How to Improve Visual Imagery and Interpret Reality – Tips for Artists / ITech content

Contents:

• Brief Information about the Speaker
• What is "Inner Form"?
• Artistic Perception of Reality
• How to Work on Internal Forms?
• Sketch vs. Photograph
• Examples of Interpreting Reality
• Interpreting Reality in 3D
• Results

Artist Conrad Justin has been a lifelong cyclist, but he's never painted a bicycle. At first glance, you might think that a professional artist would be able to easily depict a familiar object. However, when Conrad decided to capture a bicycle on canvas, the result was far from what he expected.

A person can see the same objects many times, but their perception of their structure often differs significantly from reality. Conrad Justin, who encountered this phenomenon, shared his experience at Blender Conference 2022. During his talk, he offered colleagues recommendations for improving their understanding of the internal form of objects, based on the analysis of real objects. This knowledge can significantly improve the quality of work in both 2D and 3D. Skillbox Media's GameDev editorial team summarized the key ideas of his talk, emphasizing the importance of a practical approach to studying forms in design.

Brief information about the speaker

He graduated from the Warsaw University of Life Sciences, specializing in Civil Engineering. and also studied at a music school. His artistic background encompasses both computer graphics and traditional techniques, including classical painting and sculpture. He has been creating environments and assets for video games for over 10 years, working on locations for projects such as Xonotic, Unreal Tournament 4, and Diabotical. His skills and creative approach to developing game worlds make him a valuable asset in the industry.

Konrad currently creates asset builds for Unreal Engine 4 and Unreal Engine 5, as well as composing music. He uses Blender for his 3D graphics workflow, having switched to this platform with the release of version 2.8. His approach to creating assets and music highlights a high level of professionalism and creativity, which makes his work sought after in the gaming industry.

What is "inner form"?

In art, the philosophical term "inner form" refers to the initial image of an object or phenomenon that is formed and stored in the human mind. According to Konrad, artists should develop inner forms and create new works based on familiar images. To master this skill, one must first understand the sources of inner forms. Understanding these sources is key to the creative process and allows artists to deepen their knowledge of the objects and phenomena they seek to reflect in their art.

Artistic Perception of Reality

Artists often find inspiration outside of their workplace, exploring the world around them. Nature is one of the most powerful sources of creativity. Every time we observe objects around us, we perceive them in their true form. This information is stored in our consciousness, forming a kind of repository of symbols, meanings, and simplified images of various objects. People constantly access this data to remember, identify objects, and communicate with others. Interacting with nature not only enriches an artist's perception but also fosters creative development, opening new horizons for self-expression. The images in our minds often differ in quality from reality. The human brain is unable to store and process vast amounts of information, so it is forced to simplify perception. This explains why we recognize simple patterns and shapes so quickly and easily. The process of perceiving information and interpreting it are important aspects of our lives and influence our perception of the world around us. Understanding how the brain works helps us better understand how we perceive visual information and how it can influence our behavior and decisions.

The combination of lines in the image above can be perceived as a simple face, as it corresponds to internal forms embedded in our consciousness. These forms are often not entirely precise, which can lead to interesting interpretations. The perception of such images demonstrates how our consciousness strives to create order out of chaos, filling in gaps and finding familiar images in abstract forms. This phenomenon highlights the connection between visual perception and psychology, opening new horizons for the analysis of art and design.

On the left is a photo of a stall that Conrad took during his trip to Sweden. On the right is a sketch of the same landscape, done from memory. The human brain stores information in such a way that when reproduced, the image becomes recognizable, although details may be missing. This process highlights the unique nature of perceiving and remembering visual information.

The information received is easy to recognize and remember. However, for an artist, this is not enough. It is important not only to perceive data but also to analyze it more deeply, seek inspiration, and transform ideas into unique works of art. The artist strives to use information as the basis for creative expression, which allows him to create works that can evoke emotions and thoughts in viewers.

Imagine looking at a work of art whose meaning is unclear to you. Despite this, you find yourself evoking associations with other paintings you've seen before. Art has the power to evoke memories and evoke emotions, even if its content remains a mystery. Every stroke and color can evoke something familiar, creating a unique experience.

You are close to You're with an artist and notice that their painting resembles another piece. The artist takes offense at your comment, feeling that their vision and effort have been devalued. They invested time and effort into creating a unique work, not simply copying someone else's ideas. You, on the other hand, were seeking to discuss their work and approach to art. While discussing similarities between works can be an important aspect of the exchange, it's important to consider the artist's feelings and unique vision. Artists must recognize that there are audiences who are not informed enough to deeply appreciate their work. In such cases, it's helpful to explain that the paintings do share similar elements, but they are significantly different. This can initiate a dialogue between artist and viewer. As a result, the viewer will expand their knowledge and visual experience, and the artist will gain a better understanding of their work. The creative process is often spontaneous and intuitive, and open conversation can stimulate introspection, which contributes to the development of both the artist and their audience.

