The Shrine
Project Breakdown
Project Overview
The Shrine Project was an exciting challenge for me as I stepped outside my comfort zone of hard-surface modeling to explore organic and soft-surface modeling. The goal was to create a semi-realistic style that blends natural and stylized elements while pushing my artistic boundaries.
Software Used: Blender
Focus: Semi-realistic style blending natural and stylized elements
Initial Concept & Inspiration
The inspiration for this project was to capture a tranquil scene with a unique atmosphere, combining elements of Chinese architecture, video game aesthetics, and a calming lofi vibe. These influences drove the overall look and feel of the shrine and its surroundings, aiming to create a peaceful yet slightly fantastical environment.
Modeling Techniques & Texturing
The shrine itself features simple modeling techniques. This approach allowed the textures to take center stage and carry the finer details of the piece. For vegetation, I utilized array modifiers and particle systems to efficiently scatter grass and foliage throughout the scene. I referenced real grass for accuracy in their shapes and sizes.
The lantern texture was AI-generated with Midjourney to achieve a unique design, while other textures were sourced from Polyhaven and adjusted to fit the scene’s aesthetic. Tree leaves were created using PNG images connected to an alpha node to make them transparent. To enhance the fantasy feel I modified the colors, giving the leaves a more surreal and vibrant look. This method also ensured the scene remained lightweight for rendering.
Rendering & Editing
The scene was rendered in Blender’s Filmic color space with 400 samples, ensuring high-quality results while maintaining a manageable render time. Ultra HD resolution was chosen to bring out the details in the shrine and its surrounding environment.
Post-processing adjustments were made using Adobe Firefly. The background HDRI was replaced, and subtle changes were applied to the far-back elements to keep them cohesive yet unobtrusive. Color adjustments were also made to enhance the vibrancy and fantasy atmosphere of the scene, ensuring the final composition matched the intended aesthetic.
Without Adobe Firefly changes
With Adobe Firefly changes