2018-2019 DEMO REEL
Ruixuan Pu | Lighting, Texturing, and Look Development
M.F.A. Thesis: Monet's Dream
This page showcases the final outcome of my Master of Fine Arts Thesis Project at Savannah College of Art and Design. Two digital environments are created using the visual language and world space of classic impressionist artworks, culminating in a visually expressive video that walks the audience through an imaginary space titled “Monet’s Dream”.
Final Visual Component
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Technical Breakdown
Still Renders
(Click to see larger images)
Software: Houdini, Maya, Blender, Substance Painter, Nuke, Photoshop
Renderer: Arnold for Houdini
Three Monet's paintings as my core references
Claude Monet, Water Lilies, 1919, oil on canvas, 39.8 x 78.8 in., Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Claude Monet, Woman with a Parasol, 1875, oil on canvas, 39.4 x 31.9 in., Musee d'Orsay, Paris, France.
Claude Monet, Japanese Bridge, 1899, oil on canvas, 35.6 x 35.3 in., Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Scene Concept Design
Poster demonstrating a simplified Impressionist stylization workflow
For a more detailed explanation of the process and additional information about this project, please refer to my paper:
Artist Statement
"Monet’s Dreams" consists of two Impressionist dream scenes set in one interior and one exterior space. Three of Claude Monet’s paintings were carefully chosen as the visual reference and inspiration for the project. Understanding the essential characteristics of Impressionism will help greatly to realize the project’s art direction and advise further visual developments for achieving the desired look.
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Meanwhile, in considering the key elements of Impressionism when applied to computer graphics, a dreamlike image can be created. Impressionist paintings – particularly those created during the early Impressionist art movement in the late 19th century – use distinct painting techniques to successfully capture the fleeting impression and sensation of an ephemeral moment. The added vagueness and absence of a detailed definition in the final results give the viewers almost a dreamlike illusiveness. Nothing is tangible, and everything is obfuscated. It is all about impressions of the current moment, of the light and color that make up the visual world perceived in the painters’ eyes. Dreams are also subjective reflections and impressions of the fragmented daytime experiences, manifested in our unconscious mind. For this reason, I believe that dreams and Impressionism share an intimate intercorrelation in their fundamental essence and nature. Adding the visual characteristics of Impressionism to the portrayal of a dream environment, can trigger a surprisingly creative and artistic visual experience.
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"Monet’s Dream" combines some of Monet’s great passions and the most memorable elements of his life. The subject matter of water lilies, the Japanese bridge, and Monet’s first wife Camille, coalesce into a singular collage of scenery that can only exist in an imaginary space. The use of Impressionist painting techniques brings a new touch to depicting the fleeting impressions and ungraspable illusions presented within the dream. This space can be a dreamscape for Monet, or any artist and individual inspired by him and his Impressionist arts.