Conrad had an interesting experience when he saw a visualization that puzzled him. Intrigued by the work, he contacted the artist and learned that the inspiration for the visualization was drawn from the magnetic anomaly in the lunar crater Tycho, featured in the film "2001: A Space Odyssey" and Arthur C. Clarke's novel of the same name. This discovery allowed Conrad to gain a deeper understanding of the concept and meaning of visualization, as well as its connection to the themes of space and science fiction.

Simplified images in our minds not only hinder our understanding of other people's work but also complicate the process of creating our own. When we glance at an unfamiliar object, we perceive it only as a set of internal forms. Instead of ignoring these forms and forgetting about the object, we can strive to improve them through deep understanding. This will not only expand our perception but also develop our creative abilities, which will ultimately open new horizons in art and design.

Aristotle emphasized that thinking is impossible without sensory experience, which we acquire through active exploration and analysis of the surrounding reality. Conrad also emphasizes the need to be able to notice beauty in the surrounding world, as this is an important step to creating something truly beautiful. Without the value of perception and awareness of aesthetics, we risk missing opportunities for inspiration and creativity.

Conrad cites the example of James Gurney, author of the Dinotopia series of illustrated books, where people and dinosaurs live in harmony. While working on the panorama "City of Falls," Gurney visited New York to see Niagara Falls firsthand. He strove to feel the drops of water on his skin, hear the roar of the stream, and observe how the water changes color as it falls from a height. He created his paintings in this atmosphere, which emphasizes the importance of direct perception of natural phenomena for the artist.

How to work on internal forms?

Every time you go outside or travel, it's helpful to take a pencil, sketchbook, or plain sheets of paper with you to sketch interesting objects. To make this process more effective, Konrad suggests using three techniques that will help develop observation skills and improve your artistic perception of the world around you.

• Quick sketching. Sketch things around you that you like or find interesting, but you don't yet understand why. During sketching, the artist's mind focuses on the most remarkable details. When the sketch is complete, it will become clearer why exactly you liked the object. This technique teaches you to capture the essence of the things you want to depict.
• Defocused gaze (or gaze without glasses, if you are nearsighted). Without focus, contours are blurred, small details disappear, but you still see large shapes and colors. This will help you determine whether the drawing is overloaded with details and check the composition. In the same way, you can look at the world around you and study the essence of objects through their general forms.
• Synthesis. Many artists use this technique to learn how to combine objects in a composition. The idea is to select several elements and combine them into a drawing with a single plot. For example, while walking, your eye catches a car, a landscape, a squirrel, and branches on the sidewalk that strangely resemble someone's bones... You try to combine everything into one picture, and suddenly you get a post-apocalyptic landscape in which the human race is extinct, and the world is ruled by squirrels.

Sketch vs. Photograph

Using photographs instead of sketches may seem like an easier solution, but this approach has its drawbacks. Firstly, photographs only capture the appearance of objects, while sketches allow you to convey your individual style, mood, and artistic perception. Sketches can be more expressive and unique, helping to better convey ideas and concepts.

Secondly, the process of sketching fosters a deeper understanding of form, structure, and composition. This allows the artist to develop their observational and analytical skills, which cannot be achieved through simple photography.

Thirdly, a sketch can be adapted and changed as the work progresses, giving the artist the freedom to be creative and experimental. Photography, on the other hand, captures a moment and does not offer such flexibility.

Thus, despite the accessibility and speed of photography, sketching remains an important tool for artists and designers, allowing them to delve deeper into the creative process and communicate their ideas.

• When a person sketches new objects, the visual library in their mind expands, making it easier to work on future projects. Once we take a photo, we quickly forget the captured moment because all the work has been done for us. When drawing, you have to think about how best to transfer an object to a sheet of paper, and make dozens of decisions - this helps you remember images.
• In the process of sketching, you get to know not only the nature of the object, but also yourself: even the roughest sketch will reflect your individuality and subjective perception, preserving the emotional component. In other words, a sketch demonstrates how the artist sees the world, not the camera.
• A photograph is static, but a drawing is dynamic. Unlike a finished photo, in a sketch you can rebuild reality: add or change details, erase unnecessary things.

