Pine Cones
This project started in autumn when I discovered the many crafting possibilities with pine cones and other natural materials. Inspired by these ideas, I designed two pine cone 3D models and transformed them into decorative character figures.
Design & Concept: I wanted the pine cones to feel like handmade crafts. The design combines natural materials with playful character elements. For example, I used maple seeds as inspiration for the eyebrows. The nose has a unique hand-painted look. Every detail was chosen to keep that warm, organic feeling.
Workflow: First, I modeled the base shapes in Maya. Then I hand-painted the nose in Substance 3D Painter to give it a one-of-a-kind design. I used Normal Maps to add subtle depth to each leaf-like protrusion on the surface. For the eyebrows, I crafted them by hand and rendered them in Arnold with an SSS shader. This captured their organic translucence. Finally, I used Displacement Maps for more pronounced surface variations.
Challenges: The biggest challenge was balancing realism with charm. The pine cones needed to look like real natural materials. At the same time, they had to have enough personality to work as decorative figures. Getting the SSS shader right on the eyebrows was also tricky. They needed to catch the light in a way that felt organic, not plastic. In addition, hand-painting the nose required careful attention to make it feel unique without looking messy.
Software Used
Maya – Substance 3D Painter – Arnold – Photoshop
Behind the Scenes
I meticulously hand-painted the nose in Substance 3D Painter to achieve a truly one-of-a-kind design. Each leaf-like protrusion on its surface was brought to life using a Normal Map, adding subtle depth and dimension.
Inspired by maple seeds, the eyebrows were likewise crafted entirely by hand and rendered in Arnold with an SSS shader, capturing their organic translucence.
While Normal Maps introduced fine irregularities, Displacement Maps were employed for more pronounced variations, lending a richly detailed and natural look to the final piece.
I painted the nose entirely by hand in Substance 3D Painter.