Explore how Mary Fazzolari journeys through art to create this adorable 3D work, using her creative skills.
INTRODUCTION
Hi! My name is Mary and I’m originally from Italy, though I’m currently working in Spain where my passion for art continues to evolve.
Since childhood, I’ve always been drawn to creative expression, with drawing being my strongest skill early on. My journey into the arts led me to earn a Master of Arts degree and in 2015, I discovered Blender which sparked my love for 3D modeling.
By 2019, I transitioned into freelancing, specializing in character design for multimedia companies, particularly focusing on developing cute and engaging characters. Recently, I took a major step by founding my own remote studio, with aspirations of growing it into a thriving company in the near future.
INSPIRATION
First of all, this artwork was commissioned by a client who was looking for someone to translate a 2D image into a 3D model. I don’t know the original source of this image, I was asked to recreate exactly the same character in 3D. I liked the project as I thought it would be a cup of my tea. Cuteness is my speciality!
PROCESS
Modeling
I used Blender to create the character and the modeling process went smoothly, with the main shapes coming together within a few hours.
Fur
However, the fur detail proved to be the most challenging aspect. The client wanted it to look exactly like the reference, which, as we know, can be tough when trying to replicate something that appears perfect. I spent around six hours tweaking the particle systems to get the fur's appearance and shading just right.
The textures played a crucial role in achieving the final look, as I had to incorporate several subtones and colors to match the depth and complexity of the reference. For the fur, I created three different lengths to add variation and realism.
Despite the challenge, I really enjoyed working on the fur particles—there's something so satisfying about getting them to look perfect. Once the fur was finished, I focused on the lighting, which also needed to closely resemble the reference. This part didn't leave much room for personal interpretation. However, I did customize the final pose.
Pose
The original reference felt static, lacking a sense of movement, so I rigged the character in a more dynamic position.
Opening the mouth gave the bird an energetic, lively feel, which was exactly how I had pictured it in my mind!
RENDER: Cute Little Mason Bird
Thank you for checking out my article. Don’t hesitate to ask any questions on my social media. Have a great day!
About the Artist
Mary Fazzolari is a 3D character artist from Italy, currently working as a freelance artist and lead at Creative Whale Studio.
