Noekken (Carrara)

[Varsel]

Here's my latest project. Inspiration came from a painting by Theodor Kittelsen. He was/is a famous (at least in Norway) Norwegian painter, who got his inspiration from local stories and farytales.
I cant afford the original, so I have to create my own version.

This picture is off Noekken, a myhtical creature that lives in ponds (swamps) in the forrest. It's not a nice thing. It will lure people in to the water and then drown them. It can also take the shape of a white horse, as well as of a young beatifull girl.

It is a favorite amongst mothers to frighten off the kids from the ponds.
For the sea, the always has the Draugen, an other terribel creature.

It has been a good training exercise in lights and reflection.
Still have to do something with the shoreline, and the treeline is still a bit dark.

[tohezheng]

VERY GOOD JOB! I have to say that this is a unimaginable rendering, and appropriate exhibition the original. oooh, do you mind show your modeling and rendering parameter? I am really curious how are you did it

[Varsel]

Thanks for your nice words tohezheng.

Getting closer. Still not happy with the treeline.

The picture is built up by:

The water, a flat vertex objekt with rippels modeled. Shader is a dark water ; color - black. higlight,shininess,transparency and reflection is all around 50%. And 29% refraction.

The treeline is a flat vertex object with a texturemap and alpha map.

As well as a infinite plane. The color on this is affecting the color of the reflection on the water.

The lighting is sky light in the rendering, using a sunsett sky in atmosphere in the scene, with a yellow sky.
As well as as dim distant light that only lights the treeline.

The rendering is standard Carrara, with skylight and ambient indirect light.

[tohezheng]

I think the fog effects in the middle of pond is affecting. do you know, it let me thinking <Waterlilies> of Monet Claude.
fog effect always wtih some mysterious creature, how are you rendering it?

[Varsel]

Your right. Two small pathces of fog helped a lot.
Also a litle tweaking of the texturemap of the treeline.
I think i'm getting there now.

As you can see in the treeline, all the tree's are the same hight.
It is to reflect that this is a up to date version. All the old forest are gone, and most of the forrest we have now is planted. Actually there are more trees now then hundred years ago.

Rendering is in Carrara.
(this version is no antialiasing and lesser object and shadow accuracy, to speed things up..)

[Varsel]

I think it is done....

Posted the end result in the gallery.

Now to print it, frame it, and brag about it....

[tohezheng]

haha , yep