#Developing skills

[goddessinnerglow]

Become Your Best Version Before 2025 - Day 22

Developing New Skills

Let's talk about something super exciting, learning new skills! But wait, before you think "ugh, I don't have time for that," I promise we'll keep this fun and totally doable.

Remember when we were kids and tried new things just because they looked fun? No pressure, no expectations, just pure curiosity! Let's bring some of that energy back into our lives.

Want to hear something cool? Our brains literally light up with joy when we learn new things. It's like giving ourselves tiny happiness boosters throughout the day. How awesome is that?

Here's the thing about learning new skills, you don't need fancy equipment or hours of free time. Seriously! Some of the most fulfilling skills I've picked up started with just:

Watching YouTube videos while eating lunch

Using free apps during my morning routine

Practicing for 10 minutes before bed

The trick? Start so small it feels almost silly. Learning a language? Start with just one word a day. Want to draw? Doodle one tiny sketch while your coffee brews. Interested in cooking? Master one simple recipe before moving to the next.

I used to think I needed perfect conditions to learn something new, like you know, lots of free time, the right equipment, maybe even a class to sign up for. But then I realized waiting for perfect conditions meant never starting at all!

Instead, try this: pick something that makes you curious. Something that makes you think "ooh, that looks fun!" Then find ONE tiny way to explore it tomorrow. Just tomorrow. That's it!

Maybe it's:

Downloading a language app and learning how to say "hello"

Looking up one simple yoga pose to try

Learning one new keyboard shortcut

Finding a beginner's tutorial for something you've always wanted to try

The magic happens when we stop thinking about becoming experts and just enjoy being beginners. Every single expert started exactly where you are, just curious and willing to try!

Today's Challenge:

Pick ONE skill you'd love to learn

Find a super simple way to start (like a 5-minute YouTube video or a quick tutorial)

Spend just 10 minutes exploring it

Share what you picked in the comments!

See you tomorrow for Day 23!

♡ ☆:.｡ Keep glowing, babes! ♡ ☆:.｡ With love, Goddess Inner Glow.

[being-mughal]

Blog Post 3: Final Steps and Reflections

Title: From Blender to Reality: Preparing for 3D Printing

In the final processes of design, I finished with modeling and texturing and then proceed to 3D printing. This involved for example making sure that the model gets the best preparations for exporting on an STL file.

Preparing for 3D Printing: The first effort was to inspect the model for embedded geometry or areas that are too thin and likely to fail during printing. I used the add-on called 3D Print Toolbox in Blender to evaluate the shape of the model and make some changes.

Once the model was validated, I exported it an STL file format this is common in 3D printing .

Challenges and Insights: One good point with this design was that it was uncomplicated, but there were problems with this as well. It did guarantee an easy print but there was always a challenge in how the playfulness of the design would meet functional needs.

Future Plans: In my next update, I intend to add more details in creases and play with the texture of the print. Thanks to this project, there are numerous opportunities for improving the everyday object through artistic intervention.

Conclusion: This assignment was a great opportunity to explore the sphere of three-dimensional printing. I also found out how it’s like to create an object, from the conceptual stage all the way to converting an STL file. Can’t wait till the chick comes out in print!

[jian-wei-24]

Development Project 01: Nostalgia and Memory. (Update 8.0: Final Renders)

Figure 1: Main and final render.

Final Render Story:

The battle had ended, but the silence that followed felt heavier than the roar of guns. The sea whispered its grief, carrying the loud crackle of flames from the burning ship on the horizon. Smoke flowed upwards, a gloomy beacon marking the loss of more than hundred enemy sailors. Their cries, mingled with those of our own fallen, had long since faded into the wind. The ground, once alive with chaos, now lay still, stained with the blood of men and spent industrial munitions. The bitter taste of defeat lingers in the air as only our abandoned weaponry guards the beach defences. The sun rose over the horizon, casting long shadows on the sand, as if the shadows served as warm blankets, gently laying the brave to rest. The belongings left behind on the battlefield whispers the stories of the fallen and defeated. For every step the enemy gained, they left a part of themselves behind, just as we had. This war does not choose sides in its cruelty. May humanity learn this painful lesson and not repeat it ever again.

