Hellboy

In this personal project, I sculpted a quick Hellboy bust for my ZBrush class at ECV, to demonstrate essential techniques such as map extraction, as a tribute to Mike Mignola's character

As part of my ZBrush course at ECV, I needed a model to show my students some key techniques, especially how to extract maps from a sculpt. I sculpted this piece quickly to illustrate the process, and there was no better subject than Hellboy, created by Mike Mignola. To me, Guillermo del Toro's films remain the definitive adaptation of the character

The workflow was deliberately compact: sculpting and details in ZBrush, quick texturing and map baking in Substance 3D Painter, lighting, look development and shading in Houdini, then final touches in Photoshop to add details, refine the texturing and adjust the colors

I have always been fascinated by Del Toro's creatures and bestiary. His approach to character design blends folklore, mythology and practical effects, from Pan's Labyrinth to Crimson Peak and The Shape of Water. If I had to pick one, it would be the Pale Man from Pan's Labyrinth, a design that stays with you long after the film ends

This exercise was a great way to combine teaching and passion, while exploring the fine details that make a design stand out

Software
| ZBrush | Substance 3D Painter | Houdini | Photoshop |