lowcr image, but it is a little strong yet. I might try to tone it down a little. Bottles and candles use Vray Fast SSS2 material.

Still Life

2010-04-04T16:30:00.003-05:00

I'm trying a few more ideas out to see what they look like.

A little more work to my still life

2010-03-30T11:13:00.003-05:00

I'm working on getting a wax material. I'm getting closer. Also, I think I need to add a couple of short black candle holders for the smaller candles in the foreground to add a little more richness to the scene. I've still got a long way to go.

Still Life Additions Using Vray Fast SSS2

2010-03-27T21:18:00.002-05:00

I'm trying out some candles. I don't think I like them so far so I'll keep trying some other ideas.

Barn Drawing #19

2010-03-24T08:30:00.001-05:00

So many barns ... so little time....

To see all of my barn drawings go to http://www.joellueck.com/ArtEndeavors.html

Still Life Adjustment Using Vray Fast SSS2

2010-03-17T11:03:00.003-05:00

I adjusted reflectiveness and ior values for the bottles (yellow more so). I also changed the thickness of bottle bases.