"Sculptober" is a month-long prompt-based 3D modeling challenge that takes place every October. In 2022, I made 31 Blender renders in response to prompts. Some days I had hours, other days I had minutes.
Here are the results*:
*Compressed for bandwidth friendliness.
Day 1: Boss
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/1107624/493067_229197.png)
Had to go Super Mario 64 on this one.
Day 2: Lunar
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/1107624/920606_982056.png)
This one was fun - I used accurate moon textures from NASA.
Day 3: Rest
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/1107624/524223_350923.png)
Same energy.
Day 4: Illusion
A proto-attempt at animation! Watch on YouTube.
Day 5: Porthole
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/1107624/319379_286316.png)
Something something wooden spaceship. A rushed day.
Day 6: Lost
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/1107624/673940_101986.png)
Fun with shiny reflecty things.
Day 7: Chunky
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/1107624/26768_489020.png)
It was a butternut squash soup kind of day, Day 7.
Day 8: Spy
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/1107624/192377_79759.png)
Okay, I can't find the *actual* sculpt I did on Day 8, but here's a thematic other render.
Day 9: Blend
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/1107624/561360_267189.png)
Brave Little Toaster, anyone?
Day 10: Ethereal
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/1107624/988376_428213.png)
Went a little Nodevember on this one.
Day 11: Dance
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/1107624/996421_748454.png)
This might be the greatest thing I've ever modeled.
Day 12: Glow
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/1107624/857890_964466.png)
It's not *really* cheating, I *did* make it glow.
Day 13: Shy
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/1107624/559502_204160.png)
Miyazaki meets the Mushroom Kingdom.
Day 14: Grave
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/1107624/596985_42038.png)
Neglected the tumbleweed. Would'er made all the diff'rence.
Day 15: Cosmos
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/1107624/447746_100854.png)
Used the Hubble Deep Field image for the interior projection.
Day 16: Grip
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/1107624/550751_49120.png)
The initial thought was "bats grip stuff", and the resultant creation was "porcelain figurine of Batty from Fern Gully".
The muse works in mysterious ways.
Day 17: Charm
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/1107624/653915_128482.png)
Going for a charm bracelet thing, but didn't really have much time.
Day 18: Cozy
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/1107624/730374_47449.png)
Is it even Sculptober if you don't bake a donut?
Day 19: Haunt
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/1107624/702663_393881.png)
👻
Day 20: Discovery
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/1107624/169904_334066.png)
"We sailed away on a winter's day / with fates as malleable as clay"
- Joanna Newsom, "Bridges and Balloons"
Day 21: Soft
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/1107624/886885_188772.png)
Playing around with soft jello caustics.
Day 22: Gate
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/1107624/923449_791277.png)
A little more Nodevembery.
Day 23: Drink
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/1107624/865681_726426.png)
Listen, water physics are... yeah.
Day 24: Mask
Watch the animation on YouTube!
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/1107624/538066_43852.png)
Okay, *this* might be the greatest thing I've ever modeled. Watch the animation!
Day 25: Creep
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/1107624/85644_682178.png)
Featuring Pennywise the Persian cat.
Day 26: Spirit
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/1107624/664477_448628.png)
Of the libation variety.
Day 27: Magic
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/1107624/895397_558166.png)
I was going for some kind of magical floppy puffball creature - there's an animation over here on YouTube.
Day 28: Leap
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/1107624/562557_263201.png)
*tugs shirt collar* Looks, I didn't have a lot of time on Day 28.
Day 29: Hero
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/1107624/514263_457596.png)
I might've been running out of steam by this point.
Day 30: Pretend
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/1107624/865210_930794.png)
Yaaaay, BMO!
Day 31: Harvest
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/1107624/851952_325872.png)
Kind of phoned it in on Day 31 😅
Phew. 31 done!
Not ever day was a stellar result — it's tough spending a straight month making Blender renders after work! But I'm really glad I did it, forced me to work on some foundations and explore different techniques.
Definitely leveled up my skills over that month. Recently made this Funko Pop figurine of the lead singer of one my favorite contemporary bands:
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/1107624/759969_526364.png)
The fabulous Ela Melo of Rainbow Kitten Surprise.
What should I make next?