Reflection:

I managed to get used to using Substance Painter again as it has been a very long time since I used that software. I also learnt a lot about camera, lighting, and post processing as I experiment with many settings to achieve the final appearance in figure 1. The entire development process took longer than expected but it has helped me to familiar the entire production flow. Hopefully it would speed up production of my next development project.

Extra:

If more time and resources were given for this project, the following are the additional models or effects I wish to add into the project:

Model and replace machine gun and rifle online asset.

Expand the beach environment.

Experiment more on camera, lighting, and post processing.

Optimise the environment even more.

Add more visual effects where applicable.

More Renders:

[nova-moon13]

[thetoastshallbetoastedagain]

RAR#3; Failed Alchemic Study on Necromancy

I believe I have found my style in regards to traditional art. Yippee

During my childhood, I loved reading Roald Dahl books. I would read them constantly and I especially loved the illustrations by Quentin Blake, they were my role models growing up, and still are. But, I am also quite fond of realism/realistic art due to art classes in school (or am I just used to it?)

I just love how ink and watercolours work together, and the imperfections (spill overs, un-filled areas, leaking lines) add that much more of a personal feel and connection to me... Perhaps it can be viewed as a reflection of me, haha...

I doubt that any one will see this, but I just had to post this somewhere to show off my development in art, somewhere where it won't be criticised or half-heartedly judged.

I believe, that sometimes silence is all the noise that may be needed to feel a bit more encouraged... Thank you for reading

Yap session, over

[fayas-maanimationblog]

Animatic Assignment

Animatic 2 - Technological future

For my second animatic, I chose the subject of technological future. A subject, In the wake of the AI "Revolution" is more in the forefront of my mind than ever before.

What is the technological future that I see?

If I had to put it in a word, I would say that I am a skeptic. I do not believe in the utopia that has been peddled by technological companies because ultimately they are all businesses who chase the concept of infinite growth and that growth is never free. the technological future I see is one where the unique experience of being human and living has been shrunk down to simply consume and nothing more, our critical eye and minds numbed.

When i think of a technological future i also think of a world that has gotten rid of the many imperfections of human activities, sanitized and very less room for error.

it was while i was exploring this thought that sports in a technological world came to mind. I was immediately reminded of the countless different robots that already existed in different sports. chess, table tennis etc. and the main headline to promote them being that no human was ever going to beat it. devices that are promoted as to have achieved perfection. which from an engineering angle was understandable, but the artist and sports fan in me hardly ever gets excited regarding such a prospect.

To me achieving perfection in sports is very akin to if humanity ever achieved immortality, the very first thought is always "oh what now?". its not that its never achieved, it is achieved in these few moments where everything clicks and the sport is played in the highest level possible, but like everything else that moment too passes and we wait till we witness such an event, as human beings made of flesh and blood struggle and toil to overcome the odds against each other. I believe that it is in these moments and other moments like these such as being in love, attending an amazing concert, watching a film, indulging in your favorite hobby, that humanity manages to capture a glimpse of infinity and of immortality, but it would be pointless if we did not have the experience of knowing how limited our time is. to take these away for guaranteed perfectionism seems almost like a crime.

this got me thinking of someone who i have admired since i was a teenager, someone i consider one of my personal heroes.

Rafael Nadal, someone who was known for always giving his all, someone who has quite literally destroyed their body in their chase for this perfection. but like all humans he too has had big lows, its almost impossible to not have any. and this time the low was quite big, he had announced his retirement. other than the disappointment that it was too late for me now to watch him live, it also got me thinking of a short about a tennis match, of a tennis match between two robots that have been created to play perfect tennis and how that would feel for a spectator, how instead of hearing the passionate vamos from Rafa , all we heard was the cold, calculated and precise sound of the ball hitting the racket and the ground.

I decided this will be my next idea

[ableautism]

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[coregrowthpivot1]

Personality Development Courses Near Me

Core Growth Pivot

Personality Development Courses aim to empower individuals with the skills and traits necessary for personal and professional success. As we navigate the complexities of life, honing our communication, building confidence, and developing emotional intelligence become paramount. These courses serve as guiding beacons on this transformative journey.

Benefits of Personality Development Courses

Enhancing Communication Skills

Effective communication is the bedrock of success. Personality development courses often include workshops designed to improve verbal and non-verbal communication, ensuring participants can express themselves with clarity and impact.