Examples of Interpretation of Reality

You can create unique compositions from available elements. Imagine that you are walking through picturesque corners of Europe and notice a mountain, and a little further away - a watermill by a stream. In his example, Konrad used the mountain as a background, multiplying it, and placed the mill according to the golden ratio. Add to this the bicycle and the beautiful tree encountered along the way, and you have a completely new, original landscape. Thus, using simple environmental elements, you can create impressive works of art.

There is an effective method of changing the perception of reality - using one form to depict another. For example, you can combine the architectural elements of a multi-story building with the natural form of a twisting tree trunk. This approach allows you to create unique visual images and expand the boundaries of the usual understanding of objects.

You can create a residential house from wood by installing windows and doors on it. It is also possible to build an entire metropolis using branches as the basis for buildings.

Interpreting Reality in 3D

Photorealistic renders aim to reproduce reality in three dimensions as accurately as possible. This is achieved through several key aspects. Firstly, high object detail is essential, allowing textures and materials to be conveyed with maximum accuracy. Secondly, realistic lighting plays a critical role in creating atmosphere and depth in the image. Thirdly, accurate simulation of physical properties such as reflections, refractions, and shadows helps achieve a natural effect. The use of modern graphics technologies and software also significantly affects the quality of photorealistic renders, allowing for the creation of impressive visualizations that are as close to reality as possible.

• correct color scheme;
• PBR textures;
• high-polygon models;
• realistic lighting.

These tools are also great for creating stylized projects. Conrad illustrates their capabilities using a 3D diorama created in Blender as an example.

Not far from the artist's home is an arch with a unique ornate gate. Intrigued by this design, Conrad quickly sketched the arch and several nearby elements. This moment of inspiration became an important part of his creative process, as details of the surrounding architecture often serve as the basis for his artwork.

He refined the key details, devoting more time to them, and then in the workshop concentrated on working out the ornamentation of the lattice and lantern, as well as on the side view of the objects and adding a tree to the composition. This allowed us to create a more harmonious and expressive work, focusing on the little things that give the piece uniqueness and depth.

The first stage of modeling, known as the blocking stage, involves creating a base model composed of simple geometric shapes. Conrad used Blender to cut out the arch and façade using the Boolean tool. To assemble the tree model, he used Curves, adding branches at the top for a more realistic look. This process effectively lays the foundation for further detailing and texturing of the model.

He refined the objects, adding additional details, including foliage generated using the Hair particle system. This improved the visual perception of the scenes and added realism to the models. Using a particle system to create foliage helps achieve a natural look, which is especially important in 3D design and animation.

After completing the modeling stage, Conrad chose the optimal camera angle in the viewport, created a render, and saved the image. The resulting screenshot was loaded into the Krita graphics editor, where he overpainted both sides. This process allowed him to refine the model and improve its visual presentation, significantly improving the quality of the final result.

Conrad overpainted the 3D geometry in Blender using Texture Paint mode. When setting up materials, he mainly focused on the diffuse map. The presented collage shows the final version of the object with UV-unwrapping, which demonstrates the precision and detail of the work.

Conrad created dramatic lighting for his diorama, adapting it for both day and night scenes. The night lighting is created using a stylized HDRI map and includes 35 different light sources. Each of the light sources was selected taking into account different types and materials with the property of emission, which allows the plants to look especially realistic in the night version of the diorama.

For the daytime render, the artist added an additional plane behind the object that diffused the light using an HDRI and 28 light sources. This set of lights also included some with negative values. This type of lighting can be adjusted manually by adjusting the Power parameter, as the standard slider movement does not allow the value to drop below zero. Using additional sources and properly setting up lighting allows you to achieve a realistic effect and depth in the render.

Light baking is the final stage of working with graphic textures. At this stage, all information received from light sources is captured in textures, allowing for realistic lighting in a scene. This process creates a final effect that significantly improves the visual quality and depth of the image.

Any object from real life can be transferred to paper, and artists have a variety of tools to interpret reality. It is important to avoid the trap of photorealism and preserve the emotional message in your work, conveying a unique author's style. Emotional content and individuality are key aspects that allow an artist to convey their point of view and experiences through visual images. The correct use of technique and material will help create a work that not only reflects reality, but also evokes deep feelings and reflections in the viewer.

Results

• We all sometimes think in categories, and each person’s mind stores many simplified images. Often, they do not quite correspond to reality.
• Simplified images can be improved by:

• drawing;
• gaining sensory experience through thoughtful and positive exploration of the world;
• communicating with artists.

• Don’t be lazy to take a sketchbook with you and sketch the places and things that you like. While drawing, practice quick sketching and synthesizing techniques, try to rethink reality and experiment.
• Photorealistic rendering tools can be useful in stylized works, but don't get carried away with realistic effects - it is important to preserve the author's style and emotional message.