Stylized Cabin

Just a year into my journey as a 3D artist, I wanted to deepen my understanding of Unreal Engine and improve my skills in game environment creation. Determined to make the most of my summer break, I began working on a small environment piece to explore the core principles of environment building and to strengthen my technical skills.

Starting with limited experience in Maya and Unreal Engine, I focused on how the engine could streamline and enhance the creative process. My goal was not only to improve technically but also to make the process enjoyable and engaging.

The idea for this project was inspired by stylized games and the captivating world of Ghibli art. This combination of influences, along with my eagerness to learn, helped me create an environment that reflects both my evolving skills and a unique artistic direction.

I started by modeling the main building in Maya and texturing it in Substance Painter. For the outdoor elements, I created grass and explored virtual textures for the first time. In Unreal Engine, I designed a landscape material and used the foliage system to scatter grass and flowers. To enhance realism, I developed a custom grass shader with adjustable wind speed, adding dynamic movement. This experience expanded my technical skills and helped bring a sense of life to the environment.

I modeled the tree base and leaves in Maya, using opacity masks in Photoshop for leaf appearance. The bark texture was made in Substance Designer, and I developed a shader to switch between moss and bark, with adjustable parameters for color and aesthetics. This streamlined tree creation and enhanced my understanding of shaders in Unreal Engine. 

I am genuinely proud of the final product and the transformative learning experience it provided for me. This project not only resulted in a visually appealing outcome but also boosted my confidence, inspiring me to pursue new creative challenges and explore the full potential of my artistic abilities.