Building Confidence

Confidence is the key to unlocking one's full potential. Courses tailored for confidence-building provide strategies to overcome self-doubt, embrace challenges, and project a positive self-image.

Developing Emotional Intelligence

Understanding and managing emotions is a crucial life skill. Personality development courses delve into emotional intelligence, teaching individuals how to navigate relationships, handle stress, and cultivate empathy.

Types of Personality Development Classes

Communication Workshops

Led by experienced facilitators, these workshops focus on verbal and non-verbal communication techniques. Participants engage in interactive sessions to refine their speaking abilities and body language.

Leadership Training

For those aspiring to leadership roles, personality development courses offer specialized training in leadership skills. This includes decision-making, conflict resolution, and effective team management.

Emotional Intelligence Seminars

Courses in emotional intelligence guide individuals through self-awareness exercises, helping them understand and regulate their emotions. These seminars foster empathy and improve interpersonal relationships.

Choosing the Right Course

Researching Available Courses

Before diving into a personality development course, it's essential to research available options. Look for courses that align with your specific goals and aspirations.

Reading Reviews and Testimonials

Gauge the effectiveness of a course by reading reviews and testimonials from previous participants. Honest feedback provides valuable insights into the course's impact on real individuals.

Popular Personality Development Courses

Toastmasters for Communication Skills

Toastmasters International is renowned for its communication and leadership development programs. Joining a local Toastmasters club provides a supportive environment for refining communication skills.

Dale Carnegie Training for Confidence

The Dale Carnegie Course focuses on building self-confidence, improving communication, and enhancing leadership abilities. It has been a cornerstone for personal development for decades.

Mindfulness Workshops for Emotional Intelligence

Mindfulness courses offer techniques to cultivate emotional intelligence through practices such as meditation and self-reflection. These workshops provide tools for managing stress and enhancing overall well-being.

[pavelm]

Assignment 7 - Bike update 03

Unfortunately I ran into some technical difficulties with what I planned next. What I wanted to do was to take my model into substance painter but ran into some technical difficulties with the UV process. Without enough time to complete this, I made renders of where I had gotten to with the design with a focus on making it as presentable as possible.

I made some last minute adjustments to the model and brought back some side-details from before as well.

Overall I feel like the bike is looking cool, but feel like I lacked the time to finish it and get it up to the standard that I wanted to. Regardless of this it was fun and challenging to learn 3D coat and to attempt this project in the way that I have. Reflecting on it, there were many points that I gotten stuck on while creating this model while trying to figure out the intricate details and constantly being mindful of how the overall larger design looks. It was definitely an amazing experience to have worked on this bike and to have learned all the new things I have learned while doing so, and I'm looking forward to taking this knowledge into my next project.

[zoewilkinson]

Artist Inspiration

22/10/2023

SCI FI Paramilitary marauder (Krieger, 2018)

After my places of the mind project I’ve been really interested in the ways that artists create hard surface models to make metal pieces, especially masks. This piece by Sasha Ristic Krieger entitled “SCI FI Paramilitary marauder” (Krieger, 2018) is a brilliant example of hard surface modelling that’s been inspiring me. The model was made in ZBrush and 3DS Max, and shows a beautiful level of detail not only from the hard surface modelling, but also from the textures used. I like the way they’ve added wear and tear to the metal, especially in areas the paint would wear out the most like between the grooves of the mask. I’m interested in experimenting with hard surface modelling in the future and will be incorporating these texturing techniques.

Bibliography

Krieger, S. R., 2018. SCI FI Paramilitary marauder. [Online] Available at: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/qAJ96y [Accessed 22 October 2023].

[alecbicheno]

Mimic Chest appreciation

When browsing on ArtStation I found this work by Alexandr Novitskiy. A Ukrainian 3D artist who recently created some variants of a mimic chest.

This work is amazing on its own however what I really enjoy about this is the very detailed process he describes. Throughout the post he shows a very precise and purposeful thought process when designing and clearly describes each step of creation. All the way from his idea generation to the rendering there are clear description of his workflow, describing what he did and which software he did it in, and even has tips for learners in it.

He also finishes off with some advice for beginners which is always a nice touch.

There’s also an 80.lv article linked which shows the same content as on the ArtStation page just laid out more clearly on the website.

Bibliography

Novitskiy, A., 2024. Learn How to Create Hungry 3D Mimic Chest (80.lv). [Online] Available at: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/YBnaad [Accessed 11 January 2024].

