Modeling Plants

Today during class we learned how to model plants using polygon primitives, the CV curve tool, and Object Attributes. Our task was to finish at least two fully modeled plant pots containing: plant leaves and vines.

The first step I took in completing the project was to look at reference images for plant pots. I chose pictures that popped out to me and that I found unique/interesting. Referencing is the most important part of the process, because if you are creating by using pictures in your head, they will be wrong. After I collected the pictures of my planter pots, I began modeling.

Planter Pot Reference

I used the techniques that we were taught during our first project to model two planter pots of my choice. I decided to go with a pot similar to the red one in the lower right, and a pot similar to the one just above that. Once the models were complete, it was time to begin referencing for my leaves of the plants I would place inside of the pots. I spent some time researching the types of leaves that I would be able to model inside of the scene. I went for a longer leaf with subtle details, so they could contrast from the vines I would later add to the pots.

Plant Leaves Reference

After I found all of my reference that I needed to create my leaves I began to model the leaves. I started out with a cylinder primitive, and lowered the divisions down to 6. Next, I created a curved path using the CV Curve Tool in the side view in order to create a curved leaf. Then I extruded the top face of the cylinder along the CV Curve. Adding 15 divisions smoothed the polygons on along the curve enabling for easy modeling. I also added a .3 within the object attributes. Then I extruded the sides of the object to give it a leaf like shape.

Once I got the leaves the way I liked, I deleted the history along with the CV curve used to create the original. Then I just duplicated and adjusted using Maya's tools to create variations in the leaves. The vines were created the same way with a few variations in the steps. I only extruded once, and applied a twist along with a taper.

Here are my two finished pieces for this project.