[being-mughal]

Blog Post 2: Sculpting and Modeling

Title: Overcoming Challenges in a “bit” of 3D : Sculpting in ZBrush and Modeling in Blender

The next stage was to model the character in ZBrush and other more details and changes in the program called as Blender. With this being a post from a beginner to ZBrush, this phase was challenging and at the same rewarding at times.

Sculpting in ZBrush: So, using Sketchfab, I copied a base male model to ZBrush to start modeling the mechanical suit. The learning curve was steep here, but I used intermediate level tutorials in YouTube to help me. These tutorials were particularly useful while learning about brushes, sculpting and some of the features of ZBrush.

Using Blender for Additional Modeling: For the mechanical tools and accessories I decided to go with Blender. It was also easy to navigate; I was able to create complex geometry and even hone on details. Blender was also used for the UV unwrap of the suit and low poly modeling.

Challenges and Solutions: 1. Working on accurate mechanical outlines in ZBrush was rather challenging. Also I used some navigation videos like Intermediate ZBrush Sculpting Tutorial to enhance my efficiency.

2. Blender’s UV tools also assisted the proper unwrapping for texturing in the subsequent phase, although texturing was not done at this level.

The modelling phase comprises problem-solving and improved knowledge of sculpting and modelling production processes that were exercised during this phase. Both tools had their strengths which provided a good basis of the final presentation of the project.

References:

Blender Foundation (2024). Blender Manual. Available at: https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/c[26 November 2024].

Pixologic (2024). ZBrush Central. Available at: https://www.zbrushcentral.com/ [26 November 2024].

Ryan King Art(2024). New UV Unwrapping Options in Blender 4.3. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ8HvDuSWCQ [26 November 2024].

Danny Mac 3D(2018). How to SCULPT CLOTH the EASY WAY! - Zbrush Tutorial. https://youtu.be/3SkDJhO3j2U?feature=shared [26 November 2024].

[jian-wei-24]

Development Project 02: Red VS Blue. (Update 9.0: Final Renders)

Video 1: Turntable animation of the tower environment.

Figure 1: Final Render.

Final Render Story:

High up on a mist-covered mountain stood an old watch tower, its weathered stone walls standing strong against the harsh winds. The tower had stood there for decades, guarding the kingdom below. The soldiers who manned it were a quiet, loyal few, volunteered to stay in this lonely place, far from the bustling city and their loved ones. The tower was their home, their fortress, but also their prison. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months. They missed the laughter of their children, the comfort of their partners, and the simple joys of life. For as long as the winds howled and the mountains stood tall, they would remain the silent protectors, ensuring that no shadow would ever threaten the peace of their land. Long live the people, Long live Weng Wang Guo!

Reflection:

I was able to learn and gain experience in areas of development that I had previously avoided, fearing fatal crashes or roadblocks that could halt my progress for days. However, I pushed past my comfort zone and embraced new challenges, such as advanced post-processing, camera animation, asset animation, and enhancing my environment design. By applying the same development principles from my recent first project, I was able to speed up my progress. This experience has better prepared me to handle the workload when I enter the game development industry in the near future.

Extra:

If more time and resources were given for this project, the following are the additional models or effects I wish to add into the project:

Additional animations. (lanterns moving/reacting to wind, human animation, possible war scene where arrows fly into the tower, day-night transition animation)

Different and advance camera angles to showcase the models better.

More visual effects to immerse the viewers.

More unique assets to the environment to be modelled and textured. (More structures, and weaponry etc)

Further advance post-processing.

More Renders:

[nova-moon13]

[thesophistiicate]

if you want to experience life more deeply you have to find more beauty. stop training yourself to dismiss, to mock, to assume the worst all the time — when you do this you build walls between yourself and the world. and after a while you stop feeling the warmth of it entirely.

beauty requires openness. it asks you to let things reach you, to soften enough to be moved. it’s not naive to see beauty everywhere—it’s a skill, a form of intelligence, a kind of quiet bravery. because it is so much easier to critique than to create, to detach than to engage, to dismiss than to love.

let yourself be affected. let yourself find things beautiful and let that be enough. life is not asking you to be cool, sitting on the sidelines and nitpicking everything. it’s asking you to see life and experience it fully.